FINAL DECISION: A thoughtful exploration of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse, though the multiple storylines, lessened the impact of any of them. Too much was going on, and the story was too superficial sometimes.

THE STORY: Gia Rossi reluctantly returns to her hometown of Wakefield, Iowa, at the request of her sister Margot to help care for their dying mother. Seventeen years after leaving town following a painful accusation of sexual misconduct against her teacher, Mr. Hart, Gia finds herself confronting old wounds and divided loyalties. As she navigates the town’s lingering judgment and her past, Gia discovers unexpected allies in her old Banned Books Club. Meanwhile, Margot seizes an opportunity to escape her emotionally abusive marriage, leaving Gia to face the challenges of her homecoming alone. Through standing up for the truth, Gia finds a path to healing, love, and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.

OPINION: THE BANNED BOOK CLUB showcases Novak’s ability to tackle complex themes, but there are too many storylines for any of them to really resonate. While the book offers a nuanced exploration of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse, the “women as victim” narrative, which has become prevalent in contemporary women’s fiction, felt overdone to me.

Novak’s strength lies in her thoughtful portrayal of complex subjects. The parallel stories of Gia’s past trauma and Margot’s current struggle with emotional abuse are handled with sensitivity but lack depth. The author doesn’t shy away from showing the complicated aftermath of Gia’s accusation, illustrating how such events can divide a community and have long-lasting effects on all involved, but I wish that the story had focused on Gia’s story. Margot’s was not needed and ended up distracting from Gia story. Not only does the book deal with the harassment story and domestic abuse but also adds the impending death of the mother. For me, there was just too much drama going on, and I was disappointed because I really enjoyed Gia’s story and thought that a deeper, more intense focus on her life and budding romance would have made this a better book.

While the book tackles heavy themes and offers moments of hope and healing, the persistent focus on trauma and victimhood may be draining for me. The drama, while realistic, becomes worn over the course of the novel.

One of the book’s strengths is its refusal to offer easy answers. Instead, it presents a realistic portrayal of the messy, complicated nature of healing from trauma and the challenge of confronting long-held beliefs. However, the multiple traumatic storylines just don’t give enough space for the story to breathe and be the most impactful.

WORTH MENTIONING: The title of the book is somewhat deceptive if readers are expecting a focus on banned books. While there is a book club group in the story, it is not as prominent as one might expect from the title. The book primarily deals with themes of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse rather than literary censorship.

CONNECTED BOOKS: This is a standalone book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.