Audiobook Review: Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews

Deep Dish
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator: Isabel Keating
Published: February 26, 2008
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 12 discs, approximately 13 hours
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Chef extraordinaire Gina Foxton doesn't expect anything to be handed to her on a platter. After years of hard work, the former runner-up Miss Teen Vidalia Onion is now the host of her own local Georgia public television show called Fresh Start, and she's dating the show's producer.

But when her show gets canceled, and she catches her boyfriend in flagrante delicto with the boss's wife, Gina realizes that she's meant for bigger and better things. The Cooking Channel is looking for its next star, and Gina is certain that she fits the bill. Trouble is, the execs also have their eye on Mr. "Kill It and Grill It" Tate Moody, the star of a hunting, fishing, and cooking show called Vittles. Tate is the ultimate man's man, with a dog named Moonpie and a penchant for flannel shirts. Little does Gina know, though, that she and Tate are soon to embark on the cook-off of their lives.

My Thoughts: This is my second Mary Kay Andrews audiobook and I truly enjoy listening to her work. While it's chick lit and nothing thought-provoking, it's no nice to just get lost in a novel and it's characters and see how everything unfolds. Andrews novel centers around two chefs competing for their own show on the Cooking Channel. A series of challenges are presented to them and the two are forced to work together to complete these challenges. Not a brand-new plot idea, but it was still engaging and wonderful to listen to Gina and Tate work together to complete the tasks.

As far as the characters go in this book, my favorite had to be Tate. I thought he was a perfect Southern guy. Laid back but knowledgeable about the land and how to live off of it. Plus, he was incredibly handsome, so that always helps. Gina was a bit too wishy-washy for me. She came across as weak, which always hate in a female character. Also, she didn't like her mother for some unknown reason. Andrews never explains why she continually avoids her, but it seems like her mom is a bear of a woman. And when she is introduced, she seems quite nice.

Isabel Keating did a good job with the narration. She provided distinction between all the Southern accents and didn't overdo it. I think that she made her voice a bit whiny at times, but it didn't ruin my listening experience. I really enjoy Andrews audiobooks and look forward to listening to more of her work in the future.

Review: The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri

The Cottage at Glass Beach
Author: Heather Barbieri
Published: May 15, 2012
Genre: chick lit
Hardcover: 320 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Married to the youngest attorney general in Massachusetts state history, Nora Cunningham is a picture-perfect political wife and a doting mother. But her carefully constructed life falls to pieces when she, along with the rest of the world, learns of the infidelity of her husband, Malcolm. Humiliated and hounded by the press, Nora packs up her daughters--Annie, seven; and Ella, twelve--and takes refuge on Burke's Island, a craggy spit of land off the coast of Maine. Settled by Irish immigrants, the island is a place where superstition and magic are carried on the ocean winds, and wishes and dreams wash ashore with the changing tides.

Nora spent her first five years on the island but has not been back to the remote community for decades--not since that long ago summer when her mother disappeared at sea. One night while sitting alone on Glass Beach below the cottage where she spent her childhood, Nora succumbs to grief, her tears flowing into the ocean. Days later she finds an enigmatic fisherman named Owen Kavanagh shipwrecked on the rocks nearby. Is he, as her aunt's friend Polly suggests, a selkie--a mythical being of island legend--summoned by her heartbreak, or simply someone who, like Nora, is trying to find his way in the wake of his own personal struggles? Just as she begins to regain her balance, her daughters embark on a reckless odyssey of their own--a journey that will force Nora to find the courage to chart her own course and finally face the truth about her marriage, her mother, and her long-buried past.

My Thoughts: I heard about this book a few months ago and thought that it would make for a great summer time read. I love books that are set along the New England coastline and this one sounded like a good one. Now, Heather Barbieri has written short fiction in the past, which I found to be very apparent in this, her first novel. The story is short and sweet. Barbieri writes very vivid descriptions of the settings and what Nora, the main character is feeling, but she always seemed to be rushing to get the point across. I felt like she could have expanded upon the plot a bit more, especially in regards to Malcolm's affair. As a reader, I felt like there was little knowledge about this shared by Barbieri. Nora mentions several times how embarassed she is, but we don't know the whole story. I just wish that the affair has been expanded upon so we would have a better reference as to why Nora feels the way that she does.

