Review: Three Good Things by Wendy Francis

Title: Three Good Things by Wendy Francis
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 256 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Filled with love, humor, and the scent of delectable puff pastry, Three Good Things tells the tale of two sisters who find their bond invaluable as they navigate marriage, heartache, poor grammar, and the surprising challenges that ultimately become the most fulfilling blessings.

Ellen McClarety, a recent divorcée, has opened a new bake shop in her small Midwestern town, hoping to turn her life around, but the past still haunts her—sometimes by showing up on her doorstep. Her younger sister, Lanie, is a successful divorce attorney with a baby at home. But Lanie is beginning to feel that her perfect life is not as perfect as it seems. Both women long for the guidance of their mother, who died years ago, but left them with a wonderful piece of advice: “At the end of every day, you can always think of three good things that happened.”

Wearing her big Midwestern heart proudly on her sleeve, Wendy Francis tells a story destined to be shared after the last page is turned.

The Review:

Three Good Things by Wendy Francis is an engaging novel that follows the ups and downs of Ellen McClarety and her sister Lanie. With her ex-husband’s unexpected visit, Ellen wonders if her decision to divorce her irresponsible ex was the right choice. Younger sister Lanie juggles motherhood with her demanding law career and begins to re-evaluate her priorities in life.

In the wake of her divorce, Ellen has begun to make a new life for herself. Her bakery is thriving and she has finally begun to date again. Out of the blue, her ex-husband Max contacts her asking her to reconsider their divorce. When he shows up on her doorstep, the spark that drew them together is still burning brightly, but is passion enough to sustain their relationship?

Lanie’s marriage is undergoing growing pains as she and her husband Rob try to adjust to the stresses of parenthood. Lanie finds herself in many working mom’s quandary as the bulk of household and parenting duties fall on her shoulder. With her resentment of Rob’s long hours building, Lanie learns some important lessons about what she values most in her life.

While I liked the overall story, the timeline jumped around and was rather confusing at time. Early in the novel, some of the sentences were awkwardly phrased but that smoothed out as the story progressed. But what really drew me into the story was the easy and loving relationship between Lanie and Ellen. Their support for one another was incredible and I greatly enjoyed their scenes together.

Despite a few flaws, Three Good Things is an easy to read and heartwarming novel. There are some unexpected twists and turns that I did not see coming and Wendy Francis does an excellent job wrapping up all of the various story lines.

A quick read that is sure to please fans of contemporary women’s fiction.