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A Little Bit of Grace

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Phoebe Fox

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A Little Bit of Grace

Phoebe Fox (Goodreads Author)

4.41 · Rating details · 32 ratings · 26 reviews

Note: This edition is an advance reading copy

Family is everything—Grace McAdams’s mom must have said it to her a thousand times before she died. Before Grace’s dad ran off with an aspiring actress half his age. Before only-child Grace found out she was unable to have children of her own. Before Brian—her childhood best friend, business partner, and finally her husband—drop ...more

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ebook, 274 pages

Published 2017

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4.41 ·

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· 32 ratings · 26 reviews

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Sep 25, 2017 Sheryl rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, advanced-readers-copy, netgalley, contempary-fiction

Grace MacAdams has always done the right thing; she had the words ingrained in the head "Family is Everything" by her mother while she was growing up. She's had a run of bad luck lately her mom has passed away after a long illness, which has left her emotionally drained. Her best friend/ex-husband who she runs her estate planning practice with has just told her he is moving in an ex-girlfriend who he has reconnected with after several years into the home she lived while married to him. The worst Grace MacAdams has always done the right thing; she had the words ingrained in the head "Family is Everything" by her mother while she was growing up. She's had a run of bad luck lately her mom has passed away after a long illness, which has left her emotionally drained. Her best friend/ex-husband who she runs her estate planning practice with has just told her he is moving in an ex-girlfriend who he has reconnected with after several years into the home she lived while married to him. The worst part is that it's a few doors down from where she lives now. Grace has always held on to a spark of hope that they would get back together but this is too much for her to deal with, believe me, she lets them know she's not happy with this arrangement. I love the way the get's her revenge on Brian and his new bride to be.
One day she receives a postcard addressed to her mother, it's from an Aunt that lives in Florida who would love to get reacquainted with her. Grace has never been aware of any other family members this is confusing to her, who is this woman and why hasn't she heard of her before. Grace decides to get to the bottom of this, she calls this woman and informs her of her mother's recent death. During the phone call, her great-aunt extends the invitation to Grace who accepts. What could it hurt, she's had enough on her plate, and it will only be a week, long enough for her to come to term with the news she just received about Brian.
Grace flies down to Florida and is met at the airport by a group of rowdy senior citizens. She thinks what in the world have I gotten myself into? The fun is just beginning; she's discovering a lifestyle that she had been too afraid to live before, carefree and spontaneous were the last words one would use to describe Grace.
I instantly fell in love with Aunt Millie, who is in her 80's but you couldn't tell by her active lifestyle. There are several laugh out loud moments when Grace is getting to know what her Aunt does for a living. You will fall in love with her too from her bright red Telsa to the strange female cave where she does her funky art and has her quirky workout worm.
Grace makes some decisions regarding her life, and I can't wait to see what Ms. Fox has planned for Grace's new future.
Disclosure: I received this e-galley in exchange for my honest review. My opinion of this novel is my own. ...more

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Jan 10, 2018 DJ Sakata rated it it was amazing

Shelves: womens-fiction, netgallery, small-town

Favorite Quotes:

‘Because I told Mandy she could have Grandmother’s chair over my dead body, and I’m nothing if not a woman of my word.’ Mrs. Fielding had taken that vow to the extreme, I reflected, breathing through my mouth as I looked at where her body sat slumped in that same chair, thinking that new upholstery might not be enough to get the smell of her decomposing body out of the antique for Ms. Yeager.

I wish I understood young people’s obsession with their own genitalia and capturing it fo Favorite Quotes:

‘Because I told Mandy she could have Grandmother’s chair over my dead body, and I’m nothing if not a woman of my word.’ Mrs. Fielding had taken that vow to the extreme, I reflected, breathing through my mouth as I looked at where her body sat slumped in that same chair, thinking that new upholstery might not be enough to get the smell of her decomposing body out of the antique for Ms. Yeager.

I wish I understood young people’s obsession with their own genitalia and capturing it for posterity… Honey, there’s not one thing you can do about a man who lacks any class and the sense God gave him and insists on foisting his frank and beans onto your phone screen.

Gracie, you’re a beautiful young woman… But you’re a peacock dressing like a pigeon.

'First time stripping the taco? … The lady portal. The bizniz. Sweeping the stairway to heaven.' I stared. 'Come on, you know—waxing Madame Bovary. First time you got the full monty?' She made a diamond of her hands around her groin area.

