When making friends becomes having a little book club, with a real whodunnit

Synopsis

In a city full of stories, can she write her own…

Introvert and self-described whodunnit enthusiast Viviane has never much believed in living life outside of the pages of a book. But when her interfering mother insists that Viviane needs some friends who aren’t fictional, she decides to head into the beautiful bustling streets of Porto in search of her community.

What better place to start than by reading her favourite mystery in the corner of a little-known café? But when one, then two, and then outrageously six other people decide to join her silent book club Viviane realises that she is firmly out of her depth. There’s Thomas, a middle-aged man hiding his love for romance novels, Lucinda, a chic sixty-something with a penchant for Christie, and then there’s Tiago, the man of every romance novelist’s dreams.

But when one of these newfound friends disappears from the book club without a word, will the community come together to find their fellow lost soul, and will Viviane find love along the way…?

My review

Viviane is a real introvert, she enjoys spending her time on her own, and preferable reading a book. She is also a self – described whodunnit enthusiast. But her mother wants Viviane to make actual friends, and not enjoying the fictional kind. So Viviane steps outside, to find a community where she can belong to. So is there a better place than stopping in a small café in the streets of Porto, reading her favourite mystery book? First she meets a fellow booklover, even a fellow mystery – lover, Tiago. And he agrees to have a silent book blub, just sitting together in the café, enjoying the books they are reading, without any mandatory yet needless chitchat. But what Viviane did not expect, is that her book club of two quickly expands with six other people. And people that are completely different, not one is alike! A real nightmare for Viviane! And then one of the book clubbers disappears without a word, and Viviane believes that it’s time for the club to join their forces and solve this mystery! But what will they find? And what will Viviane find while spending more time with Tiago?

As a real booklover, I was intrigued by this little book club. Even if my genre isn’t perse a whodunnit, I can still enjoy reading a mystery now and then. Also, what raised my curiosity even more, is that Viviane is an introvert. Something that I can relate too, as I have my moments where I just want to be left alone, in peace, on my own, not wanting to be bothered by anyone or anything.

And while I could understand why her own mother is pushing Viviane to go more out, I could also understand that it wouldn’t be easy for Viviane. While she sees a lot of people she has seen before, her trepidation of just start some small talk was something I so recognized.

I also have to admit that I admired Viviane, because I don’t know if I would be able to go into a café, sit down and just read there on my own. My awkwardness would raise up in the sky! 😊 So I was proud of her, doing just that, finding a nice spot in the café and just relax with a good book to read!

It was also a bit funny reading how the meeting between Viviane and Tiago took place. They literally bumped into each other, and there their friendship takes off. While introvert Viviane initially cannot get rid of Tiago as fast as possible, Tiago is a force of nature that won’t get chased away that easily. Seeing how these opposite characters just match in a way, was so sweet to read.

And yes, I found it also hilarious to read how Tiago keeps on expanding the silent book club, while Viviane is getting anxious about it, especially as the made rules aren’t being followed as much as she would love it.

But where Viviane is feeling out of her depth, it also gives her the perfect occasion to step outside in the real world, make new friends and just be more courageous.

Now, I have to admit, when Viviane starts to suspect that an actual crime is about to take place, I had to have some patience with her. Because she is so focused on solving the mystery, that she has tunnel vision and is unable to see the oh so obvious signs. And she is also unable to suddenly truly listen to her mother, otherwise she wouldn’t be shocked when she actually listens to what her mother has been saying.

Also the way she dismisses Tiago, how she is adamant on not getting closer to him, well yes, it frustrated me a little bit 😊. And her being an introvert for sure explains a lot, but as a reader, where you want to see things progress, especially between Viviane and Tiago, it means testing my patience 😊.

But beside Viviane testing my patience at moments, I found it lovely reading how a bunch of different people can become your tribe somehow. And how books, even different genres, can bring people together and make them connect with each other.

And that is the strength of this book, showing us how we can just find ‘our’ people, and how those people allow us to open up, even if we are used on being very very closed and used to be just on our own and enjoy it. There is nothing wrong with that, but finding the right people will expand your world in a beautiful way!