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Charlotte Maynard rarely leaves her mother's home, the sprawling Connecticut lake house that belonged to her late stepfather, Whit Whitman, and the generations of Whitmans before him. While Charlotte and her sister, Sally, grew up at Lakeside, their stepbrothers, Spin and Perry, were welcomed as weekend guests. Now the grown boys own the estate, which Joan occupies by their grace - and a provision in the family trust.
Julia and Joe Ferraro are living the good life in Manhattan now that Joe's finally made it; he's the star of a hit TV show and has just been nominated for a Golden Globe award. After many lean years, they've got a grand Upper West Side apartment and an Amagansett beach house, and their two kids go to elite private schools. Even better, Julia and Joe are still madly in love. Or so Julia thinks.
Superheroes have always been Leia Birch Briggs' weakness. One tequila-soaked night at a comics convention, the usually level-headed graphic novelist is swept off her barstool by a handsome and anonymous Batman. It turns out the caped crusader has left her with more than just a nice, fuzzy memory. She's having a baby boy - an unexpected but not unhappy development in the 38-year-old's life.
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: He will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Is it possible to write a sidesplitting novel about the breakup of the perfect marriage? If the writer is Nora Ephron, the answer is a resounding yes. For in this inspired confection of adultery, revenge, group therapy, and pot roast, the creator of Sleepless in Seattle reminds us that comedy depends on anguish as surely as a proper gravy depends on flour and butter.
When you listen to this audiobook, you will make many assumptions. You will assume you are listening to a story about a jealous ex-wife. You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement - a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle. Assume nothing. Twisted and deliciously chilling, The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.
Charlotte Maynard rarely leaves her mother's home, the sprawling Connecticut lake house that belonged to her late stepfather, Whit Whitman, and the generations of Whitmans before him. While Charlotte and her sister, Sally, grew up at Lakeside, their stepbrothers, Spin and Perry, were welcomed as weekend guests. Now the grown boys own the estate, which Joan occupies by their grace - and a provision in the family trust.
Julia and Joe Ferraro are living the good life in Manhattan now that Joe's finally made it; he's the star of a hit TV show and has just been nominated for a Golden Globe award. After many lean years, they've got a grand Upper West Side apartment and an Amagansett beach house, and their two kids go to elite private schools. Even better, Julia and Joe are still madly in love. Or so Julia thinks.
Superheroes have always been Leia Birch Briggs' weakness. One tequila-soaked night at a comics convention, the usually level-headed graphic novelist is swept off her barstool by a handsome and anonymous Batman. It turns out the caped crusader has left her with more than just a nice, fuzzy memory. She's having a baby boy - an unexpected but not unhappy development in the 38-year-old's life.
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: He will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Is it possible to write a sidesplitting novel about the breakup of the perfect marriage? If the writer is Nora Ephron, the answer is a resounding yes. For in this inspired confection of adultery, revenge, group therapy, and pot roast, the creator of Sleepless in Seattle reminds us that comedy depends on anguish as surely as a proper gravy depends on flour and butter.
When you listen to this audiobook, you will make many assumptions. You will assume you are listening to a story about a jealous ex-wife. You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement - a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle. Assume nothing. Twisted and deliciously chilling, The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.
Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office.
Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her "head-for-the-hills bag". In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father's junkyard. Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism.
Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, despite being as different as three women can be. Kate was beautiful, wild, wealthy, and damaged. Aubrey, on financial aid, came from a broken home and wanted more than anything to distance herself from her past. And Jenny was a striver - brillliant, ambitious, and determined to succeed. As an unlikely friendship formed, the three of them swore they would always be there for each other.
Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to 12 years for a crime Celestial knows he didn't commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding.
When Rosie and Penn and their four boys welcome the newest member of their family, no one is surprised it's another baby boy. At least their large, loving, chaotic family knows what to expect. But Claude is not like his brothers. One day he puts on a dress and refuses to take it off. He wants to bring a purse to kindergarten. He wants hair long enough to sit on. When he grows up, Claude says, he wants to be a girl.
Amber Patterson is fed up. She's tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more - a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne - a socialite and philanthropist - and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale. Amber's envy could eat her alive...if she didn't have a plan.
Anna Fox lives alone - a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times...and spying on her neighbors. Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, mother, their teenaged son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble. And its shocking secrets are laid bare.
In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive.
Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet.… So begins the story in this exquisite debut novel about a Chinese American family living in a small town in 1970s Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee; their middle daughter, a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos.
After being together for 10 years, Sylvie and Dan have all the trimmings of a happy life and marriage; they have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls and communicate so seamlessly, they finish each other's sentences. However, a trip to the doctor projects they will live another 68 years together, and panic sets in. They never expected "until death do us part" to mean seven decades. In the name of marriage survival, they quickly concoct a plan to keep their relationship fresh and exciting.
