Every Other Wednesday

April 1, 2017

A tragedy at the local high school brings together three empty nesters--Alice, Ellie, and Joan--who decide to meet for lunch every other Wednesday. After devoting their lives to their families, each is faced with newfound free time and a desire to fill it with self-enriching activity. Alice wants to start exercising again and maybe even join her husband on his runs, but he's too busy with his business and runs too fast to accommodate her. Ellie already works as an accountant, but her husband is trying to get her to grow her business and contribute more financially. Joan has a successful husband and is well provided for, but she longs to have her own career and be more independent. As they deal with some serious roadblocks on the way to chiseling out a fulfilling future, their friendship becomes an invaluable asset they never knew they needed. Dealing with the hard-hitting issues of gun ownership, addiction, and sexual orientation, Kietzman's latest women's fiction (The Summer Cottage; A Changing Marriage) is not always lighthearted nor romantic. VERDICT For readers of issue-driven, contemporary women's fiction such as works by Sue Miller and Jodi Picoult.--Karen Core, Detroit P.L.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2017
Ellie, Alice, and Joan vaguely know one other from volunteering at their local high school, but a tragic shooting brings the three women closer together when a spontaneous lunch date evolves into a surprising friendship. They are all recent empty nesters, and having a safe and supportive place to discuss the next chapter of their lives is invaluable. Commonalities aside, the women quickly find that they don't see eye to eye on everything. Their lively conversations often touch on sensitive subjects, as each of the three women offers her own perspective on gun control, child-rearing, and marital issues. When one of the members of the group is senselessly attacked, they find that their shared strength is worth a million lunch dates. Author Kietzman focuses on an age group that is often overlooked in contemporary women's fiction: the empty nesters. By emphasizing the late-in-life challenges of women who devoted their lives to the needs of husbands and children, Kietzman paints a sympathetic and supportive portrait of those unsure of their next steps. Fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Holly Chamberlin will enjoy this heartfelt and courageous novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)