Twins Dawn and Cody are graduating from college. Their family has arrived and everything is set for an unforgettable celebration. Their Meredith, a NICU nurse, is remarried to Joel, the complete opposite of their father, Roger. Roger, the twins' father, has recently remarried a woman not much older than the twins, Lilly, who is an Instagram influencer and desires to fit in. The twins' grandmother is also there, and she cannot stand their father. In addition to family dynamics and relationships, there are a lot of secrets that everyone is keeping from one another, especially when it affects their loved ones. Can this family make it safely through the twins' graduation, or will their relationships never be the same?
There are not enough words to describe the beauty of BEST BEHAVIOR by Wendy Francis, which is a truly a poignant and all too human tale of conflicting emotions and desires, and of how to be nuanced and careful when surrounded by people you might not care about. Each of the characters is handcrafted by a masterful author, familiar with the issues presented in BEST BEHAVIOR, and each one is undeniably flawed in a genuine and believable way. In addition to examining the dynamics of modern family units, Wendy Francis goes further by adding more layers to the story, namely the issue of drugs, of classicism, and of how to cope with becoming an empty-nester.
Each character gets a turn to present their motivations and thoughts about what happens over the next three nights; everything from something as simple as having dinner to the more complex when dealing with emergencies. I hope to see these characters again, to know if and how they resolved their issues.
For readers looking for a story full of drama and modernity, then BEST BEHAVIOR by Wendy Francis will be the best bet to escape it for just a few hours.
A modern-day family gathers for a weekend to remember in a novel rich in both humor and heart…
Meredith Parker has made the journey to Bolton, her twins’ college, dozens of times. This weekend, though, is different. Dawn and Cody are about to graduate and move away to separate corners of the country. Meredith is proud of her kids, and she’s proud of herself for helping them get this far. She just never expected the tidal wave of emotions sweeping over her—or the tangled family dynamics complicating everything.
Meredith doesn’t miss her cheating ex, Roger, one bit, but sitting across from his very young, very gorgeous second wife threatens to unravel the graceful facade she’s trying so hard to maintain. Joel, Meredith’s husband, can see she’s feeling the first pangs of empty-nest syndrome and wants to soften the blow—but he’s distracted by a familiar face. Meanwhile, Cody and Dawn are sitting on their own secrets, and Roger’s new wife, Lily, wonders if she really wants to be a part of this wild, mixed-up family.
As tensions simmer with each passing appetizer tray, Meredith’s vision of the perfect weekend goes up in flames. But before the party’s over, as best behavior gives way to brutal honesty, there’ll be a chance for this new blended family to truly come together—in all its messy and glorious imperfection.
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