Millicent Glenn's Last Wish

A Novel

By: Tori Whitaker

Narrated by: Joshilyn Jackson

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

Three generations of women - and the love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets that can bind them forever or tear them apart.

Millicent Glenn is self-sufficient and contentedly alone in the Cincinnati suburbs. As she nears her ninety-first birthday, her daughter Jane, with whom she’s weathered a shaky relationship, suddenly moves back home. Then Millie’s granddaughter shares the thrilling surprise that she’s pregnant. But for Millie, the news stirs heartbreaking memories of a past she’s kept hidden for too long. Maybe it’s time she shared something, too. Millie’s last wish? For Jane to forgive her. 

Sixty years ago Millie was living a dream. She had a husband she adored, a job of her own, a precious baby girl, and another child on the way. They were the perfect family. All it took was one irreversible moment to shatter everything, reshaping Millie’s life and the lives of generations to come. 

As Millie’s old wounds are exposed, so are the secrets she’s kept for so long. Finally revealing them to her daughter might be the greatest risk a mother could take in the name of love.

©2020 by Tori Whitaker. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

I will miss these ladies

I found this book to be extremely engaging. The characters were well developed. There was a lot to this story and I enjoyed every minute of finding out about it. The author did a fantastic job of switching between time periods and painting a picture of the early time period. I found myself entertained by hearing about the decades my mother was a kid/teenager. At the same time I found myself agape at what it was like for women in that period. I wouldn’t consider myself a feminist, but I was certainly surprised and saddened by how hard it was for women. The main character, Millicent, was strong and trying to find her place in the world, anchored and at the same time propelled by her childhood experiences. The relationships between her and most every character shaped her in some way. Joshilyn Jackson is one of my favorite narrators and authors. It seems as though people are firmly planted in one camp or the other regarding her narration. I am firmly in the fan camp. She brings compassion, humor and realism to the story. As the headline for my review says, I will miss these ladies, I was not ready for the book to end. I don’t think there is a much stronger recommendation than that. I look forward to reading (listening) to more by Tori Whitaker! Excellent first novel!!

Magnificent book

This story had so much depth to it. The characters lived for me. The narrator was wonderful. I recommend this book highly.

Heartwarming

I enjoyed this book more than I had hoped. I love the generation piece, especially it being mothers & daughters. I only took one star away for the parts that seemed to drag, too much fluff at parts, but still would recommend it and I still enjoyed it.

Great voice of 3 Generations

Great story of 1950’s housing boom and role of women in business in a new era. But the personal life of Millicent and her role as mother, wife, grandmother was so well developed. I enjoyed every mile I walked listening.

How much?

The big question with this book is how much guilt and how much shame can one woman make herself feel in one lifetime? And in so many instances, how petty can one woman be? Her poor friend Pauline. Pauline gave and gave and gave and I don’t see one place in the book was she got one thing back for it.

annoying unrealistic voices

The narrator used a screeching voice sounding like a two year old for multiple adult characters.

Not A Modern Millie

Perhaps I am not the intended audience? The self-blame & codependency of the characters was too much. I quit in the last 2 hours. Just. No. More.

The female voices in the narration were distinguishable from one another; better than most recordings w/female characters. I appreciate that, so thanks! No more of this author, though. Not teaching or strong in the slightest!

Meh

This book just seem to go on and on. The amount of build up for what,in the end, turned out to be minor personal dramas Was annoying. The first person style allowed the main character to talk endlessly about her feelings and those never really changed at any point in the book. I only finish this novel because I had nothing else on audible to listen to while doing house chores. There is a plot and reasonable character development and the writing is OK, just not that good. Not terrible. Just meh.

Warm and heart-melting novel.

A beautiful life journey tale of a 91 years old woman that makes one reflect on their life and future. Beautifully written and narrated. A must listen to/read book!

Enjoyable

Light and enjoyable. Characters not without problems or faults. A few twist and turns. A look to the way things were in the past

Impressive debut

What a confident debut! Good storytelling and very strong, believable characters. Lovely to have a story with a largely happy marriage too. Good narration. Recommended.