Honor has lived by herself for over forty years until one
day she takes a fall down the steps and breaks her hip. The
only family she has left is her daughter in law, Jo, and
granddaughter. Honor does not want to move in with Jo, but
she has no choice.
Jo is living with her three children, Lydia, her daughter
from her late husband, and her other two children Oscar and
Iris from her ex-husband. Even though Jo has a lot on her
plate, she knows she must take Honor in. Lydia is not very
happy about the new living arrangements. Lydia loves her
grandma, but she doesn't want her secret to come out.
So Honor moves in with Jo and family, and soon she finds
that it really isn't so bad. She is getting to know her
granddaughter more and putting up with the two little ones
isn't the worst. While Honor is getting settled in the new
living arrangements, she also is keeping a secret.
It seems all three ladies have secrets. Jo's is one that
she knows if Lydia finds outs, she will know that Jo broke
her promise to her. Lydia's secret will be a life-changing
for everyone. Honor's secret is one that she has been
hiding for years.
I really loved AFTER THE FALL by Julie Cohen. Julie writes
with such compassion. The way that she shows how a family
sticks together and nothing is so bad that you can's share
it with family. Julie also writes about how a young girl
struggles with finding her identity. Julie shows that
sometimes when you make a promise to someone you can't
always keep it.
The interaction with this family is so great. I am sure many
families have gone through something like this. I know if my
father could no longer take care of himself, my family would
jump right in to help. Right now my family is going through
so many things. Julie's AFTER THE FALL shows me that
sometimes there is nothing you can do about the little
stuff. Family should come first.
From the author who brought you Dear Thing, Julie
Cohen, comes After the Fall--a poignant, beautifully
heartbreaking novel about what it means to be family, the
ties that bind us, and the secrets that threaten to tear us
apart.
When an unfortunate accident forces Honor back into the
lives of her widowed daughter-in-law, Jo, and her only
granddaughter, Lydia, she cannot wait to be well enough to
get back to her own home. However, the longer she stays with
Jo and Lydia, the more they start to feel like a real
family. But each of the three women is keeping secrets from
the others that threaten to destroy the lives they’ve come
to know.
Honor’s secret threatens to rob her of the independence
she’s guarded ferociously for eighty years.
Jo’s secret could destroy the “normal” family life she’s
fought so hard to build and maintain.
Lydia’s secret could bring her love—or the loss of
everything that matters most to her.
One summer’s day, grandmother, mother and daughter’s secrets
will be forced out in the open in a single dramatic moment
that leaves them all asking: is there such a thing as second
chances?