| Title | : | Olivia (Newport Ladies Book Club, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1608618439 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781608618439 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 212 |
| Publication | : | First published February 1, 2012 |
Olivia (Newport Ladies Book Club, #1) Reviews
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I'm going to edit this from my original review, pretty much in its entirety. Not because my opinion changed, but because I was intemperate and the book and author deserve a better response. And no, I'm not going to preserve the original, see above.
The main reason for my anger is that I felt like I had signed on for something different than was delivered. I expected the difficult marriage, not least because the cover blurb says "Nick declares his independence". So I know that he's going to leave/divorce her and so I was braced for this to happen. And the blurb is not wrong or even misleading. Indeed, I was kind of grateful for the blurb because it's clear from the start that Livvy is miserable in her marriage and I looked forward to her eventual freedom. Nick isn't openly confrontational or violent, but he is mean and cutting and has completely withdrawn emotional support from Livvy in every meaningful way. Well, except for undermining her to the children, so at least there's that.
And we learn that Livvy has been holding onto her marriage with both hands for years with the difficulties starting eight or ten years ago and the current detente at least four years running. So from the beginning, and growing as I continued, I couldn’t wait for him to finally take off so that the story, the romance, could start. And it takes way, way too long to do so. Which is the heart of my complaint and why the bulk of the rest of this review is spoilers.
So that’s why I’m actively angry at this book. It dragged the pain out way too long and the payoff, when it came, was deeply unsatisfying. Seriously, I can’t tell you how much I recommend not reading this if you are a fan of romance. It might work as a chick lit story, but my expectations were disappointed to the point of pain. I have no idea why four authors would get together and decide to start their romance series off with such a weak start but I have to say I’m not going to go out of my way to find the others. Yeah, there are some outstanding friendships, but it looks to me like that emphasis has undermined the romantic bits altogether.
A note about Chaste: Um. If there was kissing, I missed it. Livvy and Nick are married, at least to start, so you have them occupying the same bed. It’s pretty clear that there’s no intimacy, physical or otherwise, going on, though, so nothing explicit. -
Olivia is a woman who is trying hard to build the perfect home life on the outside. She does everything a dutiful wife and mother should, but when she spends hours making a perfect anniversary dinner and sits there alone while the candles melt to nubs, she realizes that everything is not perfect in her marriage. And to top it all off, she feels like she's lost her own identity.
When her husband comes home and doesn't even apologize for missing the dinner, Olivia realizes she needs to make some changes in her life. She sees a flapping flier advertising a book club and joins it which brings an entirely new dimension to her life. Of course that dimension becomes a lifeline as she starts to really address the problems in her marriage and family. I loved the introduction of each lady in the book club and their distinct personalities as they provide support for Olivia in their own way. It's clever since the other characters in the Newport Ladies Book Club will each be the main character in their own book. (I believe the next one comes out in June and is by Josi Kilpack.)
The thing I like about Olivia is the thing that all Julie Wright fans like about her writing. It's very visceral. Julie takes her readers down to the mat with the emotions of her characters and then pushes it two feet more. She engages you on such a realistic level it feels like you are right there experiencing a distant marriage that may be on its last legs combined with trying to deal with step-children who don't know where to turn or how to act and feeling exhausted by it all. It's a basic human emotion to want love and to be able to give love and Julie Wright taps into that while giving you so much more. If you read her book My Not So Fairy Tale Life, you'll know what I'm talking about---emotions written so well you really feel the punch in the gut surprise or the happy feeling that make you smile in a goofy way that would scare people if you were in public. Visceral. It's the only way to explain it.
Olivia has all of that and more. It's the story of a woman's journey in finding friendships, figuring out her marriage and family, but most of all discovering the strength she has within herself.
As I mentioned this book is the start of a series written by four separate authors. I think Julie Wright has set the bar high for the rest of the authors and I'll be anxiously waiting to see what happens to the ladies of the Newport Book Club.
Originally reviewed on
http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com -
This first book in the Newport Ladies Book Club series is simply a delight to read. It’s probably my favorite Julie Wright book so far. The writing is lyrical and beautiful, and the story is hard to put down. Olivia is a 40-something year old mother who does everything for everyone. When she finds herself alone on her wedding anniversary night, she realizes she has lost herself in the process of always being there for everyone but herself. Not only has her marriage suffered, but she doesn’t know who “Olivia” is anymore. In a fit of desperation, she reaches out to a neighborhood book club where she discovers that her heart can heal through friendship and her love can bridge even the widest gap.
