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Kids and Cocktails Don't Mix: A Memoir
What happens when life looks like nothing it's supposed to? Pudgy Heather, granddaughter of the Governor of California, lives in an exclusive gated community in Los Angeles with celebrities and political figures as neighbors during the Vietnam War-era. Life is easy and opulent, with parties where Kids & Cocktails Don't Mix . Moments straight out of "Mad Men." But when her father abandons the family to chase a wealthy woman, Heather, together with her glamorous mother Marilyn, and sister April, must find the grit to keep going forward. This moving memoir explores machinations of gender and power dynamics in the 1960s and '70s as they unfold in Heather's family, including Marilyn's need to find a new husband, complete with a resume (bathing suit photo by the pool) and fancy new clothes. What other choice does she have? Meanwhile, cars are repossessed and the fashionable house they live in is crumbling to pieces. In Heather's young life, nothing is as it appears. As Heather comes of age, she must make decisions about how she wants her own life to look. Which of the many inheritances of her parents will she keep and which will she jettison?
350 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2021
9 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 1, 2021
Incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Heather in designing the cover and interior of this book. I feel blessed! Kids & Cocktails Don’t Mix is captivating, witty, and heartwarming all at the same time. Heather is a great storyteller and truly brought everyone in the story to life with her writing. Highly recommend this fun, lovable memoir.
June 3, 2021
I inhale memoirs like this. It takes me back to watching TV movies in the 80s about husbands leaving wives and the women were left to struggle. Haldeman had a much different childhood than I did. She is very candid with her feelings and many of,the awful things her parents said to her as she was growing up. My jaw dropped when I read the parts about what her father did. I was glad to read she later found a father figure in her stepfather. I enjoyed the mom shorts at the beginning of each chapter. Although it was amusing to read how her mother would get dolled up to go on a man hunt so she could marry well, it was also,sad. That’s all her mother knew and she landed on her feet. I was very interested to read she married the son of HR Haldeman. I enjoyed this memoir. I enjoyed seeing all,the pictures the author has shared on Instagram. It’s also a wonder how times have changed especially with regards to smoking in the last 50 years. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 10, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Apprentice House Press for the opportunity to read Kids & Cocktails Don't Mix and provide an honest review.
Heather Haldeman is a gifted storyteller and her insightful memoir explores the complexities of relationships between parent and daughter, siblings and among blended families. Haldeman is raw and honest as she chronicles her abandonment by her father and the tangled relationship she had with her sister, mother, as well as her subsequent step-fathers and step-siblings. I respected Haldeman's decisions to draw boundaries, learn from her mistakes and those of others as well as create for herself the life she wanted and deserved. I will widely recommend this book and wish Heather Haldeman great success with this memoir.
Heather Haldeman is a gifted storyteller and her insightful memoir explores the complexities of relationships between parent and daughter, siblings and among blended families. Haldeman is raw and honest as she chronicles her abandonment by her father and the tangled relationship she had with her sister, mother, as well as her subsequent step-fathers and step-siblings. I respected Haldeman's decisions to draw boundaries, learn from her mistakes and those of others as well as create for herself the life she wanted and deserved. I will widely recommend this book and wish Heather Haldeman great success with this memoir.
May 31, 2021
Moving Memoir of Growing in 1960s California
This is a memoir about growing up in the 1960s in California. But, it has very little to do with the cliché version of 1960s California. This is about being the younger child in a very dysfunctional family. The mother is immature and insecure, the father is tuned out and the girls are left to their own devices too often. The author is candid in her portrayals of her loved ones and in the emotions that spilled everywhere. It is like watching a train wreck to read this book. Fortunately for almost all, time heals and happiness is found by most. I finished the book and actually read the acknowledgments which is very unusual. It was more like an epilogue and I suggest all readers of this book also read that part. I finished with a smile on my face and the desire to hug the author in my heart. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
This is a memoir about growing up in the 1960s in California. But, it has very little to do with the cliché version of 1960s California. This is about being the younger child in a very dysfunctional family. The mother is immature and insecure, the father is tuned out and the girls are left to their own devices too often. The author is candid in her portrayals of her loved ones and in the emotions that spilled everywhere. It is like watching a train wreck to read this book. Fortunately for almost all, time heals and happiness is found by most. I finished the book and actually read the acknowledgments which is very unusual. It was more like an epilogue and I suggest all readers of this book also read that part. I finished with a smile on my face and the desire to hug the author in my heart. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
May 14, 2021
Wow. What a story. This is definitely not your typical coming of age story. What a life the author has lived and she tells her story with raw honesty. You will experience her highs and lows and she writes with feeling and humor. Would have been nice to have some pictures included. A very enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 25, 2021
Brilliant - a must read!
