Viviane and her mother have recently returned to live in Porto after their life fell apart when her father died, and it was revealed that he had a secret family. However, since moving, Viviane hasn't really made any friends. In her mind, she doesn't really need to. She has her work as a copy editor, her books and her very annoying extended Portuguese family who keep on interfering in her business.
Viviane is a very ordered person. Her hair is cut perfectly, she dresses in a very specific outfit, she lives her life according to a very set schedule. However, her mother is worried about her isolation and so insists that she go out and meet people. Viviane's response made me smile broadly
"No, no, Viviane, I'm not sick. There's nothing to worry about, but I am getting on in age and would like you to make some friends who aren't fictional."Secure in the knowledge that my mother's not about to leave this mortal coil, I'm happy to voice my displeasure at the ridiculous notion; being forced to make non-fictional friends. I don't see the point. Whodunnits provide all the necessary stimulus I need. The stakes are high, the detectives analytical, logical, using their great powers of deduction to land at a satisfying coda.
"I don't have time to make friends right now. I'm in the middle of a ten-book series and I've made a firm commitment to that each evening." I've read The Quill Chronicles multiple times. They're my comfort reads, as bolstering as a weighted blanket.
Despite her protestations, Viviane ends up agreeing that she will go to a cafe with the aim of having some social interactions, although Viviane has no intention of doing so. She finds a quiet little pastelaria and settles in with her book, a coffee and a pastry before she is rudely interrupted by a handsome man named Tiago who happens to love the same author as she does! What a coincidence!
As an aside, a lot of the initial interactions with Tiago made me smile. He has an allegry to almonds and so his opening gambit is to offer Viviane his pastry which it turns out could have almonds in it, and protests that he has his Epi-pen somewhere. My son has a tree nut allergy and I am sure he couldn't put his hands on his Epi-pen that is probably expired any way. Maybe he needs a Viviane to help keep him alive, which is the role that Viviane quickly assigns to herself for Tiago!
As an aside, a lot of the initial interactions with Tiago made me smile. He has an allegry to almonds and so his opening gambit is to offer Viviane his pastry which it turns out could have almonds in it, and protests that he has his Epi-pen somewhere. My son has a tree nut allergy and I am sure he couldn't put his hands on his Epi-pen that is probably expired any way. Maybe he needs a Viviane to help keep him alive, which is the role that Viviane quickly assigns to herself for Tiago!
Viviane and Tiago agree to meet weekly, but the rules will be strict. Their time together will be spent reading...silently! Somehow though, more people begin joining in the silent bookclub, which of course, becomes anything but silent as the people get to know each other. There is Zephyr, the Australian Gen Z backpacker, and old Albert who clashes with her on just about everything, Thomas, who hides what he really likes to read inside the cover of a military history and Lucinda, who disappears after a few weeks with very clues as to who she was and what she might be doing. Together, the group must work out who Lucinda is and find her in order to hopefully prevent a terrible crime. The stakes are high!
I really enjoyed reading about Viviane and Tiago and their new friends. Viviane is very clever but does tend to be very determined which can sometimes lead to the clues that she has being misinterpreted. For all that she is observant, she also misses a lot of the clues about what is happening in her own world, both with Tiago and with her own mother. I loved the way that the characters interconnected, and the bossy Portuguese mothers were a hoot!
I did enjoy the idea of a silent book club. As a result, I found myself contemplating whether it would work in our read on a theme book club. Half the time I have to wrangle them into talking about the books we read rather than just generally chatting about life, the universe and everything, so probably not!
Purchase Links
UK - https://amzn.eu/d/0an1mkon
US - https://a.co/d/09BBX9Ol
AUS - https://amzn.asia/d/0gWivcP7
CAN - https://a.co/d/06QBhgxV
About the author
Rebecca Raisin is an internationally bestselling and RNA awards winning romance writer from Perth, Australia. Her books are set in stunning locations around the world providing a touch of escapism for her readers and those who like to partake in a spot of armchair travel from the comfort of their own home. Rebecca writes quirky heroines who haven't figured it all out yet but are perfectly relatable, flaws and all. You'll find themes such as friendship, love, new beginnings, food, wine and travel. She's known for writing books for book lovers.
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor
www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaraisinwrites2/
Rebecca Raisin’s Exclusive Readers | Facebook
RebeccaRaisinWrites (@rebeccaraisinwrites) | TikTok
Every time I read a Rebecca Raisin book, I enjoy the way that she writes about food, books and locations and this book has all of those same elements. There were so many delicious sounding Portuguese foods, and we were taken to some of the key tourist sites in Porto as we read the book. I do think that this book is one of her best. I loved the location, the characters, and I smiled my way through the whole book! This was a 5/5 read for me!
Now, if you will excuse me. I need to go and find a little pastelaria, eat a Portuguese custard tart, plan my trip to Portugal, and then pick up my book. Sshhhhhh! I'm reading!
I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with the Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin Bout Books. This was a book that I nominated as one of my 20 Books of Winter and also counts for Aussie Author August. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!
Rating 5/5
The Little Porto Book Club
In a city full of stories, can she write her own…
Introvert and self-described whodunnit enthusiast Viviane has never much believed in living life outside of the pages of a book. But when her interfering mother insists that Viviane needs some friends who aren’t fictional, she decides to head into the beautiful bustling streets of Porto in search of her community.
What better place to start than by reading her favourite mystery in the corner of a little-known café? But when one, then two, and then outrageously six other people decide to join her silent book club Viviane realises that she is firmly out of her depth. There’s Thomas, a middle-aged man hiding his love for romance novels, Lucinda, a chic sixty-something with a penchant for Christie, and then there’s Tiago, the man of every romance novelist’s dreams.
But when one of these newfound friends disappears from the book club without a word, will the community come together to find their fellow lost soul, and will Viviane find love along the way…?
Purchase Links
UK - https://amzn.eu/d/0an1mkon
US - https://a.co/d/09BBX9Ol
AUS - https://amzn.asia/d/0gWivcP7
CAN - https://a.co/d/06QBhgxV
About the author
Rebecca Raisin is an internationally bestselling and RNA awards winning romance writer from Perth, Australia. Her books are set in stunning locations around the world providing a touch of escapism for her readers and those who like to partake in a spot of armchair travel from the comfort of their own home. Rebecca writes quirky heroines who haven't figured it all out yet but are perfectly relatable, flaws and all. You'll find themes such as friendship, love, new beginnings, food, wine and travel. She's known for writing books for book lovers.
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor
www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaraisinwrites2/
Rebecca Raisin’s Exclusive Readers | Facebook
RebeccaRaisinWrites (@rebeccaraisinwrites) | TikTok
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