In a Bookclub Far Away by Tif Marcelo: Through exploring the lives and struggles of military spouses and their 
‘everything’s temporary’ existence, In a Book Club Far Away sets out to highlight the comfort shared and friendships built for those abandoned to deployment missions.
The strong bonds forged were initiated through a book club that became so much more than just sharing an opinion about a novel, growing into themed occasions and activity filled events that enabled the group to wrap around the individual.
Adelaide, Sophie and Regina bonded automatically and shared a deep connection that would ordinarily stand the test of time, and yet, for an unknown reason that wasn’t the case. And as the book opens with them coming back together as a result of Adelaide sending out an SOS, the narrative was driven through flashbacks providing the contextual grounding outlining why it was Regina and Sophie hadn’t spoken in 10 years.
For the three women, their relationships with their partners were all very different, as was their luck or misfortune in motherhood. Carving out their individual identities was made all the more challenging given they were always the ones left behind.
In many ways, the book was successful in highlighting the inherent loneliness and fear that exists for military families whose partners are deployed on missions and indeed how they move pilar to post to support the fighting tribe who protect the nation.
Unfortunately, the big reveal, or the motivation for the frozen decade between Regina and Sophie was a little light on, and the blame was well and truly misplaced. Consequently this impacted alliance with the characters as their friendship was set up as largely unbreakable. I also found the fairytale set-up to be unnecessary given the thematic intent, and at times, the pacing was a little slow which impacted tension.
Overall though, this was an enjoyable if not eye-opening read in that ultimately these women and men are the literal backbone of freedom and through their far away club they found more than a shared love of books.
Book Info:
Publication: 6th April 2021 | Gallery Books |
Regina Castro, Adelaide Wilson-Chang, and Sophie Walden used to be best friends. As Army wives at Fort East, they bonded during their book club and soon became inseparable. But when an unimaginable betrayal happened amongst the group, the friendship abruptly ended, and they haven’t spoken since.
That’s why, eight years later, Regina and Sophie are shocked when they get a call for help from Adelaide. Adelaide’s husband is stationed abroad, and without any friends or family near her new home of Alexandria, Virginia, she has no one to help take care of her young daughter when she has to undergo emergency surgery. For the sake of an innocent child, Regina and Sophie reluctantly put their differences aside to help an old friend.
As the three women reunite, they must overcome past hurts and see if there’s any future for their friendship. Featuring Tif Marcelo’s signature “enchanting prose” (Amy E. Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake) and the books that brought them together in the first place, In a Book Club Far Away honors the immense power of female friendship and how love can defy time, distance, and all old wounds.
