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Marriage Matters
She barely has time to attend a wedding, let alone plan one, but Chloe has just caught the bouquet. So has her married mother… and her widowed grandmother. Now three generations of women are set to walk down the aisle in one wedding extravaganza...For fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner.
On top of grad school, clinical hours, and part-time work, Chloe is surprised to find a ring on her finger. Sharing the news about the engagement is easy, except with her best friend, Ben. Their relationship has always been platonic...so why is Chloe so afraid he is going to object?
Kristine is successful at running her travel bookstore, but her twenty-five year marriage is on the rocks. When her husband suggests a vow renewal ceremony, she agrees to say I Do...until a tempting employee makes her wonder whether or not she wants to be married at all.
June knows what’s best for her and everyone around her. Given a second chance at love, she’s delighted to plan the family wedding of her dreams. But when June gets a little carried away in her enthusiasm, she risks losing more than the love of her life... she risks losing her family.
In Cynthia Ellingsen’s heartwarming and hilarious novel of first loves, second chances, and unexpected twists, three generations of brides-to-be discover that love is always better as a family affair.
On top of grad school, clinical hours, and part-time work, Chloe is surprised to find a ring on her finger. Sharing the news about the engagement is easy, except with her best friend, Ben. Their relationship has always been platonic...so why is Chloe so afraid he is going to object?
Kristine is successful at running her travel bookstore, but her twenty-five year marriage is on the rocks. When her husband suggests a vow renewal ceremony, she agrees to say I Do...until a tempting employee makes her wonder whether or not she wants to be married at all.
June knows what’s best for her and everyone around her. Given a second chance at love, she’s delighted to plan the family wedding of her dreams. But when June gets a little carried away in her enthusiasm, she risks losing more than the love of her life... she risks losing her family.
In Cynthia Ellingsen’s heartwarming and hilarious novel of first loves, second chances, and unexpected twists, three generations of brides-to-be discover that love is always better as a family affair.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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924 people want to read
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January 6, 2019
Though I finished this story several days ago, I debated whether to write a review. It was not easy.
Three women -June, a widow and the grandmother; Kristine, the married daughter; Chloe, the granddaughter, single and 25- have a deep connection spirited by June. I almost thought of it as a case study in family dynamics with humor, angst, chemistry and an interesting cast of characters. Their issues felt relatable and tugged at my inner-me. At the same time, I thought of June as OTT; how could anyone not feel her interference?
The story was divided into two parts. June and her neighbor, Charlie, spun wheels. She had a competitive war with their yards and his relationships with her friends. It was not hard to guess their outcome.
Kristine and Kevin were married for 25 years. She wanted the romance from her youth to return; instead, she found her marriage stagnant. I found it difficult for anyone who has been in a long-term relationship not to feel invested with this couple. Kevin with his job. Kristine with her shop. The give and take of precious time to revive and renew their connection.
And then there was Chloe with Ben. They were BFsF. I loved their witty banter, off-the-wall comments and goofy camaraderie. The best way to describe Chloe was intelligent but naive. Ben was simply a hoot. I rooted for him. When Part One was finished, I would have rated the story five stars.
As to Part Two, quite a bit of time was spent on June meddling. Charlie addressed this with her. I would have enjoyed reading less about her but I know June’s character was necessary. If I skimmed over her sections I would never have learned an important part of her past; Kristine’s father’s words that drove her.
.....Kevin’s and Kristine’s apprehension continued. And I kept reading.
Lastly, Chloe and her relationships with two men. I waited for her ultimate decision.
~~~~~
Some readers tagged Marriage Matters as chick-lit. Others compared it with women’s fiction. I thought of it as a contemporary fiction with three romances. Each very different from the other.