Sugar, when the day comes that someone has to live here with me and wipe my helpless bottom, I assure you he will be far younger, well-muscled, and more macho than you are.

Don’t you know our state mottoes? ‘Florida: home of the newly wed and nearly dead.’ ‘Death’s doorstep.’ ‘Where America goes to die.’ There is a lot of fertile ground here for estate planning.

My Review:

I tumbled right into this engaging, cleverly written, and delightful tale that was packed with all the feels. I reveled in Ms. Fox’s witty descriptions and clever use of humor while navigating the painfully insightful inner musings of the endearing and lovable character of Grace. Grace was struggling to come to grips with a series of devastating losses and unpleasant surprises. The final straw that proved too much for the normally mild and placid woman to withstand had her boiling over with a level of emotion that shocked her, as much as her impulsive yet clever act of retribution had appalled and dismayed her – she quickly fled town under the cover of darkness for a much-needed vacation.

Phoebe Fox has a smooth and sneaky way of implanting me behind her characters’ eyes. I was right there feeling all of Grace’s feels, my chest was tight when she was devastated, I fist pumped when she finally got mad, and my eyes burned and lower lip quivered as she sweetly detailed incidents of her childhood with her mother to her long-lost aunt. I think I may have even walked funny after Grace had her first waxing experience. Most of us have known a Grace at some point during our sojourn on earth; Grace was the ultimate small-town “good girl,” sweet, kind, considerate, trustworthy, admirable, unassuming, smart, overlooked, plainly dressed, prepared, making do, and patiently waiting. Full disclosure - I have never been a Grace.

The storyline was superbly crafted and unfailingly entertaining while the writing was witty and wryly amusing yet also thoughtful, emotive, poignant, and keenly insightful. The narrative was vividly detailed with humorous and colorful observations that often had me smirking. I adore Ms. Fox’s endearingly flawed, lovable, and relatable characters; even her secondary characters continually enticed and plucked at my curiosity and had me wanting to know more about them. I adored the ebullient and feisty Aunt Millie, whose inner beauty and indefatigable kindness despite her family’s long-standing history of rejection stung my eyes and made my heart hurt. Literally ;) ...more

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Aug 30, 2017 Camilla Monk rated it it was amazing

So excited for this book!

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Dec 25, 2017 Kristy K rated it liked it

Shelves: 1st-person-pov, 2017, contemporary, arc, netgalley

This book was quintessential chick lit and not a genre I read often. However, I found A Little Bit of Grace to be an enjoyable read, albeit slow at times.

Grace is at a cross-point in her life and when she learns of a long lost relative, she takes a vacation from her everyday and flies south to Florida to try and connect with her great-aunt. For the most part Grace's thoughts and feelings were understandable and I loved that although there was the burgeoning of a romance, Grace is strong enough ...more

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Jan 03, 2018 Simona rated it it was amazing

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I have wanted to read a book by this author for a while, but I have never gotten round to it. When I spotted this on NetGalley, I immediately grabbed the chance.

This story follows Grace, she works at an estate planning law firm, together with Brian, her ex hsuband/best friend. Things are not easy between them, especially when his new girlfriend comes to town, things get complicated. Throughout the book we learn about their past and ...more

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Mar 28, 2018 Debbie rated it liked it

Shelves: ebooks, net-galley-books

This was not my first book by this author and it won't be my last.

I loved this story a lot. However, there did seem to be a lot of extra filler. I got the sense of rambling. I think a somewhat shortened version of the story would be a lot better.

However, I did enjoy the premise and the great aunt was a hoot!!

Thanks to Henery Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

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Jan 04, 2018 JoAn rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc

A Little Bit of Grace by Phoebe Fox would be in a genre that I rarely read, "chick lit", but it was worth the read.

Ms. Fox's descriptive writing, character development highlights the growth of Grace as she begins a new life for herself after discovering a family member that she has never known about before. With precision and grace, Ms. Fox depicts Grace's life as a "normal" life with family, love, divorce, heartache and then rebirth as she begins to grow within herself. Under the loving tutelag ...more

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Jan 16, 2018 Claire Mc Partlin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

Very enjoyable quirky story about family relationships and hidden secrets.

Grace is a partner in a law firm, specialising in end of life estate planning, with her ex-husband Brian. Grace and Brian have known each other since small children, having lived a couple of doors down from each other forever, and were in and out of each others houses their whole lives. Their relationship eventually changed into love and marriage when they got older, although you did get the feeling that it just sort of ha Very enjoyable quirky story about family relationships and hidden secrets.

