Review by Booklist Review
There is plenty of trademark Hoover (All Your Perfects, 2018) emotion and surprises in this engrossing read. Morgan Grant married her high-school sweetheart, Chris, after she got pregnant. Her sister, Jenny, was dating Jonah at the time. Seventeen years later, Jonah returns to marry Jenny and help raise their new baby. Meanwhile, Morgan and Chris' 16-year-old daughter, Clara, is negotiating a crush on the mysterious Miller Adams. Her father doesn't want her to keep seeing Miller, and Clara calls on her Aunt Jenny for advice. A tragic accident reveals long-held secrets and questions about who should have ended up with whom after high school. Morgan faces feelings about herself and Jonah that she had buried and re-evaluates what she wants for her daughter. Clara struggles with her anger towards her mother and the other adults in her life who seem always to disappoint her. This twisting novel will instigate excellent book discussions about regrets and second chances. Nicholas Sparks fans who have not yet discovered Hoover may enjoy this one.--Amy Alessio Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Betrayals, secrets, and shifting family loyalties keep the pages turning in this excellent contemporary from Hoover (All Your Perfects). Morgan Grant's relationship with her 16-year-old daughter, Clara, is precarious. Clara, weary of her mother's overprotective tendencies, relies on her Aunt Jenny as a confidant. When both Jenny and Morgan's husband, Chris, die in a car crash, things become even more strained between the mother and daughter, as a confused and grieving Morgan contends with the discovery of a betrayal by Chris while trying to prevent Clara from learning the truth about her father and fighting feelings for Jenny's baby daddy. Flashbacks to Morgan as a teenager reveal parallels between her and her daughter, adding depth to their relationship. Hoover expertly conveys complex character dynamics while avoiding sappiness and finding room for insight and love in the midst of tragedy. Though there is a romance, the real love story here is between Morgan and Clara. This is Hoover at her very best. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel & Goderich Agency. (Dec.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
After an unplanned pregnancy triggers marriage between two mismatched teenagers, Morgan and Chris, they adjust and over the next 17 years build a satisfying life around their much-loved daughter, Clara. Then, the day after Morgan's 34th birthday, a car crash destroys the family. She copes by lying to her daughter and avoiding reality. Clara seeks refuge with her friends, and distances herself from her mother. Miller, Clara's boyfriend, supports her and adds a charming, romantic touch to her life. Mother and daughter continue at odds until Clara learns more about her parents' lives, and, finally, they reconcile. Tanya Eby (Morgan) and Lauren Ezzo (Clara) alternate reading the first-person chapters. Eby's pacing and voice modulation reflect Morgan's uncertainty, bewilderment, and despair. Ezzo's crisp speech characterizes an angry teenager interacting with an incompetent adult (as she sees her mother), while the undertones Ezzo adds to portray Clara's inner misery are very effective. Miller's hesitant, but steadfast character is brought out by Ezzo's deepened voice and slower pace. VERDICT Recommended for listeners who enjoy novels centered on family relationships.--Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Williamsburg, VA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When tragedy strikes, a mother and daughter forge a new life.Morgan felt obligated to marry her high school sweetheart, Chris, when she got pregnant with their daughter, Clara. But she secretly got along much better with Chris' thoughtful best friend, Jonah, who was dating her sister, Jenny. Now her life as a stay-at-home parent has left her feeling empty but not ungrateful for what she has. Jonah and Jenny eventually broke up, but years later they had a one-night stand and Jenny got pregnant with their son, Elijah. Now Jonah is back in town, engaged to Jenny, and working at the local high school as Clara's teacher. Clara dreams of being an actress and has a crush on Miller, who plans to go to film school, but her father doesn't approve. It doesn't help that Miller already has a jealous girlfriend who stalks him via text from college. But Clara and Morgan's home life changes radically when Chris and Jenny are killed in an accident, revealing long-buried secrets and forcing Morgan to reevaluate the life she chose when early motherhood forced her hand. Feeling betrayed by the adults in her life, Clara marches forward, acting both responsible and rebellious as she navigates her teenage years without her father and her aunt, while Jonah and Morgan's relationship evolves in the wake of the accident. Front-loaded with drama, the story leaves plenty of room for the mother and daughter to unpack their feelings and decide what's next.The emotions run high, the conversations run deep, and the relationships ebb and flow with grace. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
