The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D

Summer island vacation with her family was supposed to be a restorative time for Kate, who’d lost her close friend Elizabeth in a plane crash. But when she inherits a trunk of Elizabeth's journals, they reveal a woman far different than the cheerful wife and mother Kate thought she knew. The complicated portrait of Elizabeth — her upbringing, her marriage, and journey to motherhood — makes Kate question not just their friendship, but her own deepest beliefs about loyalty and honesty at a moment of uncertainty in her own marriage. When an unfamiliar man’s name appears in the pages, Kate realizes the extent of what she didn’t know about her friend — including where she was really going when she died.

  Set in the anxious summer after the September 11th attacks, this story of two women —their friendship, their marriages, private ambitions and fears — considers the aspects of ourselves we show and those we conceal, and the repercussions of our choices.

You know as soon as you being reading this book that it is not going to be a happy ever after type of book, but are nonetheless absorbed in the story of two women - Elizabeth and Kate. Elizabeth's story was more intriguing to me. Even though I did not relate to Kate, I felt her need to understand what was asked of her by her friend, but not sure if she really wanted to know it all, along with wondering if she really knew her friend.  A well written debut, perfect for your summer reading.

Author: Nichole Bernier
Published: June 2012
Pages: 305
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source:  Danielle Crabtree/Crown Publishing Group
Finished: 7/6/12



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Danielle Crabtree and Crown Publishing Group and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.