What do you think about this book club dilemma?

I’d let it be. Just a suggestion, your call.

I’m assuming these women are reasonably intelligent and literate.

Announce the books and let them make their own choices.

I would enlist the woman who made the book suggestion to come with you to talk to the person who runs the book club. And ask that you guys brain storm how to present the synopsis in a sensitive manner.

This makes it less confrontational with the woman who made the suggestion.

It, potentially, softens the blow.

It doesn’t put the onus on the two women who are still mourning to say no to a book.

And it let’s them decide for themselves what they’re ready to read. It could very well be therapeutic. :)

I’d give the trigger warning. But that’s just me.

I would give a trigger warning, and maybe in the future suggest that perhaps warnings be included with titles.

No matter how mature and intelligent people are, something like a book club should not really be an event that someone has to “cope” with. Obviously you can’t warn against every thing that might remind someone of awfulness, but maybe make up a short list of topics that should be warned about.

(Really, I didn’t overthink this, my daughter just went through this with the writers group that she manages)

A third vote for a trigger warning. I’d include the whole group, too.

It is a book. If they are in a book club, then they are constant readers. I am sure they have come across topics or events in books that may be a trigger. Touching upon the trigger or pain is not always a bad thing. To get through it, one must work through their feelings.

I would let them discover it on their own. I personally prefer to read the book without any prior feedback (especially negative or warning) as it might give a different slant on the book.

I wouldn’t play spokesperson for the group. I agree with @elbanditoroso.

I’m in a book group and sometimes the topics hit home, for me and the others in the group. It can be an opportunity to discuss the way it touches us personally, or not.

Thanks all. After weighing, I’m going to leave it alone. It’s obvious from the beginning what the book is about, so if anyone will be upset by it, they can decide not to read it.

@janbb, that sounds like the best plan to me. It was good of you to be concerned, though.

Update: There was a small group last night at the club and I wasn’t in attendance. They’ve decided on a different book for next time. I’m curious and will ask a friend what went into the decision.