Women's Book Club

Book Club: Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan It is a high-stakes standalone crime thriller focusing on a dangerous game involving three targeted victims, featuring Detective Sergeant Judith Lee as she investigates a series of tailored, malicious packages. The story begins when Alexis Turner reports an assault and then disappears. Shortly after, three identical packages arrive at different homes, containing items that will destroy the recipients' lives. The thriller tackles themes of modern, intimate danger and revenge. This follows her highly successful 2024 thriller, *What Happened to Nina?* Discussion Points: * **The Ethics of Revenge:** Does the novel suggest that vigilante justice is sometimes necessary when the legal system fails? Discuss the motivations of the "antagonist" versus the moral failings of the three victims. * **Cycles of Trauma:** How does the childhood trauma of sisters **Renee** and **Margaux** mirror the past of **Judith Lee**? Discuss how their shared history of being "damaged" by others influences their present-day actions. * **Manipulation and Control:** The novel is described as a "deadly game". Talk about how the perpetrator uses intimate knowledge to hurt victims where they are most vulnerable and how they force Judith into playing along. * **Modern Dangers:** How do themes like **deepfakes**, **online manipulation**, and the rapid spread of misinformation heightening the stakes for the characters?

Hi Radiant Ladies, Brunetti on Flinders Lane is always a favourite with our Radiant Ladies—and it’s easy to see why! The coffee is great, and the cakes are simply delicious. See you! Lyn 🌸

Tuesday's Volleyball Games are on. Games start on Tuesday 7 pm at Ashburton Recreational Centre. All Levels Welcome. NO bookings required. Come and play volleyball with friends. #international #volleyball #club #melbourne

Do you run your own business or work for yourself and wish that you had a community of like-minded women who share the same experiences as you? If so, join us for a freelancers/entrepreneurs/self-employed networking night where we can share our stories over some Mexican food. Entrepreneurship and self-employment can be a lonely journey. We go through unique things and experiences, and our ups and downs can feel a lot more intense. But there's no reason why we need to go through this experience alone, when we have a community of women who have experienced what you have, and might even be able to point you in the right direction. It doesn't matter if you're a startup founder, a self-employed designer, or a part-time freelance consultant; anyone and everyone who runs a business is welcome.

Meet in the car park right at the end of Breen Drive at Dendy Park past the tennis courts. We’ll walk around Dendy Park, some do 1 lap, others 2. As the Dendy cafe is currently closed, we'll head to Rustica on Hampton st. for a coffee & chat Any concerns, don't hesitate to get in touch on 0409219524

Our book club is designed for disabled adults who enjoy reading and thoughtful discussion. The club explores a range of accessible books across different genres throughout the year. Each month, members read an assigned book and receive a small set of questions to think about while reading. When the group meets, discussion is open and welcoming, encouraging participants to share their ideas and interpretations. The focus is not only on reading, but on learning how to engage with stories, exploring characters, themes and different perspectives while building confidence in discussions. Our first book is **Gregor the Overlander**, a fast-paced adventure about family, responsibility, and being pulled into a world you don’t understand. It’s an accessible, engaging story that gives us plenty to explore together through discussion and shared thinking. **Themes:** Responsibility & growing up, war & violence, family & belonging **Trigger warnings:** * **Graphic:** Death, Violence, Animal death * **Moderate:** War, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail * **Minor:** Dementia, Torture, Confinement

**Discover the habits holding you back from mental strength with our June book club pick** Our June book club explores what it takes to build true mental resilience in a world that constantly challenges women. Psychotherapist and international bestselling author Amy Morin breaks down the specific behaviors and mindsets women must avoid to master their mental strength in this empowering guide. **About the book** This book explains what it means—and what it takes—to be a mentally strong woman. Delving into critical issues like sexism, social media, social comparison, and social pressure, Morin combines personal experiences, stories from former patients, and examples from women across industries to provide practical strategies for building mental toughness. **What you'll gain** * Insights into how mentally strong women don't insist on perfection, don't compare themselves to others, don't see vulnerability as a weakness, and don't let self-doubt stop them from reaching their goals. * Specific tips that each woman, regardless of age or station in life, can follow to make important and significant changes and flex their mental muscles. * Thoughtful advice and actionable strategies for tackling difficult issues—from calling out sexism to fighting harassment and finding confidence. Purchase Links: [[13 Things That Mentally Strong Women Don't Do](https://www.thenile.com.au/books/amy-morin/13-things-mentally-strong-women-dont-do/9781529358452?gad_campaignid=17335838322&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADhOHwij9fCbfRB7h70C0oc8eWZDe&gclid=CjwKCAiA-sXMBhAOEiwAGGw6LEblb29hTucbDlWU6fi4fWzFnAHSPkp_T9fzxg287CRzYXXbfl57cBoCgI8QAvD_BwE&utm_campaign=18141173729&utm_content=&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=)] **Please note that this is a paid event to help cover the cost of meetup fees. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Boss and being part of a community that uplifts and inspires!** **Refund Policy** Kindly note that refunds cannot be provided for cancellations made less than 48 hours before the event. If you’re unable to attend, please reach out to one of the hosts to discuss alternative arrangements.

Hi Radiant Ladies, After our morning walk, come and join us at Windchimes Café for coffee, warm conversation, and a lovely relaxed catch-up with your favourite ladies! 🅿️ Easy 2-hour parking right out front. See you there! Lyn ☕💓

☕ **Girl Who Boss Coffee Catchup!** ☕ We started the year with a couple of spontaneous events, and now we’re back with a second coffee catchup for June. Join us for a relaxed and casual coffee catchup, where like-minded women come together to connect, chat, and share ideas! Whether you're a career professional, entrepreneur, or creative, this is the perfect chance to meet other inspiring women in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

Hi Radiant Ladies, Join us for a refreshing Saturday walk at Ruffey Lake Park. 👭 Walk at your own pace 🐕 Dogs welcome ☕ Coffee after 🌦️ We walk every Saturday (unless it’s pouring) New ladies welcome. See you! 



Leanne & Lyn 💕

Forget awkward small talk - let’s connect over dice rolls, card decks, and a bit of friendly competition. This is a relaxed, social evening for anyone who wants to meet new friends and have a laugh. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or someone who just wants to play something light and silly, there’ll be a mix of games for all levels. Come solo or bring a friend - either way you’ll leave with new connections (and maybe a new favourite game). Interested in what inspired this event? You can read about it [here](https://open.substack.com/pub/girlswhoboss/p/from-chandeliers-to-pub-lights-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4apm4h).

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Welcome, readers! Our July read is ***A Short Walk Through a Wide World*** *by Douglas Westerbeke*. We'll follow a young woman bound by a mysterious condition that forces her to keep moving across the globe. As she journeys through vibrant cities, quiet landscapes, and centuries of time, each stop reveals new connections, fleeting relationships, and deeper questions about belonging. The novel blends adventure with introspection, exploring what it means to search for home when you can never stay in one place. It’s both a love letter to the vastness of the world and a poignant meditation on identity, memory, and human connection. Looking forward to discussing with everyone We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar** Happy reading!

Join us as we discuss our June pick: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider! Book description: Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true. Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart. Packed with knife fights and seafaring adventure, METAL SLINGER is the smash-hit start to the romantic fantasy duology, the Fire & Metal series

Come join us to discuss our July pick "Tusk Love" by Thea Guanzon! Book description: A merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger in this saucy romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars. “A true delight of a book! Spicy and heartfelt—this one is a winner all around.”—Katee Robert, author of Neon Gods As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure. Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack. Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise. Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance. Written by New York Times bestselling author Thea Guanzon at the behest of Critical Role’s Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.