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Driving Lessons
From the author of Balancing Acts and Saving Ruth comes the funny, heartwarming, and utterly relatable story of three women, each facing her own transitional moment, and all grappling with the idea of motherhood...
When Sarah and her husband trade in a crowded commute, cramped apartment, and high stress New York City jobs for life the slow lane in Farmwood, VA, the pressure is on to have a baby. At thirty-six Sarah knows it's time to get started, but the urgency motivating her to reach this pinnacle of self-fulfillment looms large. Meanwhile, her best friend Mona, a single and successful editor who's always wanted children, is diagnosed with cervical cancer. At the same time, Sarah's younger and seemingly perfect sister-in-law has just given birth to her son, Franklin. When Sarah uproots her new life with her husband in Virginia to return to New York and care for Mona, the three women will help each other navigate their new realities.
When Sarah and her husband trade in a crowded commute, cramped apartment, and high stress New York City jobs for life the slow lane in Farmwood, VA, the pressure is on to have a baby. At thirty-six Sarah knows it's time to get started, but the urgency motivating her to reach this pinnacle of self-fulfillment looms large. Meanwhile, her best friend Mona, a single and successful editor who's always wanted children, is diagnosed with cervical cancer. At the same time, Sarah's younger and seemingly perfect sister-in-law has just given birth to her son, Franklin. When Sarah uproots her new life with her husband in Virginia to return to New York and care for Mona, the three women will help each other navigate their new realities.
312 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2013
187 people are currently reading
1755 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
October 30, 2019
2.5 stars- it bothered me that Sarah killed the ladybugs.
January 6, 2015
I can't seem to wrap my head around all of the things that this book...WASN'T. I have never before, in my entire reading existence, read a book that involved ZERO conflict. There was inner conflict in here, yes, as one character undergoes a hysterectomy. But even THAT was written with sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops dancing in the background. I was dumbfounded, and so disappointed with what I found in
Driving Lessons
. However, as per usual, these are my personal opinions, because this book could very well be the perk that YOU need to get you out of a winter slump: a neat little drama-free soap opera of a book.
As the synopsis points out, Driving Lessons is a narrative about 3 woman (plus some female side characters), "navigating" their way through life, and it's small surprises. I won't delve too much into the plot, because anything I say might very well give away the entire thing: this book could have been written in 150 pages or less, seriously. The story is mainly centered around Sarah, who, along with her husband Josh, uproots her life and moves from New York, to a small town in Virginia. She then receives some bad news regarding her best friend Mona, hightails it back to New York to take care of her, and ends up spending some quality time with her sister-in-law, Kate, as well. In the end, she receives some great news.
That's it. That's all. I've pretty much described the entire book to you. There were no LIFE-ALTERING secrets revealed. No one was betrayed, no one was abandoned, defeated, depressed or even remotely in danger *SIGH*. When I started a new chapter, or read a line that (I thought!) held some guarded truth, I kept thinking "okay..okay this is it guys!! NOW the author is going to drop some bombs! Some real HEART-HITTING twists! I just KNOW IT!". And then..........nothing. Nothing until the very end, and then nothing there either. I was absolutely losing my MIND over the sheer nothingness that was happening.
The characters in Driving Lessons were completely one-dimensional, and could have all been the same person to me. Their voices were so alike, my eyes glazed over almost all of the dialogue. Sarah's husband, Josh, could have been the one getting a hysterectomy for all I know, he was THAT interchangeable with her best friend, Mona. He was unrealistically written, which infuriated me to no end. Seriously, what man is THAT perfect? Give me a break. I want to escape reality when I read, but I'm not in favour of becoming delusional. I will refrain from sharing my thoughts about the main female lead, Sarah. Let's just say that when I got to a scene where she completely refused to become someone's friend because they were "too pretty", I was literally ready to close the book for good.
