family secrets

The Paris Match

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The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn

Emily and Michael are getting married, in Paris!

Layla was Emily’s sister-in-law, and is amicably divorced from Emily’s older brother, Jamie. Emily pleads with her to come to Paris for the week. Awkwardly, Jamie is bringing his new girlfriend.

Griffin is Michael’s best man. Griffin and Michael have been best friends since they were kids. Griffin has chronic pain and visible burn scars. Bridesmaid Rosie thinks he might be a billionaire, though that’s not actually true.

Emily has second thoughts about the wedding. Griffin tells Layla that Michael’s happiness means everything to him, and that it’s imperative she talk with Emily and fix things. They met on the flight to Paris, when Layla helped another passenger with a health crisis. Layla is a doctor, traveling from city to city for temporary positions. She doesn’t like Griffin, who rarely smiles, but finds him fascinating, and a slow burn romance begins.

The main section of the book is set during a week in Paris and at Versailles while the next section is set three months later, well before the epilogue. There are plenty of tricky family dynamics and secrets that need to be revealed. I found this contemporary romance to be an engaging, immersive read. Not at all a light-hearted book, but well worth reading for memorable main characters, originality, and the Parisian setting.  

Brenda

Theo of Golden

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Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Originally self-published, this bestselling contemporary novel is a doozy. I can see why it’s popular with book groups, but perhaps it should come with some content warnings. I found it to be deliberately bittersweet in tone, and this is definitely not a gentle read.

This novel is about the impact one 86-year-old man has on the town of Golden, Georgia. Theo is fascinated by portraits displayed in a coffee shop, all featuring local residents, and he is very admiring of the local artist, Asher Glissen. Theo decides to buy some of them, and give the portraits to their subjects. He writes each a letter, and invites them to meet him by a fountain. Many do meet him by the fountain, and share some of their life stories, which are often sad, even heart wrenching. Theo’s kindness does make life in Golden sweeter for many.

Theo is also generous and helps a number of Golden residents, usually anonymously, including a little girl and a gifted musician. Theo, who never shared his full name, doesn’t talk much about himself. He does speak of growing up near vineyards in Portugal, and tells a few of a long-ago tragedy. Theo clearly loves music, literature, art, coffee, and conversation. His daily ritual is to watch the sunset by a river. The ending is quite abrupt, and secrets are revealed.  

Brenda

More Than Enough

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More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen

This was a compelling read; hard to put down, which is rare in a contemporary novel that isn’t a thriller or a mystery. It left me smiling, if a bit wistful. That said, this book isn’t for everyone. Content includes dementia, infertility, family secrets, and cancer.

Why was this a good read for me, with all those topics covered? This novel also has memorable characters that I cared about, humor, a happy marriage, friendship, good scenery, and alpacas. Alpacas are pretty charming!

Polly teaches high school English in a private school for girls in New York City. After a short and unhappy first marriage, Polly is happily married to Mark. Mark is kind, supportive, and is a zoo veterinarian. Polly meets three friends 9 or 10 times a year for an unusual book club. The four women agree to buy the buy, but not to read it. No, I don’t get it, but money does not appear to be an issue for any of these women. Her friend Sarah has a city apartment and a house in Connecticut with gorgeous gardens. Sarah becomes friends with Mark’s mother Lou when their house needs renovation.

Polly’s dad has dementia and has moved to a posh memory care facility, and her mother is a judge. Polly is her father’s favorite child, but her brother doesn’t hold it against her. Some of Polly’s students and former students are featured, along with another teen. There are brief poetry quotations, and references to famous women novelists.

Brenda