The Real Liddy James

October 17, 2016
Casey (No One Could Have Guessed the Weather) continues to probe the complexities of 40-something women's lives in her latest novel. Liddy James is one of New York's most successful divorce lawyers. Having literally written the book on how to have a healthy divorce, Liddy maintains a cordial, even friendly, co-parenting relationship with her ex, Peter, and his new partner, Rose. But when Rose's unexpected pregnancy coincides with teenage son Matty's behavioral problems and a divorce case that hits a little too close to home, it's clear that Liddy is just one step away from a breakdown. A return to her native Ireland may be exactly what she needs to remind her what's really important. Liddy's manic success, fueled as much by fear of failure as by ambition, offers rich potential for both humor and sympathy. Readers will enjoy spending time in her tumultuous company; they may even find themselves thumbing past the excessive sections devoted to Rose's less compelling quandaries, mostly stemming from her insecurities and lack of academic motivation. Liddy repeatedly asserts that she does not, in fact, know who she really is, which gets tiresome and a bit on the nose; nevertheless, readers will be rooting for this human manifestation of drive and blind determination to stop leaning in and start breathing in. And out. Slowly.

Cutthroat lawyer Liddy James leads a complicated, harried life, and she hides a mysterious past. Narrator Orlagh Cassidy confidently and sensitively unfolds the layers of Liddy's personality in this audiobook set in New York City and Ireland. Through a series of events that cause Liddy's control to unravel, the characters discover the real Liddy. Is she "The Shark," as her colleagues have dubbed her? Liddy must face her past and who she really is under the competitive facade she believe protects her. Cassidy narrates with warmth and empathy--as if she knows the characters personally. The accents she delivers for the Irish characters sound authentic. A delightful performance with rich characters. L.M.A. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine