Book Review - Commuters by Emily Gray Tedrowe

Synopsis:  Winnie Easton has finally found love again with Jerry Trevis, a wealthy businessman who has moved to the small town of Hartfield, New York to begin his life anew. But their decision to buy one of the town’s biggest houses ignites anger and skepticism in their families. Jerry’s daughter, Annette, fears her inheritance might disappear, and takes drastic action to freeze Jerry’s assets, while Winnie’s daughter, Rachel, struggling with her own finances, is secretly humiliated by her mother’s newfound love and money: but not enough to turn down Jerry’s offer of a loan.

In the meantime, Avery, Jerry’s 20-year-old grandson, a hot-shot chef with an attitude and a cocaine-fueled past, is scouting out venues in which to start his own restaurant-with none other than Jerry’s money to back him up. With so much riding on Jerry’s wealth–Avery’s restaurant, Rachel’s loans, Winnie’s new home–a rapid decline in Jerry’s physical health forces hard decisions on the family, renewing some old loyalties while creating new and surprising alliances.

First Line:  "It was a small-town June wedding, and the bride was seventy-eight."

Random Quote:  "She watched Winnie step tremulously, lightly, back and forth to the syrupy music, Jerry's big arms held stiffly around her.  Why were the most important things the hardest to say?"

Review:  My mother's father died when I was 7 or 8.  I remember going to Mississippi with my folks for the funeral and all the family being there and I especially remember my grandmother sending us all home shortly after the funeral.  She said she needed to learn to live alone and the quicker she got started the easier it would be.  In later years when people would ask her if she'd ever remarry she'd always say that she was very happy as it was and didn't need some old man to take care of.  She continued teaching reading at the local elementary school until she retired and took all kinds of trips all over the US and the world.  It was very cool to watch her remake her life and expand her horizons.

Elderly couple - Paris - Image by i.tokaris via Flickr

When she was 70 she became reacquainted with a man she and my grandfather had known in college.  In fact, they had double-dated with him and his wife who had died the year prior to them meeting again on a fall foliage tour.  They fell head over heels in love and remarried and my grandmother started a whole new life.  They had ten good years together before he passed away and it was so life-affirming to see them together, so happy and so in love.

Commuters is a multi-generational tale of what happens when two older people fall in love and marry.  Both of their spouses are gone and they join forces to create a new life together.  Told from the perspective of several family members, the novel explores all of the complexities of love late in life - the surprising resentments of grown children, the necessities of navigating inheritance and changing relationships, the simple pleasures of finding a new life partner.  With strong clear voices this simply told and elegant novel was a real pleasure.  I wish my grandmother was alive to read it - she would have approved.

FTC Disclosure:  Advance review copy courtesy of the publisher for the book's blog tour sponsored by TLC Book Tours

Rating:  Purple

I am pleased to be a stop on the book tour for Commuters, sponsored by TLC Book Tours.  Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour and go read this book - it's a good one!

Emily’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS

Thursday, July 1st: Devourer of Books
Monday, July 5th: My Random Acts of Reading
Tuesday, July 6th: Til We Read Again
Wednesday, July 7th: Books Like Breathing
Tuesday, July 13th: Booksie’s Blog
Wednesday, July 14th: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Wednesday, July 21st: Chaotic Compendiums
Thursday, July 22nd: lit*chick
Wednesday, July 28th: Bookstack
Thursday, July 29th: Reading at the Beach
Thursday, August 5th: Life Is A Patchwork Quilt
Date TBD: Take Me Away