Annabel Ford is the perfect mother; trying her very best to get everything just right for her twin sons and husband. However, Annabel's quest for perfection is pushing her husband away and her world crumbles when he, out of the blue, decides he wants a divorce. Piper Whitley is a single mum, willing to do everything for her daughter Fern, and lucky to have found a dedicated boyfriend in the form of Todd. But their world is turned upside down when Fern's father suddenly turns up in town. Mackenzie Mead seems to have it all: the looks, the job, the husband, the house. But the one thing her mother-in-law wants, a grandchild, seems to be unreachable. Circumstances bring Annabel, Piper and Mackenzie together, which couldn't have happened at a better time, because all three women are about to be confronted with some big changes that definitely require the support of a friend.
Some Women is another absolutely wonderful read by and one I can't recommend enough to any women's fiction/chick lit fans. Each of the three main characters, Annabel, Piper and Mackenzie, has her own issues in life to deal with and therefore her own story to tell. The trio become close friends as the story progresses, and support each other in their times of need. The characters are quite different from one another, so I think there will be relatable elements in this novel for any reader, one way or another. The setting immediately felt really familiar, and it was easy to warm to the characters. I especially enjoyed Emily Liebert's writing; it's perfect for a read like this one and a great combination of both description and dialogue, and it just gets better with each of her releases. Some Women is a simply wonderful, well-written and captivating read that I thoroughly enjoyed and didn't want to finish - women's fiction at its best. (JoH)
Sloane seems to have built the perfect life for herself with a loving husband, a beautiful family home, and a lovely daughter. However, since the untimely death of her sister, Sloane can’t help but feel her life just isn’t what she thought it was and she doesn’t know what to do about it. When given the opportunity to spend some time at her aunt’s beautiful home near Lake George, Sloane knows that is exactly what she needs and together with her best friend Hillary, they leave Brookside behind, ready for a break from it all. When Sloane’s college friend Georgina unexpectedly phones and decides to join them as well, it suddenly becomes a holiday for three.
The book focuses on the three women, Sloane, Hillary and Georgina ,who spend two weeks at Lake George together, each of them with a secret to hide that is bound to come out. I won’t go into the details, because I don’t want to give too much away, but I loved how the novel included three separate storylines to focus on, with three very different but just as interesting female characters at its core. I personally warmed to Hillary the most, but I enjoyed reading about Sloane and Georgina just as much.
Emily Liebert’s books have this specific feel to them; I can’t really explain it. Perhaps it has to do with the very American setting of her novels, or just her comfortable and well-paced writing style, but I think her books are the perfect read whenever I’m looking for a guaranteed good novel I will enjoy, no matter what. Her books also always include realistic portrayals of women and I think many readers will be able to relate to these characters one way or another. Once again, Emily Liebert has delivered a thoroughly enjoyable and captivating novel that I couldn’t get enough of and I already can’t wait for her next one. (JoH)
More than a decade after her husband's death, Allison moves back to her hometown with her son, having her family nearby is great and the change of pace from the hustle in New York City is welcomed. She's making new friends with some of the mums at her son Logan's new school and it seems that Allison and Charlotte will be good friends. On the outside, Charlotte seems to have it all - a husband, a daughter, financial security but inside she feels as if her life is falling apart. Charlotte's husband happens to be her deceased husband's best friend and it all seems to be falling into place for Allison, even with the cute guy at the bistro.
I found this book to be emotionally challenging to read, and there were characters that although I did empathise with their plight, how dense could they be? I was sad for Allison but thought she was irritatingly naive, could she not as a friend see what it would have been like for her if the shoe was on the other foot? I rooted for Charlotte the most, it seemed that almost everyone preyed on her insecurities, and she just wanted a friend who did not need or expect anything from her. I liked this author's ability to expose the emotions that surface when dealing with some of life's tragedies, but also how animosity can appear when there is no balance in friendship and family. (KARM)
After her mother's unexpected death, Katherine and her dad move to a new neighbourhood in Manchester, Vermont, in order to start afresh. From the first second in this new town, Katherine becomes best friends with Laney, and the two are quickly inseparable. Over the years, they start planning their future: going to college, moving to New York, having glamorous and successful careers... All of it together, obviously. However, when the end of high school is near, suddenly everything changes. Fast-forward twelve years, and Laney and Katherine are no longer in touch. Until they both receive the same letter: their old neighbour and friend Luella has passed away and she has named both Laney and Katherine in her will. They are forced to work together again after all these years. Will the girls be able to set aside their differences, or is it true that some things can be forgiven but never forgotten?
You Knew Me When is mainly written from Katherine's perspective, with some chapters from Laney's point of view as well, and numerous flashbacks to when the two girls were growing up together. The mixture of both Katherine and Laney's voices, and the portrayal of the two characters as teenage girls and as grown-up women, is really well done. The flashbacks revealed the closeness of their friendship, and this really added a nostalgic layer to the story. Emily Liebert's writing is fantastic: easy to read, captivating, and she manages to capture certain emotions perfectly. The novel mainly focuses on the two primary characters, Laney and Katherine, and the other characters aren't really worked out in close detail. However, this didn't bother me in any way, because it is Katherine and Laney's story that is central to the novel; two best friends trying to find their way back to one another, after life has come in the way. It's a heart-warming, thoroughly enjoyable novel about the power of friendship and the trials of growing up, which readers will be able to relate to. (JoH)
