Blog Tour: On Grace by Susie Orman Schnall (review, giveaway)

On Grace
written by Susie Orman Schnall
published by SparkPress (a BookSparks imprint)

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Book Depository, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: I participated in the blog tour hosted by BookSparksPR. (I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy On Grace. I felt an instant connection to Grace, and I found myself engrossed in her story.

Grace is an almost 40 stay-at-home mom who just had a bombshell–well, quite a few bombshells–dropped on her, destroying her seemingly perfect life. Grace is a fantastic character. She worries, a lot. She plans, organizes, worries, and tries her best. At the beginning of the book, Grace recalls a memory of lamenting a long introduction period to preschool. I totally related to that in so many ways. It made me smile and had me hooked. Later in the book, Grace comments on her nightly routine of checking on her boys, not to see them quiet, but to see that they are okay, peaceful, and safe. I check on my kids every night for the same reasons. That resonated with me and deepened my connection to this main character. Although I haven’t shared all of her experiences (the main bombshell), I do share a lot of her thoughts and feelings.

One thing that I could not relate to–nor do I quite comprehend–is how she managed to cook breakfast for her kids before the bus picked them up for school. What time did they get up so that she could make homemade chocolate chip pancakes, or egg-in-the-holes, or whatever other breakfast she came up with???? I don’t think I could do that!

I also shared feelings and empathy for the other characters in On Grace. It all worked. It all connected. It all resonated. This was a great read that I may revisit in the future.

Would I recommend it: Yes. It was a very relatable women’s fiction read.

About the book: Grace May is truly excited about turning 40 in a few months. And now that her boys are both in school and she has a stimulating new writing job, the next chapter in her life can finally begin. She can’t wait to rediscover the intelligent and interesting woman deeply buried under the layers of mother and wife. But when Grace loses her job and gets unexpected news from her husband and her best friend, life suddenly gets complicated. Grace stands to lose everything: her marriage, her best friend, and her sense of self. But by her 40th birthday party, Grace will realize who and what matter most. With laughter. With tears. With grace.

 

About the author: Originally from Los Angeles, Susie Orman Schnall graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Schnall has written for national and local publications about parenting and health. She lives in New York with her husband and their three young boys. On Grace is her debut novel.

Find Ms. Schnall here: web, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

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