Do not let the pretty colors fool you in thinking this book is all fun and games. It was heavy. My mind I’d still spinning thinking how I would have handled certain things.
Matriarch Esther has been one of the beloved “funeral ladies” who makes sure grieving families are fed. (Why did we ever let this tradition cease?) Her husband has passed away and she finds herself falling for a sob story on Twitter and ends up $30,000 in debt.
Cooper finds himself in the north woods of Wisconsin for his stepmother’s funeral. His famous chef father and him have had many differences over the years and Cooper is suffering from PTSD and is scared of every loud noise. They only come together for Cricket, Cooper’s thirteen year old sister. Who honestly seems the most grownup of this family of three.
Cooper finds himself falling for Esther’s granddaughter, Iris, and agrees to help Iris with her plan to save her grandmother’s home.
There is so much heaviness to this story. Without giving too much away you have PTSD, secrets, aging grandparents, verbal and emotional abuse, and lingering death.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the characters being read by different narrators. It pulled you in.
There are no sex scenes but cursing is used freely. Especially the “F” word. I would be hesitant to listen to the audiobook with young children around.
