From best-selling author Kris Radish comes this moving tale of family bonds and second chances. Fortythree- year-old Emma Gilford has always been an obedient daughter and sister. But when a voice from the past comes calling, Emma wonders if it's time to stop thinking of others-and start chasing her own desires. ". a veteran at portraying female relationships, her affection for her characters shines through ."-Publishers Weekly
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"The stakes keep escalating in this one, and I am grateful that Emma, who is single, did not go down the path I feared. Amazing what people can say to each other in fiction. Both the events and the psychological development here are quite strong. I especially recommend it to unmarried women over 40."
— B. (4 out of 5 stars)
“Radish displays an intimate understanding of boisterous families, and as a veteran at portraying female relationships, her affection for her characters shines through.”
— Publishers Weekly“Popular and prolific Radish offers a touching story about strong women and family bonds.”
— Booklist" This book reminded me of my sisters. I have two older ones (and two older brothers) and we just don't KNOW each other. We keep everything very basic and as a result there is misunderstanding, lack of closeness and . . . just, lots of what was described. A great great read. "
— Kristy, 2/18/2014" I have been making my way through books written by Kris Radish. I really enjoy them and the characters. This one was a disappointment. I could never quite understand the main character and her angst. The book was too superficial to be believable, yet it was still a fun book and mildly entertaining. Some of her other books are better. "
— Kathy, 2/15/2014" Pretty light but some good lines on family. 3 1/2 stars "
— Kathy, 2/3/2014" The highlight of this book for me was the description of how Emma felt about her plants. I can relate to that, including the lying down in her garden. A wacky family drama with humor that has made me interested in checking out other books by the same author. I did find the author's writing style somewhat dense at times - longish sentences that felt awkward. But worth the read nonetheless. "
— Gina, 2/3/2014" This book was terrible. I am shocked that it has as many stars as it has. The story over all, was a cute story, but the writing was SO annoying!!!! I was close to putting this book down and I never do that. Most of the characters were completely horrible, I disliked just about every one of them. And the writer had this annoying habit, that appeared half way through the book, where she would pick a phrase like "My mother didn't go there because..." and start about 10 paragraphs with that same phrase. And this would happen every 4 pages or so. The same story could have been written but another author and have been a great read, as it was it was just torture. "
— Joy, 1/31/2014" Started reading on 12-27-2011. I liked the book, but it was wordy. Emotion did catch in my throat. "
— Andrea, 1/31/2014" Snooze . . . I thought I would really enjoy this book, but I just could not for the life of me get into it. Seemed tedious and formulaic to me. "
— Dori, 1/29/2014" A 40-something year old woman realizing she doesn't know herself or her family as much as she thought she did. Through some, what I think of as, silly family strife, she comes to "find herself" with the help of two female family generations--her teenage niece and her carefree mother (hence the title, I gather.) I am not sure that Radish was able to convince me that there was any major problem facing the main character that someone coming from a large family wouldn't view as "normal." In any case, I somewhat enjoyed the narration by her. "
— Kim, 1/28/2014" This is a sweet story of family and learning to be yourself and at the same time rely one them. It's told through Emma's eyes who is the youngest of four sisters. Her father died when she was a young girl and Emma's sisters and Mother have tried to fill the gap. Sometimes too much so that she feels smothered. She slowly realizes she has to start making her own choices and that living an independent life does not mean a lonely life. "
— Bebe, 1/25/2014" This book was SO. BAD. It was a bunch of 40-year-old women whining. Nonstop. Whining like teenagers. About a stupid family reunion. Ugh it was awful. "
— Melissa, 1/20/2014" Kris Radish has written another great book. If you haven't read any of her books find them,. A story of mothers, daughters, sisters and friends and their connection. "
— Anne, 12/13/2013" Not my favorite of Kris's books, but still enjoyed it. "
— Leeann, 12/9/2013" Funny, touching, warm, hilarious, endearing. And I thought I had a big family with issues?!?! Kris Radish is one of my favorite authors--and one I grab when I'm feeling a bit blue. She always makes me giggle and smile! "
