The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin 

I was so excited to get another Rebecca Raisin book to read, and I loved it. It has a slightly different feel from her previous novels — less focus on environmental themes — but the characterisation is absolutely incredible. She creates people you instantly care about, and this story is full of that trademark warmth, charm and emotional depth that make her books such a joy.

Viviane appears to be very neurodiverse, and her mother worries about her lack of friends and her difficulty socialising. But when Viviane steps into a small coffee shop in Porto, she has no idea she’s about to spark a silent book club — or find a group of people who will quickly become friends. As the saying goes, every pot has its lid, and this quirky little circle fits together perfectly, each able to be fully themselves in each other’s company. The first person Viviane meets is Tiago, a handsome, nerdy tech entrepreneur who strikes up a conversation when he spots the murder mystery she’s reading — his favourite author too. No sooner has the silent book club grown to six than one of their number goes missing, and the group becomes convinced murder is afoot, setting out to solve the mystery together.

It’s an utterly charming and surprisingly amusing story, full of quirky characters, gentle chaos and the kind of offbeat moments that make Rebecca Raisin’s books such a joy. The blend of friendship, mystery and neurodiverse representation is handled with real warmth, and the silent book club’s antics had me smiling throughout. It’s heartfelt, funny and beautifully written — a gorgeous read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8883750250