Author: Kristan Higgins
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
Book Description: Sometimes you have to break a family to fix it.
From New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins, a new novel examining a family at the breaking point in all its messy, difficult, wonderful complexity.
The Frosts are a typical American family. Barb and John, married almost fifty years, are testy and bored with each other…who could blame them after all this time? At least they have their daughters– Barb’s favorite, the perfect, brilliant Juliet; and John’s darling, the free-spirited Sadie. The girls themselves couldn’t be more different, but at least they got along, more or less. It was fine. It was enough.
Until the day John had a stroke, and their house of cards came tumbling down.
Now Sadie has to put her career as a teacher and struggling artist in New York on hold to come back and care for her beloved dad–and face the love of her life, whose heart she broke, and who broke hers. Now Juliet has to wonder if people will notice that despite her perfect career as a successful architect, her perfect marriage to a charming Brit, and her two perfect daughters, she’s spending an increasing amount of time in the closet having panic attacks.
And now Barb and John will finally have to face what’s been going on in their marriage all along.
From the author of Good Luck with That and Life and Other Inconveniences comes a new novel of heartbreaking truths and hilarious honesty about what family really means.
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: I love family drama stories, and at it’s core this book is exactly what this is. A story told in multiple points of views from the Frost Family. I really thought going into this, this be a very light read, but instead I found a thoughtful book, about the dynamics of family.
The book opens when John Frost has had a massive stroke. This happens the day before his 50th anniversary to his wife Barb. Soon Barb is standing vigil over her husband along with their two daughters Juliet and Sadie. Juliet has always been a mama’s girl and Sadie, a daddy’s girl. While they all love each other, their differences really do shine in this story.
There are secrets, philosophical differences, but all are trying to do what is right for John, even though he may not actually deserve it. Every once in a while you get glimpses of John’s inner monologue that I appreciated so much. The support cast, Caro, Oliver, Noah and many others make this story shine. They do add a lightness to this story that makes it only more readable.
This was may first Higgins novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was heartwarming, comical but had so much meat to this story. If you love stores and families and their dramas this will hit that spot.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Obsessed Bookaholic 