The story of a very-real feeling family who comes together for their patriarch’s funeral…is shocked by the revelation that he was hiding a secret lover…who was his best friend and practically part of the family as long as they’ve all been alive…and spends the next week together. As with all families, there are secrets, secrets are revealed, bonds are formed, bonds are broken, and there’s even a little mystery.
This was such a satisfying read. It perfectly summed up the bonds of family, while showcasing why all families have drama. Literal drama queens, big personalities, kids who aren’t kids anymore but are treated like they are, childhood romance with the next-door neighbor…it’s all there.
The writing was matter-of-fact and without flourish. It worked perfectly with all of the content in the book. There were an absolute ton of characters, and even toward the end of the book, I had some difficulty keeping the story straight among the generations. The four grandkids were easy; their storylines hooked me from the beginning. The parent generation was harder because the book didn’t get into their stories until the mid point. And Ellen? The matriarch of the story and I feel like we don’t find out who she really is until the end of the book. I wish there had been more about Fred. His story was underdeveloped, when others (Delia, Jennifer, the drama queen aunt) were heavily focused on without anything new happening.
Even though the family tree is explained within the first few pages, my only true criticism is that this book would have been a MUCH easier read to follow if the chapters had been significantly shorter and each perspective change was it’s own chapter. They were warranted with so many characters to keep straight, IMO.
Regardless of that annoyance, I did really love this story! It was a slow start for me since I had trouble keeping everyone straight, but from 40% to the end? Binged it in one sitting. Could not put it down.
Thanks to Celadon, BookishFirst, and NetGalley for a review copy!
This was such a satisfying read. It perfectly summed up the bonds of family, while showcasing why all families have drama. Literal drama queens, big personalities, kids who aren’t kids anymore but are treated like they are, childhood romance with the next-door neighbor…it’s all there.
The writing was matter-of-fact and without flourish. It worked perfectly with all of the content in the book. There were an absolute ton of characters, and even toward the end of the book, I had some difficulty keeping the story straight among the generations. The four grandkids were easy; their storylines hooked me from the beginning. The parent generation was harder because the book didn’t get into their stories until the mid point. And Ellen? The matriarch of the story and I feel like we don’t find out who she really is until the end of the book. I wish there had been more about Fred. His story was underdeveloped, when others (Delia, Jennifer, the drama queen aunt) were heavily focused on without anything new happening.
Even though the family tree is explained within the first few pages, my only true criticism is that this book would have been a MUCH easier read to follow if the chapters had been significantly shorter and each perspective change was it’s own chapter. They were warranted with so many characters to keep straight, IMO.
Regardless of that annoyance, I did really love this story! It was a slow start for me since I had trouble keeping everyone straight, but from 40% to the end? Binged it in one sitting. Could not put it down.
Thanks to Celadon, BookishFirst, and NetGalley for a review copy!