I saw where the author, Julie James, gave this story five stars. More than once, it reminded me of something Kristan Higgins would have written. It was light but serious. Thoughtful but frothy. I almost DNF it after the first few chapters but I am happy I stuck with it. *I believe women 35 years or older would enjoy this story the most.*
Three women -June, a widow and the grandmother; Kristine, the married daughter; Chloe, the granddaughter, single and 25- have a deep connection spirited by June. I almost thought of it as a case study in family dynamics with humor, angst, chemistry and an interesting cast of characters. Their issues felt relatable and tugged at my inner-me. At the same time, I thought of June as OTT; how could anyone not feel her interference?
The story was divided into two parts. June and her neighbor, Charlie, spun wheels. She had a competitive war with their yards and his relationships with her friends. It was not hard to guess their outcome.
Kristine and Kevin were married for 25 years. She wanted the romance from her youth to return; instead, she found her marriage stagnant. I found it difficult for anyone who has been in a long-term relationship not to feel invested with this couple. Kevin with his job. Kristine with her shop. The give and take of precious time to revive and renew their connection.
And then there was Chloe with Ben. They were BFsF. I loved their witty banter, off-the-wall comments and goofy camaraderie. The best way to describe Chloe was intelligent but naive. Ben was simply a hoot. I rooted for him. When Part One was finished, I would have rated the story five stars.
As to Part Two, quite a bit of time was spent on June meddling. Charlie addressed this with her. I would have enjoyed reading less about her but I know June’s character was necessary. If I skimmed over her sections I would never have learned an important part of her past; Kristine’s father’s words that drove her.
.....Kevin’s and Kristine’s apprehension continued. And I kept reading.
Lastly, Chloe and her relationships with two men. I waited for her ultimate decision.
~~~~~
Some readers tagged Marriage Matters as chick-lit. Others compared it with women’s fiction. I thought of it as a contemporary fiction with three romances. Each very different from the other.
I saw where the author, Julie James, gave this story five stars. More than once, it reminded me of something Kristan Higgins would have written. It was light but serious. Thoughtful but frothy. I almost DNF it after the first few chapters but I am happy I stuck with it. *I believe women 35 years or older would enjoy this story the most.*
May 23, 2023
I have read probably one or two contemporary romances (chick-lit) too many with weddings as one of the major topics. I understand the need to celebrate important moments of one's life. The decision to be together for as long as possible (others call it "forever") is big and important. Yet, I will never feel the whole need for a "wedding ceremony" (especially in the USA meaning), all those preparations and costs. I understand when you are very rich and it isn't a big deal to you. But spending savings (in the amount you will feel the loss) is too stupid to me. More romantic would be beginning with saving together not the other way around. But, obviously - I am weird. But, let's stop with my side thoughts.
The idea for this chick-lit/romance wasn't original, but the characters (surprisingly) were complex and the way Cynthia Ellingsen build the setting was quite charming in the beginning (although I didn't like the attitude like If anyone ever decided to marry her... - aren't we in the XXI century?)
Unfortunately, at some point, it started repeating itself. And there was way too much about "wedding stuff" (e.g. around ten pages about choosing the cakes...)
Then, when I read about taking vaccination while drunk I wanted to tell the author a few hard words - I am pretty sure that in the USA no health worker would do it (although I can understand that there are still many people who don't know that alcohol and any drug or vaccine is a very bad idea, if not harmful, at least weakening the effect of the drug and vaccine).
And the last "big events" only annoyed me.
So, I started with having a lovely time, but then it went worse. Many paragraphs I just skimmed, wanting to just get to the point and the end. From 4 to 2-2.5 stars.
The idea for this chick-lit/romance wasn't original, but the characters (surprisingly) were complex and the way Cynthia Ellingsen build the setting was quite charming in the beginning (although I didn't like the attitude like If anyone ever decided to marry her... - aren't we in the XXI century?)
Unfortunately, at some point, it started repeating itself. And there was way too much about "wedding stuff" (e.g. around ten pages about choosing the cakes...)
Then, when I read about taking vaccination while drunk I wanted to tell the author a few hard words - I am pretty sure that in the USA no health worker would do it (although I can understand that there are still many people who don't know that alcohol and any drug or vaccine is a very bad idea, if not harmful, at least weakening the effect of the drug and vaccine).
And the last "big events" only annoyed me.
