CHANGING LANES by Kathleen Long is the story of Abby Halladay. She purchases a new home in Paris, New Jersey with her long time boyfriend, Fred Newton and life is moving along just as she has planned. Until one day, when she loses it all. The house is infested with termites, she is fired from her job, and her boyfriend calls to tell her he is in Paris. Not Paris, New Jersey but Paris, France. What could possibly be next?
Paris, New Jersey is where Abby grew up. All of her family is there as well as her child hood friend, Mick. Mick left her when she was seventeen after an incident that had the whole town reeling! After Abby finds out that her new home is unlivable, she has no choice but to move back in with her parents. There, on the very first day, she lays eyes on Mick. Why is he back? Does he think about that night long ago, the last time she saw him? Why did he leave her all those years ago without ever saying goodbye?
After a few days and the shock wearing off of seeing him again, Abby discovers that Mick is home taking care of his ailing mother, Detta. She has Alzheimer's and has been wandering off so Mick comes home to keep an eye on her. Abby and Mick shared something special a long time ago, but neither of them is ready to talk about it. Not yet anyway. Coming home has been hard for Abby. She starts to realize that her perfectly planned out life isn't so perfect after all. She learns that plans don't always turn out the way you want them to. As she is learning to let go of her plans and her past, she starts to appreciate all that she still has and always did. She learns how to embrace life's moments, living in the here and now and not worrying about the past and the future. What ever happens, happens.
CHANGING LANES was the first book I've read by Kathleen Long but I know it won't be the last. Kathleen pulled me right in and never let me go. I read this book very quickly as I had to find out what happens to all the people of Paris, New Jersey. The ending was perfect and I finished it with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Abby's whole outlook on her life and those around her, changes all for the better. I fell in love with all the characters of Paris, New Jersey and I know you will too.
Abby Halladay has the perfect life. Or, rather, she
will...as long as everything goes exactly according
to plan. Abby never leaves anything to chance—not her
job as a syndicated columnist, not her engagement to her
fiancΓΒ©, Fred, and certainly not her impending wedding in
Paris (New Jersey, that is).
Unfortunately for Abby, even the best-laid plans often go
awry—like when Fred runs away to Paris (France, that
is), her column is canned, and her dream home is diagnosed
with termites. Forced to move back in with her parents and
drive her dad's cab, Abby's perfect life has now officially
become the perfect disaster.
Then a funny thing happens. Slowly but surely, Abby begins
letting go of her dreams of perfection. As she does, the
messy, imperfect life she thought she never wanted
starts to feel exactly like the one she needs.
Poignant and heartfelt, Changing Lanes celebrates the
unexpected joys of everyday life—and the enduring
promise of second chances.
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