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Family Planning
A nurse practitioner at El Centro, a not-for-profit women's health center in rural Pennsylvania, Charlotte Hopper has found peace in her carefully constructed life-until her old college friend moves next door, resurrecting a secret so devastating that Charlotte's husband leaves rather than face the past. And after a heartbreaking discovery is made on the grounds behind the clinic, the women of El Centro must contend with being in the media spotlight-and being suspected of a terrible crime. Caught in a whirlwind of tragedies both large and small, Charlotte will learn just how much of herself she can give-and how much she must keep.
- GenresFiction
283 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 7, 2006
3 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Letts
14 books1,107 followersElizabeth Letts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of six novels and three works of narrative nonfiction.,including The Ride of Her Life and Finding Dorothy. Her new novel, Fallen for France, is out August 26, 2026.
Her books have been translated into multiple languages and been frequent selections for One Book, One Community programs at libraries and organizations across the country.
Her work has been honored with the PEN Award, the Middle East Book Prize, and the Africana Book Award, among others. She is a graduate of Yale College as well as the Yale School of Nursing, and divides her time between Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Northern Michigan.
Her books have been translated into multiple languages and been frequent selections for One Book, One Community programs at libraries and organizations across the country.
Her work has been honored with the PEN Award, the Middle East Book Prize, and the Africana Book Award, among others. She is a graduate of Yale College as well as the Yale School of Nursing, and divides her time between Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Northern Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 27, 2013
Didn't really like this one. I kept thinking it would get better.....it didn't. I thought maybe something unexpected would happen......it didn't. I hate to say it but I wish I hadn't wasted the time reading it.
January 15, 2026
"Charlotte could feel a kind of bond taking shape among them, a silent elastic connection as they knelt there. "
A cast of mildly likeable characters, though none that inspire much emotional investment, aim to explore friendship, pregnancy, and female bonds. Unfortunately, these ideas are layered awkwardly and feel disjointed at times. Letts' attempts to maintain momentum by dangling bits of intrigue fall flat, as the story never quite crests into anything particularly surprising or compelling. The result is a story that, at best, reminds readers to do better at supporting the women in their lives and communities but otherwise doesn't need a spot on your TBR list.
A cast of mildly likeable characters, though none that inspire much emotional investment, aim to explore friendship, pregnancy, and female bonds. Unfortunately, these ideas are layered awkwardly and feel disjointed at times. Letts' attempts to maintain momentum by dangling bits of intrigue fall flat, as the story never quite crests into anything particularly surprising or compelling. The result is a story that, at best, reminds readers to do better at supporting the women in their lives and communities but otherwise doesn't need a spot on your TBR list.
June 15, 2007
Touching, feel good book from a nurse's perspective.
March 10, 2008
A nurse practitioner discovers a dead baby in a dumpster and finds herself and her women's health clinic in the center of a scandal. Great story that runs a bit slow in places.
September 9, 2020
Sweet story ( but not sappy!), a touch of mystery, happy endings, plot twists and a good blending of past and present.
December 21, 2020
Kept waiting for something to happen....and it did not
February 28, 2021
Wasn't as good as the others I've read by the author.
January 10, 2009
Another book that my step-mom lent me. This was one she though was ok, but not amazing and I agree with that assessment.
The story is about the women of El Centro and the challenges they face over a few months. There is Charlotte who is the nurse practitioner at the clinic, who's past is coming back to haunt her. There is her staff, most of whom are dealing with personal crisis and self discovery in their own life. While there clinic is going through it's own growing/dying pains as decisions are made of what is going to happen to them. Within the book they find a dead baby in the dumpster, two husbands leave and return, one moves out on her own for the first time in years. The books reoccurring theme is pregnancy and babies (alive and dead).
Not an amazing book and wouldn't read it again. It was kind of slow, didn't give you a lot of information till way late, but it wasn't like twists. It was something like this is a problem that is haunting them or that they are trying to deal with so just tell me exactly what it is would you. It was wrapped up well at the end, but it was anti climatic. Kind of like this is what happened to my group of friends for the past few months pages long letters, but it just wasn't interesting really.