So, I started with having a lovely time, but then it went worse. Many paragraphs I just skimmed, wanting to just get to the point and the end. From 4 to 2-2.5 stars.
February 9, 2014
This book is a lot of fun. Almost gave up after 80 pages but came back to it, glad I did. Light relief, entertaining. Like a good romantic comedy. Break from literary fiction, but sometimes its hard to find a decent fluffy book. This hit the mark for me.
April 14, 2013
loved this. could not put it down (actually finished in one sitting!). and i will admit, i got a little teary at the end! love me a happy ending :o)
December 6, 2014
Maledetto il giorno che ti ho amato è un bellissimo esempio di come un chick-lit possa avere sfumature più profonde. Il tema dell'amore viene rappresentato in tre diversi modi: l'amicizia tra Chloe e Ben, l'allontanamento dopo 25 anni di matrimonio tra Kristin e Kevin, e la rinascita a settant'anni di June e Charly.
Ogni personaggio è ben descritto, anche il meno importante. June, Kristin e Chloe appartengono a tre generazioni diverse di una stessa famiglia, hanno caratteri e visioni del mondo diversi ma riescono sempre a trovare il mondo per andare d'accordo, supportarsi e rendersi felici.
June è fantastica, col suo essere così sempre sopra le righe, con la sua irruenza e creatività. Sprigiona voglia di vivere da tutti i pori e la sua storia con Charly fa ridere e intenerire.
Kristin è la più fragile tra le tre donne presentate nella storia. Il suo essere pacato è decisamente in netto contrasto con la vitalità della madre. Kristin è il personaggio con la profondità maggiore, per tutto il libro combatte una battaglia da sola. La sua solitudine e dolore sono così forti che più di una volta ho pensato che non avrebbe avuto il suo lieto fine. Per la maggior parte del tempo il matrimonio con Kevin non va bene, eppure si percepisce in ogni loro parola che si amano molto. Per questo non sono riuscita a odiare Kevin. Ama sua moglie, farebbe di tutto per lei, solo non riesce a darle l'unica cosa che la renderebbe felice. Il Kevin ragazzo mi è piaciuto fin da subito e a causa sua non riuscivo a dare un giudizio negativo al Kevin maturo che per fortuna alla fine non mi ha delusa.
E poi c'è una sorta di triangolo tra Chloe, Ben e Geoff.
Chloe è un mix tra June e Kristin, e il suo gareggiare con la nonna la rende un personaggio molto simpatico. Chloe mi piace, è buona e intelligente e la scrittrice è riuscita a sottolineare le sue qualità senza doverle esprimere attraverso le parole degli altri. Mi capita di leggere libri le cui protagoniste sono perfette ma questa perfezione non si vede mai dai gesti o dalle loro parole, viene semplicemente ripetuta costantemente dagli altri personaggi. è questo che di solito mi fa poi odiare le protagoniste perché vengono lodate senza un perché.
Per quanto riguarda Geoff, all'inizio della storia è carino ma quando comincia a impuntarsi per la storia che Chloe deve fare da madre a Mary Beth, suo figlia, dimostra di essere più superficiale e arrogante di quanto ci si aspetterebbe da uno psicologo. A parte il fatto che non Chloe non c'è nessuna chimica, non è capace di prendere in mano la situazione né per ciò che riguarda sua figlia Mary Beth - che è assolutamente una delle bambine peggiori di cui ho letto finora - né per ciò che riguarda Chloe. Per lui, lei non è mai in primo piano o lo diventa solo quando ha bisogno di un favore.
Infine c'è Ben che è ovviamente fantastico, carinissimo nei confronti di Chloe e divertente nei ricordi adolescenziali. L'ho adorato. Unica pecca è che è poco presente nella storia ma quando c'è, la chimica tra lui e Chloe è innegabile.
Anche per il finale avrei voluto qualcosa di più per Chloe e Ben ma rimane comunque un bel romanzo, in cui l'amore è decisamente il protagonista principale sotto le più svariate vesti. Si legge velocemente nonostante le 400 pagine perché la scrittura è molto scorrevole e i personaggi coinvolgono moltissimo.
