The Girlfriend Book

Gwen Harvey’s The Girlfriend Book was a pleasure to read. Her style of writing is entertaining, full of drama, irresistible surprises, witty conversations and emotional truths. It’s fast moving and I couldn’t stop reading or caring about the juicy and dysfunctional family relationships.

Our book club read and enjoyed Gwen Harvey’s The Girlfriend Book. The author struck a chord with our group of fifteen women who have shared hard-earned wisdom, joy, heartbreak, and crossover life experiences. These fictional “girlfriends” became powerfully relatable as the author built their personal stories of love, loss, and the evolution – and demise of lifelong friendships.

With each turn of the page, I found myself immersed in a world where female characters faced adversity, showcased strength, and challenged each other. The writer's skillful storytelling and attention to detail breathe life into her creations.

It takes a keen observer and equal measure of passion and dispassion to capture the arc of three girlfriends through the decades, as individuals and as a collective.  Say what you will, women’s friendships are essential, complex, frustrating and so worth it.  Very few authors can capture that. Gwen Harvey does this is spades.

I loved the Girlfriend Book!  The story struck home with me, as it would with so many people, as our long-standing friendships twist and turn over the years.  I looked forward to every evening, where I could crawl into bed and read of the friendship between Dianne, Nicole and Kate. Over the span of 3 decades, their paths all diverged significantly and yet the foundation of their friendship always brought them back together.  Gwen Harvey has woven together a beautiful story of friendship, loyalty and support.

This is a story about female companionship, celebrations, family challenges, betrayals, and secrets.  All of these things, combined with relatable and sympathetic characters, engaged me.  The pace is perfect. I would characterize Gwen’s book as a mix between “chick-lit” (but for older, mid-life women) with a hint of mystery, thriller and drama. I am so looking forward to her new book.

The Girlfriend Book is an ode to the unique bond of female friendships. This engaging narrative is told over the course of many years with authentic characters and a clever framework. Gwen Harvey’s smart writing style purveys a gentle warmth and wisdom that makes you want to keep reading and hear more from her. A wonderful book to share with friends.

Three women meet annually for a weekend retreat to share and support their lives. A beautiful exploration of personal self development supported by the warm camaraderie of good friends. I was so captured by the book I did not want it to end, I wanted to join the group. Reminiscent of Firefly Lane, Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias.

Gwen Harvey has written a highly relatable and heartwarming tale of three women sharing their unique life passages, and the ties that bind them. Find a comfortable chair and a pot of tea as you will happily read this book from start to finish in one sitting. We all know Nicole, Dianne, and Kate - beloved but sometimes irascible...just like real friends. Highly recommend!

Beautiful story of true friendship that lasts over decades and something any woman with such friendships can relate to. Very well written and hard to put down. Strongly recommend.