How devastating news can bring the resolution to fix what has been wrong

Synopsis

When Mallory receives life-shattering news, she decides to use this summer to make sure her family and friends are prepared for whatever might come.

But Mallory has a challenge when it comes to her mother, Gigi. Following the loss of her husband, Gigi is lonely. So when Mallory makes a shocking discovery that shows a new side to Gigi’s relationship with her estranged sister Rose, she decides to intervene and make a last attempt to reunite them.

Returning to her mother’s quiet hometown, Mallory and her cousin Penny try to get to the bottom of a dispute that has lasted more than sixty years, involving a lost wedding dress and a heartbreaking secret. But with Rose and Gigi determined to ignore their daughters’ efforts, will Mallory be able to put her affairs in order before it’s too late?

Gorgeous and emotional new novel from Helen Rolfe, perfect for fans of Shari Low, Cathy Bramley and Lucy Diamond.

My review

Mallory and Penny may be cousins, but they feel more like sisters as they are best friends. No matter what happens in their lives, they can always count on each other. The same cannot be said of their mothers, who are actual sisters. Gigi and Rose haven’t talked for years to each other, both too proud but also too hurt to take the first step to reconciliation. But when Mallory receives life – scattering news, even if she isn’t telling her family what is going on with her, she makes it her mission to bring her mother and aunt back together. And Mallory and Penny hope that one wedding dress, important to both sisters and partially cause of the rift, can also be the one thing to bring Gigi and Rose back together. But a rift lasting for so long isn’t going to disappear that easily. So will Mallory and Penny succeed in their mission, before it’s all too late?

I have to say, generally, I love Helen Rolfe’s stories and I feel so much happiness, joy and love with each book. In this book, so don’t get me wrong, all the above feelings are present, but it was also a very bittersweet story.

And that is mainly because of Mallory being on the receiving end of devastating news. We aren’t told immediately what she has, but it’s crystal-clear that it is bad… My heart went out to her  immediately, as nobody deserves to hear such a terrible diagnose…

I could also understand why Mallory is a bit reluctant to tell her family about it. Of course they deserve to know the truth, but aren’t we all afraid for the looks of pity and sorry?  And she doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone, and she wants to make sure that her lovely daughter has someone to look after her.

It was lovely to see the bond between Mallory and Penny. Even if they are ‘just’ cousins, they have such an important relationship. Their connection goes so much deeper, and it was funny in a way to see how in the past they found each other, before even knowing they are actually related, and even closely. The friendship between Mallory and Penny shows us that sometimes, sisterhood is not only between actual sisters, but why not, between cousins and best of friends. And just as sure Mallory is, just as sure was I, that when the time would come, Penny would look after Mallory’s daughter.

Now, it may sound like a depressing story, and Mallory’s illness isn’t something to like lightly. But there is also and even mainly room in this book for hope, redemption, forgiveness and most important love. I am talking about love in all different shapes and forms. Love between cousins and friends, love between parents and their children, love between siblings.

Love that is so powerful, but also so frail at the same time, as we can see with Gigi and Rose.

I cannot imagine not speaking to my brother for even a few days, as we hear each other daily, even just by text. So reading how Gigi and Rose haven’t talked to each other for sixty years, just shocked me. But it was also obvious that something has happened all those years ago, that broke the sisters apart, as before they were very close, and sharing their dreams and hopes together.

Perhaps we see with Gigi and Rose how sometimes resentment can go just a bit too far. Yes, what happened in the past was wrong, but the sisters not being in touch ma de me wonder how different their lives would be if there would have been a reconciliation years back…

I liked to read how Mallory and Penny were so determined to bring the sisters back together. Of course it wouldn’t be an easy task, but the cousins are certain that that one wedding dress, the one that was partially cause of the rift, would also be what would bring the sisters back together.

Especially Mallory’s desire to bring her mother and aunt back together came from the strong feeling that we should spend the best of our lives with our loved ones. And that it’s never too late for forgiveness.

Despite the heavy subject and burden that Mallory is carrying, there is always that silver lightening, that ray of hope that never gets extinguished. Even with that dark cloud looming over Mallory, she gets many happy, funny, hopeful and lovely moments. And it shows us that no matter what your current status is, wonderful things can still come on your path.

Perhaps this was a different kind of story that I expected from Helen Rolfe. But that doesn’t take away that in the end, I had a big smile on my face. Because yes, initially the story starts heartbreaking, but it is show us so many beautiful things that our lives are surrounded with. We just have to see them and allow them to help us to make the best days of our lives with them…