The Club Revisited was one of the most anticipated sequels this year, even for me who hadn’t read the first book until recently. And I’m very happy to say Brooks didn’t disappoint. The story picks up where The Club ended, and while it’s not exactly necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one, I strongly recommend it. It’s a really good book, for one, and Mandy’s story, at the very least, deserves to be read in order.
I won’t get into the details of what The Club Revisited is about. It mostly takes place in the club of the title – a sex club for women in Manchester – and, beyond the sex-with-strangers theme, offers snapshots of wlw lives. Whether these women want to try something new, enjoy anonymous sex, or like meeting up in a safe environment with the same people each time, whatever their stories are, the common thread is how human, how warm Brooks manages to make them feel. These stories could feel clinical and cold but they never do.
I’m also very impressed at the way Brooks keeps the sex fresh and new. There’s a lot of it in this book obviously and it never feels repetitive. One of the things I loved about this book, and the one before, is that while it’s definitely erotica, it’s also more. I’m all for pure erotica, I love a well-written sex scene, and I’ve had a lot of fun with some of Paris Rivera’s stories or Paisley Smith’s, among others. Sometimes, that’s exactly what I want. But for those days when I want to know a little more about the characters, their motivation, what makes them tick or not, A. L. Brooks’ Club novellas are perfect.
If you want to know why Brooks decided to gift us with this sequel, she explains everything here. And there’s a link to a free short story about one of the characters.
Jude in the Stars 