Catching Air
by Sarah Pekkanen
Genre: Women's Fiction
Synopsis: From the
internationally bestselling author of four books, including The Opposite
of Me, a vibrant, compulsively readable novel about two married couples
who pursue a dream to open a bed-and-breakfast in small-town Vermont.
In her previous works including The Best of Us, "rising star" (Library Journal) Sarah Pekkanen captivated readers by penning "refreshingly introspective, sharply realistic, and tenderly humorous" novels (Booklist) that had readers "flying through the pages" (Hoda Kotb, Today show). Now, in Catching Air, Pekkanen turns an unflinching eye on the tangled relationships of two pairs of thirty-somethings.
A chance to run a B&B in snowy, remote Vermont—it’s an offer Kira Danner can’t resist after six soul-crushing years of working as a lawyer in Florida. As Kira and her husband, Peter, step into a brand new life, she quells her fears about living with the B&B’s co-owners: Peter’s sexy, irresponsible brother Rand, and Rand’s wife, Alyssa…who is essentially a stranger.
For her part, Alyssa sees taking over the B&B as the latest in a string of adventures. Plus, a quiet place might help her recover from the news that she can’t bear children. But the idyllic town proves to be anything but serene: Within weeks, the sisters-in-law are scrambling to prepare for their first big booking—a winter wedding—and soon a shy, mysterious woman comes to work for them. Dawn Zukoski is hiding something; that much is clear. But what the sisters-in-law don't realize is that Dawn is also hiding from someone…
Relatable and dynamic, Catching Air delves deeply into the vital relationships that give shape to women’s lives.
In her previous works including The Best of Us, "rising star" (Library Journal) Sarah Pekkanen captivated readers by penning "refreshingly introspective, sharply realistic, and tenderly humorous" novels (Booklist) that had readers "flying through the pages" (Hoda Kotb, Today show). Now, in Catching Air, Pekkanen turns an unflinching eye on the tangled relationships of two pairs of thirty-somethings.
A chance to run a B&B in snowy, remote Vermont—it’s an offer Kira Danner can’t resist after six soul-crushing years of working as a lawyer in Florida. As Kira and her husband, Peter, step into a brand new life, she quells her fears about living with the B&B’s co-owners: Peter’s sexy, irresponsible brother Rand, and Rand’s wife, Alyssa…who is essentially a stranger.
For her part, Alyssa sees taking over the B&B as the latest in a string of adventures. Plus, a quiet place might help her recover from the news that she can’t bear children. But the idyllic town proves to be anything but serene: Within weeks, the sisters-in-law are scrambling to prepare for their first big booking—a winter wedding—and soon a shy, mysterious woman comes to work for them. Dawn Zukoski is hiding something; that much is clear. But what the sisters-in-law don't realize is that Dawn is also hiding from someone…
Relatable and dynamic, Catching Air delves deeply into the vital relationships that give shape to women’s lives.
from Goodreads
Review: This was a quick and enjoyable read about two couples opening a B&B in Vermont, but there were too many storylines that didn't ring quite true enough to make it a great read. And perhaps there were just too many storylines, period. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if it had focused on only one or two characters, delving more deeply into their histories and challenges, and then wrapping up their stories in a satisfactory way. As it was written, the story felt unfinished - how did Alyssa deal with the challenges of motherhood? Did Rand step up and end up loving fatherhood? What did Kira end up doing with her life? What happened to Dawn? Dawn's story, in particular, seemed like it was going to wrap up too neatly and quietly, but didn't really wrap up at all. So, while I thought the story was interesting, I was left completely unsatisfied.
Rating: 3 stars (or maybe 2.5)
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