The Condition: A Novel

By Jennifer Haigh

When the McKotch family gathers at their summer house on Cape Cod for their annual vacation in 1976, they are expecting a fun week at the beach with their extended family. What they don't know is that this is the last time they'll spend together at The Captain's House, and soon their lives will be forever changed. In the very near future, Paulette and Frank's marriage will reach its bitter end, and daughter Gwen will be diagnosed with Turner's syndrome, a rare genetic condition that prevents her body from growing or maturing like a normal person. Gwen's diagnosis and the McKotch's divorce will also have ramifications for Paulette and Frank's two sons, Billy and Scott.
In this novel, author Jennifer Haigh takes the readers through the next twenty years of this dysfunctional family's lives, detailing each one's struggle for love and happiness. Although I think Baker Towers is still her best work, the story of the McKotch family is quite compelling. Haigh's characters are well drawn as usual and while the plot seems to move a bit slowly at times, the ending is satisfying as the main characters come full circle.

The Divorce Party: A Novel

By Laura Dave

Every once in a while, you discover an author who truly speaks to you. Something about the words they choose and the characters they create, move you and captivate you and make you wish the book would never end. If you're very lucky, your favorite new author might be prolific as well as talented, and have written a bunch of books for you to devour. Or she may have written just two novels so far, so you'll have to savor them while you wait for her next one.

I fell in love with Laura Dave's 2006 debut, London is the Best City in America and her latest book, The Divorce Party, is just as good. When you read her simple, eloquent prose, you can't help but stop every few pages to marvel at her finely honed writing skills. Dave possesses an amazing talent for penning dead on descriptions, unpredictable plot twists, multifaceted, extremely likeable characters, and beautiful, realistic relationships and romances. The Divorce Party is my favorite book of the year.

Dave's latest novel is set in Montauk, a beautiful coastal town. Located on the farthest end of the Hamptons and Long Island, it feels like the end of the world. While Montauk has been a popular tourist destination for many years, the town is also inhabited by some locals who reside there year round. This weekend, one of Montauk's oldest and wealthiest families is throwing a divorce party, the polar opposite of a wedding. Gwynn and Thomas Huntington shared the ideal marriage for thirty-five great years, but will end their relationship by throwing a beautiful party to celebrate with family and friends.

If you're assuming that The Divorce Party is another one of those fluffy, predictable novels about the glitter and glitz of a summer in the Hamptons, you couldn't be more wrong. It is a book about relationships, how they end and how they begin. It about secrets, keeping them, revealing them and forgiving them. But it's mostly a love story, two love stories, actually. It is Thomas and Gwynn's love story, as well as their son Nate and his fiance Maggie's love story. Nate and Maggie are about to open their own restaurant in Brooklyn as they prepare to attend the Huntington divorce party. Maggie is nervous because she's never met her future in-laws face to face. Then Nate reveals that he hasn't been completely honest with her about his parents' financial situation; it turns out that this family has lots and lots of money. And lots of secrets as well, many of which are about to be revealed this weekend in Montauk.
I know I'm gushing now but I simply cannot say enough good things about this amazing book, which also gave me a new appreciation for one of my favorite songs, Van Morrison's Sweet Thing from Astral Weeks. I never really paid close attention to the beautiful lyrics until I read them in the final pages of The Divorce Party. Just another reason to love this smart, stunning novel.

And I will stroll the merry way

And jump the hedges first

And I will drink the clear

Clean water for to quench my thirst

And I shall watch the ferry-boats

And they'll get high

On a bluer ocean

Against tomorrow's sky

And I will never grow so old again

And I will walk and talk

In gardens all wet with rain

Oh sweet thing, sweet thing

My, my, my, my, my sweet thing

And I shall drive my chariot

Down your streets and cry

hey, its me, I'm dynamite

And I don't know why

And you shall take me strongly

In your arms again

And I will not remember

That I even felt the pain.

We shall walk and talk

In gardens all misty and wet with rain

And I will never, never, never

Grow so old again.

Oh sweet thing, sweet thing

My, my, my, my, my sweet thing

And I will raise my hand up

Into the night time sky

And count the stars

That's shining in your eye

Just to dig it all and not to wonder

That's just fineAnd I'll be satisfied

Not to read in between the lines

And I will walk and talk

In gardens all wet with rain

And I will never, ever, ever, ever

Grow so old again.

Oh sweet thing, sweet thing

Sugar-baby with your champagne eyes

And your saint-like smile....

Comfort: A Journey Through Grief

By Ann Hood

In this heartbreaking memoir, Ann Hood writes about the loss of her beloved five year old daughter Grace, who died suddenly after contracting a rare strep virus that attacked her organs. Ann (a novelist), her husband Lorne and their son Sam are completely devastated as family members and friends offer love, support, food and advice. Sentiments like, "Time heals", "She's in a better place"' and "Write this down," do little to comfort the family or heal Hood's utterly broken heart. Grace was a vivacious, loving, creative, intelligent little girl who loved art, the Beatles, her big brother, and anything girly. Desperate for something to ease her pain, Ann seeks solace in knitting, writing, God, her family, and eventually, she slowly begins to recover.

Hood's recent novel, The Knitting Circle, was inspired by her personal experiences dealing with Grace's death, but she states on her website that Comfort was the most difficult thing she's ever written. Her pain is undeniably evident on every page. Years later, Ann and her family finally begin to feel a bit of hope when they adopt a baby girl from China, not to replace the irreplaceable Gracie, but to bring some joy back into their lives.