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OLIVIA, by Julie Wright, is the first of The Newport Ladies Book Club series, which consists of four books, written by four authors, following the stories of four women who are drawn together by their love of reading.
Olivia is a forty-something wife and mother of four. Her husband, Nick, also has two grown children from a previous marriage but from whom he is estranged. Nick has grown distant from Olivia and their children, and she feels like her life is falling apart. Julie Wright perfectly captures the feelings of a deteriorating marriage: the subtle verbal jabs, the silence, the smothering tension in the home, the discomfort of being close, and the pain of being apart. After Nick fails to show up for their anniversary dinner, Olivia sees a flyer for a new women’s book club. She hesitates; she wants to join but feels like she can’t take the time away from her troubled family. After arguing with herself, she joins the club and meets the other women, Daisy, Paige and Athena, whose stories will be featured in the following books.
All of the women are in crisis, facing loneliness, divorce, an unexpected pregnancy, a mother’s death, and a father’s dementia. All are struggling, trying—as many women do—to bravely solve their problems without inconveniencing anyone, but they all need help. They reach out to each other, hesitantly at first but later with a fierce loyalty. They learn to trust each other and develop deep friendships.
The other books in the series will be released throughout 2012:
DAISY, by Josi S. Kilpack
PAIGE, by Annette Lyon
ATHENA, by Heather Moore
I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the series to learn the other women’s stories from their points of view. -
First line:
"He wasn't coming home."
First thing I have to say is how brilliant four author friends are to create The Newport Ladies Book Club! I'm looking forward to reading each book from four different ladies/perspectives/characters.
Olivia is the first book of the series and is written by Julie Wright.
Poor Olivia Robbins! Life is not what it looks like in her home. Her husband works more and more away from home; the children feel his absence; and Olivia cleans.
When he ditches her on their anniversary night, she realizes something or someone (mostly her husband, right??) need to change. While out walking off her anger she comes across a flyer beckoning her to take it. A book club is just what she needs to reconnect with other women after giving so much of herself to others.
At the club she meets other women who look put together on the outside, but like her, are having personal troubles. And as she reaches out to others, Olivia learns she can stand on her own and do good in her family.
In the beginning, Olivia was driving me crazy blaming all the problems on her absent husband. Seriously, like 70 pages of whining. A few chapters later I realized why Julie was writing the beginning that way. Olivia started realizing maybe she had contributed to the situation as well.
I hoped the couple would stay together and work out their marriage. This story might feel like true life as other women feel like Olivia.
I loved how Olivia reached out to her husband's two children from a previous marriage. She learns that when you reach outside yourself you are truly blessed. Olivia doesn't stand by anymore, hoping not to offend her husband. She takes steps to be a better person/mother/wife.
I enjoyed the books the book club picked and their discussion. This book made me want to start a book club!
This book kind of reminded of Band of Sisters by Annette Lyon (who is another contributor to this series).
I look forward to reading about the other ladies from the book club!
Likes:
Olivia's growth
Books chosen by book club
Dislikes:
Olivia's whining
Couldn't read fast enough!
Rating: PG
L: No
S: No
V: No
4 STARS -
Reading Olivia was a very emotional experience for me. Olivia told the story of a woman who has always given her all to her husband and children.Along the way she has become lost and doesn't know who she is anymore. The novel starts where Olivia and her husband, Nick, are having marital problems. All of a sudden she realizes that she needs to do something to find herself.This is when she joins a local book club, all strangers. This is a scary prospect for some people.
I loved the whole idea of this book club bringing this group of women together.It was delightful to see friendships grow, along with Olivia's confidence. I have read most of the books written by Julie Wright. This book, so far, is her best and most well-written book. The character development is so well done, the reader will be able to relate to all of the women in the book club on some level. The emotions are so real, and there is a lot of angst filled moments. Julie truly pegs a marriage in trouble; which is amazing since I know Julie has a fantastic marriage. I'm not telling you what happens with Olivia, but I will say that she changes and grows a lot. As she changes, so do the people around her.
Olivia will make you think and ponder. It will make you cry and search your own feelings. If you are looking for a heartfelt book, with real-life characters, that tell an enlightening story, then Olivia is for you.