The story is about the women of El Centro and the challenges they face over a few months. There is Charlotte who is the nurse practitioner at the clinic, who's past is coming back to haunt her. There is her staff, most of whom are dealing with personal crisis and self discovery in their own life. While there clinic is going through it's own growing/dying pains as decisions are made of what is going to happen to them. Within the book they find a dead baby in the dumpster, two husbands leave and return, one moves out on her own for the first time in years. The books reoccurring theme is pregnancy and babies (alive and dead).
Not an amazing book and wouldn't read it again. It was kind of slow, didn't give you a lot of information till way late, but it wasn't like twists. It was something like this is a problem that is haunting them or that they are trying to deal with so just tell me exactly what it is would you. It was wrapped up well at the end, but it was anti climatic. Kind of like this is what happened to my group of friends for the past few months pages long letters, but it just wasn't interesting really.
April 10, 2009
Elizabeth Letts is a remarkable author. Her first novel "Quality of Care" established her as a powerful new voice in fiction. This second novel is a compelling page-turner.
From back cover:
"The nurse practitioner at El Centro, a not-for-profit women's health center in rural Pennsylvania, Charlotte Hopper is responsible for the well-being of her patients, as well as her dedicated staff. Especially since the clinic's doctor is usually absent-and drunk.
But soon Charlotte's carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Her old college friend moves next door and resurrects a secret so devastating that Charlotte's husband leaves rather than face the past. And after a heartbreaking discovery is made on the grounds behind the clinic, the women of El Centro must contend with being in the media spotlight-and being suspected of a terrible crime. Caught in a whirlwind of tragedies both large and small, Charlotte will learn just how much of herself she can give-and how much she must keep..."
From back cover:
"The nurse practitioner at El Centro, a not-for-profit women's health center in rural Pennsylvania, Charlotte Hopper is responsible for the well-being of her patients, as well as her dedicated staff. Especially since the clinic's doctor is usually absent-and drunk.
But soon Charlotte's carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Her old college friend moves next door and resurrects a secret so devastating that Charlotte's husband leaves rather than face the past. And after a heartbreaking discovery is made on the grounds behind the clinic, the women of El Centro must contend with being in the media spotlight-and being suspected of a terrible crime. Caught in a whirlwind of tragedies both large and small, Charlotte will learn just how much of herself she can give-and how much she must keep..."
April 9, 2010
A nurse practitioner at El Centro, a not-for-profit women's health center in rural Pennsylvania, Charlotte Hopper has found peace in her carefully constructed life-until her old college friend moves next door, resurrecting a secret so devastating that Charlotte's husband leaves rather than face the past. And after a heartbreaking discovery is made on the grounds behind the clinic, the women of El Centro must contend with being in the media spotlight-and being suspected of a terrible crime.
July 27, 2008
Elizabeth's second book, which she considers better than the first. I have to admit I didn't like it as much as the first. This is more a character examination sort of book, but I felt that getting to know so many characters so intimately interfered with the plot and I found it distracting.
April 9, 2008
Excellent novel about the women and visiting a nonprofit women's clinic serving a predominantly Hispanic, immigrant clientele. The author is a nurse-midwife and the mother of four children. How she finds time to write simply baffles me!!
March 28, 2008
This book will not get the credit it deserves because it is difficult to find. It is a fine read.
August 22, 2008
By same author as "Quality of Care". Storyline not nearly as intriguing. Focus is on FNP working at women's clinic in PA
April 21, 2009
I really enjoyed this book.........so realistic and true to life characters, and very well written!
September 12, 2009
Not bad...
May 7, 2016
Really liked the characters. The story was good but somewhat predictable at times. Some of it tied up a little too neatly for my taste, but a good read.
January 21, 2014
Decent story line but poorly written. Somewhat predictable.
September 27, 2016
A little too heavy on feelings and a predictable ending, butsome of the sore points are altogether too true.
July 21, 2008
easy read
April 8, 2013
Boring. Read half of it (painstakingly) and ended up abandoning it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews