This one is most definitely one of the best lesfic books
ever. It is light, serious, funny and sometimes overwhelming. There really aren’t
enough descriptors for this one.
The Goodmans live in a small town, Ludbury, and comprise
Richard, Maggie, daughter Jude and son Eli. Their extended family includes
Celia, Maggie’s mom and Dr. Abby Hart, Jude’s best friend since college.
Richard is good-humoured and mild-mannered. Maggie is fire, drama and passion.
Jude is mostly like her father but with a dash of her mother’s passionate
nature that flashes forth every once in a while. Eli is mostly his mama in
dramatics but a lot Richard in being good-tempered. Abby is emotionally expansive,
devoted, loving and completely loveable.
Abby is loved by everyone, but has a special bond with
Maggie and Celia. Maggie in particular has taken Abby entirely under her wing
but keeps trying to convince Abby to change teams – move from women to men. This
causes more than a little friction amongst everyone and is especially hurtful
to Abby who secretly is in love with her best friend, the very straight Jude.
The seemingly almost-regular family is suddenly in the
vortex of chaos, energy and emotional upheaval when Jude and Eli arrive home
for a weekend. Pansexual Eli has arrived with a lovely French girl, Selene, and
announces his intention to marry her. Caught in the excitement, Jude’s
boyfriend of five years springs an unexpected proposal and Jude is caught
flatfooted even as Abby’s heart completely breaks. To add to the drama, Selene’s
elegant mom, Juliette, makes an appearance bringing with her a
never-spoken-about past.
We loved the solidity with which Jude had taken care of Abby
during their college days. We totally loved Abby – it is impossible not to love
her and perhaps even fall at least a little bit in love with her. We really
liked Jude, Celine, Eli and Selene. But right from her first appearance, Maggie
was the one with PERSONALITY (yes, in caps). As the story progressed, Maggie just
kept becoming more and more and more – till the big reveal, when she completely
swept us off our feet.
This is most definitely a MUST READ.
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆★