Back at my blog I have an awesome interview I did with author Julie Wright. You need to go and read what she had to say about writing this book.
http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.... -
This series THE NEWPORT LADIES BOOK CLUB, got my attention right away. I didn't realize it was published by Covenant (meaning it is LDS fiction), or I probably would have passed it by. For some reason LDS fiction comes across as a conversion story or Polly Perfect Profile- which I hate.
This was an ok book. Although it was shallow, it did hold my attention. I was connected to the main character's feelings and frustrations. Olivia, mother of 4, is feeling neglected by her husband, Nick, who has 2 children from a previous marriage. She has no women friends, until she joins a book club, and becomes immersed in their lives.
I don't know if you need to be familiar with the novels the Book Club reads (THE POISONWOOD BIBLE, MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, SILAS MARNER, and THE HELP) to appreciate the comparisons in Olivia's life with those from the books she is reading. It is so spelled out in Olivia's mind, not much is left for the reader to analyze. For me, it was like being handed the test answer sheet.
Not sure if I will read the other books in the series. The other books are written from the viewpoint of the other ladies in the book club, during the same time frame. They are each written by different authors, which is kind of intriguing. -
I guess I have read too much good literature to enjoy fluffy cheesy LDS fiction. I was really looking forward to this series too. I mean, when I first heard about it and realized it was about a group of women who form a book club and talk about their lives I couldn't resist.
Unfortunately the book focused very little on the actual book club. It was mostly about a bad marriage and the potential divorce that was happening.
This book drove me crazy because the entire time you are in the head of Olivia and she is thinking all these things to say to her husband but she never actually says them which of course just keeps the distance and bad in the marriage.
I had a hard time feeling like this book was realistic and if it is, it is not what I want to be spending my time reading.
It didn't leave me feeling uplifted or happy. I didn't feel the triumph at the end. I tried to read the next book in the series because it is written by a different author and I have enjoyed some of that author's books in the past, but it was just as bad as this one and I didn't finish it.
I wouldn't recommend this series. -
I usually don't go for these LDS books about women finding a book club and finding themselves because of it. This book made me happy, though, so I liked it.
Although Olivia's marriage is on the rocks and you really want to smack her husband a couple of times, the author was able to make it so I didn't want to smack MY husband after coming out of "book land." Thank you Julie Wright for helping me avoid book-induced depression.
I like that she was able to approach someone having a struggle within their marriage and going from thinking it was all the other person's fault to realizing they shared some blame in the disfunction. I felt like, as a reader, I was able to evolve with Olivia as she started to view herself and her husband from a different angle. -
4/20/2012 Review: Highly excellent book: I'm impressed. Looking forward to the rest of the series. My Grade: I give this book an emphatic "B+".
5/8/2013 Update: I just finished re-reading this book. I was worried that I wouldn't like it this time through, as I enjoyed it so immensely the first time, but it really held up. I still like Livvy's character a lot and her relationships with her family and her fellow book club members. Knowing the plot line didn't spoil the story for me; it actually helped my understanding of the characters. -
Oh I did love reading this book. It reminded me of fond memories from my own bookclub years in Maryland. I loved the discussions on different books and how the character Olivia brought themes from the book and tied them into her personal trials and joys. I loved how the characters of the club reached out to eachother in their personal lives. What a fun concept of having 4 different authors take a different character to continue the story. Brilliant and fun!
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I really enjoyed Olivia. It was perfect for what I needed in my life right now. I loved the different stories that unfolded from all the characters lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with any kind of problem in their life at the moment. I can't wait to read the other 3 books that are connected!
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This was such a crazy book for me because I feel like it made me think so much. At times I wanted to scream at Olivia and shake her and then I wanted to be just like her. This was a great reminder on how we are all different and we never know what someone else is going through. I definitely recommend it.
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I liked the writing in this book, but it was kind of depressing to read right before bed because of the family arguing and drama. I enjoyed the storyline and meeting the characters and appreciated Olivia's growth throughout the book.
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I received this book in the mail last week. I got it for free, and agreed to read it and review it.
I read the back of it the first day I got it, and new that it wasn't going to be a happy-go-lucky book. I knew that I was going to have to be in the right mood to fully appreciate it. And, I was right.
Olivia is in her mid-forties. She has a husband and six kids - two of which are step children from her husbands (Nick) previous marriage. But something's been missing for the past few years, and it takes a ruined anniversary for her to truly recognize it. She doesn't know who she is anymore, and she doesn't know what's going to happen with her marriage. She decides to join a book club, and meets other women in various stages of life who are also going through their own challenges. She finds herself, and the strength to help others.
Although I've never been married, never had kids, I still found myself relating to Olivia. It shows that we women are more alike than we think. No matter our age or background, there are some universal truths about life that we can share with each other.
I love how lifelike this book is. So many woman's fiction books are the perfect romance, or how she's perfect, and her partner's such a jerk. In reading this, I could see Olivia's flaws. She makes mistakes. She is real to me. She throws plates against the wall. She breaks down in tears. She yells at Nick and her kids. She is perfectly human. And, in the end, I could see things from Nicks perspective, why he made some of the choices he made. Who he used to be, who he had become, and why.
This book made me cry. A lot. Have tissues nearby. Lots of tissues.
I love the idea of this series: four women, four perspectives, four books. All parallel to each other. I can't wait until the next one comes out (June!) to see how Daisy's story is told.
(I just found out: If this series does well, they'll do four more of the women in the club!) -
First, this is definitely a book written for women. More than likely, I would not have picked it up...well...except to buy it for my wife. It also helped that it is written by Julie, who is awesome if you did not know. But honestly, I liked the book. I didn't have to force myself to read it. I didn't have to use toothpicks to keep my eyes open.
Second, I actually really liked the theme I found in Olivia, which (to me) was revolved around independence. Olivia is a woman who has seemingly done what everyone (especially her husband) wanted her to do. She didn't ever do anything for herself. She didn't stand up for herself.
The character had lost her mother years earlier and still grieved at the loss of a mother's compassion. In my opinion, her problem was she hadn't found a way to replace that loss with anything in her life other than mundane tasks that were fulfilling the needs of others' but not fulfilling her own needs. I don't really see anything wrong with doing what you can to help others. But I do see something the matter in not taking care of yourself.
Something that struck me as interesting was the relationship with her husband. At the onset of the book, it is already strained. But as much as I said "I don't blame her", in a way, I didn't blame him either. It was nice to read something where the strain in the relationship wasn't just the man's fault (because you know, all men are pigs). And it was nice to see her realize how some things really were her fault.
Something I really enjoyed about Olivia is that it's the first in the Newport Ladies Book Club and the invested reader will get the opportunity to see the lives of four different women. And I look forward to reading about Daisy, Paige, and Athena throughout the year. -
This is a new series about four different women in a book club, all written by different LDS authors. Only one of the ladies is LDS, which makes for some interesting discussions. I really enjoyed "listening in" on their comments about the books they read: The Poisonwood Bible, My Name is Asher Lev, Silas Marner, and they were about to read The Help when the book ended. I've read all of those except My Name is Asher Lev, and they made me want to read that one too. Olivia is the central character in this book, a woman who loves homemaking, motherhood, and helping others. Her own mother who died a few years previously always talked about Heavenly Messages--promptings when someone had a need. The story opens with Olivia waiting for her husband to come home to share a fancy anniversary dinner she had prepared, but he'd forgotten and stayed late at work which was becoming a pattern. For the last several years, their ability to communicate and appreciate each other had been dwindling and Olivia is mad at him and then desperate to try to mend their marriage before divorce becomes the only answer. She tries to soothe the stress so it doesn't impact her four children, but home life just seems to get worse as the plot develops. Her husband accuses her of being The Giving Tree, giving to everybody and losing herself. She shoots back that that makes him the little boy who just took and never gave back. She decides to do something "selfish" that she doesn't really have time for--join a book club--where she finds friends and ideas to help her. This was an enjoyable, light read, but with good ideas, believable characters and conflict, and touches of humor to lighten the dread of a marriage breaking up.
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Fun book, a bit cheesy at parts, and I figured out very early on not exactly what the husband's issue ended up being but just that he was hurting and shutting himself off from Olivia and knew they'd most likely end up back together at the end of the book. I was a bit bugged that the book club relationships came together so fast, they seemed kinda forced to me. I was also bugged that I hadn't read all but one of the books they discussed and that there were kinda spoilers for the books in this book. It did make me interested in wanting to read the books, but I was still bugged that there were kinda those spoilers. I read the preview chapter of Daisy in the back of the book, though, and it seems to me that the 4 books in the series are gonna kinda take place concurrently, not exactly, but overlap somewhat so we're seeing some of the same situations through each character's eyes? I did like the characters and thought the writing was pretty good, but, again, the book club part seemed slightly forced. I understand they're trying to show how the relationships develop, but for what happens in the book, those relationships all of a sudden seemed super close and kinda not realistic. All in all, though, I enjoyed this book, a light read with some thought provoking things, and pretty fast. I like that there was a cookie recipe in the back. It sounds super yummy! Although I'm not sure if you're supposed to use Craisins or fresh cranberries in the cookies, it kinda sounds like fresh cranberries, which sounds interesting. Anyway, a fun read, so I did give it 4 stars, but it's probably 3.5 for me.
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I received Olivia in the mail yesterday and was very excited to start reading this first book in the Newport Ladies Book Club series. The series is written by four authors well-known in the LDS market (Julie Wright, Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Lyon, and Heather Moore). Part of what drew me to The Newport Ladies Book Club is that it is intended for a national audience. It always makes me happy seeing LDS authors using their talents for a broader market.
I don't always read book dedications and acknowledgements, but for some reason I did with this one. The tears started flowing during Julie Wright's acknowledgements as she talked about women (both friends and kind strangers) who have offered a smile or a shoulder to cry on. My friends (which include my family) are so important to me. I depend on them and really appreciate them!
Olivia tells the story of a 40-something mother of four that finds herself struggling. Her husband has become very distant, and she's not sure who she is anymore. One particularly bad evening she sees a flyer for a book club and decides to join. The friends she makes and the books she reads help her cope with her problems.
It was good that I kept a tissue handy, as I needed it a few times during the novel. There are some light moments, but overall it's pretty heavy. Although the focus is on Olivia, each of the book club members has had some significant trials. I couldn't relate to many of their issues (thankfully!), but I could definitely relate to the importance of good friends and being there for those around you.
A very touching story and a great start to the series. -
OLIVIA, by Julie Wright, is the first of The Newport Ladies Book Club series, which consists of four books, written by four different authors (who collaborated together), following the stories of four women who are drawn together by their love of reading. It's fun to get to know the four ladies and see what trials they are facing and how they handle them.
I really liked the main character, Olivia. She's very relatable and likable. She goes through a lot in this book and you're heartstrings are pulled quite a bit. I love how she discovers she's much stronger than she thought she was, and how she chooses to handle her difficult circumstances is very admirable to me. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I will just say this: it was good, and not what I expected at all. I love when I can't predict the ending to a book, and to be surprised, this book did that for me!
The other characters in this book are very interesting and all so different from each other. I'm totally excited to see the other books from their point of view and to see how they view the world.
The way the characters meet and tie together was great. I like how they interact and the felt like there was foreshadowing in this book for the other characters that we will get to know much more closely once the entire series is out.
Seriously makes me so excited to get my hands on the rest of this series! Thank heavens we don't have to wait a year in between books, they are all coming out this year (2012) - sa-weet! -
I am so intrigued by the concept behind this series of books. It's one of the main reasons I signed on to take part in reviewing The Newport Ladies Book Club series. The genre here can best be described as Women's Fiction. The idea is that these four authors have joined together to write about different women in a book club. The stories happen simultaneously but we get to focus on one lady at a time in each book.
Olivia is the first book and the first character we really get to know. I love the cover of this book. It really fits the Newport feel and well, I can't help but be attracted to blue. It's my color. :) Plus the beach is my favorite place. I love the sounds and smells of the ocean side.
I really loved following Olivia through the process of self awareness. She has become so wrapped up in making her home and family the ideal that she has forgotten that her own soul is equally important in that whole "ideal" scenario. The book seemed to be made of very real life type stuff. It was easy to relate to and it was easy to find a bit of myself in there too. Olivia begins to discover herself again but I like that it wasn't entirely selfish. She finds bits of herself by helping other people and by allowing others into herself. Change always takes courage and Olivia finds that courage. It was satisfying.
We get a glimpse of the other ladies in the book club who will be coming up in future installments of The Newport Ladies Book Club and I'm really excited to read their stories in depth. -
Even though this wasn't the "happily ever after" sort of sweet love story I have come to love from Julie Wright, I still enjoyed this book tremendously.
Olivia is a middle aged mother of four dealing with marital struggles that she doesn't understand. Her husband, Nick, has become detached and disinterested in her and, often, their family altogether. She cannot figure out what has happened or what she has done to cause this void between them. On a whim, and looking for something to bring a bit of goodness into her life, she picks up an add for a local book club and plunges into friendships with other women facing difficult trials of their own. Together with this patchwork of ladies she finds the strength to fight for her family and stand up for herself.
I loved this story. I think every marriage has felt distance from time to time and Wright did a beautiful job of bringing that anguish out in the pages of the story. The heartache and longing were tangible and felt raw and beautiful all at the same time. I seriously fell in love with these characters. I adored Olivia and her courageous, though sometimes flawed, personality. I loved that she wasn't perfect but that she was willing to battle relentlessly through anything to try to save her family.
This book wasn't what I expected, but I can hardly wait to continue the series and get to know the other women of Newport Ladies Book Club.
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I love the range of emotion that Julie has shared in The Newport Ladies Book Club’s first book of the series—Olivia! The ladies not only build lasting friendships, but they have intelligent and enlightening book discussions. Focusing on her desire to serve and eager to find out who she is, Olivia joins a ladies book club. True friendship grows and, in the dark times, her friends are a haven for her delicate emotions. She is able to share herself and her talents with her new-found friends. They in turn help Olivia through a very difficult time. She reaches out to her step-children, hoping they will have the answer to her husband’s withdrawal from her and their four children and his lack of desire, interest and love in their life together. Trying to hold and keep both “their” children and “his” children safe and feeling the love they deserve is a challenge. Olivia’s journey of self discovery helps her find the answers she is looking for and brings her family back together. I can’t wait to read the next book—Daisy. I am excited to see how the ladies in the club help and encourage one another through the challenges that come their way.
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I like the idea of this series: 4 women becoming friends through a book club and each book is told from the point of view of one of the women.
This was a pretty good book. There were some touching moments. I was a little disappointed at the end. Olivia just seems too perfect. I remember at one point Olivia wonders if she has become to selfless toward everyone, except her husband... 'has she just left him to fend for himself?' That thought/idea was never resolved. We find out later why Nick (the husband) has been so distant, etc.. but I think the story would have felt more complete and realistic if the marital problems could be attributed to both of them instead of just one; and then resolved by both of them making adjustments/comprises - because that's usually how it is in real life.
Overall, I guess I liked it. I don't know that it was good enough to make me want to read the other books in the series but I probably will anyways, especially since each book is by a different author. -
Olivia seems to have the perfect house and the perfect life...except for he fact that her husband is increasingly distant. She joins a book club and forms a bond with this eclectic groups of ladies and it becomes her lifeline.
I'm really curious how this series will play out--each book is written about a different member of the book club and by a different author. Will the story pick up where it left off, but be told from a different point of view? Or will it backtrack to where this story began, but take a different tangent?
Back to the story. Olivia seems like she tries too hard to please, but doesn't take time for herself. I think a lot of wives and mothers are like that--selfless--so it makes her very relatable. I liked the growth that she developed throughout. I almost felt like I was a part of this group. :) -
Probably more like 4.5 stars, but I'm going to round up today. :-) I really enjoyed this story about a 40-something mom with four kids who works to please everybody but herself. She's struggling with an emotionally-absent husband and joins a neighborhood book club where she meets several other women who prove to be a great support to her. I was glad that the main character eventually realized that the problems with her marriage were not entirely her husband's fault and that she had contributed and could also make changes.
There will be four books in the series -- each written by a different author and each telling the story of a different woman in the book club. I understand that they will be basically parallel stories so it will be interesting to read everything from all the different perspectives and get to know all the stories. I'm really looking forward to the other books! -
The book brought a lot of tender feelings to the surface. I almost wondered if somehow Julie had gotten hold of my journal. As I read the story (which I had a hard time putting down) I couldn't wait for the next book in the series to come out. Even though there are four seperate authors, they are doing such a fantastic job at inteweaving the main characters lives and stories. The next book in the series (The Newport Ladies Book Club) is titled "Daisy" by Josie S. Kilpack, Then comes "Paige" and then "Athena".
Olivia's family, from the outside is looks perfect, but as we all know there are always 'blips and bumps' that are not shown to the public. Her marriage is strained and her husband packs up and moves out. A heartwarming story of Olivia's journey to find own idenity and gain the confidence and strength she needs to continue on and to help her family heal.