Overall, Driving Lessons followed a linear path, a safe and, maybe for some, a comfortable pace. It's a book you might pick up if you've just overcome an emotionally trying time, and you just want something that's free of any negativity, or intense drama. There IS the issue of cancer in this book, so if that's a touchy subject for you, maybe steer clear. However, it was written about in a way that barely grazed the surface of the emotions, and procedures, involved.
Recommended for fans of: Elin Hilderbrand, Debbie Macomber, Women's Fiction, "Chick-Lit", Adult Contemporary.
As the synopsis points out, Driving Lessons is a narrative about 3 woman (plus some female side characters), "navigating" their way through life, and it's small surprises. I won't delve too much into the plot, because anything I say might very well give away the entire thing: this book could have been written in 150 pages or less, seriously. The story is mainly centered around Sarah, who, along with her husband Josh, uproots her life and moves from New York, to a small town in Virginia. She then receives some bad news regarding her best friend Mona, hightails it back to New York to take care of her, and ends up spending some quality time with her sister-in-law, Kate, as well. In the end, she receives some great news.
That's it. That's all. I've pretty much described the entire book to you. There were no LIFE-ALTERING secrets revealed. No one was betrayed, no one was abandoned, defeated, depressed or even remotely in danger *SIGH*. When I started a new chapter, or read a line that (I thought!) held some guarded truth, I kept thinking "okay..okay this is it guys!! NOW the author is going to drop some bombs! Some real HEART-HITTING twists! I just KNOW IT!". And then..........nothing. Nothing until the very end, and then nothing there either. I was absolutely losing my MIND over the sheer nothingness that was happening.
The characters in Driving Lessons were completely one-dimensional, and could have all been the same person to me. Their voices were so alike, my eyes glazed over almost all of the dialogue. Sarah's husband, Josh, could have been the one getting a hysterectomy for all I know, he was THAT interchangeable with her best friend, Mona. He was unrealistically written, which infuriated me to no end. Seriously, what man is THAT perfect? Give me a break. I want to escape reality when I read, but I'm not in favour of becoming delusional. I will refrain from sharing my thoughts about the main female lead, Sarah. Let's just say that when I got to a scene where she completely refused to become someone's friend because they were "too pretty", I was literally ready to close the book for good.
Overall, Driving Lessons followed a linear path, a safe and, maybe for some, a comfortable pace. It's a book you might pick up if you've just overcome an emotionally trying time, and you just want something that's free of any negativity, or intense drama. There IS the issue of cancer in this book, so if that's a touchy subject for you, maybe steer clear. However, it was written about in a way that barely grazed the surface of the emotions, and procedures, involved.
Recommended for fans of: Elin Hilderbrand, Debbie Macomber, Women's Fiction, "Chick-Lit", Adult Contemporary.
April 21, 2014
Longtime New Yorker Sarah is uncertain about life in the country, but it’s off to the country they go. Giving up a high-powered but ultimately soulless marketing job in the city, she and her husband ship out to rural Virginia to start fresh — and maybe start a family — away from the bright lights they’ve come to know so well.
And . . . well, that’s it, basically. Zoe Fishman’s Driving Lessons centers on sweet, bland Sarah and how she’s given up a ton for her husband and isn’t sure she wants to be a parent but, hey, she’s going to consider it, anyway. Out of practice on the road, the title comes from her attempts — some successful, some less so — to get back behind the wheel and steer herself into a new destiny. You know, that sort of thing.
What worked for me? Many of Sarah’s reservations about motherhood and her fierce friendship with Mona, an ailing bestie back in New York, felt very realistic. I appreciated Fishman’s honest take on the pressure many women face at the prospect of starting a family when they’re still trying to pull themselves together. I thought the “Whatever works for you is right for you!” message was cool, and I felt Sarah handled and reacted to changing family dynamics well.
