Author: Robyn Carr
Genre: Women's Fiction/Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date: 25th March 2014
Pages: 384
Book Source: my bookshelf
Synopsis: Gerri can't decide what's more
devastating: learning her rock-solid marriage has big cracks, or the anger she
feels as she tries to repair the damage. Always the anchor for friends and her
three angst-ridden teenagers, it's time to look carefully at herself. The
journey for Gerri and her family is more than revealing—it's transforming.
Andy doesn't have a great track
record with men, and she's come to believe that for her a lasting love is out
of reach. When she finds herself attracted to her down-to-earth, ordinary
contractor—a man without any of the qualities that usually appeal to her—she
questions everything she thought she wanted in life.
Sonja's lifelong pursuit of balance
is shattered when her husband declares he's through with her New Age nonsense
and walks out. There's no herbal tonic or cleansing ritual that can restore her
serenity—or her sanity.
Miraculously, it's BJ, the reserved
newcomer to Mill Valley, who steps into their circle and changes everything.
The woman with dark secrets opens up to her neighbors, and together they get
each other back on track, stronger as individuals and unfaltering as friends.
My Thoughts:
*Shock horror*
this is my first Robyn Carr novel, my friend Karen who guest reviews here loves
Carr's Virgin River and Thunder Point series but I've just not found the time
to start despite her encouragement. I know, I know I'm missing out. Four
Friends has a similar feel to Susan Mallery's Three Sisters, my favourite in her Blackberry
Island series. Where the things I love ... family dynamics, friendship, in
particular the strength in womens' friendship come together in a way that feels
completely real.
I connected
with each of the women, finding a little of myself in all of them, ok maybe not Sonja
lol. Their stories touched me, but most of all their friendship touched me ...
the support, tough love, sarcasm, humour and honesty.
We
all face challenges in our lives, marriages, careers, with our children,
health, ... nobody is exempt, nobody has the perfect life and these four women
are no different. Maybe it's a little contrived, they live in the same street
and they're all going through 'stuff' at the same time but their issues are real and I was so caught up I
didn't care. They're coming apart at the seams and I'm loving it ... hmm what
does that say about me ... HA
Gerri doesn't have it all but anger, therapy and testosterone cream tip the balance.
Andy,
two failed marriages but this time ... it's different.
Sonja
keeps it together by controlling everything with new age serenity.
Her unraveling was sad to read but her 'recovery' had me
giggling.
BJ reserved but intuitive, new to the neighbourhood, just new enough to see what others are too
close to see. Dropping barriers brings friendship and
the sun.
A fun, insightful read, I
could see myself in this friendship circle.
I have been told to read Carr too ;)
ReplyDeleteI've made a start ... your turn B haha
DeleteI already told you how I felt about this one ... lol ... I need to STOP reading books that make me depressed! HA!!! :)
ReplyDeletelol Julie, I laughed more with this one, Susan Mallery's Three Sisters was heart-achy.
DeleteThis will be my first Carr book too!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you think Nise :)
DeleteI'm sorry that this was your first Carr book. Sooooo much worse than her others. I couldn't finish this one, and I've read almost everything else she has written. Her Virgin River and Thunder Point are amazing books, I love them tons. I couldn't read this one because it was too much complaining, too much whining and how I hated Sonja. I hope you'll give her others a try as well, hopefully you'll love them, they are beautiful!
ReplyDeletelol Karsyn Sonja was a bit of a train wreck wasn't she. Sorry you couldn't finish it, I thought the 'issues' were quite realistic. I'll definitely read her other series, I'd like to say soon but that's not likely lol
DeleteI want to know what the audio is like, so I'll check in, hope Sonja isn't too annoying on audio lol
ReplyDeleteSonja was a mess! I enjoyed this book too.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you read this one. I loved it of course and you are right about the same feel as Mallery's Three Sisters - in my opinion! A number of years back I was in the reading doldrums and didn't know what to read. Eventually I sent off for Virgin River - the first in that series - and the rest you might say is history. I have every one of that series sitting on my own bookshelf. Also all of her ones that are more in the women's fiction line. Mallery, Carr and Wiggs - love all of their women's fiction books.
ReplyDeleteI like this one as well. I find her non VR and TP books a bit different. VR and TP are Contemporary Romance. I agree that Four Friends is Women's Fiction. I've loved all of her books :)
ReplyDeleteSo excited you finally got to read a Carr novel and now you've read one that I haven't.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to this one myself. I love her Virgin River and Thunder Point series, but wasn't a huge fan of the Grace Valley trilogy.
I've read so many great things about this one. Glad you loved it.
ReplyDelete