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kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Robyn Carr's Four Friends is a beautiful novel about four women whose close friendship becomes a saving grace as they are each faced with life altering decisions.
Gerri, Andy and Sonja are long time neighbors whose lives fall apart right around the same time. Andy's second marriage to a younger man comes to a dramatic end just as Gerri learns devastating news that leaves her questioning her twenty four year marriage. Sonja has worked hard to find peace and tranquility in her life, but when her husband leaves her, she descends into a deep depression. BJ is a newcomer to the neighborhood who mainly keeps to herself, but it is her astute observations that alert Gerri and Andy to Sonja's frightening despondency.
The least complicated story arc is Andy's unexpected romance with Bob, the carpenter who is renovating her kitchen. Bob is nothing at all like the men Andy usually dates and her feelings for him catch her completely by surprise. Bob is older, shy, a little overweight but so incredibly sweet and understanding. Their relationship begins as friendship but soon transforms into a romance that is very heartwarming.
The storyline with BJ is also fairly simple. She has a passing acquaintance with the other three women but she is rather enigmatic and closely guards her privacy. After getting Sonja into treatment for her depression, Gerri, Andy and BJ finally become closer but BJ still remains tightlipped about her past. By the novel's end, her secrets are revealed and surprisingly enough, she and Sonja form a tight bond.
Sonja's part of the novel is the most serious and she undergoes the biggest transformation. At first a new agey, health nut, she is absolutely stunned when her husband leaves her. She immediately falls apart and her friends get her into treatment right away, but they are slow to realize how seriously depressed she is. Once she gets the intense therapy she needs, Sonja faces her painful past and emerges much stronger and more self-aware.
Although Gerri and her husband Phil lead very hectic lives, they do a wonderful job balancing demanding jobs and parenting duties. But Phil has been keeping a secret that leads to a (hopefully) temporary separation as Gerri tries to come to terms with her hurt and anger. Gerri is quite contemplative as she searches for answers that can help her understand how she and Phil could be so far apart in how they view their marriage. A short-term crisis involving their children reunites the estranged couple but their future remains uncertain.
Four Friends by Robyn Carr is an engaging novel with a realistic plot and appealing characters. The women's struggles are true to life and easy to relate to. The friendships are strong and enduring and while they do not always agree with one another's decisions, their support for one another is unwavering. A heartfelt and poignant story that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Gerri, Andy and Sonja are long time neighbors whose lives fall apart right around the same time. Andy's second marriage to a younger man comes to a dramatic end just as Gerri learns devastating news that leaves her questioning her twenty four year marriage. Sonja has worked hard to find peace and tranquility in her life, but when her husband leaves her, she descends into a deep depression. BJ is a newcomer to the neighborhood who mainly keeps to herself, but it is her astute observations that alert Gerri and Andy to Sonja's frightening despondency.
The least complicated story arc is Andy's unexpected romance with Bob, the carpenter who is renovating her kitchen. Bob is nothing at all like the men Andy usually dates and her feelings for him catch her completely by surprise. Bob is older, shy, a little overweight but so incredibly sweet and understanding. Their relationship begins as friendship but soon transforms into a romance that is very heartwarming.
The storyline with BJ is also fairly simple. She has a passing acquaintance with the other three women but she is rather enigmatic and closely guards her privacy. After getting Sonja into treatment for her depression, Gerri, Andy and BJ finally become closer but BJ still remains tightlipped about her past. By the novel's end, her secrets are revealed and surprisingly enough, she and Sonja form a tight bond.
Sonja's part of the novel is the most serious and she undergoes the biggest transformation. At first a new agey, health nut, she is absolutely stunned when her husband leaves her. She immediately falls apart and her friends get her into treatment right away, but they are slow to realize how seriously depressed she is. Once she gets the intense therapy she needs, Sonja faces her painful past and emerges much stronger and more self-aware.
Although Gerri and her husband Phil lead very hectic lives, they do a wonderful job balancing demanding jobs and parenting duties. But Phil has been keeping a secret that leads to a (hopefully) temporary separation as Gerri tries to come to terms with her hurt and anger. Gerri is quite contemplative as she searches for answers that can help her understand how she and Phil could be so far apart in how they view their marriage. A short-term crisis involving their children reunites the estranged couple but their future remains uncertain.