What didn’t work so well? Um . . . everything else, I guess. As a narrator, Sarah was just as dull as dishwater. Without any discernible personality, wants or needs, I was left trying to color inside her lines myself. She was a blank slate, lacking vivacity and imagination. She was just boring. I never connected with her or really felt I got to know her at all. Worse, I didn’t feel there was anything to know. No secrets or hidden desires. Just . . . nothing.
And it frustrates me! Because this could have been fun! The push/pull of transitioning from New York to Farmwood had potential, but it just never panned out. Plus? I find the whole “New York is the center of the universe” mentality to be a bit tired. There were some overtures to incorporate cute “Southern” characters into dispatches from Virginia, and I may have enjoyed the story more had we felt more of the dynamic of city slicker in the country — but even that may have felt overdone.
And what was up with Josh, her cardboard cut-out of a husband? He’s a professor, he wants to be a dad, and . . . that about sums it up, I guess. They leave Brooklyn because he takes a job elsewhere and thinks Virginia will be a better place to raise their future gaggle of kiddos, I suppose, and that’s it. His conversations with his wife seemed stilted at best and scripted at worse — and if I never felt I got to know Sarah, well. He really needn’t have been there at all.
Was it an easy read? Yes. Did I ever consider abandoning it? No, actually. It was light women’s fiction . . . emphasis on light. So light it could have been carried off by a summer breeze, friends. I love women’s fiction and character-driven stories, but nothing about it was gripping. Like, at all. Competently written but ultimately forgettable, Driving Lessons never really gained traction for me.
And . . . well, that’s it, basically. Zoe Fishman’s Driving Lessons centers on sweet, bland Sarah and how she’s given up a ton for her husband and isn’t sure she wants to be a parent but, hey, she’s going to consider it, anyway. Out of practice on the road, the title comes from her attempts — some successful, some less so — to get back behind the wheel and steer herself into a new destiny. You know, that sort of thing.
What worked for me? Many of Sarah’s reservations about motherhood and her fierce friendship with Mona, an ailing bestie back in New York, felt very realistic. I appreciated Fishman’s honest take on the pressure many women face at the prospect of starting a family when they’re still trying to pull themselves together. I thought the “Whatever works for you is right for you!” message was cool, and I felt Sarah handled and reacted to changing family dynamics well.
What didn’t work so well? Um . . . everything else, I guess. As a narrator, Sarah was just as dull as dishwater. Without any discernible personality, wants or needs, I was left trying to color inside her lines myself. She was a blank slate, lacking vivacity and imagination. She was just boring. I never connected with her or really felt I got to know her at all. Worse, I didn’t feel there was anything to know. No secrets or hidden desires. Just . . . nothing.
And it frustrates me! Because this could have been fun! The push/pull of transitioning from New York to Farmwood had potential, but it just never panned out. Plus? I find the whole “New York is the center of the universe” mentality to be a bit tired. There were some overtures to incorporate cute “Southern” characters into dispatches from Virginia, and I may have enjoyed the story more had we felt more of the dynamic of city slicker in the country — but even that may have felt overdone.
And what was up with Josh, her cardboard cut-out of a husband? He’s a professor, he wants to be a dad, and . . . that about sums it up, I guess. They leave Brooklyn because he takes a job elsewhere and thinks Virginia will be a better place to raise their future gaggle of kiddos, I suppose, and that’s it. His conversations with his wife seemed stilted at best and scripted at worse — and if I never felt I got to know Sarah, well. He really needn’t have been there at all.
Was it an easy read? Yes. Did I ever consider abandoning it? No, actually. It was light women’s fiction . . . emphasis on light. So light it could have been carried off by a summer breeze, friends. I love women’s fiction and character-driven stories, but nothing about it was gripping. Like, at all. Competently written but ultimately forgettable, Driving Lessons never really gained traction for me.
September 2, 2015
When Josh and Sarah Simon decide to pack up and leave Brooklyn and their Manhattan jobs, Sarah feels a slight tinge of anxiety. After all, what does she know about life in the country? They are moving to Farmwood, Virginia, where Josh will be a professor in a small college. And Sarah will be at loose ends, not even sure what her future holds.
Additionally, Sarah hasn't driven a car in many years. There really wasn't a need for it in Manhattan. Her anxiety increases as she ponders the possibility of it, and how it will be necessary in her new life.
She is also anxious because she and Josh are contemplating having a child.
Are Sarah's fears about driving, about her future, and about parenthood all part of the same thing? Is it all a huge fear of the chasm that has opened up, making her life a quandary?
Right off the bat, though, Sarah signs up for driving lessons...and then, she also takes a job as a salesperson in a kitschy store. What is that all about?
But before Sarah can truly analyze these events, she gets a call from her best friend Mona in NY...and everything turns upside down. Soon she is off to NY to help her best friend through a medical crisis. And while she is at it, perhaps she can sort through some of her own anxieties.
Driving Lessons: A Novel (P.S.) is a delightful book about a woman on the cusp of major life changes, and while she is anxious, she also has the opportunity to sort things out. I enjoyed the dialogue, the characters, and the "feel good" aura about it all. Despite its predictability, it is a perfect read for those who enjoy women's issues and are seeking a comfort read. 4.0 stars.
Additionally, Sarah hasn't driven a car in many years. There really wasn't a need for it in Manhattan. Her anxiety increases as she ponders the possibility of it, and how it will be necessary in her new life.
She is also anxious because she and Josh are contemplating having a child.
Are Sarah's fears about driving, about her future, and about parenthood all part of the same thing? Is it all a huge fear of the chasm that has opened up, making her life a quandary?
Right off the bat, though, Sarah signs up for driving lessons...and then, she also takes a job as a salesperson in a kitschy store. What is that all about?
But before Sarah can truly analyze these events, she gets a call from her best friend Mona in NY...and everything turns upside down. Soon she is off to NY to help her best friend through a medical crisis. And while she is at it, perhaps she can sort through some of her own anxieties.
Driving Lessons: A Novel (P.S.) is a delightful book about a woman on the cusp of major life changes, and while she is anxious, she also has the opportunity to sort things out. I enjoyed the dialogue, the characters, and the "feel good" aura about it all. Despite its predictability, it is a perfect read for those who enjoy women's issues and are seeking a comfort read. 4.0 stars.
May 21, 2014
Great if you are in need of chick lit filled with perfect husbands and indecisive women. I perfer my main protaganists less needy and whiney. Grab a cheese log before picking up this book.
January 4, 2022
Enjoyable writing style, fast paced, a couple details i didn’t see coming.
January 19, 2018
A wonderful story of a woman's life and what she wants, but has a hard time making a decision on several areas. Also a truly moving tale of friendship and some heartbreaking moments. I really like this author, she writes with a genuine knowledge and honesty of women; and so much more.
From Amazon:
Sometimes life's most fulfilling journeys begin without a map
An executive at a New York cosmetics firm, Sarah has had her fill of the interminable hustle of the big city. When her husband, Josh, is offered a new job in suburban Virginia, it feels like the perfect chance to shift gears.
While Josh quickly adapts to their new life, Sarah discovers that having time on her hands is a mixed blessing. Without her everyday urban struggles, who is she? And how can she explain to Josh, who assumes they are on the same page, her ambivalence about starting a family?
It doesn't help that the idea of getting behind the wheel—an absolute necessity of her new life—makes it hard for Sarah to breathe. It's been almost twenty years since she's driven, and just the thought of merging is enough to make her teeth chatter with anxiety. When she signs up for lessons, she begins to feel a bit more like her old self again, but she's still unsure of where she wants to go.
Then a crisis involving her best friend lands Sarah back in New York—a trip to the past filled with unexpected truths about herself, her dear friend, and her seemingly perfect sister-in-law . . . and an astonishing surprise that will help her see the way ahead.
