Books about Books or Book Clubs, set in a place I have never been, but will be going to next year, sign me up. Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Dubrovnik Book Club. I have never read a book by Eva Glyn, but will definitely be looking for my by this talented author. Scroll down to learn more about the book and read my thoughts, as well as to enter the giveaway for a chance to receive a paperback of the book.

The Dubrovnik Book Club by Eva Glyn

Published March 8th 2024 by One More Chapter

In a tiny bookshop in Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, a book club begins…

Newly arrived on the sun-drenched shores of Croatia, Claire Thomson’s life is about to change forever when she starts working at a local bookshop. With her cousin Vedran, employee Luna and Karmela, a professor, they form an unlikely book club.

But when their first book club pick – an engrossing cosy crime – inspires them to embark upon an investigation that is close to the group’s heart, they quickly learn the value of keeping their new-found friends close as lives and stories begin to entwine…

Purchase Links  – https://mybook.to/TheDubrovnikBookClub

5 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Dubrovnik Book Club appealed to me for a variety of reasons: a book about books, set in a place I have never been, and the fact that I will be visiting Dubrovnik in 2025 on a cruise. When I was invited to participate in the blog tour, it was a no brainer.

The story features several characters all involved with a book club held at a small local bookstore. Claire Thomson travels to Dubrovnik to stay with her grandparents while dealing with her fear of going out in public. She had long covid and is still afraid to be around people she doesn’t know or to be in a crown. Her grandmother gets her a job managing the Welcoming Bookshop, helping the owner whose wife is ill. Luna is the only other employee in the store. She is a wonderful young woman who loves decorating the windows and is great with the customers. She has a secret, she is gay and has not yet come out. Croatia is not very welcoming to gay people. Vedran is is Claire’s cousin and he was recently suspected of killing his girlfriend. He is a bit of a pariah now, but even though he has evidence that might remove the cloud of suspicion, he is ashamed of things about the relationship. Karmela is a professor visiting from Zagreb to research Dubrovnik’s history. She has a difficult past also involving the war, where her family fled Sarajevo and she keeps herself walled up. She meets her neighbour who has PTSD from his role in the war. How does this unconventional group come together?

As I read this book and learned about everyone’s issues, I was a bit worried that it would be a book that would be extremely depressing, but I was wrong. Yes, there are heartbreaking moments in some of the revelations, but the best thing is how the books helped them come about. I loved how this odd group become friends and support each other as they heal and make important decisions about their live moving forward. The story is told from four points of view, Claire, Luna, Vedran and Karmela. The author does a good job bringing the various issues to light, and tying them together in a cohesive story. There are many issues dealt with in this book, but mental health is a large part of it. I was worried about the covid part, but it was really well done and people who are not ready to read about the pandemic and it’s aftermath, shouldn’t have a problem with this story. I have to say something about the descriptive and beautiful writing. I could picture the countryside, the buildings, the food and the people so easily. I can’t wait until my visit to the area after reading this book. If you enjoy books about people and books, especially how they bring people together and help them to heal, then I highly recommend this book.

GIVEAWAY

Click the Rafflecopter button below to Enter for a chance to Win a paperback copy of The Dubrovnik Book Club (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

About the Author: Eva Glyn fell in love with Croatia during her first holiday there in 2019; the incredible scenery, the delicious food, the country’s dramatic twentieth century history all played their part, but most of all it was the friendliness of the people.

One of these was tour director Darko Barisic, who told an incredible story about growing up in underground shelters during the war in the 1990s, and she knew she had to write a book around his experiences. This became her first Croatian novel, The Olive Grove, and she and Darko have become good friends and he continues to advise her on all aspects of Croatia.

Eva delves into Croatian history and everyday life for her inspiration, and visits the country as often as she can, having uncovered so many stories by talking to local people. Travel in general is her passion, followed closely by food and wine, which also find their way between her pages.

Although Welsh by birth she now lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with almost thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

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