What do you think?
Rate this book
The Paper Rose Club
Four best friends. A lifetime of memories. Nothing could ever come between them...or so it would seem. Welcome to the quaint town of Honeycomb, Alabama where life is anything but serene. Roxie Fisher must fight to save her bakery from the greedy clutches of her lifelong nemesis, Imogene West, while trying to finagle a way to keep Gus Malone, the love of her life, from falling for her spoiled but beautiful designer friend Rose, who's determined to make Gus number four in her long line of husbands. Roxie gets lots of help and unwanted advice from Bobbi, her busy-body friend and Pollie, her hypochondriac sister. Lots of cat fighting and cake slinging going on in this heartfelt story about the friendships that define our lives and the secrets we all keep from each other.
277 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2011
43 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Youngblood
182 books789 followersJennifer loves reading and writing clean romance. She believes that happily ever after is not just for stories. Jennifer enjoys interior design, rollerblading, clogging, jogging, and chocolate. In Jennifer’s opinion there are few ills that can’t be solved with a warm brownie and scoop of vanilla-bean ice cream.
Jennifer grew up in rural Alabama and loved living in a town where “everybody knows everybody.” Her love for writing began as a young teenager when she wrote stories for her high school English teacher to critique.
Jennifer has a BA in English and Social Sciences from Brigham Young University Hawaii where she served as Miss BYU Hawaii. Before becoming an author, she worked as the owner and editor of a monthly newspaper named The Senior Times.
She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family and spends her time writing and doing all of the wonderful things that make up the life of a busy wife and mother.
Jennifer grew up in rural Alabama and loved living in a town where “everybody knows everybody.” Her love for writing began as a young teenager when she wrote stories for her high school English teacher to critique.
Jennifer has a BA in English and Social Sciences from Brigham Young University Hawaii where she served as Miss BYU Hawaii. Before becoming an author, she worked as the owner and editor of a monthly newspaper named The Senior Times.
She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family and spends her time writing and doing all of the wonderful things that make up the life of a busy wife and mother.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 13, 2012
This was such a great book! If you are a fan of Southern fiction, like DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD you will love this book. A group of women, friends since childhood, find their bonds tested when a long-buried secret comes to light. Poole and Youngblood have a deft touch with character and give this book the perfect mix of drama, humor, and even mystery.
January 7, 2012
I thought this was a fun story line. The characters were likeable. I really enjoy the Pooles' books.
June 23, 2013
Nobody does Southern lit better than Jennifer Youngblood and Sandra Poole. This duo has done it again with a fresh, fun and entertaining Southern chick lit you'll love.
August 6, 2014
Good
Good
it was great story about women and their relationships continues from childhood.the way there are continuing and the way some people cause trouble.
Good
it was great story about women and their relationships continues from childhood.the way there are continuing and the way some people cause trouble.
October 20, 2020
If you like a love triangle mystery
I would love to have had a but more explanation and character buildup for the paper rose club. I loved the different characters. The mystery love triangle was capturing.
There are many truths in here about the importance of communication in relationships. Whether close friends, husband and wife, or boyfriend, girlfriend.
I am not particularly pleased with the necessity of swear words in any book. When a book is well written, expletives are a disappointment. All in all, this was a good book and the lead into the next book sounds intriguing!
I would love to have had a but more explanation and character buildup for the paper rose club. I loved the different characters. The mystery love triangle was capturing.
There are many truths in here about the importance of communication in relationships. Whether close friends, husband and wife, or boyfriend, girlfriend.
I am not particularly pleased with the necessity of swear words in any book. When a book is well written, expletives are a disappointment. All in all, this was a good book and the lead into the next book sounds intriguing!
July 1, 2017
Had this free Kindle book for a couple of years and now wondering why it took me so long to read it. It was a corny but fun read. There were twists and turns that kept it interesting. The story began with four girls who started the "Paper Rose Club" (another girl joins later on) then transitioned to them as middle aged women where they continued to keep the club active and their friendship strong. I am deeply disappointed that a sneak preview to the sequel was included in this book but after 6 years it's still hasn't been published.
February 22, 2023
It seems there is a recipe for love but it's been elusive for Roxie & Rose along with several others in the town of Honeycomb. There are several mysteries also happening & a big surprise ending. I was given a copy of this book. I choose to write this review.
April 6, 2025
Narration by virtual voice/AI voice is horrid. Made a not great story impossibly awful to listen to.
December 26, 2012
I’ve spent the last couple weeks with four older women. That’s right – four southern women. And my wife knew all about it, even excited for her turn to spend time with these women … Roxie, Bobbi, Pollie, and Rose.
On a flight home from Oakland just before Christmas, a burly bearded man sat next to me on the plane and wondered why I was with such women, but I was too enthralled with their gossipy lives I didn’t have time to explain my fascination. There is something simple and ordinary about them, yet the quartet is adventurous, humorous, and deeply stunning.
I was humbled to be allowed in on their secret thoughts and feelings, like part of the club – a club as important as a never-ending friendship.