Grace is a partner in a law firm, specialising in end of life estate planning, with her ex-husband Brian. Grace and Brian have known each other since small children, having lived a couple of doors down from each other forever, and were in and out of each others houses their whole lives. Their relationship eventually changed into love and marriage when they got older, although you did get the feeling that it just sort of happened without any great thoughts, it was an easy option. They were best friends that eventually got married. But eventually it didn't work any more, but they still stayed very close friends, until Brian brought home his new pregnant girlfriend, then everything changed. Brian meant well, but he was really a bit of a drip, trying to keep his very close relationship with Grace without realising how much she was hurting at his new relationship, especially as she couldn't have children.

Then out of the blue a postcard arrived for her Mum and all of a sudden Grace realised she had an aunt she never knew about. She thought she had no family left after her Father ran off with someone else when she was a small child, and her Mother had recently died. So after having a bit of a meltdown she contacted her aunt and went off to visit her in Cypress Key in Florida for a holiday.

And that's when the fun really started! Her Aunt Millie was such a fabulous character, with secrets of her own, which are eventually revealed. I absolutely loved Millie's outlook, she was in her 80s but ran a match-making service that was very popular, ran an online relationship blog, and was extremely active in the community. She did come out with some hilarious things that had me laughing out loud.

Grace found out about family secrets as the book went along, whilst reinventing herself a bit, getting a new wardrobe, running around the island to various events, meeting a new guy, and just generally chilling and enjoying her holiday amongst the beauty of Cypress Key.

Eventually she had to go home of course, but things changed a lot there as Grace realised she was living her life for all her past family and not for herself. Wonderfully entertaining story that made me want to rush off to Cypress Key. I did feel that there could be another book here too, so I really hope there is so we can see where Grace's life leads next. I would certainly be buying it! ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Barbara Hackel rated it it was amazing

Unrelated yet family. That's how Grace and Brian feel since they have been best friends and neighbors all of their lives. When they took over the family business (3 generation of partners from their respective families) Grace was shocked and pleased when Brian started dating her and finally asked her to marry him. Never was there a happier couple. They moved into his family house three doors down from her mom. All was well until the dreadful doctor appointment when Grace found out she couldn't h Unrelated yet family. That's how Grace and Brian feel since they have been best friends and neighbors all of their lives. When they took over the family business (3 generation of partners from their respective families) Grace was shocked and pleased when Brian started dating her and finally asked her to marry him. Never was there a happier couple. They moved into his family house three doors down from her mom. All was well until the dreadful doctor appointment when Grace found out she couldn't have children. Brian didn't want to adopt or have a surrogate. He wanted his own children. And thus the beginning of the end. Divorce. Grace moved back to her childhood home and took care of her ailing mother as well as continuing to work in the family business. When her mother died, all continued as before until two unrelated things happened. A mysterious post card comes to the house for her mother. Brian moves his first love into his house and she is pregnant. With her world crashing around her, Grace decides to fly to Florida and meet the writer of the post card-a great-aunt she never heard about before.

The story of Grace and getting over Brian continues as she meets and gets to know her great-aunt. Grace had learned from her mother that family was everything and the most important part of your life. With that feeling and blind trust, her trip to Florida becomes a chance to learn that first hand. While she is there, Grace runs through emotions and tears, and finally learns from her "Aunt" Millie about family love and loving herself.

This is an emotionally charged book going through falling in love, dire news, divorce, disbelief, anger, astonishment, and love for new family. The author has done a great job of sharing Grace's distress without being depressing. I was sad for Grace, but I also laughed at times as the way she displayed her anger at Brian. Sensitive topics were handled beautifully-giving us enough information to picture the situation for ourselves. There was no agenda or opinions, just a portrayal of a loving and certainly special individual. I loved that Grace could accept "Aunt" Millie for who she was and champion her against the family.

I loved this book because I felt like I was in Grace's world. I could feel her confusion and pain. Yet it never made me feel anything but hopeful. Hopeful for Grace and her future. Hopeful "Aunt" Millie will be around for a long time. Hopeful that Grace will have new dreams and accomplishments, and yes, even love. ...more

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Jan 21, 2018 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: chick-lit, netgalley, finished-in-2018

This was a lovely book about family that really spoke to me. It felt honest yet had a lot of warmth and I felt the author handled the sensitive subject matter with elegance and grace. Highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

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Jan 05, 2018 Barbara Tobey rated it it was amazing

An interesting tale of growth and family expectations. Grace could be frustrating at times, but she was able to see the big picture and move on with her life. An engaging story. The publisher provided a copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review.

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Nov 21, 2017 Kimberly rated it it was amazing

**Was given an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

This is the first book that I've read by Phoebe Fox, but it definitely won't be my last. I was absolutely blown away by this book. It left me with such an amazing book hangover.

When Grace's ex husband, and business partner, Brian, wants to sit down and have a real conversation, she gets her hopes up and thinks that they might have a chance again. Only Grace gets introduced to Brian's pregnant girlfriend. Grace wa **Was given an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

This is the first book that I've read by Phoebe Fox, but it definitely won't be my last. I was absolutely blown away by this book. It left me with such an amazing book hangover.

When Grace's ex husband, and business partner, Brian, wants to sit down and have a real conversation, she gets her hopes up and thinks that they might have a chance again. Only Grace gets introduced to Brian's pregnant girlfriend. Grace wasn't able to get pregnant during their 10 year marriage and Brian took it very hard, shortly after that, their marriage ended. Only the girlfriend is the same girl from their college years, proving that Brian never put Grace first.

When Grace receives a letter intended for her recently deceased Mother from a relative in Florida, Grace calls the sender to inquire more information. The next thing she knows, she has a great aunt and is invited to come to Cypress Key, Florida. She hops on the next flight out of Missouri and runs to her new found family. After her Mom died, she had no family anymore. Brian walked away and she buried herself in work. Her ex is shocked that she just left town without a word to him; but that is his new reality now.

When Grace meets her Aunt Millie, her life changes in many ways. Millie is a free spirit who traveled the world, just like Grace had wanted to do her whole life. She does a makeover on her niece, gets her out of her boring business suits and unflattering clothes and they discover a new, confident Grace lying dormant.

When Millie finally tells the "whole" story as to why her Mom and Aunt had their fallout, the anger that Grace has suppressed for years finally comes to the surface. Millie treats her as her own, helping her deal with the anger, just like Millie had to do 50 years ago. When her week long vacation is over, Grace doesn't want to leave. She comes to terms that staying in Missouri would never make her happy, and she plans on doing something about it.

Brian can't get over the changes in her, she realizes that they aren't friends anymore and tries to move onward. But her heart and her family is now in Florida, and she wants to be there.

This story was amazing. I definitely recommend reading it. ...more

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Nov 28, 2017 Janine rated it it was amazing

A delightful read with characters you will wish were your own family.

Predictable Grace McAdams’ world stopped the day Brian, her best friend/business partner/ex-husband, showed up at her house with his former college girlfriend saying she was moving in with him and dropping the bomb about her being pregnant. Grace was still in love with Brian and did not take the news well. Let’s just say Grace lost it. Brian saw a side of her that he had never seen.

Grace’s life gets a pick up when she finds ou ...more

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Nov 05, 2017 Lisa Hudson rated it it was amazing

FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!

Grace McAdams’ Mother always told her, “Family is everything.” Those were words she treasured all her life. She had no idea how those three words would one day completely transform her life. In the midst of the biggest challenge of her life, Grace discovers a Postcard addressed to her Mother. Grace soon discovers she has an Aunt she didn’t know existed. She decides to take a leap way out of her comfort zone and visit her newly discovered Aunt. Aunt Millie proves to be larger ...more

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Nov 30, 2017 Patricia Romero rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult-general-fiction, transgender

I read this in one sitting it was so good. Grace made me laugh, cry, and even stomp my feet. Just when she was about to chuck it all and never leave her house again after temporarily losing her sanity and thoroughly embarrassed herself, she finds a postcard in the neglected stack of mail.

Someone from her mother's past? A relative? The mystery could not have unraveled soon enough. Throwing a few things in a bag, she heads to Florida to meet this mysterious relative.

From Grace to Millie to Bridge ...more

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Feb 04, 2018 Sally Coles rated it really liked it

Grace thought her life was at rock bottom, her mother had died - her father had run out on them when she was a young child - and her ex husband, her childhood sweetheart, had just moved into her street with his pregnant girlfriend! Then out of the blue a postcard arrives for her mother from an aunt she never new she had living in thr Florida Keys.

Grace goes off to Florida to meet aunt Millie, and what a character she is she is in her eighties but running a matchmaking service and writing a relat ...more

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Sep 30, 2017 Helen Edwards rated it it was amazing

I received a free copy of this book by way of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a nice surprise this book turned out to be. I'm not sure what I was expecting initially - overly romantic maybe, but whilst there was a touch of romance, this book was more about Grace's emotional journey / recovery. We meet her whilst she's still grieving over the death of her mother, and she still hasn't accepted her divorce from her childhood sweetheart. When Grace discovers an older relative she ne ...more

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Nov 01, 2017 Lauri Rottmayer rated it it was amazing

I am a huge fan of Phoebe Fox's books and I was really excited to read her latest.

The story started out slowly but then it kicked in and I loved it! Grace is an attorney in partnership with her ex-husband and lifelong friend. When Brian brings home a pregnant girlfriend, Grace loses it as she hasn't been able to get past her failed marriage.

About that time she receives a postcard in the mail addressed to her recently passed mother signed "M". Almost without thinking, Grace is on s plane to Flo ...more

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Oct 14, 2017 Rhonda rated it it was amazing

Well written moving story

I've always enjoyed reading Phoebe Fox but this book was something very special.
Grace is a wonderfully developed character. I loved having a front row seat as she faces past and current hurts and grows stronger and more sure of herself as a women. Her interaction with her newly discovered Aunt Millie were so heartfelt and real. This was an exceptional read. So much more than I expected. I highly recommend this book
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in excha ...more

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Jan 24, 2018 Jo rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance

More than a romance, this is about the importance of family connections and finding out who you are, no matter what your age or stage of life. A well written story that kept me flipping pages in a blur right to the blurry-eyed, up way too late end.

My favorite scene: Grace's truly inspired moment of revenge against Brian.

I tried to post a review to Amazon but the book seems to have disappeared.

*ARC via netgalley*

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Jan 26, 2018 Laura rated it it was amazing

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

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Sep 14, 2017 Rebecca rated it really liked it

A Little Bit of Grace is an enjoyable, light read. This book tells the story of Grace as she finds a long-lost relative who then helps her find herself. While this book is certainly predictable, it is also very timely and addresses some important issues about being true to oneself and the importance of family. I cannot wait to read more by this author!

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Feb 02, 2018 Jeanne rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley

Grace was an ok character with no direction and self doubt. I would much rather see a series whose main character was aunt Millie. Now that would be a fun, interesting book. I could see her and her friends as a circle of funny, empowering people even though I have nothing in common with them
Draft from Netgalley for honest review

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Sep 27, 2017 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Skillful, colorful, descriptive writing that created vivid characters, scenery and emotionally charged situations.

Grace Adams & Brian McHale grew up 3 doors apart with their futures preordained when their great-grandfathers established an estate planning law firm together. Not everything has worked out between Grace & Brian. Coming to terms with the reality of this sends Grace to Florida to discover a great-aunt she has never heard of.

I could smell the ocean breezes, feel Grace's pain ...more

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Adele rated it it was amazing
Dec 04, 2017

Oct 10, 2017 Jenna rated it it was amazing

Place: Sugarberry, Missouri and Cyress Key, Florida

People: Grace McAdams, an attorney specializing in estate planning. Brian - Grace's best friend, business partner, and ex-husband. Millie - the great aunt Grace never knew.

Plot: Grace has always placed the highest priority on family. After her father left her and her mother, Grace was even more dedicated to the only family she had left. For years, Grace was in love with Brian in secret; when he proposed, the thought her dreams had come true. But ...more

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Beth Lindsay rated it it was amazing
Oct 25, 2017

Paula Phillips rated it it was ok
Dec 10, 2018

Fiona Wilson rated it really liked it
Jan 27, 2018

Dec 20, 2017 Patty rated it really liked it

A Little Bit of Grace by Phoebe Fox is an entertaining book about Grace McAdams discovering herself and finding her way again. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. At times this book made me emotional, but isn't that a sign of a good book? I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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About Phoebe Fox

Phoebe Fox

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Phoebe Fox has been a contributor and regular columnist for a number of national, regional, and local publications--currently for the Huffington Post as a relationship writer. She's been a movie, theater, and book reviewer; a screenwriter; and has even been known to help with homework revisions for nieces and nephews. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two excellent dogs.