I loved the setting in this book and Barbieri writes about it so beautifully. She references old Irish tales and you can see how they would tie in perfectly with the rugged Maine shoreline. I also loved Annie, Nora's youngest daughter. Her innocence really added something to the book and made you want to believe in those old Irish tales. Ella, Nora's eleven year old, is a bit of a toss-up for me. I loved the contrast that she provided to Annie and Nora. She doesn't believe in the magic of the coastline and just wants to bring their family back together. For me, the thing that I didn't like about her was her age. I feel like she talked more like a 14-16 year old, not an 11 year old. I think that if Barbieri had made her a bit older, she could have made the story a little richer.

Heather Barbieri has written an interesting book, showcasing how one woman deals with an embarassing moment and decides to reconnect with her past because of it. I really enjoyed this book and am anxious to see what Barbieri does in the future.

Review: Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer

Summer Breeze
Author: Nancy Thayer
Published: June 5, 2012
Genre: chick lit
Hardcover: 320 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 2.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Morgan O’Keefe feels trapped in a gilded cage. True, the thirty-year-old mother agreed to put her science career on hold to raise her young son while her husband  pursued his high-powered job. But though Morgan loves many things about staying home with her child, she misses the thrill of working with her colleagues in the lab. She’s restless and in dire need of a change.
 
Fed up with New York City’s hectic pace, Natalie Reynolds takes up her aunt’s offer to move to the Berkshires and house-sit her fabulous lakeside house for a year. Passionate about applying brush to canvas, Natalie is poised to become the artist she has forever longed to be. But life on Dragonfly Lake is never without surprises, and for a novice swimmer like Natalie, the most welcome surprise proves to be the arms of a handsome neighbor pulling her up from the water for a gulp of air.
 
When her mother breaks her leg, Bella Barnaby quits her job in Austin and returns home to help out her large, boisterous family. Among her new duties: manning the counter at the family business, Barnaby’s Barn, an outdated shop sorely in need of a makeover. While attractive architect Aaron has designs on her, Bella harbors long held secret dreams of her own.  
 
Summer on Dragonfly Lake is ripe for romance, temptation, and self-discovery as the lives of these three women unexpectedly intertwine.Summer Breeze illustrates how the best of friends can offer comfort, infuriate, or even—sometimes—open one’s eyes to the astonishing possibilities of life lived in a different way. This captivating novel displays a prestigiously gifted writer at the height of her storytelling powers.

My Thoughts: So, I read a Nancy Thayer book last summer (Heat Wave) and didn't like it at all. But, I have seen so many people rave about her books that I thought, "Maybe I just picked up one of her bad ones. I'm gonna give her another try." Let me just say that I was just as disappointed with this book as I was with the last one. While I don't expect chick lit to make me look at the world differently or question my understanding of the universe, I do look for something that could be real, or at least is so hilarious that I can forget the world for a little bit. Nancy Thayer's books do neither for me. They feel so forced that there is no possible way that they could be real. It's all so fake and the dialogue between the characters so jilted that I have to shake my head at how unreal it is.

The premise behind the book is interesting. That's the only saving grace of this novel. Each woman's storyline has something to offer, but Thayer doesn't really develop any of them. There aren't any real struggles. The one who comes a bit close to this, Bella, just decides to give up and follow her boyfriend across the country, seemingly just giving up her life so that she can tag along with him. The other two, Morgan and Natalie, are written so simply. And everything works out perfectly for them, which makes the novel even harder to stomach.

I would compare Nancy Thayer's work to an overly sweet dessert. It's so sickeningly sweet that it hurts your teeth and you hope that the pain subsides quickly. While I was looking for a light summer read, I found something that was so bad that not even the beautiful sunshine could save it. I have decided that Thayer's work is not for me and will not be reading any of her novels in the future.

Review: Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

Silver Girl
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Published: June 21, 2011
Genre: chick lit 
Hardcover: 416 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.

Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had. 

My Thoughts: When looking for a classic summer read, I always think of Elin Hilderbrand first. Her books are set on Nantucket during the summer and show how life is on the island. This time around, her novel mirrors life (in a way). It's easy to tell that the premise for this novel started with the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme that happened a few years ago. The Ponzi scheme is featured here and is what leads to Meredith Delinn losing everything in her life: her money, her homes, her family. Now, I don't know what Bernie Madoff's wife did while the trial was going on and whatnot. But this novel gives us a glimpse into what she might have been experiencing emotionally. Meredith had no knowledge of her husband's crimes. She did whatever he asked her to do, and it had worked out amazingly well for her. They lived in a Park Avenue penthouse, had a home in Palm Beach, and had billions of dollars. When her world collapses, Meredith realizes that she has lost who she is.

The characters in this novel were great. I loved Meredith and thought that she was so real. Once again, I don't know what Bernie Madoff's wife experienced as backlash once his Ponzi scheme was brought down, but I'm sure some of her emotions are exactly what Meredith experienced. I loved Dan and found him to be a great foil for the women, even though he had difficulties of his own. Connie was a bit confusing for me. There were times when I really liked her narration, and other times where I just found her annoying. I think she might have been my biggest issue with this novel. Like wanting Meredith to go into town, I just wanted to reach through the page and slap her (have you ever felt like doing this to a character?) She just seemed clueless at times.

If you are looking for a beach read this summer, then I highly recommend this novel. It's partly based on true events, but with Nantucket as the backdrop, you are sure to get swept up in the story and enjoy every moment of it.

Top Ten Tuesday (6-19-12)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 

they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 

topic is:

Books On My Summer TBR List

1) any Adriani Trigiani novel - I have fallen in love with this author over the past month and cannot get enough of her work. So, I'm hoping to get to most of her books this summer.

2) Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey - I read the first book in this Marie Antoinette trilogy last summer and LOVED it. I have been anxiously awaiting this release for the past few months, so my copy is on hold for me at my library!

3) Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead - a novel set in New England around a wedding. Sounds like a good summer read to me!

4) The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner - I love Weiner's books and this is her latest one. Definitely looking forward to spending some time in the sunshine with this one!

5) Where We Belong by Emily Giffin - I love Giffin's work but haven't read any of her books while having a blog. This one comes out at the end of July, and I cannot wait to read and review it!

6) Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand - to me, Hilderbrand is quintessential summertime reading. This is her book that came out last summer. I have felt like it has been staring at me the past few months, daring me to read it, but I have managed to resist so that I could sit outside, next to the pool, and devour her work.

7) Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella - I love Kinsella's work but have avoided continuing with the Shopaholic series for some reason (don't ask me why). So, a few days ago, I decided that it was time to continue with the series. Hopefully, I can get to this one in the next few weeks.

8) That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor by Anne Sebba - my summer can't be filled with all fluff, can it?!? So, I've wanted to read this one for a long time now and hope that I can get to it this summer. I'm fascinated by Wallis Simpson and would like to learn a little more about her.

9) Home Front by Kristin Hannah - this one is her latest book and I have been waiting for a few months to read it. 

10) My Year With Eleanor by Noelle Hancock - one woman loses her job and spends the next year living by Eleanor Roosevelt's advice of "Do one thing everyday that scares you." I would love to see how this woman spent that year of her life and what all she did.

So, what's on your summer TBR list? Let me know!

Top Ten Tuesday (6-12-12)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 

they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 

topic is:

Books I'd Recommend As Good Beach Reads

1) Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan - one summer, three generations of women, and lots of issues to deal with. Not a hilarious book to read, but a great book to sit and get lost in.

2) A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand - known for her great beach books, this is the first of her books that I read and I loved it! Perfect book to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine!

