‘The Tenko Club’ by Elizabeth Noble: A Review

The Story

Freddie, Tamsin, Reagan, and Sarah meet in college and dub themselves The Tenko Club, after a film called 'Tenko' where a group of mostly English women are taken prisoner by the Japanese. The four girls analyze how the different women they know (including themselves) would behave if they were put in a Japanese prison camp. They become fast friends and form a bond they believe to be unbreakable.

Fast forward to twenty years later: Sarah is dead, Freddie is married and has a son, Tamsin is also married with a whole brood of kids and another one on the way, and Reagan is basically messed up and unhappy. When Freddie’s husband tells her he wants to leave her because he is having an affair—on the very same day she finds out her father has passed away, The Tenko Club has to put aside their lives in support of Freddie. In Sarah’s place is her husband Matthew. Their friendships are tested, secrets are revealed, and love triumphs above all.   

The Standouts

Tamsin and Freddie
In Tamsin and Freddie are characters you wish you knew in real life. You wish they grew up right next door to you, celebrated your life’s milestones with you, and rallied to your aid when disaster struck. Their friendship is not just strong, it’s uncomplicated. They make you want to jump into the book so you could sit at their table and be part of their Christmas dinner—or any dinner for that matter.

Screenshot of image posted on Amazon.comThe Tenko analysis
Admit it, women love to judge people they have just met—okay, judge may be a harsh word; assess might be more acceptable. The Tenko analysis, guessing how a certain woman would behave if she were in a prison camp, is a very interesting and entertaining way to analyze someone. Throughout the book, Noble describes her female characters this way when you first encounter them—a good theme that is consistent throughout the novel. And maybe a fun game to play with your girl friends.   

The Letdowns

The ending gets predictable
The writing style, story, and characters are truly enjoyable, making the book worth your time, but towards the end, the story falls a little flat. It gets predictable and is no longer as page-turning as the rest of the book.

It’s true that a happy ending is definitely what readers will expect, but maybe there could have been a few more twists or surprises towards the end to keep readers enthralled till the last page. As you finish the book, it can be a bit of a struggle to keep reading since you already know how it’s going to turn out.

Bookshelf Meter:
1 star – Don’t even bother.
2 stars – Since there’s nothing else to read…
3 stars – Worth borrowing from a friend, but not buying your own
4 stars – Deserves a spot on your nightstand.
5 stars – Grab this book now and forget the one you’re reading!