209 books
—
31 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Christmas Cookie Club” as Want to Read:
The Christmas Cookie Club
(Christmas Cookie Club #1)
by
Mark your calendar. It's the Christmas Cookie Club!
Every year on the first Monday of December, Marnie and her twelve closest girlfriends gather in the evening with batches of beautifully wrapped homemade cookies. Everyone has to bring a dish, a bottle of wine, and their stories. This year, the stories are especially important. Marnie's oldest daughter has a risky pregnanc ...more
Every year on the first Monday of December, Marnie and her twelve closest girlfriends gather in the evening with batches of beautifully wrapped homemade cookies. Everyone has to bring a dish, a bottle of wine, and their stories. This year, the stories are especially important. Marnie's oldest daughter has a risky pregnanc ...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
October 20th 2009
by Atria Books
(first published January 1st 2009)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
The Christmas Cookie Club,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of The Christmas Cookie Club

Ugh! I've been seeing all the new Christmas fiction coming out this time of year, and I was hoping for a light Christmas story to get me in the holiday spirit. This is not that book. Think cancer, dead babies, horrific accidents, family deaths, and domestic abuse. Each chapter starts with a recipe and tells the story of a club member. Between chapters are short histories of various baking ingredients (butter, sugar, flour, etc.) which are completely random and have nothing to do with the stories
...more

This is possibly the perfect book club book.
Every year, on the first Monday in December twelve women get together to share cookies, recipes and stories. The past year has been very eventful for many of the members. Some express joy, others sadness, and one the terrible loss of a son. They listen, laugh and cry. Their bond strengthens each of the women as they get ready to move on to another year and look forward to another Cookie Club meeting.
I loved the format. Each chapter highlights one of th ...more
Every year, on the first Monday in December twelve women get together to share cookies, recipes and stories. The past year has been very eventful for many of the members. Some express joy, others sadness, and one the terrible loss of a son. They listen, laugh and cry. Their bond strengthens each of the women as they get ready to move on to another year and look forward to another Cookie Club meeting.
I loved the format. Each chapter highlights one of th ...more

With the Christmas season coming up, I feel like this is a good book to recommend. This book might have some flaws, but it also has a lot going from it, from touching stories to great recipes. It may not be a great work of literature, but it is a warm and a satisfying read. Moreover, The Christmas Cookie Club isn't exactly light reading. This novel deals with some serious issues and problems. I think I expected a light book and book about Christmas but this novel offered more than easy holiday r
...more

A true chicklit filled with heartwarming friendships between women and lovely cookie recipes. Even though I only awarded two stars, I enjoyed reading it. The reason that I found this book merely ok is because I did not feel the emotions of the characters. There are so many of them, it's difficult to create a mental picture for each of them (which I reckon is absolutely needed to be able relate to the characters).
However, it's a fun quick read and does get one in the christmas and baking spirit! ...more
However, it's a fun quick read and does get one in the christmas and baking spirit! ...more

This delightful book with its gorgeous cover of a woman holding a tray of cookies in one hand and a glass of wine in the other was given to me by a good friend for my 50th Birthday, 8 years ago. I swear it feels like it was only yesterday I received this book, lol. All thanks to the backlist challenge it’s now sitting on my keeper bookshelf rather than in the TBR mountain.
A light read with some sad tales though still a really fun read and the cookie recipes at the beginning of each chapter… yum ...more
A light read with some sad tales though still a really fun read and the cookie recipes at the beginning of each chapter… yum ...more

I have no idea how this book made its way to "best seller" lists and the shelves of mass market media places like Target. The first 2 chapters were good, even promising...but after that it takes a very, very sharp turn. So much information about too many characters is thrown at you so quickly, it is nearly impossible to keep up...I likened it to what it would be like if a book threw up. I rarely part with a book, even if I know I'm not going to read it again...but this one is most definitely goi
...more

Really enjoyed this book. No matter what was going on in these women's lives, they meet every year for their Christmas Cookie Club. It's a testamant as to how your friendships can sustain you through everything in life.
...more

"The Christmas Cookie Club" is a short novel which takes place on one December evening. The event is the annual Christmas Cookie party where twelve women exchange cookies and donate some for charity. Each cookie delivery comes with a story, a recipe and a few historical facts about the ingredients. The host of the event is Marnie, who started the club, created the rules and has had a complex life herself.
Even though each chapter is supposed to be about the woman presenting the cookies, it isn't ...more
Even though each chapter is supposed to be about the woman presenting the cookies, it isn't ...more

Marnie has an annual Christmas party with rules. She invites 12 of her friends and they are to bring a bottle of wine, a dish, and 13 dozen cookies. One dozen will go to hospice and the other cookies will be handed out to the other guests. If you cannot attend the party you must send the cookies. You must also bring the recipe and tell a story as to why you choose that particular cookie.
This has been their tradition. The ladies have shared so many joys in their lives and appreciate the passage o ...more
This has been their tradition. The ladies have shared so many joys in their lives and appreciate the passage o ...more

