My Five Word TL:DR Review: I loved it.

Okay, I was so excited to be approved for a review copy of The Calamity Club, I loved The Help and was so hyped for this that I could have exploded. Fortunately, I didn’t explode, I did almost have a conniption on a few occasions whilst reading but I can report back that this book is a keeper. An absolute belter.

I think that this is the author’s second book, and, to be honest it’s been a couple of decades (maybe) since I read the first but, all I can say is I would sooner read two excellent books, twenty years or so apart (but who’s counting?) than a whole passel of mediocre books every few years. Quality over quantity all day long. That is all.

This is the story of Birdie and Meg. Two very different characters whose stories eventually converge. Told during the depression of the 1930s and coupled with the era of prohibition that seemed to be coming to an end it’s an absolutely fascinating period piece depicting the struggles from all walks of life but at the same time focusing on a couple of females in particular who have the willpower to survive. It really is a tour de force.

So, the two characters are Meg and Birdie. To be honest they’re miles apart and for a while there I couldn’t see how the two would ever come together. But they do so please have a little patience. While I’m on this subject, yes, this is quite a lengthy book, I mean, I’m not talking Tolkien or Tolstoy here but even so I did have a moment of thinking this might be a little indulgent in some respects, but, I was wrong. I loved this, it is a story to be savoured not rushed through at breakneck pace. The characters are easy to like (or dislike) and I found myself easily falling into the story. I actually didn’t want to rush this, I lingered and enjoyed the writing, I did become very tense as the plot thickened and now that the read has ended I find myself wanting to return to the characters and the place. I shall miss reading about the Calamity Club. I think I have a case of ‘book hangover’.

What really makes this book such a winner for me is the combination of really well drawn characters, the sense of sisterhood and found family, a gentle romance simmering in the background but in no way stealing the show and the fact that it’s a story of hope.

Birdie is a fantastic character and she experiences such amazing and realistic character growth going from strength to strength and eventually believing that she is a strong and independent woman who has things to say and people to help. As the story begins Birdie’s family are struggling, they need money urgently to pay back taxes or they’ll lose their home and so it’s decided that Birdie will visit her sister Frances. Frances has married into an old family, her husband is a banker and they live in a beautiful mansion. However, Frances has gone very quiet when it comes to her own family and Birdie turning up on the doorstep is definitely an embarrassment to her. On top of this something feels off – well, things will be eventually revealed but I won’t elaborate more in that respect.

Meg is living at the orphanage. Her mother disappeared one day and she was taken into custody. Her life at the orphanage is far from pleasant. The woman who runs the show seems to have taken a dislike to Meg and singles her out for some rather despicable treatment so when she is unexpectedly adopted by a very influential family it seems like her luck might have changed. I won’t spoil things other than to say ‘out of the frying pan into the fire’. Meg is a great character. I loved her chapters, the way she thinks and her sense of humour, particularly in the face of her struggles, is refreshing.

Now, the Calamity Club is named very well. This is just one of many names suggested for the eventual plan that Frances and another character called Charlie eventually hit upon to try and raise much needed money urgently. This part of the story is simply brilliant. The new characters are all such good fun, brash, genuine, funny, sassy, bossy, scary and quietly fierce. I loved this group of women. I could have cried. I certainly laughed, my heart was in my throat as the story developed because I felt so genuinely worried about what might be round the corner. And, I will also say that Mrs Tartt (Frances mother-in-law) was an absolute gem. What a wonderful lady she is. This book gave me so many feelings, I felt strongly for so many of the characters and then the characters at the opposite end that made you shudder and increased the sense of dread.

I haven’t got a single negative thing to say about this book. It is excellent. I highly recommend it and can only hope that it is adapted for the big screen. It would make a fantastic movie.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 5 of 5 perfect stars