3) One Day by David Nicholls - a great love story, one that wraps you up with Dex and Emma and takes you on a great ride.

4) If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster - Jen is hilarious and this book had me laughing out loud at the antics. A great book to relax with.

5) The Help by Kathryn Stockett - now, this isn't your typical beach read. However, I read this one last summer and thought that it was a great summer time read. Maybe it was sitting outside in the heat reading about the heat of Mississippi that pulled me in, but the great writing is something that pulls you in and won't let you go.

6) Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - a great story of two women and their friendship. 

7) Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen - I read this last summer, lying out in the sunshine, and I couldn't get enough of it. I love the time period and the setting ... it really does take you away from the real world.

8) Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner - a mother and her two daughters reconnect amidst a political scandal. Based partly in reality but just juicy enough to make you think that it's fiction.

9) Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - I read this book at the end of summer and it was perfect. Filled with romance, travel, and a hot leading man. What more could you want for a day at the beach?!?

10) Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - such a guilty pleasure and a book that would make a great beach read. Actually, any Kinsella novel would be perfect for a day at the beach!

Well, my beach reads may not always be typical, but there is a bit of variety thrown in there! What books do you think are perfect for a day at the beach? Let me know!

Follow Friday and TGIF! (5-18-12)

Happy Friday everyone! I hope that you are having a great week and are ready for the weekend. I am super excited because my vacation starts next week, so just a few more days and I have 9 glorious days off. I'm having my wisdom yanked, so my vacation will be spent drugged up and eating ice cream. Not a bad way to spend a week at home, if you ask me. Now, onto the Friday fun!

Parajunkee asks:

Summer break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading and relax?

Well, it may sound crazy, but I would prefer to be anywhere but the beach. It's so noisy and crowded during the summer. I would have to say somewhere in the Colorado Rockies. It would be warm but not hot, nice cool nights, and some breath taking scenery to look at. Now, how much would I have to pay in baggage fees to get all my books there? God, there's a scary thought!

(source ... isn't it beautiful?!?)

GReads asks:

A Book Blogger is Born: What made you decide to start your very own book blog?

Great question! For me, I started my blog on February 24, 2011. I was looking for a way to connect with other people who loved to read as much as I did. I was finding it difficult to share books with people and figured, a book blog seems like a great way to discuss books with others who love them just as much as I do! I didn't do a lot of research on book blogs before I started, I just went and made my own site and started from scratch.

So, where's your dream reading vacation spot? What made you decide to start your book blog? Let me know, and have a great weekend!

A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand

A Summer Affair
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Published: July 1, 2008
Paperback: 432 pages
Source: purchased at Borders


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from goodreads.com): Claire Danner Crispin, mother of four young children and nationally renowned glassblower, bites off more than she can chew when she agrees to co-chair the Nantucket's Children Summer Gala. Claire is asked to chair the benefit, in part, because she is the former high school sweetheart of rock star Max West. Max agrees to play the gala and it looks like smooth sailing for Claire-until she promises a "museum-quality" piece of glass for the auction, offers her best friend the catering job, goes nose-to-nose with her Manhattan socialite co-chair, and begins a "good-hearted" affair with the charity's Executive Director, Lockhart Dixon. Hearts break and emotions are pushed to the limit in this riveting story of one woman's attempt to deal with loves past and present, family, business, and high-powered social pressures. Elin Hilderbrand's unique understanding of the joys and longings that animate women's lives will make this her newest summer bestseller.


My Thoughts: I was looking for the perfect book to end my summer with and Elin Hilderbrand's novel did not disappoint! Filled with sand, sun, charity, love triangles, sex, rock stars ... what wasn't there to love about this book?!? Claire lives on Nantucket with her husband and their four children. Her life is going along as normal when she is asked to cochair the annual Summer Gala benefitting the local children's charity. She agrees and what follows is an exciting adventure.