Ogni personaggio è ben descritto, anche il meno importante. June, Kristin e Chloe appartengono a tre generazioni diverse di una stessa famiglia, hanno caratteri e visioni del mondo diversi ma riescono sempre a trovare il mondo per andare d'accordo, supportarsi e rendersi felici.
June è fantastica, col suo essere così sempre sopra le righe, con la sua irruenza e creatività. Sprigiona voglia di vivere da tutti i pori e la sua storia con Charly fa ridere e intenerire.
Kristin è la più fragile tra le tre donne presentate nella storia. Il suo essere pacato è decisamente in netto contrasto con la vitalità della madre. Kristin è il personaggio con la profondità maggiore, per tutto il libro combatte una battaglia da sola. La sua solitudine e dolore sono così forti che più di una volta ho pensato che non avrebbe avuto il suo lieto fine. Per la maggior parte del tempo il matrimonio con Kevin non va bene, eppure si percepisce in ogni loro parola che si amano molto. Per questo non sono riuscita a odiare Kevin. Ama sua moglie, farebbe di tutto per lei, solo non riesce a darle l'unica cosa che la renderebbe felice. Il Kevin ragazzo mi è piaciuto fin da subito e a causa sua non riuscivo a dare un giudizio negativo al Kevin maturo che per fortuna alla fine non mi ha delusa.
E poi c'è una sorta di triangolo tra Chloe, Ben e Geoff.
Chloe è un mix tra June e Kristin, e il suo gareggiare con la nonna la rende un personaggio molto simpatico. Chloe mi piace, è buona e intelligente e la scrittrice è riuscita a sottolineare le sue qualità senza doverle esprimere attraverso le parole degli altri. Mi capita di leggere libri le cui protagoniste sono perfette ma questa perfezione non si vede mai dai gesti o dalle loro parole, viene semplicemente ripetuta costantemente dagli altri personaggi. è questo che di solito mi fa poi odiare le protagoniste perché vengono lodate senza un perché.
Per quanto riguarda Geoff, all'inizio della storia è carino ma quando comincia a impuntarsi per la storia che Chloe deve fare da madre a Mary Beth, suo figlia, dimostra di essere più superficiale e arrogante di quanto ci si aspetterebbe da uno psicologo. A parte il fatto che non Chloe non c'è nessuna chimica, non è capace di prendere in mano la situazione né per ciò che riguarda sua figlia Mary Beth - che è assolutamente una delle bambine peggiori di cui ho letto finora - né per ciò che riguarda Chloe. Per lui, lei non è mai in primo piano o lo diventa solo quando ha bisogno di un favore.
Infine c'è Ben che è ovviamente fantastico, carinissimo nei confronti di Chloe e divertente nei ricordi adolescenziali. L'ho adorato. Unica pecca è che è poco presente nella storia ma quando c'è, la chimica tra lui e Chloe è innegabile.
Anche per il finale avrei voluto qualcosa di più per Chloe e Ben ma rimane comunque un bel romanzo, in cui l'amore è decisamente il protagonista principale sotto le più svariate vesti. Si legge velocemente nonostante le 400 pagine perché la scrittura è molto scorrevole e i personaggi coinvolgono moltissimo.
June 2, 2013
Like her first novel, the dialogue is witty and believable, the characters are charming and deep and not just a stereotype, and it was a story I truly enjoyed. My fav chick lit author!
May 22, 2013
Chloe is only twenty-five and studying post-grad psychology; she has no time or interest in finding a boyfriend let alone anything more serious than that. Between her classes, her research assignments, clinical hours and her part-time job, she barely has time to spend with her best friend and neighbour, Ben. But at a weekend wedding she attends with her mother, Kristine, and her maternal grandmother, June, Chloe happens to catch the bouquet. So does Kristine. And June.