It is that time of year again. Time for Marnie’s annual Christmas Cookie Club. There are eight rules but the most important one is number 7. Which states: It’s always on the first Monday in December (referencing to the annual Christmas Cookie Club). Put it on your calendar and count on it.
There are several new ladies joining the group this year. Marnie can not wait to visit with her friends, share memories, eat food, and of course munching on cookies. The only thing that would make this day per ...more
There are several new ladies joining the group this year. Marnie can not wait to visit with her friends, share memories, eat food, and of course munching on cookies. The only thing that would make this day per ...more

There were so many things wrong with this book! I really wanted to love this book but it just fell flat.
1-The story is told about 12 women but only one woman tells that story. Somehow she is part of everything in everyone's life. Also, while she would be describing something important in another woman's life, she would wander into her own life and make it all about her. It was quite annoying.
2- I can't even count how many times she mentioned the little wine glass ornaments that distinguish whi ...more
1-The story is told about 12 women but only one woman tells that story. Somehow she is part of everything in everyone's life. Also, while she would be describing something important in another woman's life, she would wander into her own life and make it all about her. It was quite annoying.
2- I can't even count how many times she mentioned the little wine glass ornaments that distinguish whi ...more

I love this book. The fun started for me last Christmas when I came across The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman. It centers around a group of ladies that gather every Christmas season to make and exchange cookies. It sounds perfectly simple, but there are some rules for cookie club hopefuls. The publisher sent me this book in exchange for an honest review and I fell in love with it at first read. The warm of the authors, Ann Pearlman and Marybeth Bayer shines through the whole book.
This c ...more
This c ...more

Christmas 2018 - Naughty
No. Just no. DNF'd very quickly.
With a title like "The Christmas Cookie Club" one might be forgiven for assuming this would be a lighthearted holiday read. Not so much. Within the first few minutes I listened in horror to a litany of multiple miscarriages; premature death from leukemia; adultery; and a divorce.
Happy Freaking Holidays.
PLUS, when I read unnecessary boring details, I often joke about the author writing, "Then I inhaled. Then I exhaled." I shit you not, in ...more
No. Just no. DNF'd very quickly.
With a title like "The Christmas Cookie Club" one might be forgiven for assuming this would be a lighthearted holiday read. Not so much. Within the first few minutes I listened in horror to a litany of multiple miscarriages; premature death from leukemia; adultery; and a divorce.
Happy Freaking Holidays.
PLUS, when I read unnecessary boring details, I often joke about the author writing, "Then I inhaled. Then I exhaled." I shit you not, in ...more

I gave up on this 2.5 chapters in, when I got a several page tutorial about flour at the start of chapter 1, and then a tutorial about almonds at the start of chapter 2.
After each of the tutorials, the book seems to get even more confused about its genre, as there were then several pages for the cookie recipes.
I can only assume that each chapter was the same, with 12 members of the cookie club - therefore 10 more of these tutorials and recipes to go.
The actual story seemed quite promising, but f ...more
After each of the tutorials, the book seems to get even more confused about its genre, as there were then several pages for the cookie recipes.
I can only assume that each chapter was the same, with 12 members of the cookie club - therefore 10 more of these tutorials and recipes to go.
The actual story seemed quite promising, but f ...more

It's pretty rare that I cry at books, but this one had me reaching for the tissues at least three times.
I got so invested in the little stories and found myself rationing my last few pages so not to finish so quick.
Would definitely recommend as a great Christmas read! ...more
I got so invested in the little stories and found myself rationing my last few pages so not to finish so quick.
Would definitely recommend as a great Christmas read! ...more

I am giving it 1.5 stars I thought I had read it before but it just wasn't what I thought it would be. Nothing to do with Christmas at all. I didn't connect with any characters. The whole book is just the day of this cookie club meeting/party. Everyone women having an issue but no real depth in any of the issues or their story.
...more

Each year Marnie hosts 11 other friend for a Christmas cookie club. There are rules about how many cookies they need to make (13 dozen- 1 for each member and 1 for charity), what types of cookies they can make (no chocolate chip cookies), and how they must be packaged (creatively, of course). Some women have participated every year of its existence. Others are only able to attend for a few years before moving on. The woman ages span several decades, difference finances, married, single, widowed,
...more

The opening line of this book is pretty good, I have to admit:
I am the head cookie bitch and this is my party.
And the premise for the book is also not bad. Every year a group of twelve diverse women gather to exchange cookies that they bake along with the latest happenings in their lives. As can be expected with this kind of story each woman has something unique to bring to the table like: one has adopted a baby internationally, one has a father who is having an affair with her bestfriend, the n ...more
I am the head cookie bitch and this is my party.
And the premise for the book is also not bad. Every year a group of twelve diverse women gather to exchange cookies that they bake along with the latest happenings in their lives. As can be expected with this kind of story each woman has something unique to bring to the table like: one has adopted a baby internationally, one has a father who is having an affair with her bestfriend, the n ...more

