Promises to Keep

A Novel

By: Jane Green

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author - a momentous new novel about a family suddenly thrown together.

Callie Perry is a successful family photographer living in upstate New York. She adores her two daughters, has great friends, and actually doesn't mind that her workaholic husband gets home at 9 p.m. every night - that is, when he's not traveling six months out of the year.

Callie's younger sister, Steff, on the other hand, has never grown up. She's a free spirit, living in downtown Manhattan and bouncing between jobs and boyfriends. Lately, she's been working as a vegan chef, even though she can't cook.

Lila Grossman is Callie's best friend and has finally met the man of her dreams. Eddie has two wonderful children, but also a drama queen ex-wife who hates Lila. And then there are Callie and Steff's parents, Walter Cutler and Honor Pitman. Divorced for 30 years, they rarely speak to each other.

The lives of these colorful characters intersect when they each receive a shocking note that summons them together for one extraordinary summer in Maine and changes their lives forever. This novel is about the hard choices we have to face, about having to be your parents' child long after you've grown up, and about the enduring nature of love.

©2010 Jane Green (P)2010 Penguin

Critic reviews

“A poignantly written novel that powerfully celebrates the power of love and friendship - richly rewarding.” (Chicago Tribune)

"Green's story definitely has the emotional heart and resonance to hook readers of women's fiction." (Booklist)

Great book, poor synopsis

This book is so much better than the audible description, which isn't even accurate. It is a predictable tearjerker, that's true. But totally engrossing, with familiar, relatable characters and I was totally sucked in. I had to drive 14 hours in 2 days and needed a good book. The trip flew by.

Modern, lovely, and emotional

This book was all the things I want an audiobook to be: rich and deep, with complex characters and a good pace. The story is heartbreaking, and it unfolds in such a way that you feel the shock and sadness along with the characters. It's classic Jane Green, but it's relevant and modern, too.

The recipes are a lovely touch, too, but I had to buy the printed book to get them completely.

Great Book

This was a great book, but beware it's a tear jerkier.

Beautiful story but very emotional

Any additional comments?

This book was beautiful yet the story was incredibly sad. The characters were so compelling I absolutely think that those that weren't main characters deserved their own novels.

The narrator was incredible. At first I wasn't sure I'd like her soft-spoken voice but I was instantly hooked and in my opinion, her voices and accents were flawless. Lovely to listen to.

All in all, a great book, but not a light read. The recipes all sound amazing - nice bonus!

Don't bother

The book was a disappointment.
Slow, sad, silly and just not worth it!

Cheesy and ohhh so dull....

I usually like Jane Green but this story was a huge let down.... predictable. At best.

Wish I hadn't kept this one

I have always liked Jane Green, but this book just didn't seem like her usual stuff. It was, in a word, boring. I found myself waiting for something to happen, and cancer seemed to make the story move a bit faster. About halfway through I got the feeling this may have been more personal to the author, and not just a story she invented. Turns out, I was right. The author's notes at the end helped me understand her reasons for writing - it's just not the usual Jane Green.

promises to keep

fatuous, waste of time,

depressing, slow, and predictable

struggled to finish due to slow paced story with uninteresting characters. I wish I had known this story was about cancer.

Did not enjoy

I did not enjoy this particular Jane Green novel. I have listened to several of her books, but this one, I found to be very tedious and overly descriptive. The main character was just too perfect and I did bot feel much for her. It was also difficult to follow in the beginning when discussing all the characters. Not a fav.