Without giving too much away, there was a lot going on in this novel but it was never too much. Hilderbrand kept it well organized, with most of the story being told from Claire's point of view, but some of the other character's also narrating portions of chapters. Each character is clear and well-defined. Claire matures as a character throughout the novel, learning from her experiences and not letting them define her. Instead, she absorbs them and understands that they will help her grow. The pace of the book was nice, too. It wasn't too fast or too slow. You were able to appreciate what was going on without feeling like it might end too soon. If I have any complaints about the book, it's these two things: one, the ending was wrapped up a little too quickly for me liking. And two, the chapters were way too long. I don't know about you, but I like chapters that are anywhere between 5-15 pages. Some of the chapters in this book were over 50 pages! And while the chapters were divided, it still just made it too long.


If you are looking for that one book to cap off your summer, then I would highly recommend this book! Or, start on that TBR pile for next summer! Either way, A Summer Affair is something that you are sure to enjoy as you take in the sun!

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

Maine
Author: J. Courtney Sullivan
Publisher: Knopf
Published: June 14, 2011
Hardcover: 388 pages
Source: purchased at Borders


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from goodreads.com): In her debut novel Commencement, J. Courtney explored the relationships of four women during and after their college years. In this much-anticipated second book, she probes into four very different women connected only by family. Alice is the alcoholic, mass-going matriarch burdened by festering guilt; Maggie, her daughter, is single, pregnant, and at a crossroads. Ann Marie, related by marriage, seems obsessed by dollhouses and unattainable love and her black sheep daughter Kathleen is only searching for the nearest exit. One earlier reviewer described Maine "as a summer spritzer that's equal parts family drama, white wine, and Hail Marys." Stirred to a perfect turn.


My Thoughts: Set on the coastline of Maine at an Irish family's summer house, J. Courtney Sullivan tells the story of four women. All of these women are different but they have one thing in common: they are all family. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of these four women. You have Alice, the matriarch of the family. Her daughter Kathleen, who is the black sheep of the family and has finally found happiness in her life by moving 3,000 miles away to California. There is Ann Marie, who has married into the family but acts more like a daughter to Alice than her own daughters. And Maggie, Kathleen's daughter who just discovered that she is pregnant and broke up with her boyfriend. All have relationship with one another and the house in Maine and each of them shares their stories through the summers that they have spent there.


I don't want to go into too much detail on the story, but it was very engrossing. A story focused on the women of a family isn't new, but Sullivan writes it in such a way that it is fresh. It isn't slow or boring or predictable. Instead, you truly understand where each woman is in her life and her relationship with the rest of the family. When reading Kathleen's chapters, it's easy to hate Alice. But then you read an Alice chapter and you understand why she does the things that she does (you may not agree with them, but you understand her actions). I also really liked how Ann Marie is a part of this family by marriage, the wife to Kathleen's brother, and how her story is told. I didn't think that I would like Ann Marie when I first started reading this book, but I appreciated her and what she did for this family that isn't actually hers. If you are looking for one more book to squeeze in this summer before it ends, I would recommend Maine. Sullivan's writing is fantastic and the story is easy to read and engaging and will leave you wanting to travel to the coastline of Maine for your next summer vacation.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Published: January 6, 2009
Paperback: 479 pages
Source: purchased at library sale


My Rating: 4 stars


Synopsis (from borders.com): In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve becomeTullyandKate.Inseparable. So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest,Firefly Laneis the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness. 

Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship---jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

Firefly Laneis for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you---and knows what has the power to hurt you . . . and heal you.Firefly Laneis a story you’ll never forget . . . one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.

My Thoughts: Following the friendship of Tully and Kate for over 30 years, Firefly Lane spans the decades to show the connection that women share with their closest friends and how they handle the good times and the bad. Starting in 1974, the novel shows how clothes, hairstyles, and fads changed over the years, but through it all, Tully and Kate were always there for one another. While covering so much time can be daunting and too much, Kristin Hannah's writing is so masterful that you really do feel as if you are growing up with these two women without it ever becoming boring.

