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The Calamity Club - Kathryn Stockett

The Calamity Club

By Kathryn Stockett

  • Release Date: 2026-05-05
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 2,579 Ratings
$16.99 On itunes Buy on Amazon

Description

“So immersive, exciting, and downright fabulous, you never want it to end.”—Oprah Daily

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The multimillion-copy-selling author of The Help returns with a bold, big-hearted novel about a group of unbreakable women, fighting for what’s rightfully theirs—and the power of friendship to change everything.

“Pure, hell-raising entertainment.”—The New York Times Book Review

Oxford, Mississippi, 1933.

Abandoned by her mother one Christmas Eve, eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now one of the unadoptable "big girls" at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed.

Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie discovers her sister’s seemingly charmed life is a tapestry of lies.

Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman running low on luck with little left to lose. When their fates—and Meg’s—converge, Charlie comes up with an audacious plan for them to take control of their lives. But in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife and women’s freedom is fragile, even the smallest act of defiance can have dangerous consequences.

The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.

Reviews

  • A Captivating Mississippi Story

    5
    By Tambrew
    The Calamity Club By Kathryn Stockett was an absolutely captivating read! From the very beginning, the characters seemed to come to life on the page. They were so richly drawn and memorable that I felt as though I knew them personally and had been invited into the world. What I especially loved was the way Stockett paired the character stories with historical accounts and details. The history never felt separate from the story instead it added depth and authenticity making the time and the Mississippi setting come alive. As a Mississippian, I especially appreciated the familiar sense of place and the way the setting became almost a character of its own. The author has once again created characters who stay with you long after the story ends I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommended.

  • Loved it

    5
    By Jennifer Sierra
    I really enjoyed the characters and the story.

  • It was ok

    2
    By Woahthatguy123
    Book was too long and ending too short. Did not meet expectations for me.

  • Calamity Club

    5
    By YayaNetski
    I really enjoyed this book once I go into it. The 2 narrators Birdie and Meg are fascinating strong female characters. Their intertwined relationships are filled with intrigue and compassion. The supporting characters Francis, Charlie , Lucille and Tom, Mrs Taite and the ‘working girls’ are all interesting in their own right. It takes place in Mississippi during the Depression and shows what people can be willing to do to survive and to help others.

  • Best Book I’ve Read in Years

    5
    By DaKoda1
    Best book I’ve read in years. Didn’t want it to end! The first part of the book ( or the “sample”) was pretty slow going- but keep reading and you won’t be disappointed.

  • Good

    4
    By DKCMC
    Good book but went on too long. I lost interest after 3/4 read and I started scanning instead of reading in depth. Would have been better if ending was expanded instead.

  • America’s dark story based on fact

    5
    By Clark bc
    A ‘couldn’t put it down’ book! Thank you!

  • Best book I’ve read this year

    5
    By MissRx929
    It’s a story that will stay with you, with characters you’ll think of even when you’re not reading. It was long but I enjoyed every chapter.

  • I loved this book.

    5
    By ssofty
    What a great read. Instantly interested in the characters, but after two chapters it had not grabbed me.. Maybe it was just me being distracted or maybe it was the book, but my friend Deb told me to “stick with it. “. And so glad I did. Now I think the slow start was on me. Set in the Mississippi Delta and Oxford, Mississippi during the depression, times were very bleak for all the characters. But the characters are relatable and there is humor despite the hard lives they live. What a great storyteller! She really paints a picture..found myself stopping to reread a line and thinking “that’s really poignant… or funny… or true… or what a beautiful setting.” Also there is Interesting insight into 1933 women’s issues too…forced sterilizations for the “feeble minded.” Anyway.., Highly recommend this book. You’ll love Birdie and Meg and all the other characters! Shoutout to feisty Ruby. Thanks to Louann and Deb for both making sure I stuck with it.

  • An eye opener for the time period

    5
    By Lopingirl
    My mother would have been the same age as Meg in this story’s time line. Great care of research included for this book made me realize what a different world America was in the 1930’s and how far we’ve come as a people. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time! It is quite long but I must say I was sorry for it to be over when I finished it!

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