One of the most enjoyable books I've read in years. Warm, funny, witty, soul wrenching and inspiring! It had me cheering on Marilyn, empathizing with Heather, and willing her dad to change. And I hung on every word, waiting for Heather to blossom into the beautiful and successful woman she was destined to be. And for Marilyn to find her soul mate. A book well-written and a gem for the keeping.
One of the most enjoyable books I've read in years. Warm, funny, witty, soul wrenching and inspiring! It had me cheering on Marilyn, empathizing with Heather, and willing her dad to change. And I hung on every word, waiting for Heather to blossom into the beautiful and successful woman she was destined to be. And for Marilyn to find her soul mate. A book well-written and a gem for the keeping.
June 10, 2021
This is an amazing book by a gifted, observant, compassionate writer. Equals parts The Tender Bar, The Glass Castle, and The Swimmer, plus Haldeman's special sauce-the story rings authentic. It's poignant, it's hilarious, it's unsettling. It's life, in other words. Its moral, I think? Love prevails. At least it does in this keeper.
June 27, 2021
Heather captures LA life in the 60/70's so well. Her descriptions of LA scenes, restaurants and lifestyle really drew me in. As a middle school teacher I was so impressed at how well Heather showed the effects of parents actions upon their kids. I loved how each chapter begins with one of her mother's sayings- so creative.
March 19, 2021
Great book. The Mother, daughter interaction makes me feel like maybe my Mom and I aren’t as bad as I thought. This is a laugh out loud type of book. I totally enjoyed it. I am buying a copy for my sister because I know she will enjoy it as well
March 3, 2021
Fabulous mother-daughter story. Great laugh-out-loud humor and poignant moments. A perfect mix.
June 8, 2023
It's excellent.
Excellent! Read in one night. It's the kind of book..you cannot put down. What a great read. Get it today!
Excellent! Read in one night. It's the kind of book..you cannot put down. What a great read. Get it today!
March 24, 2021
Mother daughter relationships are complex yet a draw for many. This one is sincere, funny, enjoyable and heartfelt. Share with a loved one who might enjoy it too.
August 21, 2021
Today I’m happy to share this book with y’all! Huge thanks to @mindbuckmediabookpub and @heatherhwrites for the #gifted copy!
By now, I’m sure you all know how much I love memoirs, and when I learned about Heather’s, I knew I wanted to read it! In this memoir, Heather describes her childhood as the granddaughter of one of California’s former governor. She describes her parent’s divorce, mother’s subsequent marriages, and her relationship with her father and siblings.
This book covers a variety of topics, and makes you feel ALL the emotions! I enjoyed that the book covered the majority of Heather's life, and we see how she learns and grows throughout the years. I appreciated and resonated with the parts of this memoir that focused on her mother’s second marriage and this newly-created blended family.
If you enjoy memoirs that discuss family dynamics, then I definitely recommend this one!
By now, I’m sure you all know how much I love memoirs, and when I learned about Heather’s, I knew I wanted to read it! In this memoir, Heather describes her childhood as the granddaughter of one of California’s former governor. She describes her parent’s divorce, mother’s subsequent marriages, and her relationship with her father and siblings.
This book covers a variety of topics, and makes you feel ALL the emotions! I enjoyed that the book covered the majority of Heather's life, and we see how she learns and grows throughout the years. I appreciated and resonated with the parts of this memoir that focused on her mother’s second marriage and this newly-created blended family.
If you enjoy memoirs that discuss family dynamics, then I definitely recommend this one!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews