We Are Family: A feel-good read from NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER Beth Moran for summer 2023 by Beth MoranMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ruth Henderson has felt like the black sheep of the family almost her entire life. Brought up in a family of ballroom dancers, the youngest of four daughters she was the one with two left feet (comparatively). Pregnant by accident after a drunken one-night stand she has made the best of things with her daughter Maggie's father, until his sudden death in a car accident uncovers a mountain of debt and no life insurance. After struggling for two years to make ends meet Ruth knows the only solution is to swallow her pride and move back in with her parents.
At first Ruth is inclined to wallow in grief, anger, and self-pity, until her busy-body mother gets her a part-time job at a local boutique run by Ruth's school nemesis. While the blows keep coming, Maggie is in trouble at school, Ruth's parents appear to be on the verge of splitting up, more debt is uncovered, Ruth gets reacquainted with the school bully 'Meat' Harris and probably her only girl friend from school Lois Finch - and they are married!
Slowly Ruth and Maggie begin to create a life for themselves, centred around the big, happy church that Ruth's parents belong to. But is there a chance for romance for Ruth with Carl the dishy doctor, son of one of the centre's clients, or can she revive her relationship with David, her one true love and now a TV wildlife documentary star?
Isn't it funny, I complain about writers throwing the kitchen sink of issues into a book, overshadowing the relationships and yet this book, which has practically everything you could care to throw at a plot, manages to keep the reader engaged and rooting for Ruth throughout. Her family are just the right side of irritating. Maggie is rebellious, but only because she is hurting. Yes, the story revolves around the church community but it is such a joyful, friendly place even I, an atheist, wanted to join.
Wonderful, feel-good, small-town, English romance. Loved it.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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