Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish

This book has several elements that I love: a historical view into a time period of which I know little, and a completely unique story for which I can’t come up with a comparison. A tale of forgiveness and family and misunderstandings and secrets, it is woven together in a way that encompasses the reader in a 1950s time capsule and reenforces the need to appreciate how far we’ve come.

I received a copy of this wonderful debut novel
by the author Tori Whitaker which I absolutely devoured. It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel just because it’s written so beautifully. The author has done in depth research on the minute details of the two timelines as the story goes back and forth starting from the 1940’s to present day. It is a story of three generations of women which captivated my interest right from the very first page. The characterization of all three women Millie, Jane and Kelsey has been done very well but I personally connected with Millicent the most who was “the strong one” in the true sense. The human emotions like love, grief, forgiveness and hope portrayed by each character are so relatable that the reader feels they are part of the story. I truly didn’t want this book to end and will keep Millie in my heart for years to come. A quote I read somewhere by Erza Scarlet “Hurt me with the truth, but never comfort me with a lie” truly is the essence of this story. Tori Whitaker you are such a wonderful storyteller and this book will absolutely resonate with daughters, mothers and grandmothers for sure. Thank you so much for your giveaway!!! I am eagerly looking forward to reading more books by you.

This story resonated with me and made me miss my mother and grandmother. I wish I had more time with them to hear their stories – especially the ones I never knew to ask. The dreams they may have deferred. Their invisible scars. When I was planning my own wedding I found out our family also had a secret. I had no idea why my mother was so upset. When she finally broke down and told me I remember looking at her like she was crazy. “Really? That is all?” Times change. I forgave her. This book also reminded me of some of my feelings growing up as an only child. I had older stepbrothers, but it wasn’t the same. I wanted siblings. It wasn’t until years later I would understand my mother’s sacrifices to help raise the boys she did not birth. The other thing I like about this book was reading about life of the 50’s wife. I have not read many books from this time period, but I now want to read more. I was not surprised that Millie slipped into depression and addiction from her loss. I would have stayed so angry. I kept hoping the hospital would acknowledge the actions, but I know this makes them liable. I was so grateful the nurse stood up for Kathleen. Overall, I thought the book could be a little slow at times, but it was an honest portrayal of the relationships between generations of women – of enduring love and surviving loss and second chances. One of my favorite lines of the book, “The whole of one’s life need not be defined on the grounds of one decision.” For most of us, it is time we forgave ourselves.

Millicent is heading towards her 91st birthday and knows that she has to make things right with her daughter. When Jane, her daughter, surprises her by moving back home she knows that this is the time she has been waiting for.

Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a story of 3 generations all trying to find their way in life. Millie is the matriarch and is ready to share the secret she has kept for so long. Jane wants to be included in the everyday lives of both her mother and her daughter. Kelsey, the granddaughter, has a special relationship with her grandmother and is excited to start a new chapter in her life.

I loved all three women. They are family but they are each other own person. Each woman is strong, loving, and wonderful but have had their own struggles in life. There are secrets between them that they need to share, conversations that they need to have, and wounds that they need to heal. Together the three of them can come together and pull their family back together. Kelsey and Millie’s relationship is one that I envy. The relationship between a granddaughter and a grandmother is so special. Jane and Millie’s relationship is one that I understand. A mother/daughter relationship is not always easy and sometimes when a mother thinks she is protecting her daughter she is wrong. The way that they came together, did not give up, and worked through all their feelings showed that the love of a family can heal all.

Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is an amazing uplifting and real story. The characters are real, the story has so much truth in it, and the relationships are realistic. I recommend picking up your own copy.

Millie is getting close to her 91st birthday. She is still able to live by herself and is very independent. Then her daughter, Jane, shows up and moves in with her. Plus, her granddaughter has some wonderful news. But, all of this brings on some terrible memories. And it is time for Millie to share.

There are a lot of aspects covered in the novel. The main one…the struggle of women in the 50s. It was frowned up on by society for a woman to work. Women could not open their own checking account without their husband’s permission. And even their healthcare involved a husband’s opinion. Oh! How far women have come.

Another aspect which I found unique…assumptions. I have to be careful here…I do not want to give anything away. One of the characters overheard something and this lead to assumptions. This changed a relationship and affected many outcomes.

This story also includes a pretty rough tragedy. So get the tissues ready. I had to set the book aside for a few minutes and breathe.

If you need a good novel about life, family and especially love…THIS IS IT!

I received a copy from the publisher for a honest review.

