Holly Robinson

What I liked: It's a story about generations. There are a couple of geriatric protagonists and a few other geriatric characters each of which the author blesses with a unique personality and role to play. Some of the settings, hospitals, nursing homes, elderly traveling among the young are presented in a thoughtful way that attempts to explore the world from a geriatric point of view and create sympathy in a younger reader. I am not sure how these scenes read for older readers? Do they feel shallow? Does the depiction of aging here feel true? I liked that the author attempted to realize old age and allow aged characters central roles in the story.

But, overall, this story felt too contrived to satisfy me. The characters sometimes seemed like cardboard cut-outs. Rather than fully realized characters the protagonists were often more like vehicles for dialog and narrative voice. They were sketches of roles rather than fully-cast acted parts in a play.

This story didn't do it for me. It was OK - but didn't feel like the author's best effort. I felt a bit cheated of my time in the end. Your mileage may vary though, because Robinson is a talented writer. Don't hesitate to try this one yourself because of my experience, or give [b:The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter: A Memoir|5333013|The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter A Memoir|Holly Robinson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1392092095s/5333013.jpg|5400499] or [b:Beach Plum Island|18114160|Beach Plum Island|Holly Robinson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1396226901s/18114160.jpg|25441390] a try. I think both of those outstretch this .
… (mer)

Very Readable story that is unique and wonderful in the way it allows flawed characters to have moments of happiness .

A bit of a soap opera / romantic fairy tale but sincere at the same time.

I love how this story about family shows at every turn how important friends and the act of friendship can be.

If this were a screenplay it could be a rockin script for older actresses and they could have a good time with it. I like how the generations intersect but mostly have their own orbits.… (mer)

Anne Bradford has come home to Folly Cove in Massachusetts, with her baby Lucy, after the abrupt end of her relationship with Lucy's father. Colin, it turned out, wasn't in the process of getting a divorce from his wife. Barbara and Colin show up at the restaurant where she cooks to drop the baby on her and let her know that Colin's going home again. Her boss is shocked that she was "that kind of girl" (so was she), and going home to Folly Cove seemed the only short-term option.

Her mother Sarah Bradford, concerned about maintaining the tone at the Folly Cove in, which has been their sole support since Neil Bradford left them behind. Her oldest sister Laura still believes her husband Jake's version of an encounter one night, when in fact it was Jake who came to her room and behaved, well, inappropriately. The fact that Lucy's father was married only confirms her poor opinion of Anne's behavior.

Then their middle sister Elly comes home, partly to act as a buffer, partly because she's simply hit a dry patch in in her work as a production designer in Hollywood, and needs a break from it.

The Bradford sisters, their mother Sarah, and their Aunt Flossie, their father Neil's sister, are about to get tangled up in the revelation of family secrets. While they're being rocked by the secrets Sarah told in building a secure life for herself and her daughters, they're also struggling with their own secrets. For Laura, it's the question of what's wrong in her relationship with Jake, and her own illicit communication with an old school friend, Tom, who contacted her again through Facebook. For Anne, it's what really happened with Jake, and her own cautious new friendship with her first love, Sebastian. For Elly, it's the panful end of her relationship with Hans, and the surgery that followed.

All the women are fascinating and compelling, and I loved their slow discovery of of just how deep their mutual attachments are. It's a family that always loved each other, but has been strained by the challenges they've faced, including, ironically, Sarah's determination to ensure her daughters had the safe, secure childhood she'd wanted for herself.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.… (mer)