The Book That Matters Most: A Novel

Somewhat of a horror story with a fairy tale conclusion. Completely unreal yet Ava's sudden separation from her husband, along with her drug addled daughter's Paris adventures, make for a gripping story. The book is not without some humor. Having your husband runaway with a yarn bomber seems both humiliating and hilarious

I almost threw away the book when Ava who begged to be included in the exclusive book group was unable to read Pride and Prejudice or Great Gatsby. You beg to be in a book group but then can't stomach Great Gatsby? Ava and the book are in a word INCREDIBLE. If you are looking for an escapist fairy tale with literary pretensions this might be a good choice. ( )

I'm adding books to my list of things to read! This was delightful and I was in tears at the end. The audio, read by Nina Alvamar, was wonderful. ( )

the book starts very promising. Different characters. different views. you start to puzzle it together. but the end is rather abrupt and hollywoodish. Some of the thing the character do is not logical. ( )

I won't rate this one because I resorted to skimming and finally gave up at 27%.
I thought it was going to be a book about books and book clubs but instead it's predictable chick lit with eye-roll inducing scenes.

Chapters in The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood are organized so that we catch up with a different character with each chapter. Ava is both first and last. At the beginning of the book we learn that her husband of twenty plus years has suddenly left her for another woman and she is having a difficult time understanding and accepting his betrayal.

At Eva's friend Cate's urging she joins a book club that Cate leads. At the first meeting members are planning the next year. Cate asks the members what book matters most to each of them and those books become the next year's plan. At first Ava can't think of a book but then realizes the book that matters most to her is one that brought her some comfort as a child after a tragedy in her family.

From that point the plot revolves around Ava's current condition, the condition of her young adult daughter Maggie, and the tragedy in Ava's past. The book club meetings become the setting for some of the chapters and I was always interested to read the discussion of someone's "book that matters most". Though the plot is improbable and some of the characters are thinly drawn, I never wanted to abandon the book. It's a book that's entertaining. but won't be remembered for long. ( )