These ladies are the affectionately stubborn residents of fictional Honeycomb, Alabama, which is the quaint, but spirited setting for the third novel written by Jennifer Youngblood and Sandra Poole. The mother-daughter writing duo both grew up in the northern hills of rural Alabama around such women like the characters in their charming story titled The Paper Rose Club, which is the first in a planned series.
The lives of these four women are defined by their exclusive club, which was formed after an act of “vandalism” by two childhood best friends against one of their mothers. Through tears, the mother speaks the motto that would help form The Paper Rose Club, but also define these four women for life.
“Just remember that paper roses’ll last forever…just like your friendships.”
The modest statement sets the tone for a story with unexpected twists and betrayal when friendships are tested and even damaged. Having grown up in Georgia, just across the Alabama state line, I was quickly transported home to the comfortable blanket of The South through syrupy language and distinctive southern phrases. Your heart clutches and your soul laughs with every paragraph the authors write.
A tense line from the novel shares some fears for making mistakes between our friends and our urges.
“Everything I ever believed about love has blown up in my face, and yet…I still have the capacity to love. What strange creatures we human beings are. Why do we crave the things that will lead to our undoing?”
The Paper Rose Club is a roller-coaster of emotions, that as a man I couldn’t believe I was having, so I put the book down. But I went back, wanting to know what happened to the strong-willed Roxie and craving the unfiltered plainness of Bobbie. I needed to know if Pollie was up to something or what Rose would do next that caused everyone to roll their eyes.
I can imagine some readers swallowing this story quickly, with one giant gulp, but I couldn’t. I had to take my time, savoring the thrill of the chase and the sting of betrayal. I had to mourn with these new friends and hold them tight as though I were Gus Malone – the love of Roxie’s life, whose touch she longs for.
Wait! Hold-on for a minute. Don’t take my “man card” just yet.
I’m not trying to imply this book is a romance novel, though there are hints of romance within the story. Youngblood and Poole have created a story about serious long-term relationships that are shattered when a friend hurts a friend, but how true friendships can overcome such heartache – at least a little with all the gossip flying around a tight-knit community.
“It was mind boggling how efficient the grapevine was in Honeycomb,” the authors share.
For women, The Paper Rose Club is a great story of crime, mystery, comedy and general small town life all mixed together. I found myself on the edge of my chair, laughing with the group, and even thinking about crying – because I was under the impression that men don’t cry. Wink, wink.
For men, that don’t want to say they read a “chick” book, I found when I look back that it seemed I was reading a fascinating, fictional self-help book about how to and how not to treat a woman. I learned from the woman’s mind how she was hoping to be treated, wanted and loved; turn-ons and turn-offs, and even how to keep the magic alive in a relationship … not sexually, but emotionally.
In the beginning, the authors set you on a path of thinking with the following sentiment:
“I suppose every person who lives long enough is bound to have a secret. … What dark deeds lie beneath the simple smile of the woman walking briskly through the mall, her arms full of shopping bags?”
But in the end, you are relieved that life can be just as we “imagined it would be – no better.”
And that is simply all we need to be happy.
On a flight home from Oakland just before Christmas, a burly bearded man sat next to me on the plane and wondered why I was with such women, but I was too enthralled with their gossipy lives I didn’t have time to explain my fascination. There is something simple and ordinary about them, yet the quartet is adventurous, humorous, and deeply stunning.
I was humbled to be allowed in on their secret thoughts and feelings, like part of the club – a club as important as a never-ending friendship.
These ladies are the affectionately stubborn residents of fictional Honeycomb, Alabama, which is the quaint, but spirited setting for the third novel written by Jennifer Youngblood and Sandra Poole. The mother-daughter writing duo both grew up in the northern hills of rural Alabama around such women like the characters in their charming story titled The Paper Rose Club, which is the first in a planned series.
The lives of these four women are defined by their exclusive club, which was formed after an act of “vandalism” by two childhood best friends against one of their mothers. Through tears, the mother speaks the motto that would help form The Paper Rose Club, but also define these four women for life.
“Just remember that paper roses’ll last forever…just like your friendships.”
The modest statement sets the tone for a story with unexpected twists and betrayal when friendships are tested and even damaged. Having grown up in Georgia, just across the Alabama state line, I was quickly transported home to the comfortable blanket of The South through syrupy language and distinctive southern phrases. Your heart clutches and your soul laughs with every paragraph the authors write.
A tense line from the novel shares some fears for making mistakes between our friends and our urges.
“Everything I ever believed about love has blown up in my face, and yet…I still have the capacity to love. What strange creatures we human beings are. Why do we crave the things that will lead to our undoing?”
The Paper Rose Club is a roller-coaster of emotions, that as a man I couldn’t believe I was having, so I put the book down. But I went back, wanting to know what happened to the strong-willed Roxie and craving the unfiltered plainness of Bobbie. I needed to know if Pollie was up to something or what Rose would do next that caused everyone to roll their eyes.
