Two sisters discover startling secrets in their mother’s old journal in this “poignant” novel by the New York Times–bestselling author of Garden of Lies (Debbie Macomber). Emily and Sarah Marshall are cleaning out their dying mother’s attic when Emily finds an old leather diary. Their mother’s handwriting on the yellowed pages takes them back to a small Nebraska town in the summer of 1951, where … town in the summer of 1951, where sheltered, almost-engaged Elizabeth Harvey is swept into a clandestine romance with AJ, her rebellious childhood friend. When AJ becomes the prime suspect in a neighborhood fire, Elizabeth has to make the most difficult decision of her young life and choose between passionate but unpredictable AJ and her stable, longtime beau, Bob.
Shocked to learn that their mother was in love with a man other than their father, Emily and Sarah must confront painful truths about their mother, their father, and ultimately, themselves. Moving and uplifting, with a surprise ending readers won’t see coming, The Diary is a novel about the mysteries of romantic love and the unassailable bond between parents and children.
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A lovely book, tender, poignant and touching… A joy to read.
A bit of historical fiction, plus a mystery, AND a romance? It’s all here in this book!
Two sisters find a diary of their mother’s – a diary revealing a great love affair that happened right before their parents were married. The action passes back and forth between 1951 small-town Nebraska and the present as the sisters learn more about their mother’s past. It is an effective plot device, as it shows the strong cause-and-effect of how our choices today impact not only our future but the future of those around us. The mystery unfolds – who is this AJ and how did their mother, Elizabeth, marry their father, Bob, when she was so desperately in love with AJ? The reader will be just as invested as Elizabeth’s daughters were to find answers. This book excellently shows “real life” and how love isn’t always cut and dry, but is usually complex and complicated – and even richer because of that fact. You’ll start reading because you want to hear the end of the story, and you’ll stay for the well-drawn characters and cozy plot.
It was such a nice romance and I thought it would be predictable, but then bang! I love Eileen Goudge.
Good read!!! Any of her books are good reads!!! Probably my favorite author!!! Never disappointed!!!!
Love the author and all her books!
I really enjoyed, especially with the surprise towards the end.
I like a bit of a plot twist. Very enjoyable.
I enjoyed reading it.
Absolutely a fascinating read.
Good read.
Recommended if you like an easy read, well written but predictable. Two sisters find and their mother’s diary as they try to deal with her house after her death.
Loved the surprise ending.
A good read but not on my keepers list. Too many books now about home returns and finding surprises..
Very predictable.
I predicted the “surprise” ending at least fifty pages ahead.
It kept me occupied when I needed distraction, but neither the story nor the characters are particularly memorable.
I thought the plot was manipulated and took too long to tell; the ending was unexpected but again, manipulated. I haven’t recommended it to anyone; in fact, I forgot I had read it.
This wonderful story, follows two sisters as they read a Diary written by their Mother,who is dying. They are caught off guard as the Diary speaks of someone else, who their Mother was in Love with. They had never heard the name mentioned in the Diary and start to wonder if the Love they had witness growing up of their parents was really true love. They also take hard looks at their own lives.
Their Mother dies before they could question her about the man in the Diary, but her death does give answers, not expected.
A book you cannot put down.