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Good Company
By Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Ecco, 9780062876003, April 6, 2021, 320pp.

The Short of It:

Marriage for some, is like walking a tightrope without a net.

The Rest of It:

When Julian and Flora first met, they were both struggling artists in the process of finding themselves. Scraping to get by was never enjoyable but there was something to be said for blood, sweat and tears and being able to build something together meant something. Good Company, a small theatre group born out of Julian’s dreams to run his own theatre took center stage for many years but when they each started to have their own successes with acting and then had a beautiful daughter of their own, they moved to Los Angeles and there, the romantic lure of acting wasn’t as shiny as it was when they were newly married yet still an important part of who they were.

The benefit to being in Los Angeles is that Flora is once again close to her dear friends Margo and David. Margo, also an actress but much more recognizable than Flora had ever been, is the friend that always grounds Flora no matter what is going on. Years and years of friendship and Margot’s own challenges with her husband who suffered a stroke, do nothing but bond them tighter together. That’s why Flora finds herself completely lost when a secret comes out and she’s not sure if she can turn to Margot for support.

This is one of those dishy reads that you zip through. There is a lot of mature drama. Marriage difficulties, insecurities, trying to keep up appearances for your adult child, the threat of an empty nest, success and what happens to a relationship when it’s been strained. Flora and Julian’s story is intermingled with that of Margot’s and I found it to be a good balance. This isn’t an “escape” read because it’s too rooted in real life for that feeling to overcome you but I didn’t mind spending time with these characters and felt that the ending was appropriately realistic.

I think I felt the same way about Sweeney’s previous book, The Nest. A good read but probably not one that will stick with me. I would have liked the story to go a bit deeper into Flora’s character. She had a lot going on and was presented with some very difficult choices. I would have appreciated more of her.

I don’t usually give starred ratings here on the blog, but I do on GoodReads and I’d give this one a solid three stars if that helps.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Sunday Matters

It occurs to me that this title might lead you to think that a college decision is enclosed. It is not. Soon, though. My “decision” reference has to do with my reading choices. I gotta keep this reading train going by picking just the right read or it will all come to a screeching halt. It’s a fine balance between review copies, what I already own and what I have on my Kindle. Oh, and I cannot forget mood. That seems to change hourly.

The reason for all my decision talk is that I picked up The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and could.not.get.through.it. I gave up. I read all the wonderful reviews and I respect all of your opinions but what the heck? It dragged so. I read enough of it to consider it read but I won’t do a formal review of it here because it’s not fair to review a book that you haven’t finished. However, I could not go on and pulled the trigger. That left me in a ditch with my reading for a day because it’s a longish read and I didn’t have the next one lined up so I stared at walls and got all worked up.

Right Now:

I have since found something else to read. Noted, below.

This morning I have big church and then little church, youth group. After that we will take the pup for a long walk. She is not a fan of afternoon walks because it cuts into her nap time but when the morning activities interfere it’s better than nothing and I still like to get a walk in.

This Week:

Fun stuff this week! I have an online book club meeting. I think everyone in my club is now vaccinated except for me (counting the days until 4/6) so maybe we can meet in-person soon.

I am also having lunch with a friend this week!

We see my son this weekend in Solvang. That will be fun. The pup has never been. We will try to grab that photo of her in a wooden shoe.

Reading:

I picked up The New Neighbors when my other booked didn’t work out.

Watching:

My son kept trying to get me to watch WandaVision and by episode four, it clicked. I have to say, it’s a very clever show but you have to give it some time.

We finished Schitt’s Creek and the documentary of their final table read. What a great show. I will miss it a lot but I have to agree with Dan Levy, I am glad it closed on a high note. It easily could have gone on for another season but it was perfect where it ended.

The Walking Dead. I wish the showrunners would turn the show over to the fans. I have all sorts of plot lines that would bring the viewers back. It’s falling apart.

As for movies, we watched Knives Out. Really enjoyed that one. We will watch Midway soon and the new Godzilla vs. Kong movie when it comes out on HBO Max.

Grateful for:

Daylight Savings didn’t do a number on me like it normally does. Maybe because I am not commuting for work. The transition was just fine.
The time we will spend with our son this week. My son and daughter will have lots to discuss because she has made her decision but I am not allowed to say until she announces it herself. My son’s grad school decision is close too.
New couches. We got our new couches delivered for our family room. We love them. The pup approves.

Movie theatres have opened in LA County at 25% capacity but ours have not and I fear they may never. I don’t think they took the hit all that well. What is one movie you are looking forward to seeing in the theatre soon? All I can think about is the new Bond movie. I love those movies.

Chatting with friends about books and life…