I can imagine some readers swallowing this story quickly, with one giant gulp, but I couldn’t. I had to take my time, savoring the thrill of the chase and the sting of betrayal. I had to mourn with these new friends and hold them tight as though I were Gus Malone – the love of Roxie’s life, whose touch she longs for.
Wait! Hold-on for a minute. Don’t take my “man card” just yet.
I’m not trying to imply this book is a romance novel, though there are hints of romance within the story. Youngblood and Poole have created a story about serious long-term relationships that are shattered when a friend hurts a friend, but how true friendships can overcome such heartache – at least a little with all the gossip flying around a tight-knit community.
“It was mind boggling how efficient the grapevine was in Honeycomb,” the authors share.
For women, The Paper Rose Club is a great story of crime, mystery, comedy and general small town life all mixed together. I found myself on the edge of my chair, laughing with the group, and even thinking about crying – because I was under the impression that men don’t cry. Wink, wink.
For men, that don’t want to say they read a “chick” book, I found when I look back that it seemed I was reading a fascinating, fictional self-help book about how to and how not to treat a woman. I learned from the woman’s mind how she was hoping to be treated, wanted and loved; turn-ons and turn-offs, and even how to keep the magic alive in a relationship … not sexually, but emotionally.
In the beginning, the authors set you on a path of thinking with the following sentiment:
“I suppose every person who lives long enough is bound to have a secret. … What dark deeds lie beneath the simple smile of the woman walking briskly through the mall, her arms full of shopping bags?”
But in the end, you are relieved that life can be just as we “imagined it would be – no better.”
And that is simply all we need to be happy.
December 30, 2016
This was an an enjoyable light read which is what I was in the mood for. Although it started off slow for me, the plot picked up as it went along and the mystery in it really caught my interest. The title 'Paper Rose Club' refers to a name 4 young girls picked out to name their friendship club. Later on, another girl is added to the club when she moves to town and eventually one of the 4 original 'members' dies of cancer. The novel moves from the time when they were young girls to middle age where they all live in a small town named Honeycomb (I think it is supposed to be North Carolina but perhaps it is South Carolina). Roxie, a widow, has owned a successful bakery for several years and is in love with a widower who was also her dearest friend's husband. Bobbi, the newest member of the group, is also a widow who is known for her cookie baking and also has a dog named Butch. Rose, currently a divorcee after 3 marriages is beautiful and shallow but needs Roxie's friendship. Pollie is Roxie's younger sister and her husband has left her. Roxie is the character that the plot primarily focuses on as her past husband's affairs come back to haunt her and another woman in town is trying to steal her business. Although I didn't always like these characters, the story kept my interest and I enjoyed the ending. The author has created a memorable set of characters. However, I was disappointed that a subplot in the book was left hanging. If you enjoy reading about woman friend characters in a small town, you will enjoy this book. I read this as a free Kindle book.
February 17, 2017
A fun little story.
This was a great story with some quirky characters. There was a lot going on in this little town, including gossip galore. There was laughter, romance and a lot of mystery.
This was a great story with some quirky characters. There was a lot going on in this little town, including gossip galore. There was laughter, romance and a lot of mystery.
February 11, 2016
I received this book as part of Goodreads First-Reads for review and I have to say I enjoyed the book. It was simple and fun and I am interested in where the characters all go from here and am awaiting the next book in the series.
I always enjoy books about a group of people and the things they have shared through life. Debbie Macomber does this exceedingly well, and while this book is not in the league, it is still a worthwhile book to take your mind off what troubles you and take you somewhere else for a while. If a book can do that for me, I am usually pretty happy. This book may not have made me grin from ear to ear, it made me smile and want to visit again soon.
I always enjoy books about a group of people and the things they have shared through life. Debbie Macomber does this exceedingly well, and while this book is not in the league, it is still a worthwhile book to take your mind off what troubles you and take you somewhere else for a while. If a book can do that for me, I am usually pretty happy. This book may not have made me grin from ear to ear, it made me smile and want to visit again soon.
October 3, 2014
I was bothered by the fact the authors didn't approach the subject of how the lady's best friends didn't know she was pregnant or delivered a baby.
Also, the opinion that she gave up the baby for adoption was selfish bugged me too. The boy obviously had a much better life being raised by his adoptive parents.
Besides those two things, it was good. :)
Also, the opinion that she gave up the baby for adoption was selfish bugged me too. The boy obviously had a much better life being raised by his adoptive parents.
Besides those two things, it was good. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2014
This was a slow starting book, but once you got into it, it was interesting. It gives a good story of how 4 childhood friends grow through to their midlife. Shows how people can change over time through their friencships and adult lives. Interesting.
March 24, 2013
Not my favorite by these authors. I felt it was for a little older audience maybe...
April 15, 2014
Definitely not the "Ya-Ya's" Disappointing & not very entertaining.
April 7, 2017
A little slow at first but picks up fast. Great read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews