Tag Archives: female friendship

Miss Benson’s Beetle: A Novel by Rachel Joyce    

24 Friday Sep 2021

Posted by in 20th century, action, adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Rachel Joyce is the author of The Music Shop and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry among others.   I loved this story about female friendship – the audio version is fabulous!

“Joyce’s sparkling latest pops with grit, resilience, and the power of friendship. . . . Joyce’s graceful touch and cutting humor . . . give the characters a rich complexity and depth. With a plucky protagonist and plenty of action, this is a winner.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

 “Whatever you may look for in a novel—adventure, fully realized characters, humor, poignancy, a chance to learn something new—is all here in Miss Benson’s Beetle. What’s also here is the particular grace and humanity that Rachel Joyce brings to her work. She reminds us that we all are broken in one way or another, but that we are capable—oftentimes in unexpected ways—of helping to make ourselves and others whole. This beautifully written novel is an absolute delight.”—Elizabeth Berg, author of The Story of Arthur Truluv

“As ever, Rachel Joyce made me laugh out loud, then weep for the battered majesty of ordinary human beings. Two unlikely heroines, their strange love, a pitiful villain, and a life-affirming search for miraculous beauty . . . all combine in a wild, hopeful picaresque journey into the soul.”—Bel Mooney, Daily Mail“

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The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John

28 Friday May 2021

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, Humor

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Set in the late 1950’s, this novella offers readers a glimpse of the lives and relationships of four women who work for a Sydney department store.  Readers will find here a thoughtfully written and gentle story filled with hope. 

“The book I most often give as a gift to cheer people up.” —Hilary Mantel

“Like the deceptively simple (but perfectly crafted) little black dress, this delicious and sly masterpiece works its magic from the very first sentence. Once you slip into its folds– full of hope and new beginnings, of luck and laughter and love– I dare you not to catch yourself smiling, and wanting to twirl, for days and days and days.” –Sarah Blake, author of The Guest House and The Postmistress

“Funny and light, this story moves quickly as each character navigates the 1950s-era challenges of being a working woman in a male-dominated society with limited options for the happily ever after they all strive for.” —Booklist

“A striking debut novel of wit, charm, female friendships and universal dreams… a delightful and uplifting slice-of-life view.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

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The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson

24 Monday May 2021

Posted by in 20th century, adventure, England, Fiction, Travel

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What a delightful road trip – except the ride is on a narrowboat on British canals for four months.  Two middle-aged women desperate to ditch their mundane life situations, as luck would have it, cross paths briefly with an older woman who lives on the canals.  They trade homes and the slowed time and shared struggle give each the courage to make life-changing choices.  .  A breath of fresh air during our pandemic, claustrophobic, confined-in-our-homes times.  Excellent read.

“Lovely…Another heartening story about the possibility of striking out in a new direction at any age. It is also a soothing read, especially welcome in these anxious times.” ―Christian Science Monitor

A touching, hopeful story about figuring out what matters and mustering the courage to make necessary changes.” ―NPR

“Fans of Jane Smiley and Hannah Mary McKinnon will enjoy Youngson’s immersive, lyrical account of the women’s narrowboat summer, especially the colorful characters they meet along their journey.” ―Booklist

“Youngson, a heartfelt storyteller, takes readers on a charming excursion that provides a comforting, tender escape.” ―Shelf Awareness

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The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

07 Friday May 2021

Posted by in Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Best-selling historical fiction author of The Orphan Train and A Piece of the World transports the reader to 1840’s Australia where England sent away her prisoners – for some punishment, for others opportunity and redemption.

“Celebrating the bonds between women, the novel explores how lives that seem destined for pain might persevere.” — Real Simple

“Both uplifting and heartbreaking, this beautifully written novel doesn’t flinch from the ugliness of the penal system but celebrates the courage and resilience of both the first peoples and the settlers who came after, voluntarily or not, to create a new home for themselves and their children.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Monumental…This episode in history gets a top-notch treatment by Kline, one of our foremost historical novelists. This fascinating 19th-century take on Orange Is the New Black is subtle, intelligent, and thrillingly melodramatic.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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The Last Flight by Julie Clark

25 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, thriller, Travel

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A woman decides to leave her abusive husband by disappearing to start a new life. At the airport, she meets another woman, also in dire straits running from her past. On a whim and to cover their tracks even further, they swap airline tickets. Then, one of the planes crashes….. I thought it was very well done.

“The moral dilemmas that the multifaceted, realistic characters face in their quest for survival lend weight to this pulse-pounding tale of suspense. Clark is definitely a writer to watch.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

 “The Last Flight sweeps you into a thrilling story of two desperate women who will do anything to escape their lives. Both poignant and addictive, you’ll race through the pages to the novel’s chilling end. A must read of the summer!” – Kaira Rouda, internationally bestselling author of Best Day Ever and The Favorite Daughter

“A tense and engaging womancentric thriller.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan

27 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, United States

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Elisabeth is a new mother who has just moved with her husband to a college town in upstate New York. There, she hires a new babysitter named Sam, a college student who struggles to fit in with her wealthier peers. The two women share a close bond, but their different situations and backgrounds occasionally cause tension. This thoughtful, well written novel explores motherhood, class, and friendship.

 “Sullivan’s intimate, incisive latest explores the evolving friendship between a new mother and her babysitter… Readers will be captivated by Sullivan’s authentic portrait of modern motherhood.”—Publishers Weekly

“Sullivan… writes with empathy for her characters even as she reveals their flaws and shortcomings. And while the story she tells focuses primarily on two women from different backgrounds and at different stages of life, it also illuminates broader issues about money, privilege, and class; marriage, family, and friendship; and the dueling demands of career and domesticity with which many women struggle. This perceptive novel about a complex friendship between two women resonates as broadly as it does deeply.”—Kirkus, starred review

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Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

22 Saturday Dec 2018

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Frances is studying at Trinity College in Dublin when she and her friend meet an interesting older couple. I loved this author’s witty, somewhat detached style and the complicated relationships she explores in this novel.

“Sharp, funny, thought-provoking . . . a really great portrait of two young women as they’re figuring out how to be adults.”– Celeste Ng, “Late Night with Seth Meyers Podcast” 

“In this searing, insightful debut, Rooney offers an unapologetic perspective on the vagaries of relationships… a treatise on married life, the impact of infidelity, the ramifications of one’s actions, and how the person one chooses to be with can impact one’s individuality. Throughout, Rooney’s descriptive eye lends beauty and veracity to this complex and vivid story.”– Publishers Weekly (starred)

“Readers who enjoyed Belinda McKeon’s Tender and Caitriona Lally’s Eggshells will enjoy this exceptional debut.”– Library Journal (starred)

“A smart, sexy, realistic portrayal of a woman finding herself.”– Booklist (starred)

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Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky

24 Monday Jul 2017

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Two childhood friends reunite at a summer retreat, each harboring a horrible secret that would test the bounds of their longtime relationship if revealed.

“Set on the fictional Maine island of Quinnipeague, Delinksy’s novel centers on two childhood friends, Charlotte and Nicole, who reunite to coauthor a cookbook about the local cuisine. (Warning: there are tantalizing food descriptions in this book. Don’t listen to it while hungry.)”  – Publishers Weekly

“With grace and dignity Sweet Salt Air reveals the fragility of human nature while intimating at the healing powers of forgiveness.” ―New York Journal of Books

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Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

21 Monday Nov 2016

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A short but powerful novel about a girl growing up in 1970s Brooklyn. The story explores family, gender, race, and the narrator’s coming of age in beautiful, poetic language.

“The novel’s richness defies its slim page count. In her poet’s prose, Woodson not only shows us backward-glancing August attempting to stave off growing up and the pains that betray youth, she also wonders how we dream of a life parallel to the one we’re living.” (Booklist (Starred Review))

“Woodson crafts a haunting coming-of-age story of four best friends in Brooklyn, New York…Here is an exploration of family—both the ones we are born into and the ones we make for ourselves—and all the many ways we try to care for these people we love so much, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing. A stunning achievement from one of the quietly great masters of our time.” (Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review)

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The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

07 Monday Nov 2016

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Are you looking for a leisurely-paced gentle read?  You may want to try this heartwarming novel about Lydia Hoffman, a young woman who takes a giant step of faith in opening her own yarn store after recovering from a serious illness. Along the way, Lydia makes discoveries about herself while helping others to do the same.  This is the first in a series.

“Fans of Debbie Macomber’s contemporary romances and novels of women’s lives prize her inspirational stories, domestic settings, and sympathetic heroines. Macomber’s protagonists are ordinary women who are sometimes caught in difficult situations, but remain optimistic through every adversity.” – Novelist

“Macomber is a master storyteller; any one of these characters could have been a stereotype in less talented hands. Instead, these women and their stories are completely absorbing.” -RT Book Reviews

“Debbie Macomber tells women’s stories in a way no one else does.” –BookPage

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