Disclosure: I had the chance to read this free from the publisher. Opinions shared are mine.
Few stereotypes inspire collective groans as “mother-in-law.” The title usually carries a negative tone. Maybe that’s why I’ve been praying for my son’s future wife since he was born (he’s 9 years old now.) So when I opened The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth, I was expecting the worst.
Delightfully surprised by this book! It landed on my FAVORITES shelf with 5 strong stars.
Hepworth worked some magic with The Mother-In-Law. By showing events through multiple perspectives over a fragmented timeline, the irony of the characters’ complicated relationships came to light. Incompatible as they seemed, Diana and Tom were really delightful together. It wasn’t unlike my own in-laws (minus the vast fortune).
It’s unusual for me to strongly relate to multiple characters in a book, but that’s what happened with this one. I really connected with Lucy, who tried to endear herself to Diana but kept missing the mark. Lucy’s internal dialogue was often downright hilarious and so realistic. On the other hand, Diana’s strong personality resonated with me. I see many adults in my family looking to their parents for assistance, and it gives me the resolve to turn away from that sort of dependence. I also want my own kids to learn to stand on their own, even though it might feel better to “help” them along.
I loved the ending of this book, too. Though heartbreaking, it was the perfect way to wrap things up.
The Mother-In-Law was a great clean read. I appreciated that Hepworth didn’t resort to profanity or unnecessary adult content. It was so good that I might even re-read it in 2019!
I love it when books surprise you in such a fantastic way! I have a feeling that I have a copy of this one for review as well and you have me really intrigued to read it as well. It sounds like it is going to be quite a page turner! 🙂
The Candid Cover recently posted…Wishlist Wednesday: That’s Not What I Heard