Scan barcode
kfyoung's review against another edition
4.0
Just a good book! I loved the storyline, the emotions, learning to grieve, all of it. It really resonated with me during the time I read it as well, as I was grieving and growing. I love all of Amy Reichertโs books!
elainegl's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Itโs a sweet story told by three people: teenage girl, her mom, and her grandmother. The story alternated between sweet, sad, and funny. The perfect marriages felt a little unrealistic, but I loved them anyway. When I went out to lunch recently, I had a grilled cheese sandwich...this book does that to you. ;-)
maryc79's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable book about strong women and what they need to do to survive.
cassidys_bookshelf32's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first novel by Amy E. Reichert and it won't be my last. This story had everything I love in a book: strong emotional connections to the characters, a past and present storyline, delicious food descriptions and an ending that left me satisfied with the story. I dare you to read this book and not crave grilled cheese and brownies. I made it past the first 100 pages before I broke out the panini maker for dinner. ๐ I still need to come up with a brownie recipe that would make May proud. I'd give this one a solid 4.5/5๐ and I'm looking forward to reading more by her.
novel_natasha's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very sweet. There were three generations of women, a few tragedies and a family secret, so the book moved along beautifully without being over dramatic.
What I loved was the misunderstanding and moscommunication between the three women, which sounds weird, but is so normal and relatable that I just loved it. How interesting that the people we love and are closest to are also the people we don't understand or really know. It is a great look at our most valuable relationships.
What I loved was the misunderstanding and moscommunication between the three women, which sounds weird, but is so normal and relatable that I just loved it. How interesting that the people we love and are closest to are also the people we don't understand or really know. It is a great look at our most valuable relationships.
jeisel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kle105's review against another edition
4.0
Three and a half stars - rounded up.
I connected with May, having myself lost my father. Feeling like he is there one day, and then just gone. I also connected with her mother Gina, as someone who loves her endless to-do lists. I can't imagine having to move on after losing a husband but that is what she is expected to do. She doesn't always get it right, but she is trying so hard for her daughter's sake. Her sister Vicki also provides some comic relief and support.
You also see her mother's struggle with losing her first love and marrying the next time for security. It leaves her bitter, cold, and detached. This takes you on a journey of their grief, how they move on with each other by their sides.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I connected with May, having myself lost my father. Feeling like he is there one day, and then just gone. I also connected with her mother Gina, as someone who loves her endless to-do lists. I can't imagine having to move on after losing a husband but that is what she is expected to do. She doesn't always get it right, but she is trying so hard for her daughter's sake. Her sister Vicki also provides some comic relief and support.
You also see her mother's struggle with losing her first love and marrying the next time for security. It leaves her bitter, cold, and detached. This takes you on a journey of their grief, how they move on with each other by their sides.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
andingj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Loved the Milwaukee connection. Not amazing literature but a good summer beach read.
guylou's review against another edition
4.0
๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ง'๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐บ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ is a touching exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and the power of love and forgiveness. Through the lens of three generations of womenโLorraine, Gina, and Mayโwe witness their complex relationships and struggles. Gina, a young widow running a gourmet grilled-cheese food truck, strives to break free from her mother's disapproval while navigating her own daughter's rebellion. Reichert skillfully portrays the tension and love between sisters Gina and Vicky, revealing their shared history and bond. As Lorraine's stroke unravels long-held secrets, the family must confront painful truths and find healing. I appreciated the book's structure, with chapters from each woman's perspective, providing insight into their individual journeys. Overall, ๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ง'๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข is a heartfelt and thought-provoking read that resonates long after the final page.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
This is an intergenerational story following Lorraine, her two daughters, Vicky and Gina, and Ginaโs teen daughter May. Their relationships are fraught and characterized by discord and silence. But when Lorraine suffers a stroke, things begin to change.
I really liked this book and the way Reichert wrote these women. Gina is a young widow who uses her chef talents to run a gourmet grilled-cheese food truck. Sheโs hard working and afraid sheโs repeating her motherโs mistakes with her own daughter, May. Ginaโs always felt that her mother disapproved of her. She never wanted to spend time with the children of other members of the country club; and chaffed at her motherโs focus on hair, makeup, clothes and manners. Vickyโs always been the โfavorite.โ She has the perfect husband, three great kids, a beautiful house in a Chicago suburb, and Lorraineโs sense of style and attention to appearance.
Despite the troubles in her life, Gina maintains a sunny outlook, which just seems to further annoy both her mother and her daughter. Vicky and Gina, despite their differences, are close sisters. They clearly love and support one another. They share the memories of their late fatherโs aloof manner, the way he ran the household with an iron fist, and the way their mother acquiesced without complaint. And they share a love of Roza, their childhood nanny, who has helped Lorraine keep her own secret for over forty years. She becomes the pivotal character in revealing those skeletons in the closet and helping them all forge ahead.
Itโs a delightful and heartfelt story. I find it interesting that once Lorraine loses her speech the communication between her and her daughters becomes clearer. She is forced to acknowledge the love her daughters have for her, the care theyโve provided and continue to provide, and the mistakes sheโs made by keeping her secret and blindly following her husbandโs wishes even after he died.
The book is divided into ten sections, each with three chapters, one each from Lorraine, Gina and Mayโs point of view. The ten section titles came from a list the author found in an article on โWhat to Ask Your Mother Before She Dies.โ At a book club discussion meeting where Reichert was present, she encouraged us to ask our own parents and grandparents these questions. One attendee remarked that she is already writing her new grandchild a letter answering the questions. Great idea.
I also have to give a โwarningโ about the food descriptions here. Reichertโs books always have this element in them, and readers should be aware that they will find themselves craving all sorts of delicacies. Alas, this book did not contain any recipes.
I really liked this book and the way Reichert wrote these women. Gina is a young widow who uses her chef talents to run a gourmet grilled-cheese food truck. Sheโs hard working and afraid sheโs repeating her motherโs mistakes with her own daughter, May. Ginaโs always felt that her mother disapproved of her. She never wanted to spend time with the children of other members of the country club; and chaffed at her motherโs focus on hair, makeup, clothes and manners. Vickyโs always been the โfavorite.โ She has the perfect husband, three great kids, a beautiful house in a Chicago suburb, and Lorraineโs sense of style and attention to appearance.
Despite the troubles in her life, Gina maintains a sunny outlook, which just seems to further annoy both her mother and her daughter. Vicky and Gina, despite their differences, are close sisters. They clearly love and support one another. They share the memories of their late fatherโs aloof manner, the way he ran the household with an iron fist, and the way their mother acquiesced without complaint. And they share a love of Roza, their childhood nanny, who has helped Lorraine keep her own secret for over forty years. She becomes the pivotal character in revealing those skeletons in the closet and helping them all forge ahead.
Itโs a delightful and heartfelt story. I find it interesting that once Lorraine loses her speech the communication between her and her daughters becomes clearer. She is forced to acknowledge the love her daughters have for her, the care theyโve provided and continue to provide, and the mistakes sheโs made by keeping her secret and blindly following her husbandโs wishes even after he died.
The book is divided into ten sections, each with three chapters, one each from Lorraine, Gina and Mayโs point of view. The ten section titles came from a list the author found in an article on โWhat to Ask Your Mother Before She Dies.โ At a book club discussion meeting where Reichert was present, she encouraged us to ask our own parents and grandparents these questions. One attendee remarked that she is already writing her new grandchild a letter answering the questions. Great idea.
I also have to give a โwarningโ about the food descriptions here. Reichertโs books always have this element in them, and readers should be aware that they will find themselves craving all sorts of delicacies. Alas, this book did not contain any recipes.