A reunion between an estranged mother and daughter opens a world of secrets in a poignant novel by the bestselling author of Magnolia Nights.Julia Martin grew up wealthy, but it wasn’t until she met her husband, Jack, that she knew true happiness. He made her feel worthy and loved. Their marriage was also an escape from her sister’s bullying, her father’s scrutiny, and her chilly and enigmatic … chilly and enigmatic mother. But when tragedy strikes on the night she gives birth, Julia’s happiness is shattered. She has no choice but to return home to her family’s South Carolina mansion, where the grief and guilt buried in her mother’s past await her.
As a young woman trapped in a bitter marriage, Julia’s mother, Iris, once needed her own means of escape. In Lily, she found a best friend. In the flower shop they opened, she discovered independence. Then came a transgression—unforgivable, unforgettable, and unresolved—that changed Iris’s life forever.
Now, in Iris’s most desperate hour, her only hope is to regain the trust of the daughter she loves—and to share the secrets of the heart that could rebuild a family’s broken bonds.
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How do you live with such secrets for so long without it eating at your soul. This story takes place in the south with a wealthy family. If you’re not from a respected family then you’re not good enough. Sometimes love has a different path. There is heart break, joy, love and hope throughout this story. I couldn’t put the book down once I started. I really enjoy this author’s work as she has a talent of bringing a story to life so you feel you are immersed from the beginning.
A heart tugging story of a family of secrets and wealth and what lengths one will go to to protect those secrets even it it means not having joy and happiness. Friendships with secrets and pasts with so many hurts; it will take a strong bond and love to heal them. Loss, heartbreak, murder, wealth, society unacceptance, forgiveness and more will keep you turning the pages with hope for the characters in this book. I cheered for Iris and Julia. Two strong women who you will truly admire for their perserverance. Thanks to the author and publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book in a day!
Family secrets that have been stashed under the carpet is the theme of this wonderful novel by Ashley Farley.
How can Iris reconcile with her daughter when Julia has been disowned by her father for following her heart, finding love and happiness?
Will Iris ever find her own contentment or is she doomed to conceal her pain forever?
This is a beautiful story of redemption, love, family and strength that will grab your heart as read each word.
“True love is a rare gift. You only get one life. Live it.”
Loved this book!
A powerful, moving story of the dark secrets hidden beneath the veneer of wealth, and the healing power of love between a mother and her adult daughter. This is Southern fiction at its best.
Only One Life is exactly s the title describe, Julia is trying to build her life again after everything she ever knew was ripped in just a minute.
Her parents dishonor her and made her live in a terrible situation, but she is so determined to finally find a life where she will be happy without needed the money or the help of these people who have become more like strangers than her own family.
Julia is working hard to keep her baby, a baby that is changing her life in so many ways, she was lost for a few weeks after losing the love of her life, now she is ready to save herself and her newborn child.
Iris is living a lie, she had to stay quiet for such a long time, lurking around Julia’s life just getting glimpses making sure she is good and making it through life.
Life and circumstances will give a twist to this story that will leave you with your mouth hanging open but it will make it so much worth it and enjoyable.
Only one life started with a very different story and change in a way that will keep you wanting more, it has love, drama, faith, and trust. it has so much to give that you will enjoy every minute of the characters and the story.
many of the secondary characters were great, some of them were really evil and terrible with the main characters but it was necessary to make this book so deep and even more entertaining.
A great story that really takes you up and down a few times, it will keep you wanting more and ready to know more and more of each character.
wonderful story, I really wasn’t expecting this and I really enjoy it so much.
Everyone can use a second chance in their life and this is shown over and over again in the novel Only One Life by Ashley Farley.
Julia, a widow in the blink of an eye due to a car accident, comes to her hometown again and reconnects with her estranged mother, Iris. Iris, who without her daughter or husband’s knowledge, keeps tabs on her daughter’s whereabouts through the years. You’ll understand more when reading this book. I will say Iris’s husband and Julia’s sister aren’t worth my time acknowledging, except to say money is the root of evil, and Iris has to decide what’s most important in the long run.
This is riviting, thought provoking novel about Southern women and the circumstances they face in life, i.e. suspense, drama, secrets, illness, forgiveness. Ashley Farley sure writes a can’t put down, entertaining novel. I love her writing style, her ability to keep a reader guessing, and her descriptions of the Southern scenery, which puts me there even though I’m not there in person. I sure am a fan now!
In Only One Life, Ashley Farley weaves a beautiful and bittersweet tale of family and friendship over the years.
In this small southern town, there are secrets buried that could destroy several people. There were so many different relationships in this book. There was the sweetness that seemed to exist between Julia and Jack. Of course, Lily and Iris’ lifetime friendship was also quite touching. Then later, Julia and Gus’ evolving friendship made my heart squeeze. Naturally, there were also the dysfunctional relationships between Iris and Max, Iris and Alex and Alex and Julia and so on. Those were brutal and some of those people were downright hateful. Overall, the relationship between Iris and Julia – the mother and daughter relationship that was able to overcome years of being kept apart – – was by far the most spectacular one of all.
I just don’t know if my words can give proper credence to how lovely this book was. As one who has lived in the low country of South Carolina, I found it to feel quite authentic. Not only were the descriptions of the area spot on, some of the characterizations of the people were typical of southerners as well.
I would recommend this book to all. I read this book in just a few days. Loved it.
This book was so good! I couldn’t put it down!
Loved it! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy
I think this book is probably the best one I’ve read by Ashley Farley. The family dynamics were well developed. The story weaves through two generations…holding you captive.
The story line tugs at your heart and will have you spitting fire in rage one second, cheering on some of the characters the next second, weeping tears in another. The emotions the reader experiences are varied. But the ride you take with Julia is one you won’t regret.
