Publisher: She Writes Press
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Source: Publicist/Publisher
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: Becca Meister Fitzpatrick--wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of the community--is the dutiful steward of her family's iconic summer tradition . . . until she discovers her recently deceased husband squandered their nest egg. As she struggles to accept that this is likely her last season in Long Harbor, Becca is inspired by her granddaughter's boldness in the face of impending single-motherhood, and summons the courage to reveal a secret she was forced to bury long ago: the existence of a daughter she gave up fifty years ago. The question now is how her other daughter, Rachel--with whom Becca has always had a strained relationship--will react.
Eden is the account of the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, as Becca prepares to disclose her secret and her son and brothers conspire to put the estate on the market, interwoven with the century-old history of Becca's family--her parents' beginnings and ascent into affluence, and her mother's own secret struggles in the grand home her father named "Eden."
*This book was provided by the publicist/publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Source: Publicist/Publisher
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: Becca Meister Fitzpatrick--wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of the community--is the dutiful steward of her family's iconic summer tradition . . . until she discovers her recently deceased husband squandered their nest egg. As she struggles to accept that this is likely her last season in Long Harbor, Becca is inspired by her granddaughter's boldness in the face of impending single-motherhood, and summons the courage to reveal a secret she was forced to bury long ago: the existence of a daughter she gave up fifty years ago. The question now is how her other daughter, Rachel--with whom Becca has always had a strained relationship--will react.
Eden is the account of the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, as Becca prepares to disclose her secret and her son and brothers conspire to put the estate on the market, interwoven with the century-old history of Becca's family--her parents' beginnings and ascent into affluence, and her mother's own secret struggles in the grand home her father named "Eden."
*This book was provided by the publicist/publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Eden is a house that is built on Long Harbor, and Becca is the current caretaker of the property. The home has been passed down through her family for generations after her up and coming grandfather built it for his family. The story revolves around not just Becca, but all of Eden’s inhabitants. Chapters are told in alternating time periods; 1940’s when Bunny and Sadie owned the house, and the year 2000, when the house is owned by the family as a whole (but Becca lives there). The dual timeline provides an interesting look at the workings of this family as it grows, ages, and changes.
I will say that there are a LOT of characters in this book. A LOT. I was struggling trying to remember who was who, and how they were related to one another throughout the entirety of the book. The dynamics of the family also naturally changed between the alternating timelines which didn’t help me with trying to remember just how everybody added up in the familial equation.
I will say that there are a LOT of characters in this book. A LOT. I was struggling trying to remember who was who, and how they were related to one another throughout the entirety of the book. The dynamics of the family also naturally changed between the alternating timelines which didn’t help me with trying to remember just how everybody added up in the familial equation.
Many of the characters were also not very likable. The author paints a portrait of a well to do family, but many of them act like middle-age brats. Rachel seems to be a closet alcoholic, Thomas is the one with the illness and seems to use this as his means of entitlement, and even Becca seems to be so self-absorbed, she can’t even recognize that her long-standing maid may need (or want) to spend a holiday with her own family.
With that being said, the story told from the earlier time period had me enthralled. This was, of course, before the family started adding new members through marriage and children, so it was easier to keep track, but it also told the story of a clan of people who are trying to keep up with the Jones’, so to speak, but are crumbling on the inside. There are a lot of secrets that are kept within those four walls, and it was interesting to see how decisions made in this time period shaped and affected the members of the family 50-60 years later. One huge secret was kept from almost all members of the Meister clan, which just goes to show that you may not know the person standing in front of you as well as you think you do.
If you are a fan of Jaqueline Mitchard or Anna Quindlen, I think you may like this book. I would give this book a solid 3 out of 5. If you like a story filled numerous complex characters, this one may be right up your alley.
With that being said, the story told from the earlier time period had me enthralled. This was, of course, before the family started adding new members through marriage and children, so it was easier to keep track, but it also told the story of a clan of people who are trying to keep up with the Jones’, so to speak, but are crumbling on the inside. There are a lot of secrets that are kept within those four walls, and it was interesting to see how decisions made in this time period shaped and affected the members of the family 50-60 years later. One huge secret was kept from almost all members of the Meister clan, which just goes to show that you may not know the person standing in front of you as well as you think you do.
If you are a fan of Jaqueline Mitchard or Anna Quindlen, I think you may like this book. I would give this book a solid 3 out of 5. If you like a story filled numerous complex characters, this one may be right up your alley.
