Sandy M’s review of Beach Plum Island by Holly Robinson
Women’s Fiction published by NAL 1 Apr 14
What a great cast of characters Holly Robinson has created in this fun and touching novel. Three sisters from a fallen-apart family try to figure out their dynamics as they unravel their father’s dying words.
Ava and Elaine have been on their own since their father walked away from an unhappy marriage to their alcoholic mother. It’s been Ava who’s made sure Elaine has what she needs over the years, to the point of being spoiled. When their father passes away, it’s Ava who brings the entire family together to say goodbye. And thus begins this family’s journey to healing, which includes solving a mystery that may tear them further apart – or bring them closer together.
It’s their half sister, Gigi, who gets things going when she mentions to Ava their father had told Gigi of a brother none of them knew they had, which confirms for Ava her father wasn’t delusional when he whispered similar words just before his last breath. Though it brings the girls together in the beginning, Elaine has a hard time dealing with Gigi. It’s her mother, after all, who broke Elaine’s family up. Ava, however, sees a teenager who needs attention and guidance. She goes so far as to teach Gigi potting, giving her responsibility in Ava’s workshop while also instilling confidence.
So in between the new family dynamic they now have and searching for an unknown brother, each sister deals with her own demons day by day. Elaine has turned to alcohol and sex, going out nearly every night after work, trolling the bars for someone to spend a few hours with. It takes a couple of near misses with trouble for her to wake up. I really like her “savior” and hoped she’d see him in a different light after a while. Ava is working to stockpile her work in local businesses while keeping up with her twin sons and their band, of which Gigi is now a part as the lead singer. It’s fortunate for the youngster she’s found Ava and all that comes with the new relationship; she’d been headed in the wrong direction before that. Ava also finds a savior of sorts but hesitates in taking the relationship further, not knowing how those close to her would feel about it.
When their diligence pays off and Peter is located, a whole new set of emotions and dynamics is set into motion from three different directions. As much as I wanted to slap Elaine a few times for her attitude throughout the story, I have to say I really like her time with Peter. It puts her on an even better path in her life, and it’s nice to know she’ll finally be truly happy. All of the scenes, though, with their brother are heartfelt and quite emotional, and there’s hope in the family for the first time in a very long time.
I really enjoyed this book. Aside from the dysfunctional aspect of these two families, the mystery and bits of romance add a nice layer to everyday life we all try to get through with our siblings, mothers, aunts, you name it. All it takes is the time and the want to make the first move to try to better that life as we go along. We may fight and argue, but we’re still family, and in the end, that’s what counts the most. No matter what.
Grade: B+
Summary:
“Your brother should know the truth.”
These are the last cryptic words that Ava Barrett’s father says before he dies. But Ava doesn’t have a brother, as far as she knows, so how can she tell him the truth? She dismisses the conversation and dedicates herself to bringing her family together for her father’s funeral. This is no easy task, since her sister, Elaine, has been estranged from the family and still harbors resentment against their stepmother and half-sister, Gigi. Ava, on the other hand, is a single mother who sees Gigi as a troubled teen in need of love and connection.
Ava, too, could use more love in her life and finds it where she least expects it. But the biggest surprise of all is that Gigi holds the key to the mystery surrounding her father’s dying words, and joins Ava in uncovering a secret that rapidly unravels the very fabric of their entire family .
No excerpt available.