How strong do you think you are? What will it take for you to stand up for yourself?
There are two major story lines throughout the pages…one current and one many years ago. But they are connected and you must travel through the heartache and joys to see where the tale will take you.
Thank you to the author, Ashley Farley, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Family wars!
Sweet characters and nasty characters all in one family, their friends, neighbor’s and loved ones. Gets pretty intense at times.
I really enjoyed this book. An easy read, good characters, both sad and heart warming. This book had a little of everything.
What a bittersweet southern story!
From the spot on settings, mouth watering comfort foods, familial drama and course deep tragedies and overwhelming joys- this book has them all.
Firstly, Farley paints the epitome of a southern town with its sweeping waters, full porches and sweet tea. You really feel immersed in southern charm and it’s not so sweet prejudices.
As for the story, it was somewhat predictable, but still a joy to read. Her characters have interesting pasts that ultimately lead to their fates.
It really pulls you way up with goodness then harshly throws you down with terrible tragedies.
As I was reading it I kept thinking of Sweet Magnolias, Hope Floats, My Girl, Sweet Home Alabama, The Notebook and all those other great southern movies.
I enjoyed this book. The book is told in three parts. Part One is the present with Julia and Jack. They have been married happily for 15 years, and after several miscarriages Julia is about to give birth to their first child. They are both ecstatic. They have a happy life, even though they have very little money. Then tragedy strikes, and Julia has to face the reality of leaving their home forever. Part Two focuses on Iris, from her childhood, meeting Max and their courtship, her friendship with Lily, and catching up to the present. Part Three is after Julia comes home.
There is so much going on in this book. Julia feels betrayed by her mother’s inaction when her father kicked her out when she was pregnant and wanted to marry Jack. She has no relationship with her father and sister Alex at all. Going home is hard, but she has no other choice. Her return is the catalyst for Iris to examine her life closely and make some difficult decisions. An event in Iris’s past is still affecting her to this day. Julia and Gus, Lily’s son, grow closer but questions must be answered before anyone can move on with their lives.
This isn’t a romance novel. If anything, it’s a love story between mother and daughter, and also between best friends. Lily and Iris have a lifelong friendship that remains through some huge upsets, requiring forgiveness from both parties. Their bond is unshakable. I liked how Julia finally found her place in the world. Even though she and Jack were incredibly happy together, I had the impression something was still missing for Julia even before he died. Now she seems complete.
Ashley Farley writes a brilliant novel! This is a very character driven story with the beautiful backdrop of South Carolina. I am learning that I am a huge fan of Southern Fiction.
I was captivated from the very beginning by the character Julia. She gave everything up to be with the man she loves, even if it means he is all she has. For 15 years it was just the two of them living a modest life in Edisto Beach, SC and she was happy because she loved Jack.
She finally gets pregnant and the day the baby is to be born, tragedy strikes, and Jack loses his life and Julia must figure life out all over again without him.
This story is about her giving her family a second chance.
The relationship between her and her Mom, Iris was my favorite part. That is what led the story for me. Sure, there is her father, Max and her Moms business partner, Lily…but, ultimately it comes down to their relationship for me. The secrets and lies are so intense, but so is the love.
This was the first I’ve read, and it will not be the last.
WOW! What a journey you’ll go on when you read Ashley Farley’s new book “Only One Life”! There is relationship drama between parents & children, spouses, siblings and friends that include secrets, heartbreak, love, indifference and healing that span over many decades. I love this cast of characters with their strong personalities and especially love the friendship between Iris & Lily and the mother/daughter relationship between Iris & Julia.
Thank you NetGalley and Ashley Farley for this advance readers copy of Only One Life in exchange for my review.
Written in the true southern charm that I love about any book by Ashley Farley, this is another wonderful story. Told in both the present and the past we learn about a dysfunctional family, how they came to be that way and finally their way of trying to heal. There were many twists and turns along with plenty of emotions along the way which made this a very interesting read.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me an arc at my request. All thoughts on this review are my own and are voluntary.
Jack and Julia are awaiting the arrival of their sweet baby. Julia’s mom has been popping up and checking on her. Her parents haven’t spoken to her since she married Jack. They did not think he was good enough for her. She goes into labor during a horrible storm and Jack is taking her to the hospital when the worst happens. He is killed when a tree falls on their car. She is devastated.. With no family to help she depends on a neighbor. It takes her a bit to warm up to baby Jackson after the trauma of losing Jack. She stays in her house as long as she can before she has to go to her parents and ask for help. When she arrives her Dad (Max) is not happy to see her , neither is her sister Alex. Her Mom/ Iris is a little more understanding.. Her history with Max is not a great one. She understands more than Julia knows. Her marriage was greeted the same way. Max and his family did not approve of her either. When she was young she found a job with a friend Lily. They ran Lily’s flower shop together. She left her husband and went home for a while. While she was gone Iris and lily’s husband Wiley became very close. Max found out and Wiley mysteriously passed away. Max tormented Iris from then on. Alex and Max are as thick as thieves and are both out of control. Gus Lily’s son has moved into the Inn his mother ran before her passing. Julia has to get out of her childhood home and stays with Gus. A short time later after all the years of silence Iris is going to the police to report Max in the death of Wiley. Before she can he dies and Alex makes her leave her home. She is left with nothing but her flower shop. Julia and her mom Iris live a happy life without all the things Alex keeps. Both of these strong women have second chances. I received this book as an ARC from net galley for my honest review.
Another great story by Ashley Farley. Received this ARC From Net Galley. Old south values, family money and estranged daughter. Her father disowned her when she married “beneath ” her station. After her husband dies, Julia and her baby son come home. The majority of this story covers the family disfunctions and reconciliation.