The Quitters Club: A Novel

“Jessica Strawser delivers a thought-provoking, life-affirming novel about the things we keep, what we leave behind, and the courage it takes to, well, quit. The Quitters Club is an ode to female friendship and the liberating truth that defining life on your own terms isn’t failure, it’s freedom. A five-star must read by an unforgettable voice.” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of Summer State of Mind

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Last Caretaker comes a hopeful and empowering novel about the messy beauty of female friendship and the deep courage it takes to rebuild a life at any age.

When four ride-or-die friends reunite for a getaway, they’re desperate for a break, a chance to reconnect. But each is hiding a deeper reason why. Marie feels like an impostor teaching “How to Say No” seminars while her marriage has evolved into something she never said yes to. Brooke’s most heartfelt goal—motherhood—is proving out of reach. Lucy’s dream career has broken her spirit, possibly for good. And Collins feels trapped in grief by her late husband’s legacy.

All their lives, they’ve encouraged each other not to give up—but they can’t do this anymore. Now, at a breaking point, they make a pact: Quit. And help each other through the fallout.

At first, it’s positively liberating. A husband gets a much-needed wake-up call. A singles retreat is a widow’s perfect escape. A very public career exit becomes a never-too-late return to college. And a childless life becomes a bold new plan to travel the world. But letting go will be more complicated than they imagined. Confronting hard truths about love, loss, and starting over, these four women must discover what’s worth fighting for—and what’s truly best left behind.

JESSICA STRAWSER is the USA Today bestselling author of 7 suspenseful book club novels, including ALMOST MISSED YOU, NOT THAT I COULD TELL (a Book of the Month selection), A MILLION REASONS WHY, and THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW (a People Magazine pick). Her two most recent titles, THE LAST CARETAKER (a 2023 Amazon Editors First Reads title) and CATCH YOU LATER (new in October 2024), both debuted on the USA Today charts.

She is Editor-at-Large at Writer’s Digest; a Career Authors contributing editor; and a popular speaker at writing conferences, book clubs, and women's groups. Her publishing career spans 20+ years, with work appearing in The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly, and others. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, she lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was 2019 Writer-in-Residence for the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County and received a 2024 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award. Connect with her on facebook/instagram @jessicastrawserauthor.

Praise for The Quitters Club

“Jessica Strawser delivers a thought-provoking, life-affirming novel about the things we keep, what we leave behind, and the courage it takes to, well, quit. The Quitters Club is an ode to female friendship and the liberating truth that defining life on your own terms isn’t failure, it’s freedom. A five-star must read by an unforgettable voice.” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of Summer State of Mind

"I'm reminded of Jane Fonda's advice to her younger self: the word 'no' is a complete sentence. What Jessica Strawser so brilliantly brings to life with her unforgettable club of quitters is almost more valuable. Saying no empowers us to find a better yes." —Steven Rowley, bestselling author of The Guncle

"The Quitters Club beautifully captures the effort it takes to create change in our lives—and how that effort is made possible by deep, enduring friendships. These amazing characters and their journeys made me reflect on my own life and reminded me to treasure the friends who lift and support me." —Katrina Kittle, author of Morning in This Broken World

“Can you change your life by quitting the thing that makes you unhappy? That’s the central question of this heartfelt and poignant novel. When a group of friends makes a pact to leave behind the biggest problems in their lives, they think they’re taking a step toward happiness. But quitting can have unintended consequences, and sometimes the things you abandon are what you need the most. I laughed AND cried.” —Catherine Mack, USA Today bestselling author of This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone