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The Waiting Room
A heartwarming novel that explores and celebrates the complexities of mother/daughter relationships.
When Charlotte returns to the rural community of Marion, Missouri, to bury her mother, she doesn't plan to stay long. She wants to settle her mother’s estate fast and put as many miles between her childhood home and her unrelenting grief as possible. But leaving her hometown and its painful memories behind proves harder than she realizes. After her mother's funeral, Charlotte receives a disturbing postmortem letter from her mother. It's this letter that sends Charlotte on a journey through her mother’s life and reveals decades of family secrets, lies, and shocking betrayals. The Waiting Room is a captivating storyline about small-town life, forgiveness, and second chances. Fans of Kate Hewitt, Rachel Hanna, Ali Mercer, and Diane Chamberlain will devour this unputdownable small-town fiction debut novel from author Piper Punches.
When Charlotte returns to the rural community of Marion, Missouri, to bury her mother, she doesn't plan to stay long. She wants to settle her mother’s estate fast and put as many miles between her childhood home and her unrelenting grief as possible. But leaving her hometown and its painful memories behind proves harder than she realizes. After her mother's funeral, Charlotte receives a disturbing postmortem letter from her mother. It's this letter that sends Charlotte on a journey through her mother’s life and reveals decades of family secrets, lies, and shocking betrayals. The Waiting Room is a captivating storyline about small-town life, forgiveness, and second chances. Fans of Kate Hewitt, Rachel Hanna, Ali Mercer, and Diane Chamberlain will devour this unputdownable small-town fiction debut novel from author Piper Punches.
232 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
About the author
Piper Punches
19 books92 followersAn author of fiction and truth, I can't help but test the limits when it comes to subject matter. I write social justice fiction, but also enjoy writing about the creative process, mindful living, traveling, and the writing life. I hope my books and other writings will inspire and motivate YOU to pursue a fulfilling, passionate life - whatever that means to you. Strike up a conversation with me in the comments, on social media, or send me an email. Us humans have to stick together! Read more about my earliest writing experiences by visiting my little home on the internet at http://piperpunches.com/
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 3, 2013
Everything about this book drew me in: the characters, the setting, the circumstances. But the one thing that impressed me the most was the writing. Piper Punches found ways to make the most mundane situation sound so beautiful just with the words on the page. This book contains so many layers of story, but she found seamless ways to mold them all together painting such a vivid picture of the characters and their lives. You found yourself really sympathizing with so many characters, and then hating others. Plot twists caught me off guard and reading into the wee hours of the night. All in all, a very good book, I would recommend to anyone wanting to slip into someone else's world for a little while.
November 25, 2013
The Waiting Room is a lovely story that reveals the downfalls of never seeing our parents as people. Charlotte spent her life with a narrow view of her mother and the importance of her mother's position in a small town. When a shocking secret is revealed, Charlotte has to re-piece the life she thought knew with reality.
As a mother, one of the biggest lessons I walked away with after finishing The Waiting Room is how important it is for mothers, parents, to share their history with their children. There are no perfect lives. We must share the good, the pain, the ugly, and the beauty that we pick up along life's path and then give those lessons to our children.
As a mother, one of the biggest lessons I walked away with after finishing The Waiting Room is how important it is for mothers, parents, to share their history with their children. There are no perfect lives. We must share the good, the pain, the ugly, and the beauty that we pick up along life's path and then give those lessons to our children.
July 26, 2016
A book you had to keep your mind into
I liked the book but I really had to pay attention to who was who and what was going on!!! Couldn't have read this with to many breaks!!
I liked the book but I really had to pay attention to who was who and what was going on!!! Couldn't have read this with to many breaks!!
May 27, 2014
The Waiting Room was a very interesting book due to the fact that here lately I have only been reading self-help materials. However, I was very intrigued by the story line and was placed in a relatable and reflective state while reading this book. I felt this book was not only a page turner but a complete manuscript once the story ended. Many times I read books and although they are good yet end incomplete. Incomplete meaning unanswered questions about, the plot, characters etc.
The author Piper Punches, does a good job at creating a clear writing path and also giving readers just enough to keep you on edge and experiencing the right emotions to keep them reading. The story as it relates to the title “Waiting Room” for me explains a place where questions/circumstances go answered, or at least seem unclear. However, the author has a way of connecting the dots for readers putting you in a place of anticipations which keeps you drawn to keep reading. In a place of waiting it can create a host of emotions fearing the unknown.
Therefore, the story of Sylvie Day and her journey from childhood to adulthood allows you to share in all sorts of emotions of her “waiting room” state. This book tells a story of relationship, hardship, parenting, suffering, abandonment, forgiveness and redemption. My personal thoughts and reflections from this book causes me to examine the relationships in my life with my parents, siblings, friends and family. Many times in a place of waiting we don’t understand the decisions made by others or our self. But at the right time those explanations are made clear.
My Thoughts: I would definitely recommend this book to others. This book to me was reflective, relatable and emotional. I enjoyed the authors writing style which was simple yet causes readers to really think while reading . Again this book provided an experience and for me was awesome.
The author Piper Punches, does a good job at creating a clear writing path and also giving readers just enough to keep you on edge and experiencing the right emotions to keep them reading. The story as it relates to the title “Waiting Room” for me explains a place where questions/circumstances go answered, or at least seem unclear. However, the author has a way of connecting the dots for readers putting you in a place of anticipations which keeps you drawn to keep reading. In a place of waiting it can create a host of emotions fearing the unknown.
Therefore, the story of Sylvie Day and her journey from childhood to adulthood allows you to share in all sorts of emotions of her “waiting room” state. This book tells a story of relationship, hardship, parenting, suffering, abandonment, forgiveness and redemption. My personal thoughts and reflections from this book causes me to examine the relationships in my life with my parents, siblings, friends and family. Many times in a place of waiting we don’t understand the decisions made by others or our self. But at the right time those explanations are made clear.
My Thoughts: I would definitely recommend this book to others. This book to me was reflective, relatable and emotional. I enjoyed the authors writing style which was simple yet causes readers to really think while reading . Again this book provided an experience and for me was awesome.
December 11, 2013
I won this book in triple book giveaway. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Without giving anything away, it is not about what happens in a waiting room when waiting for a baby to be born. Not at all!! It's a gripping story of love, loss, family, secrets, hatred, abuse,just to name a few, and the overall message of the story is beautiful. Piper's writing was really good and she has gained a new fan. I can't wait to read her next book. Don't pass this one up.
October 31, 2013
What I liked about The Waiting Room is how the characters were developed. I felt like I knew them as much as my own family. It has been a week since I finished the book (I was lucky enough to get an advance copy) and I still find myself thinking about the characters. This was an easy, thought-provoking read that you won't want to put down.
June 23, 2016
Lovely read!
December 23, 2013
This is a great book. I love how it tells multiple stories at once, one from the past and one from the present and merges them together. Charlotte, Sylvie and Harold are all compelling characters and their relationships blend together wonderfully. This is an amazing read and captivates you from the beginning. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down.
October 23, 2013
This is an amazing debut novel. It is a compelling and poignant tale about family, love, and secrets - which all too often go hand in hand. The Waiting Room will sweep readers up and leave them reflecting on their own family secrets.
June 5, 2014
gave this book to my best friend for her baby shower figured since she was new to starting a family that a story about a book and family would be something appreciated :)
June 23, 2014
This is a great book. Does not follow any formula. Looking forward to reading her next book.
January 17, 2015
Happy places
This book hit home. I also was a product of the same nature. It is written so well. I almost had to stop reading, the pain was intense. Glad I finished.
This book hit home. I also was a product of the same nature. It is written so well. I almost had to stop reading, the pain was intense. Glad I finished.
February 7, 2016
I really enjoyed this book
So I started reading this on a whim, got into the book very easily and enjoyed the story very much.
So I started reading this on a whim, got into the book very easily and enjoyed the story very much.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews