Pictures of You

Leavitt's latest novel explores tragedy and the reverberations it has on the lives of those it touches. Narrator Robin Miles provides an even-keeled delivery. Her approach works well, at first, as the novel depicts the initial tragic events: an accident that kills a mother, sends her son into shock, and leaves another woman wracked by guilt and unable to drive. The story develops more complexity as parallels are discovered between the women and lives converge in the aftermath, bringing healing and growth as new relationships are formed. Ultimately, Miles may not be the best match for the novel as the listener may be left wishing that her narration matched the emotional depth of Leavitt's characters. J.L.K. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

August 23, 2010
Leavitt's ninth book (after Girls in Trouble), a touching story of loss and discovery, centers on photographer Isabelle Stein, whose stifled Cape Cod life and marriage crumbles when she discovers her husband has gotten his mistress pregnant. She packs up her cameras and takes off, but has a horrific car accident in Hartford, Conn., that kills the woman in the other car. As it turns out, the dead woman is April Nash, who lived a few blocks away from Isabelle's home on the Cape, and April's son, Sam, now believes Isabelle is an angel who can help him communicate with his mother. Once Isabelle ends up back on the Cape, she, Sam, and April's widower, Charlie, develop a strong but strange bond as they all try to sort out what comes next. Leavitt explores the depths of grief and the sticky spots sorrow pushes people into, and though the story stumbles sometimes into too saccharine moments, Leavitt's near bottomless reserve of compassion for her imperfect characters will endear them to readers.

April 1, 2011
In Leavitt's (www.carolineleavitt.com) ninth novel, following "Girls in Trouble"(2005), April and Isabelle are two women running away from their respective former lives when they collide in a car accident that results in April's death. The accident's three survivors—Isabelle and April's devastated widower and son—struggle to recover their physical and mental health, to win forgiveness and understanding, and to resume a normal life. Audie Award nominee Robin Miles ("Brother, I'm Dying" skillfully renders the multiple voices and accents. Though the plot is a bit predictable and the development of the characters a bit sketchy, making the motivation behind their actions somewhat unconvincing, the title's appeal is greatly enhanced by Miles's narration, recommending this audio for listeners of general fiction. [The Algonquin pb original was recommended "for fans of women's fiction," "LJ"9/1/10.—Ed.]—Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence

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