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The friendship list
2020
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Library Journal Review
Single mom Ellen Fox is in a rut. A rut so big that her soon-to-be college-bound son is contemplating going to a college nearby so he can "take care of her." Overhearing this confession to one of his friends, Ellen decides to make some drastic changes in her life, to make sure she isn't holding back her son. Her best friend, Unity Leandre, supports Ellen's decision and helps her create a list of ways to spice up her life. In solidarity, and not because she is in a huge rut herself after the death of her husband, Unity decides to tackle a list of her own. The Friendship List is born, and the two women spend the summer making over their lives and tackling items such as new wardrobes, getting tattoos, and going on dates. Through adventures that are sometimes hilarious and other times poignant, the friends begin to deal with what has been holding them back and support each other as they push themselves toward a more fulfilling future. Tanya Eby voices each of the characters with humor, charm, and compassion. The characters are dealing with some serious emotional weight that Eby portrays with a heartfelt honesty. VERDICT A fun read filled with both lighthearted humor as well as emotional depth.--Courtney Pentland, Omaha, NE
Publishers Weekly Review
Mallery (Sisters by Choice) entices with this summery standalone about best friends choosing to go outside their comfort zones. Lifelong friends Unity Leandre and Ellen Fox have supported one another through thick and thin. Now Ellen fears that her son, Cooper, won't go away to college because he knows she depends on him and Unity worries she'll never break free of grief for her husband, Stuart, who died three years earlier. To break out of their ruts, the women challenge one another with summer to-do lists. Ellen's list includes getting a tattoo and ending her sexual dry spell, while Unity focuses on expanding her social circle and moving her business to an office. When Ellen agrees to chaperone a college trip for Cooper and his classmates, sparks fly between her and her fellow chaperone, high school coach Keith Kinne--but Keith wants more than just casual sex. Meanwhile, Unity meets handsome, successful Thaddeus, but she isn't convinced she can have a relationship with him without betraying her love for Stuart. Mallery's authentic characters and their refreshing summer escapades are sure to resonate. The emphasis on the power of friendship and the joy of new romance make this sparkling novel a sure hit with women's fiction fans. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Aug.)
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