Tag: Fiction

The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery is a clever and honest family drama/fiction novel. It focuses on second chances and standing up for oneself.

I know, that makes it sound like it is a heavy read but it isn’t. It is more like watching your favorite tv show or a chick flick. You know, where you just jump in and go for the ride?

Robyn is everything to everybody. But four years after her divorce, she feels stagnant, which is hardly surprising. Why?

First off, her ex’s choice for a girlfriend has a disturbing connection to the family. Then her daughter is a bridezilla. In all, there are too many demands on Robyn.

As to the first one there, I don’t want to give that away, but it was a legit laugh-out-loud moment for me. It really set the tone for Robyn’s attitude the rest of the book.

I think any woman of a certain age will relate to Robyn wanting to do more for herself. Having to put others first for so long can make one go a little mad and want to toss it all away.

This was the aspect of the story that I enjoyed the most. As a result of the pressures, Robyn tries to get away from it all.

I especially liked how Robyn sees great-aunt Lillian as a free spirit to mimic. But this can also be a case of “be careful what you wish for.” Really, can one be too “free?”

And what happens when the rest of the family realizes they can’t do without Robyn, bringing their drama to rain down on her blissful dreamlike existence with Lillian?

Haven’t we all been there? Where we just want to be alone, but family intrudes?

Honestly, I’m not sure what else I can say about The Summer Getaway without giving anything away (see what I did there?)

There are times the family drama seems almost too contrived. None of the male characters are as developed as they could be. Unfortunately, they seem very cookie-cutter compared to other characters.

The Summer Getaway is a book that doesn’t require a lot of thought. Just go for the ride and be entertained by Susan Mallery’s writing talents.

If you are looking for more from this author, try these as well: The Vineyard at Painted Moon; The Friendship List; The Stepsisters.

With a clever title like The Liz Taylor Ring, it would be hard to go wrong. Fortunately, most of the book gets things very right.

Just like a past novel from this author (The Grace Kelly Dress), the author chooses a style icon from the past as the touchstone for the characters.

In the case of the Liz Taylor ring, the reference is to the whopper of a ring that Richard Burton gave Liz Taylor during one of their reconciliations. This parallels two of the characters (Lizzie and Ritchie) and their on-again/off-again romance.

It is safe to say that Lizzie and Ritchie have very little in common with Liz and Richard, but it is not for lack of trying. I don’t want to say more, because it would give away plot points.

The ring in question, and at the center of the entire plot, is an heirloom that each of Lizzie and Ritchie’s three kids (Addy, Nathan, and Courtney) knows about. But in clever plotting, each knows a different version of the story and what happened to the ring.

One unfortunate aspect of the book is that none of the three of them are particularly likable for a majority of the book. Addy is a controlling martyr, Nathan is a paranoid borderline narcissist, and Courtney…well, Courtney is the typical “youngest child total screw up.”

There is a lot of family history between these three. Unfortunately, the relationships between all of them are shaky. Because, you know, reasons.

All in all, there are times when it is a bit much. In a nutshell, Addy is too mean, Nathan is too “sidekick” and Courtney is too much of a mess.

Fortunately, there is a point where all three take a breath and the sibling relationships start to grow. I am just glad that I stuck with them because there are some truly beautiful family moments. Before we get to them, though, there’s just a lot of nastiness.

Now, I will give the author props for a few special details. For example, Ritchie is an addiction-level gambler. His two oldest kids, Addy and Nathan, are named for characters from “Guys and Dolls.”

Obviously, if you know the show, you know the connection. But if you don’t, the story centers around a gambling ring. Very clever.

Ultimately, The Liz Taylor Ring does focus on the importance of family ties and forgiveness. Not bad lessons to take to heart.

Author Bio: 

Brenda attended Cornell University and Hofstra Law School, where she was a member of the Law Review. Upon graduation from Hofstra, worked for the law firm Kaye Scholer, LLP, and did a federal clerkship with the Honorable Marilyn Dolan Go, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.