Review by Booklist Review
Maggie Sheets hasn't had an easy life. She's raising her daughter on a housecleaner's salary, putting her own dreams aside while cleaning up after her wealthy clients in Manhattan. When an old client-turned-friend passes away, Maggie is shocked to learn that Liza has left her a gorgeous Sag Harbor beach house in her will. But there's a catch, and her name is Edith. Liza's elderly mother doesn't want to leave the beach house (and all the memories), so Maggie agrees to keep an eye on her new roommate. As Maggie, her daughter, Lucy, and Edith all learn to live together, they end up learning even more about themselves. Fishman has created a multigenerational tale of long-buried secrets, the appeal of new beginnings, and the power of friendship that will appeal to fans of Jamie Brenner and J. Courtney Sullivan. Fishman treats Edith's struggles with Alzheimer's with tact and respect, grounding Maggie's rags-to-riches story. By infusing her novel with touches of romance, the challenges of single parenting, and the heart-wrenching reach of dementia, Fishman has created a warm, witty, and relatable novel.--Turza, Stephanie Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When housekeeper and single mother Maggie Sheets inherits a house in present day Sag Harbor, N.Y., from her former friend Liza, a famous author, she must decide whether moving in is worth the price of what comes with the bequest: Liza's 82-year-old mother, Edith. Edith is struggling to deal with her daughter's death along with increasing symptoms of Alzheimer's, and she must begrudgingly rely on Maggie in more ways than one. As Maggie and Edith's relationship develops, Maggie offers to write down Edith's memories before it's too late. As secrets are revealed, both women confront issues they thought they had left behind. Fishman (Saving Ruth) combines relatable circumstances and delightful dialogue in this character-driven tale about forgiveness and acceptance, making it a quick read that's hard to put down. Curmudgeonly yet lovable Edith is a snappy force to be reckoned with, and she demonstrates that even when things don't go as planned, challenges are not necessarily bad, and a good life can be forged out of bleak situations. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
Odder things are likely to happen, but inheriting a house in Sag Harbor, NY, is probably close to the top of the list, at least to house cleaner Maggie Sheets. She knew author Liza Brennan, but the two hadn't been in touch for years, and now Liza is dead, having committed suicide. The gift comes with strings-or, rather, one big string: -Liza's 82-year-old mother, Edith, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, lives there, too. A single mom with a toddler daughter, Maggie wouldn't have to work anymore, though housecleaning is how she met her benefactor in the first place. Yet Liza's death hangs over the residence, and the past doesn't offer much solace-or many answers. This quirky tale from Fishman (Driving Lessons) drops readers into the middle of a most unconventional situation and lets them flounder along with the characters, who are by turns outspoken, impatient, grumpy, and thoroughly at a loss. Maggie and Edith discover a shared bond and decide, perhaps grudgingly, that it's never too late to fix one's mistakes. VERDICT Recommended for fans of domestic fiction with a twist.-Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