From Amazon:
Sometimes life's most fulfilling journeys begin without a map
An executive at a New York cosmetics firm, Sarah has had her fill of the interminable hustle of the big city. When her husband, Josh, is offered a new job in suburban Virginia, it feels like the perfect chance to shift gears.
While Josh quickly adapts to their new life, Sarah discovers that having time on her hands is a mixed blessing. Without her everyday urban struggles, who is she? And how can she explain to Josh, who assumes they are on the same page, her ambivalence about starting a family?
It doesn't help that the idea of getting behind the wheel—an absolute necessity of her new life—makes it hard for Sarah to breathe. It's been almost twenty years since she's driven, and just the thought of merging is enough to make her teeth chatter with anxiety. When she signs up for lessons, she begins to feel a bit more like her old self again, but she's still unsure of where she wants to go.
Then a crisis involving her best friend lands Sarah back in New York—a trip to the past filled with unexpected truths about herself, her dear friend, and her seemingly perfect sister-in-law . . . and an astonishing surprise that will help her see the way ahead.
February 22, 2014
I received an ARC of this book.
The more I read, the more I liked this book. Sarah, the main character, moves from NYC to a small town in Virginia. Not only does have to adjust to living in a small town but she also has to relearn how to drive. And a bigger issue that relates to the other characters in the book is the fact that she and her husband are trying to have children all while she is terrified of being a mother. Things change when her best friend is diagnosed with cancer and Sarah returns to New York to take care of her after surgery. In this story you meet three women all dealing with motherhood and being able to have children. Each woman is facing her own issues but gain support from the other female characters.
I liked the characters, I enjoyed the story and I would recommend this to my friends.
The more I read, the more I liked this book. Sarah, the main character, moves from NYC to a small town in Virginia. Not only does have to adjust to living in a small town but she also has to relearn how to drive. And a bigger issue that relates to the other characters in the book is the fact that she and her husband are trying to have children all while she is terrified of being a mother. Things change when her best friend is diagnosed with cancer and Sarah returns to New York to take care of her after surgery. In this story you meet three women all dealing with motherhood and being able to have children. Each woman is facing her own issues but gain support from the other female characters.
I liked the characters, I enjoyed the story and I would recommend this to my friends.
July 9, 2014
A cute story of a couple who changed their fast pace lives to move from New York to Virginia. The woman has not driven a car in years and is terrified to get behind the wheel so hires someone to help her learn to drive. This does not go well but meanwhile her husband is happy in his new job and less stressed. Sarah looks for a job and as her former career was high powered marketing executive the only job she can find is in a boutique selling trashy jewelry. Sarah gets a frantic call from her best friend in Ny who has found out she has cancer and she goes back to NY to help her. Sarah's husband has been wanting to start a family but Sarah is scared but find out she is pregnant. All goes well with her friend and Sarah actually drives in NY. She eventually goes back to Virginia and life begins again.
July 20, 2014
I'm not sure how this was recommended to me, but it was a non-starter. After the first 30 pages, you knew exactly how everything would play out - and it did.
I was so bored that I started monitoring how many times the words "New York" appeared on a page. It wasn't 1 per page, but it was close.
It is super fun reading about how a non-New York way of life is tragic and we should throw ourselves off a bridge if we live a life where we eat at Chili's.
Unnecessarily whiny and too much nonsense dialogue. Not my thing.
I was so bored that I started monitoring how many times the words "New York" appeared on a page. It wasn't 1 per page, but it was close.
It is super fun reading about how a non-New York way of life is tragic and we should throw ourselves off a bridge if we live a life where we eat at Chili's.
Unnecessarily whiny and too much nonsense dialogue. Not my thing.
November 30, 2015
This is a filler book. Nothing too heavy, nothing really to have to think about when reading it. A great 'beach read'. I will say I am from the South and I did not like the stereotypes that were in this book. Otherwise, just a book to read when you don't have anything else to read.
June 5, 2016
Light read, fluffy, fun if you don't want any thing serious or heavy. Chick lit.
August 5, 2018
A quick read about a lady who has lived most of her adult life in NYC and hasn't really driven. Her husband takes a job in Virginia after Sarah comes home from work, exhausted with living in the city. She decides that she should take driving lessons to help fill her time now that she is no longer working. For me, the MC wasn't overly relatable and the writing wasn't very fluid. There were some good concepts in this story, but it wasn't well fleshed out and seemed a bit rushed. But, if you are looking for a beach read, this might just fit the bill.
September 26, 2020
Cute, easy read about three women at cross roads in their lives. Sarah is a 36 year old married woman ready to move from New York with her husband but unsure of changes or her thoughts on motherhood, her friend Mona has just learned that she must have a hysterectomy and loose the chance at a natural motherhood due to ovarian cancer and Kate is Sarah’s sister-in-law who is a new mother coping with learning the mommy ropes. Each of these ladies learns from the other and moves into more comfortable futures.
December 2, 2017
A fast, fun read. Exactly what I was looking for! The tone of the dialog was so normal and fun and reminded me of conversations I've had with my own best friend. Not really a lot of "substance" to this book, but I had just finished a very heavy story and wanted something lighthearted and whimsical to help my soul heal and this book fit the bill. I give it a solid 4.5 stars!
September 7, 2019
I was loving it!!!!!! Then it abruptly ENDED!!!!!!! What the H! I wanted to see how it all turned out!!! You left too many threads hanging!,,,, CRAP!!!!! I wanted to know if Mona stayed with her guy! I wanted to be privy to Sarah’s pregnancy and what she had! I wanted to know how Iris did!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2020
Timing everything has a specfic time to occur its not our time its in gods time no matter how you plan your life things change and its amazing how things work out in the end Sarah wasnt sure about anything until the end its also about how you interpret some one else's life and its not what they portray
June 11, 2020
A book largely told in dialogue, which wasn't realistic. People don't talk like that! Reminds me of the advice, 'show, don't tell.'
Also, the cover art is completely random and has nothing to do with the book. It might attract someone looking for a "sweet" story and these characters can be a bit more crass in their humor than the book cover might suggest.
Also, the cover art is completely random and has nothing to do with the book. It might attract someone looking for a "sweet" story and these characters can be a bit more crass in their humor than the book cover might suggest.
June 2, 2017
Once again, Zoe Fishman writes a novel that brings you into the fold of friendship and struggles. Then, when you read her chapter ' about the book', you see again, how she puts parts of her life in the character. This makes the book even better!
June 28, 2017
This was a decent book to read on my bus commute. It was nothing special, just ok. It was a fish out of water kind of story. It would've been more compelling if the characters were better developed, but oh well. I got it off the $5 table at Barnes & Noble, and for that price, it was a fine book.
August 15, 2020
The book is very predictable. A young couple have waited to have a baby and now they are unsure if this is something they want in their life. Through some interesting twists the story unfolds about the couple and other friends that make for a happy enough ending.
February 25, 2024
meh....A chick lit beach read. Too much immature redundancy. Should I have a baby? Should I not have a baby? My friend has cancer, wah wah wah....
Mountains are made out of molehills and it's just too cry baby-ish
Mountains are made out of molehills and it's just too cry baby-ish
January 17, 2018
Looking forward to Book 2
October 10, 2018
A charming and sometimes raw look at a woman's quest to find new meaning in her life.
April 14, 2019
Fun quick read.
May 8, 2019
This is the story of Sarah and her fears. Her fear of driving, of a baby and of her life changing. And as we all know you can't stop change.
May 27, 2019
Quick easy read!
September 29, 2019
A heavy dose of chick lit but I did enjoy it for what it was... Funny and clever.
Read
February 25, 2020What a fun read! Friends, frailty, foregivness. So much to learn from life.
May 21, 2021
Liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews