You and Me and Us

A Novel

By: Alison Hammer

Narrated by: Courtney Patterson, Caitlin Kelly, Timothy Andrés Pabon, Alison Hammer

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

“Hammer is an expert at both tugging heartstrings and keeping the reader utterly immersed in a world of hope and heartbreak. A great new voice in women’s fiction.” (Kristin Harmel, number one international best-selling author of The Winemaker's Wife)

The heartbreaking, yet hopeful, story of a mother and daughter struggling to be a family without the one person who holds them together - a perfect summer listen for fans of Jojo Moyes and Marisa de los Santos.

Alexis Gold knows how to put the "work" in working mom. It's the "mom" part that she's been struggling with lately. Since opening her own advertising agency three years ago, Alexis has all but given up on finding a good work/life balance. Instead, she's handed over the household reins to her supportive, loving partner, Tommy. While he's quick to say they divide and conquer, Alexis knows that Tommy does most of the heavy lifting - especially when it comes to their teenage daughter, CeCe.

Their world changes in an instant when Tommy receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, and Alexis realizes everything she's worked relentlessly for doesn't matter without him. So Alexis does what Tommy has done for her almost every day since they were 12-year-old kids in Destin, Florida - she puts him first. And when the only thing Tommy wants is to spend one last summer together at "their" beach, she puts her career on hold to make it happen...even if it means putting her family within striking distance of Tommy’s ex, an actress CeCe idolizes.

But Alexis and Tommy aren’t the only ones whose lives have been turned inside out. In addition to dealing with the normal ups and downs that come with being a teenager, CeCe is also forced to confront her feelings about Tommy’s illness - and what will happen when the one person who’s always been there for her is gone. When the magic of first love brings a bright spot to her summer, CeCe is determined not to let her mother ruin that for her, too.

As CeCe’s behavior becomes more rebellious, Alexis realizes the only thing harder for her than losing Tommy will be convincing CeCe to give her one more chance.

You and Me and Us is a beautifully written novel that examines the unexpected ways loss teaches us how to love.

©2020 Alison Hammer (P)2020 HarperAudio

You and Me and Us

Lovely story about a difficult subject that reminds us the importance of living in the moment and counting our blessings

Heartbreaking

It’s hard to say you loved a book that made you cry so much, but I did!
Highly recommend reading/ listening to this lovely story.

Amazing!

A fabulous story with emotional highs and some very low!

A must on your TBR list.

Excellent book

I thought the characters were so lifelike and I got very fond of them as they faced life's problems.

Balloons😡

The book is pretty good but they release balloons at a funeral at the beach.
These balloons wind up in the ocean maiming and killing our precious sea life.

Please edit this out of the Audible book immediately and any future releases of your book in the future.

This is so wrong.

Great story but ...

I really enjoyed this book. The husband and wife, Tommy and Alexis are lovely and Alexis is believably flawed. I found the teenage daughter, Cee Cee very annoying though! She was a spoiled brat for most of the novel. I know 14 year old girls are difficult but Cee Cee was too immature - I think most 14 year old girls would understand the gravity of this situation and it took her a long time to get it and understand her Mum's point of view.

Good story

I really enjoyed the story but each character was just so selfish and self consumed it was a bit frustrating. But worth the read!

I hate to disparage anyone who writes...

...and really the writing was good. The story was horrible. A beloved father and partner is dying and his companions as he prepares for the journey are two of the most selfish, petty, unactualized characters I think I’ve ever read.
He was a saint, unrealistic, and the mother daughter were just horrible. And really, if the father had been that perfect he would’ve worked to forge a better relationship.
When he wants to spend his last summer alive where he grew up they actually resist and whine and complain.
Seriously, this book could’ve had so much more depth to it. Instead when the man, WHO IS DYING, handles it his way by making light they get mad at him. I just can’t, just thinking about it again reminds me of the 10+ hours I’ll never get back.

Family

This is the first time listening to this author and I wish she had more books out. The story was funny, nostalgic, tumultuous and loving. All characters were well presented and the author showed amazing growth with each. Kudos Ms Hamer. Lookong forward to your next endeavor.

Emotional

An emotional journey for mom and teen daughter thru tears and support of good friends make a good read.