Jill Anderson is a Friend of the Brainerd Public Library, on the Wine and Words committee, and a personal friend of mine… I can not be more thrilled for her and her first book as well as having the chance now to share it with all of you.
~Sheila
Peyton Brooks has plans for her life now that her youngest has graduated. She has left that her life has been put on hold for years and now – finally she feels that she can start her life by moving on from her marriage that has never even held a spark.
When tragedy strikes, taking away those that Peyton was closest to, she is left reeling. How do you go on when your support team is no longer there? How do you even breath when all you want to do is wish that you were gone as well?
The Hell and Back Club seems to hold the answers. Connected to a group of women who have their own personal hell, Peyton starts to learn to deal with not only the present situation, but also the past in ways she never dreamed possible. Yet just as she seems to think she is moving forward in small ways, she uncovers secrets about her friends that spirals her downward again….
This was my travel book when I went to the Book Expo this year.
How much can we really know anyone? Even those closest to you can be holding on to the deepest and darkest of secrets… and Peyton needs to come to terms with her own as well.
This is one of those books that I look at and think, why didn’t I think of that? While this book hits on a hard topic for me, Jill Anderson did an amazing job of covering details and hitting on the emotions involved in such a story. I was impressed by the details and the strong emotions that I felt as the story line unfolded. Always a fan of books about friendships and strong women, I found The To Hell And Back Club to be a book that had this in spades.
As each character was flushed out I could see how they all fit into Peyton’s life and why. Living in the area that Jill talks about in this book, I loved being able to visualize the places the group frequented and the roads they traveled.
I highly recommend this book to fans of strong women and friendships. I believe this would make for a great book club read as there is so much to discuss about friendships, and tragedies, and the moments that change us forever. I am so excited to read the next book that Jill writes and see where that takes me!
7 thoughts on “The To-Hell-And-Back Club by Jill Hannah Anderson”
Awww, thank you, sweet Sheila! I am honored to call you a friend, and even more honored that you read and reviewed (and shared!) my book. Thanks so very much! 🙂
Any book that helps dissect how we deal with “hell” is probably a good one, even if it is difficult to read. The thing that makes me most happy about your review? You used the term “flushed it out.” That’s what I say, but everyone tells me I am wrong and that the correct term is “fleshed it out.” I like our version better!
Understood… and yes the beginning is tough… not going to lie. I knew what I was in for – Jill had warned me prior to reading and it is references int eh synopsis as well… I appreciated that is was real and well written – but tough – you bet. I cried.
Book Journey 
Awww, thank you, sweet Sheila! I am honored to call you a friend, and even more honored that you read and reviewed (and shared!) my book. Thanks so very much! 🙂
Hey Jill, happy to do so 🙂
Any book that helps dissect how we deal with “hell” is probably a good one, even if it is difficult to read. The thing that makes me most happy about your review? You used the term “flushed it out.” That’s what I say, but everyone tells me I am wrong and that the correct term is “fleshed it out.” I like our version better!
LOL…. now you are making me question that Helen… Central Minnesota girl here knows.. gah I could be wrong 😉
This sounds like a tough read. Even now, I’m not sure I’m ready for it. Great review.
Understood… and yes the beginning is tough… not going to lie. I knew what I was in for – Jill had warned me prior to reading and it is references int eh synopsis as well… I appreciated that is was real and well written – but tough – you bet. I cried.
I’m sure it was. Hugs.