Friday 22 February 2013

Book ~"The Best of Us" (2013) Sarah Pekkanen

From Goodreads ~ Paradise isn’t quite what it seems as four college friends meet for an island vacation.  Following a once-in-a-lifetime invitation, a group of old college friends leap at the chance to bring their husbands for a week’s vacation at a private villa in Jamaica to celebrate a former classmates' thirty-fifth birthday.

All four women are desperate for a break and this seems like a perfect opportunity. Tina is drowning under the demands of mothering four young children. Allie needs to escape from the shattering news about an illness that runs in her family. Savannah is carrying the secret of her husband’s infidelity. And, finally, there’s Pauline, who spares no expense to throw her husband an unforgettable birthday celebration, hoping it will gloss over the cracks that have already formed in their new marriage.

The week begins idyllically, filled with languorous days and late nights of drinking and laughter. But as a hurricane approaches the island, turmoil builds, forcing each woman to re-evaluate everything she’s known about the others—and herself.

Dwight, Tina, Allie and Savannah when to university together.  It's Dwight's 35th birthday and his wife, Pauline, wants to do something special.  So she rents a villa in Jamaica for a week and flies everyone and their spouses there on Dwight's private jet to spend a week celebrating.  She has everything planned from the meals (she has hired a chef) to the activities (how about a tour in a helicopter?).

Dwight was a dork in university but has done well for himself and is now rich.  He is still awkward and Pauline basically married him because of his money and the status he could provide.  She has a disabled sister who is in a home (Dwight doesn't know the seriousness of her disability because Pauline was concerned it would taint her) plus her mother who she (actually Dwight) is supporting.

Tina is married to Gio and they have four kids.  Tina is a stay-at-home-mom who is tired tired tired.  From the time she gets up 'til the time she goes to bed she's on the go taking care of her family and doesn't feel like she'll ever catch up.

Allie is married to Ryan and they have two kids.  Allie is a peacekeeper and is always taking care of others.  She was adopted and recently discovered that she may carry the ALS gene.

Savannah is a real estate agent and recently split from her husband, Gary ... he left her for another woman.  She's is out to take Gary for all she can and wants to show Gary what he gave up.

Needless to say, everyone welcomes the holiday.

Once they get to Jamaica, there is a lot of relaxing, partying and finding themselves ... all with the threat of Hurricane Betty.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style and it flowed well. The language at times is mature.

Each of the characters are different yet I could feel the bound between them.  I didn't agree with some of their actions but they had to do what they had to do.

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

I received a copy of this ebook at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

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