3.5/5
This is the story of 12 women who meet up every December for a cookie exchange. Each brings cookies to exchange, as well as well as a year full of stories and (a lot of) heartache. The story is narrated by Marnie, the “head cookie bitch,” and the host of the annual party. A lot of the story is centered around her life. She has two pregnant daughters, one an unwed eighteen year old, and the other in her 20’s who has had a tough time with her pregnancies. Each chapter is about a different mem ...more
This is the story of 12 women who meet up every December for a cookie exchange. Each brings cookies to exchange, as well as well as a year full of stories and (a lot of) heartache. The story is narrated by Marnie, the “head cookie bitch,” and the host of the annual party. A lot of the story is centered around her life. She has two pregnant daughters, one an unwed eighteen year old, and the other in her 20’s who has had a tough time with her pregnancies. Each chapter is about a different mem ...more

Based on a real club, 12 women meet each year, bring cookies and share stories.
I was sad at the amount of infidelity that occurred in marriages. These women live in a very different world than most of the people I interact with. I need to get out even MORE so I can embrace these kind of women and shine LIGHT into their worlds.
The confusion and warped philosophy about relationships and religion reminded me how truly blessed I am to live in my peaceful little faith-filled home.
I thought it was i ...more
I was sad at the amount of infidelity that occurred in marriages. These women live in a very different world than most of the people I interact with. I need to get out even MORE so I can embrace these kind of women and shine LIGHT into their worlds.
The confusion and warped philosophy about relationships and religion reminded me how truly blessed I am to live in my peaceful little faith-filled home.
I thought it was i ...more

From the beginning, I fell in love with Marnie the main character and her group of friends. The friends were diverse and from all walks of life which gave the book a realism because we pick up friends in our lives through many different ways. As I prepare for my first cookie exchange this year, I loved reading how organized and committed these ladies were to this yearly tradition.
Marnie has quite a group of ladies that surround her. From a new co-grandma to a friend from high school, she gather ...more
Marnie has quite a group of ladies that surround her. From a new co-grandma to a friend from high school, she gather ...more

After reading this book I can't wait for next year and start a "Christmas Cookie Club". The parts I enjoyed most about the book were the recipes, the rules and idea of the club, and information between each chapter regarding ingredients used such as sugar, flour etc.
The parts I disliked most were the telling of each persons history, the narrator always got side tracked and started telling her story again. This is a non-Christian based book but yet when difficulty entered into someones life they ...more
The parts I disliked most were the telling of each persons history, the narrator always got side tracked and started telling her story again. This is a non-Christian based book but yet when difficulty entered into someones life they ...more

Dec 04, 2010
Stella
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2010,
christmas-read
A very emotional and nice read, but don't be mislead by the bluish chick lit cover this is not a light HEA romantic chick lit, this is a women fiction drama novel, with lots of grief and tough lives (cancer, abortion, cheating, etc.), but very nicely done, a heartwarming, wonderful read for the holidays.
...more
...more

The book is about a group of women meeting each year in a Christmas Cookie Club where they share cookies and stories. Actually a nice idea. But there were just too many characters for the lenght of the novel. None of them - except maybe for the narrator - was able to develop properly and it was a bit difficult to remember who was who.

I can now cross off "give up reading a book after one sentence" because of this book, so...thanks?
And just so you don't even have to bother picking up this book, here's the worst first sentence of a book ever: "I AM THE HEAD COOKIE bitch and this is my party."
There. Now go read a real book, like Regards From the Dead Princess. ...more
And just so you don't even have to bother picking up this book, here's the worst first sentence of a book ever: "I AM THE HEAD COOKIE bitch and this is my party."
There. Now go read a real book, like Regards From the Dead Princess. ...more

This story reminds me of the book group I'm in, so that fact may "cause" me like the book more than some others. I just love the celebration of women friends. Btw, MY women friends are the BEST ever.
...more

The Christmas Cookie Club
(Christmas Cookie Club #1)
by Ann Pearlman
--I really enjoyed this book. Every Christmas 13 people get together for a cookie swap and catch up on their lives.
Marnie is the cookie leader and she is worried about her daughter's difficult pregnancy.
Each women has her own issues and the friends listen and support each other.
I liked the recipes in the book and will make a few someday.
The author also gave little bits of information on ingredients, so I learned while reading the ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 Reading Chal...: The Christmas Cookie Club | 1 | 21 | Mar 04, 2015 11:01AM |
Ann Pearlman was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for INFIDELITY which was also made into a Lifetime movie. Her first novel, THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CLUB has been translated into 6 languages and is a national and international bestseller. A GIFT FOR MY SISTER, following characters first introduced in The Christmas Cookie Club won a prize for best fiction. THE LOTTERY, the thir
...more
Other books in the series
Christmas Cookie Club
(3 books)
Related Articles
Mateo Askaripour is a Brooklyn-based writer whose debut novel, Black Buck—which Colson Whitehead calls a “mesmerizing novel, executing a high...
71 likes · 8 comments
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
“I am the head cookie bitch and this is my party.”
—
16 likes
“Pero ahora me pregunto por qué nos empeñamos en creer que una vida completa debe durar por lo menos ochenta años y que cualquier cosa por debajo de eso es un timo”
—
0 likes
More quotes…