Four Friends by Robyn Carr is an engaging novel with a realistic plot and appealing characters. The women's struggles are true to life and easy to relate to. The friendships are strong and enduring and while they do not always agree with one another's decisions, their support for one another is unwavering. A heartfelt and poignant story that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.
bogfinchgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, this book doesn’t rate 4 stars for the writing or the storyline, but it was my travel book for several business trips and it was perfect for light on the plane reading.
amyma's review against another edition
4.0
Quick read that I found to be fun and sweet. I loved the story of these four friends and how they stood by each other through good times and bad. Each woman went through their own troubles, but had the love and support of each other. My book club was looking for a light summer read and this fit the bill quite nicely. Be aware that there are a few graphic sensual scenes.
gcullman's review against another edition
3.0
Surprisingly moving. Really liked the treatment of marriages in crisis.
aspygirlsmom_1995's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tasha_fullybooked's review against another edition
4.0
The characters and their issues draw you in as a reader because they are real and relatable. I was drawn to some characters more than others, but I still wanted to know the outcome for all of them.
Of the four friends, I was most interested in Andy and her budding relationship with her carpenter. I instantly adored Bob, the carpenter. I didn't understand why everyone in their lives was finding it hard to believe that Andy would be involved with Bob, but I however immediately got her attraction to him. They got to know one another as friends before it became something physical. I must admit, Bob may have been my favorite character of the entire book.
Sonja, I was iffy about. But once her marriage blew up, I loved her. The Sonja after her marriages falls apart was stronger, more real than the Sonja before. I didn't like her husband George before nor after. He just seemed so uncaring about what Sonja was going through.
Gerri, I felt for what she was going through, but at times I felt she should be focused on her own issues instead of telling Andy what she needs to do. When she should have been nosing into anyone's business it should have been Sonja's but BJ had to pint out everything going wrong there to Gerri. That proved to me that Sonja was right in her assessment that Gerri and Andy are friends and just includes Sonja.
I truly did enjoy every minute of this book. Great story, great characters, my only issue was the characters excessive use of the word "gd." But it was not enough to deter me from the story.
Of the four friends, I was most interested in Andy and her budding relationship with her carpenter. I instantly adored Bob, the carpenter. I didn't understand why everyone in their lives was finding it hard to believe that Andy would be involved with Bob, but I however immediately got her attraction to him. They got to know one another as friends before it became something physical. I must admit, Bob may have been my favorite character of the entire book.
Sonja, I was iffy about. But once her marriage blew up, I loved her. The Sonja after her marriages falls apart was stronger, more real than the Sonja before. I didn't like her husband George before nor after. He just seemed so uncaring about what Sonja was going through.
Gerri, I felt for what she was going through, but at times I felt she should be focused on her own issues instead of telling Andy what she needs to do. When she should have been nosing into anyone's business it should have been Sonja's but BJ had to pint out everything going wrong there to Gerri. That proved to me that Sonja was right in her assessment that Gerri and Andy are friends and just includes Sonja.
I truly did enjoy every minute of this book. Great story, great characters, my only issue was the characters excessive use of the word "gd." But it was not enough to deter me from the story.
gracie13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
gertyp's review against another edition
4.0
SO liked this book....loved Gerri's story and hers alone would have made it a great book. It's my life in a nutshell right now.
genia_sh95's review against another edition
5.0
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!
I liked how this book touched so many angles. Marriage problems, cheating, coming out, friendship, new romance, mental breakdown.
As a person who suffered from depression I found it very interesting and important to see how your surroundings deal with it.
I also liked how the book showed that we are just humans, we may be good but do stupid mistakes.
I liked how this book touched so many angles. Marriage problems, cheating, coming out, friendship, new romance, mental breakdown.
As a person who suffered from depression I found it very interesting and important to see how your surroundings deal with it.
I also liked how the book showed that we are just humans, we may be good but do stupid mistakes.