Zadie Anson and Emma Colley have been best friends since their early 20s, when they first began navigating serious romantic relationships amid the intensity of medical school. Now they're happily married wives and mothers with successful careers - Zadie as a pediatric cardiologist and Emma as a trauma surgeon. Their lives in Charlotte, North Carolina are chaotic but fulfilling, until the return of a former colleague unearths a secret one of them has been harboring for years.
In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned - from the layout of the winding roads to the colors of the houses to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren - an enigmatic artist and single mother - who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter, Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons.
Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, 2014
A riveting novel in which an engaging and wildly irreverent woman is in complete denial - about herself, her drinking, and her love for a man she's known all her life.
The Good House tells the story of Hildy Good, who lives in a small town on Boston's North Shore. Hildy is a successful real-estate broker, good neighbor, mother, and grandmother. She's also a raging alcoholic. Hildy's family held an intervention for her about a year before this story takes place - "if they invite you over for dinner, and it's not a major holiday," she advises "run for your life" - and now she feels lonely and unjustly persecuted. She has also fooled herself into thinking that moderation is the key to her drinking problem.
As if battling her demons wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Hildy soon finds herself embroiled in the underbelly of her New England town, a craggy little place that harbors secrets. There's a scandal, some mysticism, babies, old houses, drinking, and desire - and a love story between two craggy 60-somethings that's as real and sexy as you get. An exceptional novel that is at turns hilarious and sobering, The Good House asks the question: What will it take to keep Hildy Good from drinking? For good.
Would you consider the audio edition of The Good House to be better than the print version?
I wanted to read Leary because she is a transplanted New Englander like me (married to actor/comedian Denis Leary) and I loved her story about alchoholic Hildy, Hilda Good descendent of Sarah Good who was hanged in Salem for witchcraft back in the day. Hildy is 60 year old woman, a real successful real estate agent in small town MA who has been a serious drinker for a long time, and even though her daughters have staged an intervention, and Hildy has gone to treatment, she still finds a way to drink, quietly. What follows is a wild ride with a fix-it guy she is attracted to, weathy nutty neighbors and a great story that really pulls you in. Recommend.
56 of 57 people found this review helpful
I'll admit that I initially downloaded The Good House from Audible because I liked the cover and was semi-desperate for something new/possibly good to listen to, but found out that it is really a worthwhile read. Hildy Good, a 60-year-old realtor and lifelong resident of Wendover, Massachusetts, is a recovering (or not) alcoholic (or not) who narrates her story, along with the changing climate of Wendover and its inhabitants, old and new.
Hildy has recently returned from rehab, explaining to the reader that she is not really an alcoholic, it was simply due to the intervention (or "inquisition") by her mildly annoying and interfering daughters. She befriends wealthy newcomer Rebecca McAllister and they share some interesting secrets that really complicate Hildy's life. Through Hildy's eyes, we meet local psychiatrist Peter Newbold, local garbageman Frankie Getchell, and local electrician Patch Dwight, his wife Cassie, and their special needs child, Jake. Hildy excels at making acerbic, insightful, and very funny observations about her neighbors, but may not be quite as skilled at self-evaluation.
The excellent narration by Mary Beth Hurt (she is Hildy!) makes this one of those books that may be even better in audio than paper. Smart, witty, entertaining, and it made me think, all add up to a really good read.
43 of 44 people found this review helpful
I've watched over the months as the reviews for this one came in. You see five more stars from the corner of your eye and think, "don't do it...you know how disappointed you get when it doesn't meet your expectations." But, reviewers I watch and trust really liked this. I caved in and downloaded it, the whole while with those oh-my-god-what-have-I-done blues.
This needs to be a series.
Hildy Good is the kind of sassy smart character you love -- even when she is passed out on her cellar floor. Leary has written an engaging funny book with a robust main character that just happens to be an alcoholic, whom everyone thinks is a successful graduate of AA. The author doesn't minimize the condition at all, rather she keeps Hildy human and dimensional, making those moments of drunkenness all the more sad and pitiful. She portrays the thinking process of an alcoholic wonderfully; you don't realize how truly destructive this funny woman is until she is raging out of control.
The Good House is one of those books with atmosphere; you feel immersed in the quaint little New England town. Hildy introduces the characters, mostly by their more scandalous moments, and they become neighbors. Leary develops the characters as the story proceeds, giving them a depth and personality you don't expect. But then, I didn't expect most of this story! It's funny, it's sobering, it's surprising, it's a great choice, and Mary Beth Hurt brings Hildy to life perfectly.
138 of 145 people found this review helpful
It is a rare for a character from a book to be so fully developed and real. Ann Leary's Hilde is the zaniest, most complicated and wise cracking Yankee woman I ever met. Mary Beth Hurt's narration was absolutely superb! I was sorry when the book ended and she was no longer in my life. I will look for more books that she narrates!
