A novel about coupling and uncoupling, about mothers and daughters and sisters, husbands, wives, and lovers, and the unexpected twists life and relationships often take. The story is told in alternating voices; I almost wish there had been fewer voices, though, as I wasn't able to get to know any one character enough to become invested. It's relatable, but probably not extremely memorable. Good, light chick lit.

Reading Kelly Corrigan's writing is like sitting down over coffee and dishing about life with a close girlfriend. Her latest memoir, Glitter and Glue, delves into the fraught relationships between mothers and daughters, and how, to a great extent, woman rarely understand or appreciate their mothers until they are themselves mothers. Poignant, witty, and true, this book. I loved it.

From the moment I opened this book, I could hardly put it down. I had no idea when I began it that it featured a character with Down syndrome, and as that was revealed, I got chills as I recognized pieces of my own son with Down syndrome in Simon Homes. The author deals with the sensitive topics of disorders and mental illness, and he writes a page-turning story that is both unflinching and compassionate, tender and tragic, heartbreaking and funny. I will not soon forget this story. Excellent.

A "semi-autobiographical novel," this book deals with a couple who have a baby born with a host of severe disabilities. As a parent of a child with a disability myself, I had trouble with this story in which the parents struggle not only to come to terms with their child's disabilities, but to even love her. Apparently, the author who actually has a daughter with the very disabilities as the child in the book wrote the story as a way to have the characters behave in selfish and outrageous ways that perhaps many parents think about but don't actually act on. Well written, but tough to take on an emotional level.

The title of this book gives the impression that it's a story of forgiveness and redemption, but what it mostly seems to be about is people behaving badly and not really learning anything from their mistakes. Populated by underdeveloped and largely unlikable characters, this stunted storyline leaves a lot to be desired. I kept waiting to feel invested in the characters and story and never really did.

This story drew me in from the first page. Compelling and provocative, it raises many questions about right and wrong, and the human heart's capacity for love and forgiveness. Gorgeously written - the people and settings sprang to life from the pages - it's really an amazing first novel from this author. I hope to see more from her in the future.