A Family of Strangers

By: Fiona Lowe

Narrated by: Rebecca Macauley

Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Acutely observed, sharp and absorbing - an insightful exploration of the pain and beauty of modern family ties. The page-turning new novel from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe.

How can you know so little about those you love?

With a coveted promotion dangling within reach, the last thing Addy Topic needs to do is waste precious time singing in Rookery Cove's choir. But when she's reminded how much music meant to her late mother, she can't say no. The building pressure raises the ghosts that sent her running from Rookery Cove years earlier - memories she's spent decades hiding from, silencing them with work, alcohol and sex.

For Stephanie Gallagher, Rookery Cove was meant to be a new beginning in the slow lane. A place where she and her husband can embrace community, parenthood and evenly share the load. But the sea-change is changing everything. How much longer can they survive as a family?

Brenda Lambeck is finding her feet after the death of her husband when her best friend convinces her to join the choir. Beloved as a grandmother, Brenda is determined to mend the fraught relationship she has with her daughter, Courtney. But is that even possible when she continues to lie?

In the wake of a spectacular betrayal, three women are forced to face the uncompromising truths about the choices that have shaped their relationships with those they love most. The consequences will shatter their lives and all they hold dear. After such a disaster is rebuilding even possible?

PRAISE FOR FIONA LOWE:

'A glorious, heartwarming tapestry of a novel.' - The Herald Sun

'A Family of Strangers is an engaging, thoughtful and astute novel.' - Book'd Out

'Fiona has been a midwife, family support worker and sexual health counsellor in her former lives, so she knows a thing or two about the complexities of family relationships ... she deals with the full panoply of the human existence in this engaging read.' - Australian Country

'Lowe examines issues around blended families, sexuality and alcohol consumption, weaving them into a moving and utterly enthralling look at family, friendship and life ... A Family of Strangers is a glorious, heart-warming tapestry of a novel.' - Better Reading

'The undisputed queen of Australian small-town fiction.' - Canberra Weekly

©2022 Fiona Lowe (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

1

Some books stand out from the pack from the moment you start reading them and for me, A Family of Strangers is one of those. Set in the small coastal town of Rookery Cove in north-western Tasmania, this story is told through the eyes of three complex and beautifully developed characters. Addy, a teacher, is a perfectionist in her work, is outwardly perfectly coordinated both in her dress and her behaviour, and yet it becomes clear very early on in the story that she is also an alcoholic and the perfect veneer is just an act. Steph is clearly not coping with juggling motherhood, her fledgling home toy making business and the endless chores her husband Henry throws her way without notice. Brenda, in her late fifties and recently widowed, is struggling to find a way to tell her children that she’s in a relationship with Marilyn, the woman they think is boarding in her home. The establishment of a community choir is the kernel that brings these threads together, helps each woman to face their problems and become comfortable in their own skins. This story is well researched, superbly structured and beautifully written. It deals with some challenging topics including sexual abuse, alcoholism, bullying and gaslighting but in a sensitive way. There are some shocking moments but ultimately this story is uplifting. It is also a compelling read from start to finish and a book that will definitely be going on my keeper shelf.