Crown Chronicles Book-Club-Shelf
"Books that hit. Company that heals. Talk that matters."
Past Page Turners
"Verity" by Colleen Hoover
Twists, turns, and jaw-dropping secrets? Say less. For our first book club read, we dived into the wild ride of Verity, and whew—let's say you wanted to buckle up. Whether you were a Colleen Hoover newbie or a seasoned CoHo stan, this one had us flipping pages and questioning everything.
Community Reviews
Debra rated it
TM
Verity was a very interesting and simultaneously disturbing read. There was great character development, and I was able to draw my own conclusions about the characters and plot at the end. It was the perfect thriller.
Maria rated it
I’ve never read Colleen Hoover before, but since I like thrillers and had heard her name mentioned a few times, I was excited to give this book a try. It turned out to be quite the creepy read. Maybe her other books are different, but I didn’t find any of the characters that relatable, or the plot very realistic. It felt so far-fetched at times that it was comical! I had a great time at book club laughing and discussing how none of us could see ourselves getting into the same situations as the main character. If any of us experienced that level of creepiness, we’d be running out the door immediately! Not my favourite book, but definitely a fun book club read.
Christal rated it
Whew. This book stressed me out—and I mean that in the most page-turning, I-forgot-I-have-a-day-job kind of way. As a longtime lover of thrillers, I’m always looking for a story that grabs me by the collar and yanks me out of reality. Verity was my first Colleen Hoover read and let’s just say… ma’am did not come to play.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. But not in a “let’s see how this unfolds” kind of way—more like, “what in the psychological chaos is going on here!?” I spent half the book side-eyeing every character and the other half debating whether I should be concerned for my mental state for continuing to read it.
Let’s be honest, I couldn’t see myself in a single character—because I’m not that unhinged. (No spoilers, but if you know, you know.) Everyone was moving mad. Completely left field. But somehow, that’s what made it enjoyable? It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion while eating popcorn—disturbing, yet weirdly entertaining.
The real saving grace was talking it through with the book club. The conversations were wild and hilarious, mostly because we were all equally confused, disturbed, and suspicious of everyone. This book left me with more questions than closure—but I think that’s the point. It’s chaotic, unsettling, unrealistic, and honestly… kind of perfect for a book club debate.
Would I recommend it? If you're into psychological thrillers that make you laugh, cringe, and spiral all at the same time—absolutely. Just maybe clear your calendar first.
"The Great Alone" by
Kristin Hannah
We once journeyed through The Great Alone, a novel that carried us deep into the untamed beauty of Alaska—a place where the wilderness was as unforgiving as it was mesmerizing. The story unfolded as a stirring exploration of resilience, love, and the hidden reserves of courage we often discover only when life gives us no other choice.
Kristin Hannah painted a tale as vast and haunting as the Alaskan frontier itself, leaving us with a read that lingered long after the final page.
Community Reviews
Maria rated it
The reviews that I saw of this book warned me that it would be a tearjerker, and they weren’t kidding! This was an emotional roller coaster of a read. It’s definitely an inspirational story of strength and resilience against unpredictable darkness and wilderness, and made me appreciate even the most basic comforts that I have in my own life. Because I certainly couldn’t tough it out growing up in Alaska like Leni. Very excited to continue reading books by this author, though I hope I shed less tears over the next one!
Christal rated it
Wow—The Great Alone took me on an emotional roller coaster I did not see coming! This was my very first Kristin Hannah novel, and let me tell you, it definitely won’t be my last. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked.
I found myself crying one minute, holding my breath in suspense the next, then laughing at little moments—and yes, staying up way past my bedtime because I had to know what happened next. The writing is so vivid it feels like you’re right there in Alaska, watching the characters’ faces and reactions unfold in real time. And just when I thought I had the story figured out, it would throw me for a loop in the best possible way.
A fantastic, jaw-dropping read. Solid 5 out of 5 stars from me!
"I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jacqueline Harpman. Translated by Ros Schwartz
Our last book club pick, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, invited us into a world both haunting and unforgettable. In this stark and mysterious story, thirty-nine women lived in confinement, cut off from the world they once knew, until a sudden chance at freedom changed everything. The novel quietly unraveled questions of who we are when the world we know no longer exists.
Thought-provoking, atmospheric, and deeply human—this novel sparked rich conversation and reflection.
Community Reviews
Christal rated it
This book made me question everything—far more than I expected when I first picked it up. I thought I might find clarity —maybe even a sense of closure or a hopeful ending — that would answer the many mysteries surrounding these women and how they came to be where they were. But this story offers something entirely different —and, in many ways, much deeper.
Without giving away any spoilers, the book forced me to confront what it truly means to be human—outside of the materialism, status, self-adoration, and constant striving that shape our modern world. The women in this story exist stripped bare, removed from society, left with nothing but themselves, sparse provisions, and the silent presence of the guards. Watching them survive with only what was on their backs made me realize just how much of our lives revolve around things that ultimately do not matter.
I kept wondering whether freedom is better than captivity—because once they were “free,” were they really free at all? The absence of memory, emotion, and even names left me with an ache. The narrator doesn’t have a name, yet somehow I felt like I knew her. That lack of identity made me question whether namelessness represents a loss of self… or a strange kind of liberation. I also kept imagining myself in their position. Would I rebel? Would I fight tooth and nail for freedom? Or would I retreat into caregiving or leadership, or simply become an observer? This book stirred up more questions than answers, but in a way that felt intentional and meaningful.
Even moments that seemed unrealistic held a mirror up, reflecting our current society. If we were stripped of our jobs, money, possessions, titles—who would we be? How would we treat one another? The frightening truth is that many people in this world are still “caged,” whether physically, emotionally, or socially, and this story makes that reality impossible to ignore.
This book is haunting, unsettling, and thought-provoking in the best way, leaving me wondering:
If everything you cling to for identity disappeared tomorrow, who would you become?
Maria rated it
As a lover of dystopian and science fiction, this dark little book was definitely up my alley. The story never promises an explanation or a happy ending, and left me with more questions than answers. I was left wondering about my own choices, freedom, and what role I would play in the world within this book. My questions made me reflect on my own life, which is something I really value as a reader. 5 stars!
Helen rated it
Jacqueline Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men is a haunting novel that reflects deeply on isolation, memory, and what it means to be human. The story’s bleak tone and spare setting strip away everything familiar, leaving only the most basic aspects of existence. While the premise is intriguing and the philosophical questions profound, I found the novel ultimately sad and somewhat anticlimactic. Its deliberate lack of resolution and emotional distance left me disappointed rather than moved. Still, as a commentary on humanity, what defines us when all social and emotional frameworks are gone, it is a thought-provoking and unsettling read.
Next Book Club: Thursday, November 27, 2025