novel philosophy

Authors: Christine Gunderson
Genre: Friendship Fiction
Published: 2024
Rating: 4 Stars

Summary

This story starts with two seemingly very different women.

Nikki struggles in her new role as a stay-at-home mom. The birth of her recent unexpected child in her 40s has left her ragged and worn out. She struggles to keep up with school deadlines and household chores. Shouldn’t she be good at this by now? Plus, she desperately misses the sense of purpose her former career provided. She thrived as a news anchor for years only to get replaced by a younger version when the station changed owners. Is she wrong for wanting something different than this?

Ainsley, on the other hand, maintains a picture-perfect life. Her successful husband makes his bid for state governor while she takes care of the kids and their home. Her idyllic life is supported by their vast wealth and a large staff. While Ainsley realizes her incredible fortune, she still feels like a fraud. She struggles to know how to act and behave while also carrying a deep dark secret. It’s a secret she’s even kept from her husband.

These two women develop an unlikely friendship bonding over the various pressures of life bearing down on them. Ainsley willingly shares her secret and together they tackle a suspicious character. Ainsley is vaguely aware of his concerning past, but as they investigate the details become increasingly alarming. Realizing they have no choice, these two friends decide to take him on and remove him from their community.

Themes

Trust

These two women are struggling, but they’re hesitant to share with others. Nikki is frustrated by her inability to master motherhood while Ainsley worries deeply about the world discovering her secret. Despite their different backgrounds, these two women decide to trust each other. They share their fears and challenges and find a deep and meaningful friendship along the way. Gunderson shows a beautiful picture of what choosing to trust another can mean.

Friendship

We often feel alone in life. We’re buried beneath the challenges in front of us and fail to recognize what others may be facing. It’s through friendship that we find strength. Through their friendship, these two women find a way through the difficulties they face. Their friendship becomes the cornerstone of the story.

Poverty

While Ainsley now lives with excessive wealth, her early days weren’t so fortunate. She grew up with an alcoholic mother and a sister to support. Her current home contrasts sharply with the trailer home of her childhood. While Ainsley finds a way forward, she has some tough choices to make along the way. Ainsley’s story shows us the awful reality those living in poverty face.

Quotes

“School-supply shopping was a treasure hunt where you paid $100 to participate and the prize at the end was unfocused anger and a gigantic headache.”

“Motherhood was only easy if you did it the wrong way.”

“She wanted to gather them into her arms and pour a lifetime of experience into their minds, to protect them from their own unlined faces and yearning to be loved.”

“A strange revelation washed over Ainsley, as though the universe suddenly pulled back a curtain, making visible a dimension she hadn’t seen before, a place where a benevolent power moved people like chess pawns, placing them on the right square at the right time, in a position to help their fellow humans.”

Final Thoughts

Another lovely book from Amazon’s First Reads program. Each month I’m often pleasantly surprised by the books Amazon includes, and this one was no exception.

Ainsley and Nikki are deeply relatable characters and I connected with the stories early on. They teach us that life isn’t always what it looks like from the outside. Both women have overcome significant obstacles with such grace. The courage and kindness they show each other remind us of the beauty of friendship and why it is so necessary to our everyday lives.

If you’re looking for a sweet read and encouraging read, check this one out!

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