Filling Her Shoes

Starred review from May 15, 2017
When a family friend calls Fasbinder out of the blue to ask her on a date, there is a lot to be weighed in the pause before she responds. Tom lost his wife, whom Fasbinder had met, to cancer; has a seven-year-old son; and is practically family to the author's sister and brother-in-law: such a relationship is not to be entered into lightly. Taking all this into consideration, she nonetheless accepts, and after months of dating, she and Tom are engaged and, soon after, married. Now Fasbinder must find a balance between becoming a new wife and mother and honoring the one who left both of her boys too soon. From her new son's fears of calling her mom (because moms die ) to awkward sex-ed talks, new homes, miscarriage, and birth, the author navigates the waters of her unique position while tackling the universal elements of motherhood along the way. Fasbinder (Fire and Water, 2013) writes with a graceful honesty that is both refreshing and timeless. Hers is a hopeful, heartfelt journey where deep laughs alternate with moments of profound loss. A beautiful and inspiring testament to the resilience and healing power of family.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)