Tackling a large cast of characters has a lot of moving parts! How did you develop each of your main characters' stories, without overwhelming the plot? I also hope readers will be reminded that we can survive almost anything when we allow others in. I hope readers will enjoy the characters themselves as well as their interwoven journeys of self-discovery. If we’re lucky, we gather at least some of that strength from our female friends. I think women are the strongest beings on the planet because we have to be. What do you hope readers take away from this aspect of THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB?įemale friendships are at the center of all of my books though I didn’t initially plan it that way. Friendships between women, in particular, are often a big role in narrative storytelling. This opened up and impacted the story in a lot of interesting ways.Īt the heart of this novel are the friendships of your main characters. The book club lives on Meetup and attracts a more diverse group than the neighborhood group I once belonged to and many that I’ve visited. As part of my research, I joined a group led by a former independent bookseller and longtime friend. I’ve spoken to a lot of book clubs over the last twenty plus years, but I hadn’t belonged to one for almost that long.

At its core, it’s a story about the kind of friendship that gets us through the toughest times.īook clubs are almost like a rite of passage in life at this point! Have you been in book clubs over the years? What do you think makes a great “book club book”? THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB revolves around a book club that meets in the carriage house of a historic Atlanta home turned bookstore and explores the ways in which books can bring even the unlikeliest people together. Wendy: Thanks so much for inviting me to share my latest novel. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your new book, THE BREAK-UP BOOK CLUB. Danielle: Hi, Wendy! Welcome to Fresh Fiction.

Wendy wax ocean beach series