RED HOOK ROAD by Ayelet Waldman

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

I thought LOVE AND OTHER IMPOSSIBLE PURSUITS was a wonderful book so I was so excited to get my hand on a copy of RED HOOK ROAD. The book opens with two families gathering for the Maine summer wedding of John and Becca.  The families couldn't be more different with Tom's family being a working-class Maine family and Becca's family being a privileged New York family that summers in Maine. The two are brought together through a tragic event that has far-reaching consequences. The story follows the two families through the four summers following the tragedy.

This is not just a story about grief although that is a major part of it. It is also a story of relationships and the little threads that bind us to other people.  It reflects on how events both small and large can bind us to others forever or rip us apart. I don't want to go too far into the plot for fear of giving something away.  The characters are all beautifully done and the prose is wonderful. I was completely swept up in the story and greatly moved by it.   The story could easily verge into melodrama but Waldman manages to steer clear of it.  Several of the characters have strong ties to music and the structure of the novel alludes to the significance of music within the book.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY recommended. A very beautiful and moving book with complex characters and emotions. This one will stay with you long after you put it down. This may be one of my favorites this year!!!