Not that any of them take it all that seriously, though they each keep a souvenir rose from the bouquet. Getting on with their lives, Chloe schedules a meeting with a well-established, handsome older psychologist, Dr Geoff Gable, to see if he'll support her application for a prestigious research grant, but the meeting goes badly. When she encounters him at the kids' indoor play centre where she works and discovers he's a single father to a spoilt little girl called Mary Beth, he surprises her by asking her out on a date. She surprises herself by saying yes, then - completely lacking in experience and worried about making a fool of herself - she agrees to go out on a practice date with Ben - a night that ends in a steamy kiss that she's determined to ignore.
Her mother, Kristine, has been married to Kevin for twenty-five years. It's their wedding anniversary, but Kristine is celebrating alone. Kevin's new job forces him to travel almost constantly, and the distance that's grown between them has Kristine worried that her marriage is going to end. It doesn't help that the handsome travel photographer now working at her travel bookshop, Ethan, seems attracted to her. When Ethan's essay wins a competition for the bookshop, he and Kristine are awarded with an expenses-paid trip to Rome, a place Kristine has always wanted to visit. But with Kevin's work hours and his worries over their finances, he's refusing to go with her.
June may be a grandmother, but she's no little old lady. Though, it's true, she is quite little. But she's a sprightly, active widow who hosts clubs and parties at her brownstone house in Chicago, and is entertained by the year-long war she's been engaged in with her neighbour, Charley, a widower of about three years. It started with his interest in his backyard and gardening, and has grown into deliberate acts of sabotage on both their parts. But June's pre-occupation sparks an interest in her lady friends, who see a handsome single man and a conquest. Now June is up in arms against her friends and takes her spying to new heights.
As Chloe gets deeper into a relationship with Geoff while worrying about how to tell Ben that he proposed, Kristine has agreed to a vow renewal ceremony with Kevin, all while feeling that such an event isn't going to fix their marriage at all. And June herself has some happy news, and a big new wedding to plan. As the wedding date approaches, though, tensions grow and doubts multiply, and June's new promise not to meddle and interfere with her family anymore may be about to backfire with disastrous consequences.
Like many people, I enjoy a good chick-lit novel, a romance that's light on angst and sex but with more humour and silliness than you usually get from romance (a romantic comedy, in other words). It's the relationships side of these novels that I enjoy, as much as the silly misunderstandings, the humour or the growth of the characters as they figure things out. Marriage Matters definitely has that side of things down pat. It is entertaining at times, especially June's side of the story, and Chloe goes through some good maturing, though she never quite seemed able to articulate what was so obvious to everyone else. Kristine's side of the story was the most realistic, a story that will no doubt feel all-too familiar to many people who've been married as long as she has. But I have to say that I struggled a bit with this book, for a few reasons.
Firstly, the three different narratives is a device I usually enjoy, but here it kept moving onto a different character right when I was enjoying what was happening with another. And some key scenes - scenes that I was really interested in witnessing as they happened, that is - often occurred "off stage" so to speak, and are shared by being told to another character or in a quick flashback, making the women's emotions feel, well, second-hand. Clearly, taken individually you'd get a chance to get to know each woman so much better, and their stories would have been told rather differently in such a format. As it was, they felt a bit superficial to me. I never really understood them and I couldn't say that I knew much about them. I only knew what I was told in the here-and-now. And June and Kristine, especially, were a bit too stereotypical for my liking. June was a bit unreal, to be honest. I had a hard time even picturing her. She just didn't seem like a woman her age (how old was she? I'm not sure. Late sixties, early seventies? I can't remember).
Having the three entwined narratives also made for quite a long book, which is my second point. It just seemed to drag on a bit, and in such a disjointed manner too that it was hard to get momentum and find the flow. It moved around in time a fair bit too, and that was hard to keep track of. And once the big triple wedding is decided upon, it became almost crowded.