— Cindy, 10/16/2013" family dynamics, well described and well written "
— Judy, 4/7/2013" I discovered Kris Radish 2 1/2 years ago and have read all 6 of her novels. This is the latest, and I've loved them all! "
— E, 4/4/2013" loved this one. a great read about the family dynamics with mothers and sisters and nieces. "
— Marie, 12/23/2012" If you like to read about the angst of the youngest sister in relationship to mother & 3 older sisters, I guess this might be enjoyable. However the redundant style and lack of dialog are distractions. "
— Nonie, 11/5/2012" I found this book horribly boring and the family dysfunction did not to speak to me at all. It was a relief to be finished with the book. "
— Sasha, 10/1/2012" No matter how much you love your family, they make you crazy. "
— Susan, 8/12/2012" I read about a quarter of this book and decided to quit. I needed something with more "meat"! "
— Teresa, 7/13/2012" I always like Kris Radish, but this one frustrated me---it took overly long to tell the story of Emma and her mother and sisters, and left out the fun part of the reconnection with Samuel I wanted more than implied! "
— Ellie, 6/14/2012" Fun book to read. Light & entertaining. Good with a blanket & a hot cup of tea. "
— Ann, 5/11/2012" I wanted this book to be a 4 star but sadly it only rated 2. "
— Fran, 10/6/2011" It was fun in the beginning but became predictable. "
— Sydney, 9/17/2011" not that great - pretty boring actually. liked her book about the funeral drive better "
— Sharon, 7/28/2011" love this author but felt this one dragged, too verbose. "
— Sheila, 3/22/2011" Typical Radish fare: this one revolving around four sisters and their yearly family reunion. Worth the reading time, but not my favorite of her works. "
— Maurean, 3/6/2011" Another great Kris book. Explains a lot about sister relationships~the good, the bad, and the ugly. Very revealing. "
— Maureen, 3/3/2011" I loved this book. I loved the interaction between the sisters. "
— Brenda, 1/17/2011" as a woman with FIVE sisters, I rellay enjoyed this book:) GAve me some <br/>insight to my rerlationships with MY family, while being an easy read with <br/>likeable characters. Going to tell all my sisters to read it.... "
— Lori, 12/13/2010" This one started off slower than I'm used to, but by the end I immersed in the lives of the Gilford women. Not my favorite of Radish's, but as always touching in it's love of all things Women. "
— Alice, 11/10/2010" the book was good, not my favorite of her books. it was a little slow starting but by the middle it picked up. overall it was a good read. "
— Jill, 10/13/2010" love this author but felt this one dragged, too verbose. "
— Sheila, 8/17/2010" I read about a quarter of this book and decided to quit. I needed something with more "meat"! "
— Teresa, 7/27/2010" If you like to read about the angst of the youngest sister in relationship to mother & 3 older sisters, I guess this might be enjoyable. However the redundant style and lack of dialog are distractions. "
— Nonie, 4/25/2010" This was another radish book about being in charge of your happiness, with a littl get over your family shit. I love her books. This one was not as good as Annie Freeman, but was good touching read. "
— Danielle, 4/20/2010" family dynamics, well described and well written "
— Judy, 4/6/2010" No matter how much you love your family, they make you crazy. "
— Susan, 4/3/2010" The author has the ability to get inside a woman's heart and mind and put it on paper. Extraordinary. "
— Freya, 3/5/2010" Though it tends to wander at times this book has very well developed characters and gives an inside look at the very real relationship between sisters who tend to be at odds with one another. "
— Leslie, 2/21/2010Kris Radish is the author of Hearts on a String, The Shortest Distance between Two Women, Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA, The Sunday List of Dreams, Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, and The Elegant Gathering of White Snows. She grew up dreaming about living a Nancy Drew–like life and always held her own passion for writing very close to her heart. A former journalist, nationally syndicated columnist, magazine writer, and university instructor, she also loves to tell stories about the times she picked night crawlers, served beer to cowboys, worked on a tomato farm, and hung out of the side of a fast moving helicopter. She lives in Florida.
Nicole Poole is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator, commercial voice talent, veteran soundpainter, and owner of the O. Gail Poole Collection. She is also a staunch supporter of the arts and travels around the globe with a mobile recording studio.