Women's Book Club

Hi Radiant Ladies, Portarlington is a lovely seaside town with fresh ocean air, beautiful coastal views, and a relaxed vibe. The ferry trip from Melbourne to Portarlington takes about 70 minutes, depending on conditions. Hopefully we get a nice sunny day. Plan for the day: • Walk along the pier • Lunch at a local café on Pier Street • Visit the Portarlington Mill • Stroll along Portarlington Beach Please purchase your return ferry tickets online: http://portphillipferries.com.au Simple, easy, and a lovely day out. Lyn ☕️💕

Do you enjoy trivia nights? Curious about going to a trivia night? Come along and meet others for friendship, fun and a relaxed night out. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a trivia buff to come along. Only a willingness to enjoy yourself. We’ve had a lot of fun at trivia nights in the past 😀 Over dinner, snacks and/or drinks put your trivia knowledge to the test and get to know each other. Cost: $5 (to cover Meetup Organiser fees) Cash or PayID to 0417 387 640 See you there, Andrea

Discover the joy of making stuff up! Our Williamstown improv group is where Melbourne's west comes to play, connect, and unleash creativity. Improv isn't just about being funny (though you'll laugh heaps). It's about: ✓ Building confidence in social situations ✓ Improving listening and communication skills ✓ Meeting amazing people from Hobson's Bay ✓ Reducing stress through play and laughter ✓ Discovering your creative side ✓ Having a screen-free, present-moment experience No theatre experience? Perfect! No prepared material? Even better! The only rule is 'Yes, And...' - supporting each other's ideas and having fun. Drop in any Wednesday, 7-9pm. Location: **Williamstown Community and Education Centre Inc 14 Thompson St, Williamstown VIC 3016**. Suitable for ages 16+. First time is free, and its $10 a class after. ***Free parking out the back. Please come to the front, and we will open the door.***

As the wind chills settle in, let’s come together to share warmth—not just with hot drinks, but with lively conversation, creative ideas, and fun ways to stay active and socialise ideas or potentially find buddies to do it together! **Join us for an afternoon of:** ***Thoughtful sharing****—Bring your favorite winter activities, wellness tips, or anything that keeps your spirits high!* \*\*\* Activity brainstorming\*—Let’s swap ideas for staying active indoors and out, from yoga sessions to board game tournaments. \*\*\* Cozy connection\*\*—Enjoy good company, tasty treats, and maybe even a winter walk (weather permitting!). There are plenty of lunch options available.

This meetup is your introduction to Dianetics, and you can have your questions answered. **[DIANETICS THE ALL-TIME CLASSIC ON THE HUMAN MIND](https://www.dianetics.org/about/films/what-is-dianetics.html)** For 75 years, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health has remained popular, with over 20 million copies sold across 206 nations. Why? Because it challenges everything you thought you knew-about yourself, your decisions, and the unseen influences affecting your life. You may not know what the reactive mind is-yet. But once you do, it will change your life forever. This hidden part of your mind stores painful experiences and uses them against you, altering your thoughts, emotions and behaviors in ways you don't even realize. Inside this handbook, you'll discover: • Why the same struggles keep repeating—and how you can break free • The real reason behind stress, unreasonable fears, and negative emotions • A clear step-by-step method to clear your mind and unlock your true potential This is not theory—it's a practical, one-on-one journey into your reactive mind and how you can get rid of it. You don't have to wait for change-you can start today. **Discover the Power of Your Mind** Join us for a relaxed, interactive **Dianetics Meetup**, where it's your chance to explore the groundbreaking discoveries in *Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health* and have all your questions answered. Come with your curiosity—leave with insight. Ask for Michel, Pam or Donovan. If the time and date do not suit you personally, you may reschedule, SMS Pam on: 0405 648 822 https://www.dianetics.org/about/films/what-is-dianetics.html

**Learn why quitting might be your smartest strategy with our May book club pick** Our May book club challenges everything you've been told about perseverance. Former professional poker player and decision strategist Annie Duke makes a compelling case that knowing when to quit—jobs, projects, relationships, strategies—is one of the most valuable skills you can develop, yet it's one we're culturally conditioned to ignore. **About the book** In this book, Duke dismantles the myth that "winners never quit" and reveals how our fear of quitting costs us time, money, and happiness. Drawing on cognitive science, behavioral economics, and her own experience at high-stakes poker tables, she explains why we cling to losing strategies and provides frameworks for recognizing when it's time to walk away. Quitting isn't about giving up—it's about freeing up resources for better opportunities. **What you'll gain** * A new perspective on quitting as a strategic skill rather than a character flaw * Practical decision-making tools to help you identify when to persist and when to pivot * Insights into the psychological traps that keep us stuck in dead-end situations, and how to overcome them to make smarter choices about where to invest your energy Purchase links: [[Quit: The Power Of Knowing When To Walk Away](https://www.thenile.com.au/books/annie-duke/quit/9781529146165?gad_campaignid=17335838322&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADhOHwgQG1DMqKNzRWgnd6TRIp3BD&gclid=CjwKCAiAkbbMBhB2EiwANbxtbY1gzuRVdNQwAjuwcgN0F6tr-bQ4-nv2GQ80QuJnwYuho5Mah0ehbhoCdUIQAvD_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, Let’s enjoy a friendly lunch at the Rosstown Hotel in Carnegie. Good food, laughter, and great company with Radiant Women. Julie 🌺🌸

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 ☕💓

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 May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. 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 for a cozy evening of books and conversation. 🗓 Tuesday\, May 12 \| 6:30 p\.m\. Hilliard Branch \| 4500 Hickory Chase Way Schedule 6:00 p.m. – Book sale opens 6:30 p.m. – Author talk 7:15 p.m. – Audience Q&A 7:30 p.m. – Book signing It’s a great chance to pick up a new book, hear an author’s perspective, and share the experience with a community of readers.

Join us for lunch/tea at Asterisk Supper Club to discuss our May book "Under the Oak Tree" by Suji Kim Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely allowed outside her family’s sprawling castle for fear that her stutter will tarnish their noble name. When she is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, Maxi doesn’t dare hope for happiness, let alone love. Her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin, and Riftan leaves without a word the morning after their vows are exchanged. Now, three years after their disastrous wedding night, Riftan has returned as a war hero. To Maxi’s surprise, despite rumors that he was offered marriage to Princess Agnes, a beautiful and renowned sorceress, Riftan still wants Maxi for his wife. And when he comes to claim her, his longing becomes a desire that bewilders Maxi, even as she is overcome by the scorching heat that Riftan’s presence ignites within her. As she learns to navigate the intricacies of her new life, Maxi will find herself and her courage, and discover that she is anything but powerless.

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

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

This month we’ll be ready Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. Feel free to come and chat even if you don’t finish the book!