I've read a number of Anne Rivers Siddons books, the most memorable of which is Colony which I probably read 20 years ago and still have in my mind.

Hadn't read one in a while so I picked this one up -- it's the story of a recent widow who returns to her childhood home in Maine by herself to collect her thoughts and the book opens with her husband's death and then tells the story of her life as she sits in her house in Maine.

It's a compelling story with interesting characters and action. You do really get the sense of place, but almost too much. If I had to hear about one more "pair of faded shorts and a tattered sweater" -- that's the de rigeur outfit for Maine (if you're a cool guy), I wanted to scream. I wanted to say "Ok, I get it. You all wear old clothes." There was something a bit pretentious about it.

Somehow it was different than Dominick Dunne because he is an observer, but she is a participant and there was a self-consciousness about how morally superior she and her family were for wearing old clothes and using mismatched dishes and having a 1970s television even though they were well off. It just got annoying.

Other than that, I did like the story. It's definitely chick lit, but a high grade of chick lit.