There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book that I don't know where to begin. First, within 100 pages, Hannah had pulled me into this story. I was crying as I read about Tully's senior year of high school, relating to her experiences of losing a loved one. I rarely cry, especially whie reading, so this was the first sign that I was reading something truly touching. As the story progressed and Tully and Kate grew, I was able to relate to both women. As a young woman in her 20s, I feel like there is so much to do and see in the world, that I won't be able to get it all done, let alone have a family, so I definitely connected with Tully on that level. But I could also identify with Kate, the hopeless romantic that she is, wanting that fairy tale life and knowing that without family, nothing is worth it. Hannah crafted two perfect characters in these women; one the driven, ambitious go-getter, the other relishing motherhood and her family. While both are relatable, there were times that I didn't like one of them. But a few pages later, Hannah would have me back on their side. She is truly a master of her work, one that I cannot wait to read more of. While not a literary classic, Firefly Lane is a great book that I think every woman should read. It's a great summer read, and one that will stay with you for a long time.

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Fly Away Home
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Publisher: Atria
Published: July 13, 2010
Hardcover: 397 pages
Source: purchased at Borders


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from goodreads.com): When Sylvie Serfer met Richard Woodruff in law school, she had wild curls, wide hips, and lots of opinions. Decades later, Sylvie has remade herself as the ideal politician's wife-her hair dyed and straightened, her hippie-chick wardrobe replaced by tailored knit suits. At fifty-seven, she ruefully acknowledges that her job is staying twenty pounds thinner than she was in her twenties and tending to her husband, the senator. 

Lizzie, the Woodruffs' younger daughter, is at twenty-four a recovering addict, whose mantra HALT (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?) helps her keep her life under control. Still, trouble always seems to find her. Her older sister, Diana, an emergency room physician, has everything Lizzie failed to achieve-a husband, a young son, the perfect home-and yet she's trapped in a loveless marriage. With temptation waiting in one of the ER's exam rooms, she finds herself craving more. 

After Richard's extramarital affair makes headlines, the three women are drawn into the painful glare of the national spotlight. Once the press conference is over, each is forced to reconsider her life, who she is and who she is meant to be. 

My Thoughts: We live in a country where politicians often make the headlines not for the good work they are doing for the country, but for their infidelity and lying. Jennifer Weiner's latest book explores the infidelity of a politican, Richard Woodruff, and how his life as a politician has affected his wife, Sylvie, and two daughters, Diana and Lizzie. While this is not a groundbreaking plot (given the latest political scandals of Arnold's love child and John Edward's being charged with using campaign funds for his mistress), it is something that I have not really considered before. I certainly had opinions of those women standing behind their husbands as they admitted their wrongdoings and I couldn't help but wonder, "Why are these women standing up there, supporting their cheating husbands?!?" Weiner explores that in her book, about how Sylvie can stand behind her husband at his press conference, announcing his infidelity to the world. Sylvie takes you into that world of the scorned wife, of someone who has spent her life supporting her husband and his political aspirations, and how it can all come crashing down so quickly and leave one feeling stripped of their identity.

The novel is told from 3 different points of view, with the chapters being told from Sylvie, Diana, and Lizzie's points of view. Each woman is struggling with her own issues, so it's easy to relate to at least one of the women in this story. Sylvie is trying to discover who she is and what she wants after years of supporting her husband. Diana is suffering from fidelity issues of her own and the pressures of being a working mother and wife. Lizzie is a recovering addict, trying to live a substance-free life and truly experience a drug-free world. The character's voices don't differ that much, but their stories all come together to tell a story of how family shapes each of us, how the decisions our parents make when we are young will affect us for the rest of our lives.

Weiner is a fabulous writer, one who can craft a story that most of us will never live through, but something that we witness constantly in our society. The cheating spouse and the family that is left to pick up the pieces afterwards. The story is strong, and if the character's voices had differed a little, I would have liked this book even more. I am looking forward to reading more from Weiner in the future and would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for that classic summer read.