The Barrington Book Club (special edition hardcover #8) - RUBY Winner!

Harriet Murray, wife of Drum Murray is caught out by Meggie Hamilton dashing a book she has been reading under a file under her desk. As Harriet is pregnant, Meggie jokingly asks if she is reading yet another natural childbirth book. Harriet admits that no, it isn't but it is a book by an Australian author and she simply can't put it down. Later in Debbie Tait's coffee shop, Coffee Is My Calling, best friends Rose, Debbie, Meggie and Harriet further discuss the book and so the decision is made to form a book club (or girl-possie as their men nickname it) with the name of The Barrington Book Club.

They decide to meet once a month, leaving their respective children with the husbands, and the aim is to initially meet to discuss books written by Australian authors first of all. The girls are joined at each meeting by other close friends Melanie, Nicole, Laura and Francis. Happy and carefree evenings are enjoyed by all women with food, wine, coffee and the warmth and love of the company of each other.

As Debbie is also pregnant and wishes to stand back a little from daily work in the cafe, after interviewing for a prospective Manager for the business, the job is offered to Millie who also joins with the others in the Book Club.

Over a period of twelve months, apart from reading and discussing twelve books, much happens in the township of Barrington. Businesses are rearranged or change hands and the women discover that all pregnancies are not the same and, being the close friends that they are, the things they each experience are openly discussed. Also within this time, four babies are born, new friendships and relationships are formed and life continues enclosed in the comfort and peace of a small country town.

When tragedy strikes one of their own, the town is in turmoil and all the love and strength of close friends is needed in a way that none of them could have seen coming.

This is Book #8 in the Barrington Series and I have been with this community from the very beginning with Book #1, Charlie's Will. I have loved coming back to catch up with these women and their men whom I regard as friends. I have laughed and cried with them, love the delight of the children who have come into each story and I very much hope that we will have many more stories about Barrington from one of my favourite authors, Susan Mackie.

This is the review I posted for the original paperback copy of Susan's book The Barrington Book Club. Recently I received my copy of the Special Edition Hardcover of the book and I immediately fell in love with the presentation of the book and once again the story. Country life and love, the fabulous girl posse and the beautiful men who support them. What is there not to love!!

I have already purchased and read the paperback version but f this delightful book along with the rest of the series. I just love them all. This particular edition is just stunning and a collectible that I will always cherish 🌸