I am so impressed with Tori Whitaker’s debut novel. A wonderful story of three generations of women…Millicent; her daughter, Jane; and Kelsey, her granddaughter. Told via a dual timeline, this tale takes you through life as a wife in the 1950’s. However, Millicent is not your typical housewife. She is such a strong person who has goals and career aspirations. While she is excited to become a mother, she wants much more for her life.

The secrets that are threaded throughout the pages will attempt to destroy some of the relationships. However, through the willingness to share the truth of things in the past and the ability to forgive, the lives of these three women is healed.

While there are some misunderstandings, it is Millie’s background story that has your heart aching for her and how it has affected the mother-daughter relationship. As we travel with Millicent through her past, you will feel anger at many situations, hope that she will be able to overcome so many painful experiences, and encouraged by her ability to accept love and support from her family members.

I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to future publications by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Thanks to Kristy Barrett/A Novel Bee and author Tori Whitaker for a gifted copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

Three generations of women: mothers and daughters, love and legacies. And of course there are issues and relationships and hurts and misunderstandings. Secrets and forgiveness. These all play out against the story of Millicent’s life as a young wife and mother in the 1940s and 50s. The novel does an excellent job of portraying the expectations and limitations of women just after WWII (Tupperware parties, women’s roles, fashions, pregnancies, and child-rearing), and then juxtaposing that with the corresponding freedom women have today demonstrated by Millicent’s granddaughter. The well-researched novel uses a dual timeline to tell the story, always from Millicent’s point of view as she tries to reconcile with her now-adult daughter and share the tragic experiences of her past.

This debut novel is skillfully written, taking the reader up to a specific plot point of Millicent’s past and then switching to the present. Repeating this format made the book engrossing. It gave me just enough clues to tantalize me and keep me guessing. The memories Millicent wants to share with her daughter and granddaughter were revealed layer by layer, with the author providing vivid and moving descriptions.

I was impressed by this poignant and memorable story of motherhood, love, loss, and forgiveness.

Millicent Glenn came of age at the end of WW2. She was a woman who was way ahead of her time. Her mother had instilled in her, as a young girl, that a woman should never be completely dependent on a man. That a woman must take care of her own destiny. Millie took that advice to heart.

Millie married a young enterprising man and because of her strong beliefs wanted to take part in the business he started. She wanted her say in major decisions. Some devastating events occurred, Millie blamed her strong will, causing her much guilt for the rest of her life. It also caused tense feelings between herself and her daughter.

This book swings between the post war years and 2015. In 2015,
Millie’s “last wish” (she is in her 90s) is to purge her long standing grief and guilt with her daughter and grand daughter. I believe Millie wanted to unburden herself so she could die in peace. She had carried her guilt for much too long.

I love reading books from 20th century, especially the 1950s. I find it fascinating to read about the male and female rolls in the household and other outdated mores. Even the home decorating and fashions are interesting. Kudos to the author on her research.

This is a book about many things. Women, mothers, daughters and grand daughters. The strong female bond and the wish for this bond. Also husbands and wives and their roles in a marriage. And the difficulties in relationships.

It is a book that is well put together. A pleasure to read

Millicent Glenn is in her early 90’s now. She has a granddaughter she is close to and a daughter who she is not. She has a secret. A secret she has tried at various times in her life to share with her daughter.

Last Wish is a comparison of 1950’s attitudes towards women and medicine to that of today’s world. It is a compelling story told in a way that switches between the two times, but does it very well. There is no confusion as to which period you are in .
It’s a tragic story, but one that ends in a good place.

WOW! Tori Whitaker, the author of “Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish” has written a captivating, emotional, memorable, and thought-provoking novel! The Genres for this story are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, with some historical reference. The timelines for the story are set in the present and go to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her colorful and dramatic characters as intriguing, and each having their own set of problems.

There are three generations of women, and the author describes the importance of family, communication, love, and hope. I love the way the author vividly describes the characters, events, and stories. There are secrets that if revealed will have a cause and effect on the other characters.

Millicent Glenn is 91 years old and lives by herself. She has deep secrets and tragedy that happened in her life that she knows she must share with her daughter Jane, and her grand-daughter. Millie and Jane have had an estranged relationship, and suddenly Jane is moving back home. Millie deeply regrets many things but wants to make things right again with Jane.

Millie’s granddaughter is pregnant and serves as the buffer between Millie and Jane. Also, it seems Jane is home for several reasons, and Millie is worried and concerned. I enjoyed this story that pulled at my heartstrings, and I highly recommend this as a book to be read.