Review: Alphabet Weekends by Elizabeth Noble

Alphabet Weekends
Amazon | GoodReads
Author: Elizabeth Noble
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; First Edition edition (January 23, 2007)
Genre: Chick Lit, 425 pages
ISBN-10: 0061122181
ISBN-13: 978-0061122187

SUMMARY:

Natalie and Tom have been best friends forever, but Tom wants them to be much more. When Natalie's longtime boyfriend walks out on her just when she thinks he's going to propose, Tom offers her a different and wildly romantic proposition. He suggests that they spend twenty-six weekends together, indulging in twenty-six different activities from A to Z, and at the end of that time Tom's convinced they'll be madly in love. Natalie, however, is not so sure.

As Natalie's touring the alphabet with Tom, her mother's going through her own romantic crisis—while Tom's unhappily married sister-in-law, Lucy, struggles with temptation. And over the course of six amazing months, three generations of passionate dreamers are going to discover that, no matter how clever they are, love—and life—is never as easy as A, B, C . . .

MY REVIEW:

Best friends since childhood, Tom gets Natalie to play a game with him to both cheer her up & see if what they have could be something more than just best friends. Playing a game of alphabet weekends, Tom & Natalie switch off each letter in the alphabet, picking something out of each others element. Will they make it to Z? Or will their relationship stumble and fall apart before they could finish the alphabet? While on their escapade of adventure, Tom's sister-in-law, Lucy, struggles with her marriage when her husband looses his job and she seeks passion and lust from her best friends husband. Natalie's mother has a marriage and life that's not up to her standards in what she wanted in life and finds herself falling deep into depression.

Okay, if my boyfriend told me "lets do the whole alphabet weekends thing", I'd be on board 100% I absolutely loved this book. Going through the letters with Nat & Tom, I got caught up in the story and couldn't put down the book. I always found myself waiting impatiently for the next letter to hurry up and get here. This book isn't all lovey gushy stuff, there are some deeper stuff as well. When I started reading the little bits about Natalie's mother, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. But, I also felt really bad for Nat's dad as well. And then you get to Tom's sister-in-law Lucy, oh, my. I was praying and hoping that she wouldn't cheat on her husband.

I really liked the alphabet weekend idea in this book. I thought it was cute and fun. As for the parts I disliked, well... I disliked that Nat was so slow in figuring out her feelings for Tom. After the first few chapters, I was starting to love him! But, I think the timing and everything was really good between the two characters.

When I picked up this book, I picked it up because I read one of Nobles other novels and absolutely loved it and I'm going to say it now, I'm glad I picked up this book. I would definitely recommend this book! If you haven't read this book, you should read it now :)

MY RATING: 

Review: Things I Want My Daughters To Know by Elizabeth Noble

Things I Want My Daughters To Know
Amazon | GoodReads
Author: Elizabeth Noble
Publisher: Harper; 1 Reprint edition (January 20, 2009)
Genre: Chick Lit, 374 pages 
ISBN-10: 006168659X 
ISBN-13: 978-0061686597

SUMMARY:

How do you cope in a world without your mother?

When Barbara realizes time is running out, she writes letters to her four daughters, aware that they'll be facing the trials and triumphs of life without her at their side. But how can she leave them when they still have so much growing up to do?

Take Lisa, in her midthirties but incapable of making a commitment; or Jennifer, trapped in a stale marriage and buttoned up so tight she could burst. Twentysomething Amanda, the traveler, has always distanced herself from the rest of the family; and then there's Hannah, a teenage girl on the verge of womanhood about to be parted from the mother she adores.

But by drawing on the wisdom in Barbara's letters, the girls might just find a way to cope with their loss. And in coming to terms with their bereavement, can they also set themselves free to enjoy their lives with all the passion and love each deserves?

This heartfelt novel by bestselling author Elizabeth Noble celebrates family, friends . . . and the glorious, endless possibilities of life.

MY REVIEW:

Barbara is running out of time & she knows and accepts this. Knowing that her duty as a mother will always be with her regardless of her situation, she reaches out to them, to help guide them with letters she's left behind after her passing. Barbara has four daughters: Lisa, the eldest who doesn't think she can't commit in a relationship & finds herself needing her mother more now that she's gone. Jennifer, the one who's so wound tight she could just burst. With a marriage on the rocks, Jennifer needs to learn to let go & come to terms that she can be happy and carefree. Amanda who's always traveling from continent to continent, who will only stay in one place long enough to send a post card & a call home... maybe. She's always shunned herself from her family & doesn't want to fall in love, little does she know that what she's looking for, just might be closer to home. And then there's Hannah, young, sweet Hannah. Hannah is in her early teens, just crossing that line into womanhood and her mother is abruptly taken from her. She holds it together long enough to help her dad, but soon finds herself straying to a path that is no good for her. 

When I picked up this book, I picked it up because the title really grabbed my attention. Plus, the cover is beautiful. I absolutely love my mom & wanted to read this book & find out what a mother could want her daughters to know. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and shed tears, both happy & sad. Even though Barbara passes away early in this book, she's still there, through her letters. Elizabeth Noble did a really good job of bringing Barbara's character through in the letters. It was like she never even left. This book jumps from character to character, each time digging deeper into their lives & what's going on with them. I really enjoyed that, it kept me reading. The trials and tribulations of life can be hard, but to face them and not have your mother there to help you when you need her has got to be much harder. 

I can honestly say that I loved everything about this book, I had no dislikes. I really liked the whole "letters" thing. Of course, this book would really be nothing without those letters. But, I really did enjoy them, to think that this mom helped her daughters overcome big obstacles  in their lives & bring her family closer together from a few letters written before her death, is amazing to me. 

I really should've written this review for mothers day. I would definitely recommend this book, it was a really good read & I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I have never heard of Elizabeth Noble until now & she can is forever on my TBR list.

MY RATING: