The Life She Wants

July 25, 2016
Bestselling author Carr follows a woman who marries a multi-millionaire schemer (who commits suicide after being caught) and ends up as a nearly penniless widow. Emma Shay Compton is unsympathetic in the public eye—though she did nothing wrong and was unaware of her husband’s fraudulent practices—and has to start her life all over again. She flees the east coast and returns to her childhood home of Sonoma County, where she confronts her past: Riley Kerrigan, the best friend who stole Emma’s high school boyfriend, Jock, and got pregnant; and her difficult childhood with a typically evil stepmother who favored her own children over Emma. Emma ends up working for Riley, whose brother, Adam, intercedes on her behalf (he’s had a crush on Emma for years) and Emma becomes part of Riley’s professional cleaning service while developing a relationship with Adam. That she readily goes from living the luxurious life to cleaning toilets is a bit of a stretch, as is her involvement with one of the client’s daughters, a huge infraction of Riley’s professional rules. Too much melodrama, shallow character portrayals, and lifeless romantic scenes unfortunately undercut what could have been an insightful exploration of a woman’s world turned upside down by circumstances beyond her control.

After her financier husband commits suicide rather than face jail time for stealing from his clients, Emma Shay Compton comes home to Sonoma with the shadow of his crimes over her and must reinvent herself in a hostile landscape while reconnecting with friends she'd thought lost forever.When Emma married her wealthy husband, she had no idea he was running a Ponzi scheme, but that doesn't make it any easier to convince people of her innocence once he's accused and kills himself. Going from mad wealth to mere sustenance isn't as hard as knowing her husband ruined lives, but when she moves back to her hometown and finds it almost impossible to get a job, Emma begins to wonder if she'll be able to survive, much less thrive. With help from a friend she finds a place to live and gets a terrible job that doesn't last, but through it she runs into Adam, the brother of Riley, her childhood best friend. Riley had betrayed Emma in college, having an affair with her longtime boyfriend, which ended the friendship for good. But now Riley runs a cleaning company with better opportunities than anything Emma can find, so Adam encourages her to get in touch with Riley and see if she can help. Emma swallows her pride and asks Riley for a job, which she gives her, but the two still hold grudges from the past, and neither is interested in trying to rekindle their friendship. Riley is surprised to discover, however, that Emma is truly determined to work hard and embrace her new, simpler life, and both women discover they admire and like the older versions of each other. And when circumstances threaten their families and happiness, they'll both question what they're holding onto--for instance, anger, resentment, and pride--and what they're missing out on. Carr's take on this complicated situation is interesting, though readers seeking a deeper reflection from Emma in the aftermath of her husband's death or her stepmother's spite may be disappointed. A satisfying reinvention story that handles painful issues with a light and uplifting touch. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2016

Multiple RITA Award winner Carr ("Virgin River" series) presents a compelling story of mistakes made and redemption attempted in her latest stand-alone. Emma Shay Compton is living a privileged life in New York when her world implodes. Following her husband's suicide, she returns to her hometown in California to lick her wounds and hopefully start over. Riley Kerrigan committed the ultimate betrayal when she and Emma were teenagers, shattering their friendship. When Emma is left with no one to turn to but Riley, all their old hurts resurface and both women have to decide if mending their long-destroyed bridges is even possible. Multiple points of view enhance both newly developing and rekindled relationships, including one that places all of Emma's progress toward peace in jeopardy. Carr presents problems realistically and the romantic encounters are sweetly sexy. VERDICT A layered, well-paced plot and flawed, three-dimensional characters whom readers will care about make this quick and entertaining read for those who relish contemporary family sagas with strong female characters as well as readers who like their stories tinged with romance.--Charli Osborne, Oak Park P. L., MI

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2016
When Emma Shay goes off to college, her best friend, Riley, sleeps with Emma's boyfriend and gets pregnant. Despite Riley's pleas for forgiveness, Emma cuts her out of her life. Emma eventually marries superhandsome, superrich Richard Compton, a man too good to be true. And Richard is just that. Unbeknownst to Emma, his great wealth is built on a Ponzi scheme, and many people have lost their retirements and their savings because of his deception. After Richard is arrested, he kills himself, leaving Emma to bear the shame. Nearly broke, she returns to her hometown, but the massive media coverage of Richard's crimes has made her a pariah, preventing her from securing even a minimum-wage job. Ironically, only one person will hire herher nemesis, Riley. Best-selling Carr (What We Find, 2016) deftly explores the complexities of female relationships by contrasting the betrayal of a best friend and the betrayal of a lover; a cruel stepmother and a coldly oblivious one; and the survival of a teenage mother and a maligned widow. With its themes of repentance, forgiveness, and a long-brewing love finally realized, Carr's latest will grab the reader's heart and mind and not let go.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)