My book club is reading A Weekend on Allyson Island by Susannah B. Lewis this month. I’m usually a good judge of how my group will respond to a book, but I am not sure what they will think of this one. It’s women’s fiction featuring a lot of different types of women, but all struggling with identity issues, as well as compulsive and addictive behaviors. This is Christian fiction, so you know you will get a Christ-centered worldview, which means no judgment, but plenty of grace and mercy. Judgment, guilt, and shame are reserved for what the characters feel about themselves and the others in the group that gathers to celebrate the 50th birthday of their mutual friend/employer. I liked that the characters confront the elephants in the room, as they seek to support each other. The novel ends with an epilogue a year in the future, which gave a very satisfying recap of the growth that they achieve. I did think that the author spent more time telling than showing. That took me out of the story a bit, as I felt it was more commentary than narrative. But overall, I did like the book. As I said, I don’t know if the members of my book club are going to like it, but I am pretty sure that the topics explored will create a good discussion. And that is what we are always looking for.
Recommended.
Audience: adult women.
(I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
They’ve come for a birthday celebration . . . but they’ll leave celebrating themselves.
Moira Allyson is going all out for her 50th birthday. The planning part is easy–in her big, beautiful mansion set on Savannah’s waterfront, perfect parties practically plan themselves. She’ll serve the region’s finest cuisine, offer delicious drinks, book the best entertainment, and set up luxurious spa treatments for a small group of the most important women in her life–from childhood best friends to the woman who cleans her house.
She may be focused on her friends, but Moira’s focus has a purpose–distracting herself from the lonely reality of her life as a widow and empty nester. Her twentysomething sons don’t really come back to visit anymore, and her husband, the love of her life, is gone forever. Moira may appear to have it all on the outside, but there’s way too much room in her home . . . and way too many memories. She’s spared no expense for this weekend, and everything’s perfect–until it’s not.
Each woman who arrives at the party comes with her own birthday well wishes–and her own secret sorrow, which she’s determined not to unwrap. But weekends spent with friends have a way of bringing things that have been kept hidden to the surface. Late into the evening, when the stars come out and everyone gets comfortable, one friend opens her heart . . . and then others join in. Allyson Island is like summer camp for 50-year-olds–and, just like at summer camp, it’s a place where friendships are strengthened, deep emotions are shared, and hope and healing happen.
Susannah B. Lewis is an author, humorist, and podcaster. She has written nine books, includingCan’t Make This Stuff Up and How May I Offend You Today, both USA Today Bestsellers published by Thomas Nelson. Her work has been featured on Erma Bombeck’s Humor Writers, TODAY, and US Weekly, and her articles have appeared in Parents Magazine, Reader’s Digest, and more. She is the winner of the Southern Writers’ Magazine Short Story Contest and a recipient of the BlogHer Voices of the Year Award. Susannah also hosts the Moral of the Story Podcast, produced by AccessMore.
She lives on 90 beautiful acres in Tennessee with her husband, their three children, and a “whole bunch” of dogs and cats.
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