Click to purchase! Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Release Date: October 10, 2017
Format: ebook
Pages: 352
Source: Author
Genre: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 1 bookmark
Synopsis: Betting on the city of Detroit’s eventual comeback, cousins Addie and Samantha decide to risk it all on an affordable new house and a culinary career that starts with renovating a vintage diner in a depressed area of town. There’s just one little snag in their vision.
Angus, a weary, beloved local, is strongly opposed to his neighborhood’s gentrification—and his concerns reflect the suspicion of the community. Shocked by their reception, Addie and Samantha begin to have second thoughts.
As the long hours, problematic love interests, and underhanded pressures mount, the two women find themselves increasingly at odds, and soon their problems threaten everything they’ve worked for. If they are going to realize their dreams, Addie and Samantha must focus on rebuilding their relationship. But will the neighborhood open their hearts to welcome them home?
*This book was provided by the author in exchange for a honest review
I was really excited to begin The Welcome Home Diner because even though Addy and Sam are cousins, I have a very similar living and business relationship myself...with my sister. Of course I am a big fan and believer of beloved Detroit too. I wanted to have some fun in a book I could immensely relate to. I realize that the author attended University of Michigan so I was sure she would bring a fun perspective of fondness and attention to a special city.
I was hoping the book would bring Detroit to a good light but really it doesn't bring any light. I was hoping to hear about the cousins doing fun things at all the fun places of the city but small landmarks are brought in just for the sake of name dropping. One example the book makes is a character visiting the Heidelberg Project but only in passing as a character lists down the events of their own day, nothing more exciting than a routine trip to the grocery store. There is much talk of how things used to be in past eras. The book is full of extreme exaggerations and in depth detail of every single visible thing. It is distracting and overwhelming away from the story line.
I was hoping the book would bring Detroit to a good light but really it doesn't bring any light. I was hoping to hear about the cousins doing fun things at all the fun places of the city but small landmarks are brought in just for the sake of name dropping. One example the book makes is a character visiting the Heidelberg Project but only in passing as a character lists down the events of their own day, nothing more exciting than a routine trip to the grocery store. There is much talk of how things used to be in past eras. The book is full of extreme exaggerations and in depth detail of every single visible thing. It is distracting and overwhelming away from the story line.
There are so many characters period in the story. I am not all the way sure who belongs with whom. I did find Addy to be much perkier than Sam and also Addy's boyfriend to be kind of a slacker. Sam also dwells on many unrelated mundane events and people of the past. Readers hear her whole life story! I do like that each chapter is separated by each girl's name and voice, but they do not always line up in the best chronological order so that is something to pay attention to.
For as much relationship complexity and neighborhood conflict as the previews promised, the book gets a very late start to reaching any of these events.
I give the book sadly only 1 bookmark. For as hyped as I saw this book before-hand, I was very let-down. As a non-cook yet Food-Network foodie lover, I also hoped for lustrous food times, which did not happen. I was hoping for a hearted story of family love and the city resilience that we all watch and hope for Detroit, but I was met with mundane life details and mere listing of Detroit places. The book is not well-suited for me, a true in-depth feeling and story lover. It would be a good book for people who are that in-depth detail-oriented and in turn create imagination from that.
For as much relationship complexity and neighborhood conflict as the previews promised, the book gets a very late start to reaching any of these events.
I give the book sadly only 1 bookmark. For as hyped as I saw this book before-hand, I was very let-down. As a non-cook yet Food-Network foodie lover, I also hoped for lustrous food times, which did not happen. I was hoping for a hearted story of family love and the city resilience that we all watch and hope for Detroit, but I was met with mundane life details and mere listing of Detroit places. The book is not well-suited for me, a true in-depth feeling and story lover. It would be a good book for people who are that in-depth detail-oriented and in turn create imagination from that.
