G1091 Book Review of The Goodbye Cafe by Mariah Stewart
Author: Mariah Stewart
ISBN: 978-1-5011-4512-4
Publisher: Gallery Books
Part of a Series: The Hudson Sisters Trilogy
Type of book: Hidden Falls Pennsylvania, modern times, sisterhood, motherhood, maturity, making decisions, running a restaurant, ex-spouses relationship, new beginnings, uncovering secrets, working
Year it was published: 2019
Summary:
California girl Allie Hudson Monroe can't wait for the day when the renovations on the Sugarhouse Theater are complete so she can finally collect the inheritance from her father and leave Pennsylvania. After all, her life and her fourteen-year-old daughter are in Los Angeles.
But Allie's divorce left her tottering on the edge of bankruptcy, so to keep up on payments for her house and her daughter's private school tuition, Allie packed up and flew out east. But fate has a curve-ball or two to toss in Allie's direction—she just doesn't know it yet.
She hadn't anticipated how her life would change after reuniting with her estranged sister, Des, or meeting her previously unknown half-sister, Cara. And she'd certainly never expected to find small-town living charming. But the biggest surprise was that her long-forgotten artistry would save the day when the theater's renovation fund dried up.
With opening day upon the sisters, Allie's free to go. But for the first time in her life, she feels like the woman she was always meant to be. Will she return to the West Coast and resume her previous life, or will the love of her family be enough to draw her back to the place where the Hudson roots grow so deep?
Characters:
In my opinion main characters would be Allie, her daughter Nicole and Aunt Barney (actual name is Bonnie.) Throughout the last two books, Allie is cold and distant to her sisters, making it loud and clear that she is here for only one thing only: the money. She is, however, a dedicated mother to her daughter and in earlier books seemed to bend down to her husband's will. Out of the sisters, I have to admit in finding her the most intriguing. She is also a closeted alcoholic in the previous two books, although she has been attempting to stop drinking, and her daughter has no idea of her mother's secrets. In here she matures and blossoms, gradually becoming a much different person than she was in the prequels. Nicole is a fourteen going on fifteen year old girl, Allie's teenage daughter whom one both loves as well. She is earthy, excited, a voracious reader and is a daughter anyone would want. She, along with Allie, truly blossoms in Hidden Falls. Barney remains a bit more of a cypher to me, but just like other women, she is truly a remarkable woman and I was surprised at some of the revelations and string pulling she did.
Theme:
Before finding happiness with someone else, find happiness in yourself
Plot:
The story is in third person narrative from Allie's point of view. While the previous two books focused a lot on budding romance between Allie's sisters and their beaus, as well as trying to connect to each other, I was surprised that GOODBYE CAFE was slow when it came to that area, and instead the focus is a lot more on Allie finding courage and will to be a strong and admirable mother and sister. The focus is a lot more on relationships between Allie and her sisters, aunt, daughter, ex and herself. Allie needed to discover herself and to be happy with herself before attempting anything new. The plots are multiple and varied and Mariah Stewart makes sure that equal attention is paid to moving the plots forward as well as focusing on relationships and building up Allie's confidence. A lot of secrets are revealed that are hinted at in previous books, and also, few more secrets are unearthed, leaving the reader hungry and hopeful for a fourth book in the series.
Author Information:
(From the book)
Mariah Stewart is an award-winning NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author of numerous novels and several novellas and short stories. She lives with her husband and two rescue dogs in the hills of CHester County, Pennsylvania, where she is at work on her next novel. Visit her website at MariahStewart.com like her on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuthorMariahStewart, and follow her on Instagram @Mariah_Stewart_Books.
Opinion:
Throughout my journey into the Hudson Sisters' new lives in Hidden Falls Pennsylvania, I was both charmed and in awe on how well Mariah Stewart crafts each sister's journey, giving them tools to succeed and to grow as women. One of the Hudson sisters that has always intrigued me is Allie Hudson Monroe, a prickly oldest sister who is divorced with a teenage daughter and who only came to Hidden Falls for the money. I was curious on how she would develop and mature. And like in previous books, I was curious about the romance. I am happy to say that just like the previous two novels, Mariah Stewart has truly outdone herself in crafting a vulnerable heroine, and that she actually took the time to help Allie change from a irritable woman constantly threatened to someone more softer and less cactus like. I really loved the attention that was given to Allie's relationships, especially how gradually and slowly Allie warmed up to people around her. I also loved how much focus was on Nicole and how tough Allie attempted to be for her daughter. I loved and admired every page I spent with the Hudson sisters, and therefore its difficult for me to say goodbye to them. (Gee a coincidence that the book is named GOODBYE CAFE?) And I sincerely hope that I can take one more journey into Hidden Falls to get more updates on my favorite characters. For a reader tired of constantly focusing on romance, THE GOODBYE CAFE will be an excellent read on truly watching a woman blossom.
This was given to me for a review
5 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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