First Book: "Firefly Lane," by Kristin Hannah

My lovely friend Krista sent me this book. Considering she is working two jobs, getting married in four months, and selling her condo, I thought I owed it to her to read one of her books first, since I can't believe she was kind enough to send me a package in the first place. Major kudos to Krista for juggling so many balls at once! I can barely brush my teeth and remain standing these days.

Synopsis:  Kate and Tully meet at the tender age of 14 and despite their differences, they develop a friendship that spans over three decades. Kate is the quieter, more studious one, while Tully is outgoing, vivacious, and aggressive. Kate struggles for her own voice to be heard and feels caught in Tully's shadow, but Tully has her own demons: an absentee father and a drugged-out hippie mom that randomly appears in her life at various intervals. Both learn to love, laugh, and live despite live's obstacles.

And blah, blah, blah. The sugar-sweet quality of the book made me grimace. I'm a sucker for a book that explores the complexities of female friendships, and this one started with promise. By the time the girls had reached their 20s, however, both characters quickly morphed into watery versions of stereotypical  women.  There is a weird love triangle that feels somewhat forced, and the male characters are constantly playing second fiddle to their larger-than-life female counterparts. This book would make for a great Lifetime movie, complete with commercials for pro-biotic yogurts and antidepressants.

Harris'  writing was strong and the plot moved along at a rapid clip. I wasn't sure who to root for, since I found both characters mildly annoying but I will admit, I was entertained. I was also slightly horrified, on a personal level, since Harris paints a rather bleak picture of motherhood. I did cry at the end, but it might have been the hormones.

Grade: a solid B