The "By The Book" Book Club at Clevelands House

Even though I’m part of a book club that’s been running for eight years, this past winter I got into a reading rut. I wanted to read smart books—the books everyone recommends and are at the top of the best seller lists. The ones you read and are all “Now I totally get why everyone loves it.” 

The ones Oprah reads. 

Only I would get about five or ten pages in to these books and put it aside. Then I would go to the bookstore or library and get a mystery novel or some chick lit. I didn’t even finish most of our book club reads and I host every single one. How sad is that?

While speed skating has made me conscious of what I feed my body, my mind was being fueled by brain candy. Not that this is a bad thing, I happen to like candy. But if I ate nothing but chocolate for an entire winter, I’d probably get tired of chocolate. Probably.

I may put this to the test, you know, in the name of science.

I think we all get into ruts from time to time. Eating, exercising, reading…it’s easier to choose what is familiar to us and stick with it rather than mix it up.

So I’m here to stir the pot.

YMC is invading Clevelands House resort in Muskoka this summer. From August 23rd to August 26th, Erica, myself, Lisa Thornbury, Sarah Gunn and Gav and Ali Martell are going to be up at this resort that Erica’s been raving about for the entire time I've known her.  

I’ve worked with Erica for over four years now and for almost three of those four years, Erica and I were running YMC by ourselves. Suffice it to say, we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well. Here’s what I will tell you. When I speak to Erica when she’s on vacation at Clevelands House—and yes, we talk during our vacations—it is the most relaxed I ever hear her. It’s the one place where she can completely unwind. If you know Erica that’s saying a lot, she’s a bit of a tech addict. And by bit, I mean PUT DOWN THE PHONE ERICA.

We want you to come and join us on this four day vacay in Muskoka!

You can enter to win a free stay Clevelands House plus we have a 20% discount for YMC members if you book a stay from August 23rd to August 26th.

There’s already a tonne of things to do at Clevelands House but YMC has a few special things planned as well. Gav, the Grill King, is hosting a BBQ class, Lisa is going to teach you how to mix a special drink (or for me, two or three) and Sarah’s going to have you put together a DIY project that will put Martha Stewart to shame.

And me? I’m hosting a Book Club.  I’ve named it the “By The Book Book Club By Sharon” but you won’t have to buy the book. When you book your four day stay at Clevelands House, Random House of Canada is going to send the book to you for free.

I do believe I’ve just broken the world’s record for the most times using the word ‘book’ in one paragraph.

Are y’all curious as to what book it is?  Cassandra at Random House sent me a list of books to choose from and….drumroll please…I chose this one.



I devoured this book in a mere 48 hours. No matter what kind of relationship you have with your mother Please Look After Mom will make you look at her in a whole new light. For the first time in ages, I read a book with my trusty highlighter in hand so I could mark passages. It's the book that got me out of my reading rut.

I'm excited to share this book with you and I'm super excited to spend four days at Clevelands House. And if you come, you'll be able to recognize me right away—I'll be the girl by the pool with a mojito in one hand and a book in the other.

So what say you? How about you mix it up a bit and come and join us.