I bought this book based on the the reviews, of several readers whose opinions, I have come to respect. I can't thank you other audible customers enough for taking the time to write such thoughtful and helpful reviews. I will work to be a better member of this great community of engaged minds: because, together, we can really broaden and enhance our experiences in audio literature.
The whole story and character unfolds, exposing layers of the life of
a woman who lives, loves, fumbles, triumphs, experiences motherhood and
"gammyhood", strides, and deceives herself with such determined grit,
that you can't help but, feel anger frustration and yet, embrace her as a friend ( though she's not real " touchy " ).
I just can't speak highly enough of this book. I have already recommended it to my family and friends and will seek out more from this wonderfully seasoned, funny, talented and intelligent writer!
33 of 34 people found this review helpful
Hildy, the main character, is 60 and quite the alcoholic. I loved her and I hated her, but i never stopped enjoying the book. The story is told in first person which makes it perfect for an audiobook. I agree with an earlier reviewer that Mary Beth Hurt IS Hildy. I can't wait to recommend this book to my friends.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
What a delightful summer read! I felt like I was right in the town of Wendover with Hildy, Frankie and the rest of the characters! Mary Beth Hurt's narration was spot on...the inflections and cadence...a hoot and such fun to listen to.....The "cautionary tale" woven throughout the novel expertly done. Bravo Ann Leary, let's have more like this....
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Where does The Good House rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I would rate it as one of my favorite listens. I found myself wanting to listen to "just one chapter more", and was sad to have the story finished.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Good House?
I found myself many times laughing out loud at Hildy's comments. However I almost had to pull my car over I was laughing so hard when Hildy dropped her keys off her office porch and decided to jump down after them. Then there were the tender moments, the sweet memories with her husband, Frankie and even Peter as a boy.
Have you listened to any of Mary Beth Hurt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
To my knowledge I've not listened to Mary Beth Hurt before. She was perfect for this audiobook. She WAS Hildy!
Any additional comments?
Ann Leary has written a fabulous book on alcoholism. Together with the performance by Mary Beth Hurt, this is not a book to be missed. Both the author and the narrator brought to life the many funny, tender, sad and reflective moments in The Good House. It's can be sad to finish a really good book, but Ann Leary did a great job ending Hildy's story.
30 of 32 people found this review helpful
Thoroughly enjoyable!
I won't give a summary of the book, as it has been well done by the publisher and other reviews. Also, I don't want to go into a lot of detail about what happens--no spoilers!
I thought this might turn out to be a sweet little story about quaint New Englander's--not so! It's quaint, sure, but has an underbelly of interwoven relationships that get trickier and more convoluted as their lives take shape. Everyday life in this upscale New England town starts out slowly, gets more complicated, and builds with tension towards the end.
I read some backstory about the author, who it turns out, has some acquaintance with alcoholism in her own life. Her ability to translate those experiences to the pages of this novel- were nothing short of amazing. What a talent! She skillfully makes the people in this town come to life- I felt I had known them for years.
It is narrated beautifully by Mary Beth Hurt. Hildy's words literally jump off the page. I could have been sitting in Hildy's cozy living room by the crackling fire and listening to her tell me her story as we sipped our wine . . .
I note that some reviews stated they felt the ending was abrupt, or cut off. I really think it was just right. The author could have gone on to explain what exactly happened with the lives of these people after the events that took place--but she didn't, and I kind of liked that. I didn't find it hard to imagine how things would have, or could have ended up.
I loved this book, and will now seek out other's by this author.
39 of 42 people found this review helpful
What made the experience of listening to The Good House the most enjoyable?
I would say the best part about listening to 'The Good House' was the narrator. She was perfect as the main character and I could actually see her speaking in my mind. She had the perfect tone, the perfect expressions, and I loved her. I didn't want the story to end.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Good House?
There were many memorable moments in The Good House. Every time Hildy, the main character, would get bombed and forget what she had done was horrifying but hysterical. The narrator was wonderful at making the main character seem completely aloof and in denial about having a drinking problem. There were several great parts in regards to Hildy and her persistent denial.
What about Mary Beth Hurt’s performance did you like?
Everything- her voice was perfect.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I really would have listened to this book in one sitting had I the time. However, it took me about three listens (and staying up late) to get it done. It was a great story with rich characters and a mixture of hilarity and realism that was absolutely perfect.
Any additional comments?
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great story and a fantastic narrator. Be prepared to laugh and at the same time be touched by Hildy and her drunken adventures.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Savagely funny at times and painful at other times. Characters are beautifully shown with their flaws as well as beauty. Also a refreshing look at aging and love. Well worth the credit. An exceptional book expertly read.
21 of 23 people found this review helpful