Author: J. Ryan Stradel
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Published: July 23, 2019
Book Description: Two sisters, one farm. A family is split when their father leaves their shared inheritance entirely to Helen, his younger daughter. Despite baking award-winning pies at the local nursing home, her older sister, Edith, struggles to make what most people would call a living. So she can’t help wondering what her life would have been like with even a portion of the farm money her sister kept for herself.
With the proceeds from the farm, Helen builds one of the most successful light breweries in the country, and makes their company motto ubiquitous: “Drink lots. It’s Blotz.” Where Edith has a heart as big as Minnesota, Helen’s is as rigid as a steel keg. Yet one day, Helen will find she needs some help herself, and she could find a potential savior close to home. . . if it’s not too late.
Meanwhile, Edith’s granddaughter, Diana, grows up knowing that the real world requires a tougher constitution than her grandmother possesses. She earns a shot at learning the IPA business from the ground up–will that change their fortunes forever, and perhaps reunite her splintered family?
Here we meet a cast of lovable, funny, quintessentially American characters eager to make their mark in a world that’s often stacked against them. In this deeply affecting family saga, resolution can take generations, but when it finally comes, we’re surprised, moved, and delighted.
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This was the perfect book for the last unofficial day of summer. This book was right up my alley as the center of this story is family. If you go back at my previous reviews, you will that that is right in my wheelhouse.
This story centers around Helen and Edith. Edith is the older sister and has not found her niche, except for the ability to make great pies. Helen who Is quite a bit younger has a lot of talent and can do whatever she really wants to do. Edith get’s married, and for the length of marriage and even long after she struggles. Helen opens her own brewery and makes cheap beer that is wildly successful, she does this on the heal of taking her father’s entire inheritance. This causes Edith not talk to Helen for 50 plus years. Fast forward, to Edith’s granddaughter Diana, who has a hardship that no kid should have to endure. She moves in with her grandmother, where they both struggle to get by. Diana turns to stealing and meets Frank who she robbed. He gives he chance to work off her penance at his brewery and that is where I will end this summary.
This book will make you laugh a lot, and sigh a lot also. This was a very quick read and I did not want to put it down. All three POV’s were so good and I was genuinely wanted to see a great outcome for all three. Highly recommend this one.
Obsessed Bookaholic 