Octavia and Roberta are best buddies. They have gone through teenage crisis, boyfriends, high school and now its marriage and children. Unfortunately their respective spouses have never quite hit it off. Scott is condescending and Johnathan despises him for his nouveau riche ways! This fortunately does not affect the ladies relationship with each other.
Octavia comes from a working class background and Roberta was born with the silver spoon in her mouth. They still seem to look at life from these two backgrounds and though Octavia wonders when Roberta is going to realise that life is hard and tough, the friends still continue to remain very good friends, there for each other, supporting each other.
Octavia was the free spirit. She wanted to have her children grow up around the world - fluent in Spanish or Italian, world citizens. What she has now is the humdrum life of a housewife with three children, school and homework, cooking and laundry. Roberta has a rich husband but she has helped him immensely on this path to riches. Providing a very real interior design knowledge to his building empire which has been her share of the work.
Suddenly Roberta finds herself pitched out of the house, on the flimsiest of reasons and Scott has decided that enough is enough. Roberta has not even thought of a single life with her daughter Alicia and for her being single is daunting enough to consider going back to the selfish, boorish Scott despite all Octavia's pleading and reasoning.
The story of friendship between two women, the strain that it comes under when third and fourth parties come into the picture, how families can tear you in different directions and how a long lost love can sometimes remain just that. A spark that was there but has somehow got dimmed with time. How second chances exist for all and that happiness can be found in the second time around. I felt very happy for both Roberta and Octavia at the end.
Despite obstacles, struggles in both marriages, wayward teens, boorish husbands and differing opinions friendship can survive and grow. Grow it did.
Loved this book which was sent to me by Netgalley courtesy of HarperCollins UK Avon.
Oh this sounds just like the kind of read I love. Can't understand why Octavia would be pitched out so suddenly. Fickle husband! Guess I need to read this to find out all the ins and outs. Your review has hooked me.
ReplyDeleteNice review! This book sounds like a really good friendship novel. I'm glad both protagonists got a happy ending too.
ReplyDeleteI love books about women's friendships and this one sounds a little unique since the women are so different. I'll have to look for it.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds good, Mystica. Two women from such different backgrounds. I am glad you were satisfied with the ending!
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