Comfort is a well written, heartfelt memoir, a loving tribute to little Grace. I especially appreciate Chapter 7, titled "Staying", which recounts Hood's tendency to leave when things get difficult or boring: jobs, homes, friendships, etc. She writes, "...I leave things. Even things I love. Even things I promise never to leave...The thing about marriage is, you're not supposed to leave. You stand up in front of a hundred of your best friends and closest family members and promise them and the person you're marrying that you will stick it out. No matter what." Although many marriages are unable to survive the loss of a child, Ann and her husband grow even closer, forever bonded by their wonderful memories of Grace. I think many people seeking comfort after enduring an unimaginable loss like Ann's, will find reassurance and hope in this remarkable book.

How to be Single: A Novel

By Liz Truccillo

"A human being's desire to mate, to pair up, to be part of a couple, will never change. But the way we go about it, how badly we need it, what we are willing to sacrifice for it, most definitely is... So maybe the question isn't anymore 'Why are you single?' Maybe the question you should be asking yourself is 'How are you single?' "

When I was a little girl many years ago (thirty or so to be exact), I couldn't wait to be a teenager so I could go on dates and have boyfriends. I think I must have watched too much television or too many musicals, because I was in for a very rude awakening. When no one in high school really wanted to date me, I just figured I'd wait until college. But college boys were even less interested in having a girlfriend. And while I must confess to kissing quite a few boys, I'm almost embarrassed to admit that my husband was my first serious relationship. We didn't meet until I was twenty-four years old and I had to ask HIM out! I guess I finally learned that nothing turns out quite the way you expect.

Julie Jensen is a 38 year old New Yorker, a beautiful single woman with a great career and a posse of loyal girlfriends. But she is sick to death of being asked, "'Why are you single? You seem like an awfully nice person. And very attractive. I just don't understand it.'" Julie doesn't understand it either so she decides to travel around the world to find out how women in other countries deal with being single. She travels to amazing cities, like Paris, Rio, Sydney, Bali, Beijing, Mumbai and Reykjavik, fallling madly in love with a married man along the way. Julie discovers that men and women all over the globe are marrying later, many are divorcing more easily, and finding your soulmate is difficult no matter where you live. Julie's friends are also dealing with being single: Alice is an attorney who quit her job to spend more time dating, Serena is a chef contemplating celibacy, Ruby is depressed and seriously considering artificial insemination, and Georgia just became a single mother of two after her husband deserted her for a much younger woman.

I found How to Be Single to be a very interesting and entertaining book. Each woman's story is compelling and unpredictable, the characters are well written and surprisingly likeable. Author Liz Truccillo was a writer for Sex and the City and it shows in the best possible way; the friendships and romances feel real and believable. Reading this book is almost like watching an episode of the popular series. According to the book jacket, the author traveled all over the world to interview men and women and research this book. As an avid reader of travel magazines, I just loved reading about the different countries. The author's descriptions are so vivid, you almost feel like you're visiting these great places with her. I'd recommend How to Be Single to all women, regardless of marital status, because who couldn't relate to these tales of love and loss? I only wish that I could have read it years ago and saved myself some heartache.

The Book of Dahlia: A Novel

by Elisa Albert

Dahlia Finger is twenty-nine years old and living in Venice Beach, trying to get her life together when she is suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor. This book has received many starred reviews and some good press, and I really wanted to like it. But I found Dahlia's character mostly whiney and self-absorbed. I couldn't get into the "stream of conscious" writing style either.

The Beach House: A Novel

By Jane Green

This is the story of a beautiful, rambling oceanfront estate in Nantucket. Many years ago, Windemere was the pristine home of one of New England's wealthiest families, the perfect setting for fabulous parties and beach vacations. Now, it belongs to one slightly eccentric, lonely old woman, who inherited the home and resides there alone with her memories.

To pay for some badly needed repairs and renovations, Nan decides to turn Windemere into a bed and breakfast. Soon, her home is once again a bustling place, full of laughter, drama and romance. Her lovely new tenants include a recently separated father on the brink of coming out of the closet, a lonely divorcee slowly rediscovering herself after many years as a wife and mother, and her son, a lifelong bachelor seeking refuge from yet another doomed love affair.
I loved this novel's Nantucket setting and its beautiful beach house Windemere. I even kind of liked Nan, a no nonsense woman who shoots from the hip and lives her life without a care as to what anyone else thinks of her. However, the other characters are entirely forgettable; the way that they all coincidentally end up at Windemere and all their problems magically disappear felt a little far fetched for me. If you're in search of a nice, sappy beach read and you don't mind suspending your disbelief, you'll probably enjoy The Beach House, but for me, it was all a little too perfect. I'd still love to visit Nantucket someday though!

LoveHampton: A Novel

By Sherri Rifkin

A modern day Cinderella story set in the Hamptons. Tori Miller’s life fell apart when her boyfriend Peter broke up with her two years ago and ever since then, her life has been all work and no play. Until her best friends stage an “intervention,” by arranging both a TV makeover show and a summer share in the Hamptons to bring some excitement back to her life. Tori reluctantly takes her pals’ advice and finds herself in a strange new world. In addition to a stylish new look and an expensive designer wardrobe, she suddenly has six new housemates, a glamorous social life, and more male attention than she can handle. But Tori’s not quite prepared for all the complications that come with her new life; making new friends, juggling men, avoiding paparazzi, & partying every night make it difficult to keep up with her old friends and build her new company. And while she loves the attention of her charming, handsome, RICH new beau George, she also finds herself attracted to one of her housemates, which is completely against house rules.
This light, breezy novel, which Publishers Weekly called “a dazzling debut,” is perfect reading for the beach or pool. If you’ve ever wondered what it’d be like to spend a summer among the rich and famous, you love Lovehampton, an entertaining and easy read.