A funny, emotional novel full of southern charm about a mother and daughter ready to start over.“Liz Talley delivers. Her dialogue is crisp and smart, her characters are vivid and real, her stories are unputdownable.” —Robyn Carr, New York Times bestselling authorFor a good part of Daphne Witt’s life, she was a supportive wife and dutiful mother. Now that she’s divorced and her daughter, Ellery, … she’s divorced and her daughter, Ellery, is all grown up, Daphne’s celebrating the best part of her life, a successful career, and a flirtation with an attentive hunk fifteen years her junior…who happens to be her daughter’s ex-boyfriend.
Ellery is starting over, too. She’s fresh out of college. Her job prospects are dim. And to support her fiancé in med school, she’s returned home as her mother’s new assistant. Ellery never expected her own life plan to take such a detour. With no outlet for her frustration, she lets an online flirtation go a little too far, especially considering her pen pal thinks he’s corresponding with her mother.
As love lives tangle, secrets spill, and indiscretions are betrayed, mother and daughter will have a lot to learn—not only about the mistakes they’ve made but also about the men in their lives and the women they are each hoping to become.
more
I’m glad I had this one in audio because I may not have had the fortitude to read this one without giving up on it. This one had a lot of sniping and arguing between characters but watching Daphne get her groove back was fun. Watching Ellery learn that adulting is hard and being daddy’s princess is not a life goal was precious. Definitely a great audio.
A perfect, lighthearted read for this week! I loved Daphne and how she took charge of her life after her husband left her and didn’t look back. Her daughter is a hot mess but finally started to figure out her life. This story had some family drama, some romance and a happy ending. Like I said, a perfect story!
Liz Talley has a gift for creating flawed, fascinating, and memorable characters, embedded in a narrative that draws you in and doesn’t let go. The story focuses on a mother, Daphne Witt, and her daughter Ellery. Daphne, who was pregnant in high school, and then married to Rex, raised Ellery. Daphne found great success as a children’s author, which her husband couldn’t handle, and the two divorced. Ellery is a spoiled, entitled person, who is engaged to Josh, a first year medical student. Ellery just finished her degree in fashion design, but did not get the one internship she applied for, and with no backup plan, comes home to Shreveport to live with Josh, and work for her mom. Ellery has a lot of growing up to do, which she accomplishes despite a lot of wrong turns and atrocious behavior.
The book is about both Daphne and Ellery’s journey to happiness and, in Ellery’s case, maturity as well. Even Rex, the doofus ex-husband, comes to a better understanding of his boorish behavior, so there may be some redemption in his future. I won’t write more about the story in order for you to enjoy the journey without spoilers.
I mentioned above Liz Talley’s gift in creating memorable characters. As an example, let me use the minor character of Clay Caldwell, a 25 year old contractor, who once briefly dated Ellery when both were in in high school. Clay is a contractor who is renovating Daphne’s house, and is attracted to Daphne as much as Daphne is attracted to Clay. After a few initial few scenes of mutual attraction, Clay makes two short appearances later in the book. His character became so real to me I worried how Clay would end up in life. That is magical writing!
I just loved this book, as I followed the unfolding, interweaving stories of Daphne and Ellery.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing the book.
Liz Talley
Room to Breathe
From the books I have read written by Liz Talley I will say Room to Breathe was outside for box for Liz Talley. I loved the main character Daphne she finally woke up from what I call a coma and finished strong and grew some balls as well call it and not let everyone push her around and be a doormat. Her daughter Ellery also grew up in this book and realized the detour life threw her was the right path and she became a strong young woman. Both women learned to deal with what life can throw at you whether it is good, bad or ugly. Also throw some hot men into the mix and all is well with the world. The women learned from their mistakes and misfortunes. I would definitely recommend Room To Breathe, it will be on my favorite book list for sure.
Daphne, almost 40 years old, with a strained relationship with her spoiled, beautiful daughter that she & her ex-husband, Rex, adore, is finally at a point to take action to be happy with herself and her life, after her divorce and rapid accent to be an accomplished children’s book author and illustrator. That is a lot to put into one sentence, but that is how this book feels to me. It hooked me in the first chapter and there was no looking back. It never let me go. I was absorbed in the lives of the characters.
Daphne became pregnant at 16 and soon married Rex. They built a good life with their daughter, Ellery, but it was always Daphne that held them all together. She was the fixer of all problems and the worker ant that got everything done. After her divorce, she truly found herself and she liked the person she was; successful, talented and worthy of love.
Ellery always had a golden cloud above her. Everything she wanted, she received. Almost everything in her life went her way. On the odd occasion that she was not the “chosen one”, her parents stepped in and made it better. She is approaching her 23rd birthday and her life is now totally crumbling. She has no idea how to handle a life that is not perfect and she is falling apart inside, while smiling on the outside denying all the issues.
There is so much more going on in this story, but you should experience that first-hand and not in a review. Liz Talley does an excellent job of character development. Each character is unique and memorable. I especially love a minor character Tippy Lou. She is a spicy, tell it like it is, hippy spiritualist. If you do not want your problem discussed honestly, it is best to not visit her.
This book is so well written and the story flows so easily. I truly enjoyed every moment of my time in this story. There are some serious issues tackled and then the humor came and I was laughing out loud and smiling. I will also add that I love the book cover!
I want to thank NetGalley.com and the author, Liz Talley for allowing me to read this fantastic book! my review is my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC of this book.