That's my third reason for not liking this very much. I'm not a big fan of weddings. In fact I like to avoid them as much as possible. I have watched a few episodes of Four Weddings and it tends to make me angry - not just because of how mean the women are towards each other, but also for the irrelevant and old traditions they blindly follow. Marriage Matters is no different in that regard. These women have pretty, ah, conservative and traditional ideas for a wedding. Which is fine, really, each to their own. Your wedding should be what you want it to be, right? Except of course, here it is the wedding June wants, and Chloe just agrees to everything and Kristine just looks sick because she hasn't told anyone she thinks her marriage is over. Really it just comes down to the sad fact that I got bored. I find listening to people's wedding plans pretty boring, especially when they're the same-old thing as everyone else's. (I strongly object to the cliched idea that all women want to get married and all women imagined their dream wedding when they were little girls - what a crock of shit.) To be honest though, the title should have been enough to warn me. I just thought it would be more fun than it was.
All of these things overshadowed the parts that I did enjoy - like Chloe's first meeting with Geoff, that was fun. I found myself getting really angry with Chloe for not facing up to Geoff's expectations of her, which I'm sure was the point, as is the way you feel about Mary Beth, who's just horrible. There's a great scene actually, one of the ones I enjoyed, that highlights it:
Suffice it to say, I never really liked Geoff at all. As Chloe pointed out early on, for a psychologist, he makes a terrible father. But then she just feels bad for him and lets him use her as a nanny - which Ben points out to her and which she, naturally, takes badly.
After all the drama and goings-on in the book, the ending was rather pat. And needless to say, rather predictable as well. It all worked out so nicely - and no that's not a spoiler, this is chick-lit after all: they don't come with sad endings. I was left feeling a mix of things. Sad that I didn't get to know Kristine better, as she was the character I was most interested in (Chloe second), and relieved that it was finally all over. Not a great feeling to have when you finish a book. Aside from my dissatisfaction with the split narrative, it's well written and there're some really entertaining moments, but overall it was sadly lacking. I can see others enjoying this a lot more, especially if you enjoy wedding planning, the antics of a sprightly grandmother and women who take forever to realise that their male best friend is really in love with them.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
Not that any of them take it all that seriously, though they each keep a souvenir rose from the bouquet. Getting on with their lives, Chloe schedules a meeting with a well-established, handsome older psychologist, Dr Geoff Gable, to see if he'll support her application for a prestigious research grant, but the meeting goes badly. When she encounters him at the kids' indoor play centre where she works and discovers he's a single father to a spoilt little girl called Mary Beth, he surprises her by asking her out on a date. She surprises herself by saying yes, then - completely lacking in experience and worried about making a fool of herself - she agrees to go out on a practice date with Ben - a night that ends in a steamy kiss that she's determined to ignore.
Her mother, Kristine, has been married to Kevin for twenty-five years. It's their wedding anniversary, but Kristine is celebrating alone. Kevin's new job forces him to travel almost constantly, and the distance that's grown between them has Kristine worried that her marriage is going to end. It doesn't help that the handsome travel photographer now working at her travel bookshop, Ethan, seems attracted to her. When Ethan's essay wins a competition for the bookshop, he and Kristine are awarded with an expenses-paid trip to Rome, a place Kristine has always wanted to visit. But with Kevin's work hours and his worries over their finances, he's refusing to go with her.
June may be a grandmother, but she's no little old lady. Though, it's true, she is quite little. But she's a sprightly, active widow who hosts clubs and parties at her brownstone house in Chicago, and is entertained by the year-long war she's been engaged in with her neighbour, Charley, a widower of about three years. It started with his interest in his backyard and gardening, and has grown into deliberate acts of sabotage on both their parts. But June's pre-occupation sparks an interest in her lady friends, who see a handsome single man and a conquest. Now June is up in arms against her friends and takes her spying to new heights.
As Chloe gets deeper into a relationship with Geoff while worrying about how to tell Ben that he proposed, Kristine has agreed to a vow renewal ceremony with Kevin, all while feeling that such an event isn't going to fix their marriage at all. And June herself has some happy news, and a big new wedding to plan. As the wedding date approaches, though, tensions grow and doubts multiply, and June's new promise not to meddle and interfere with her family anymore may be about to backfire with disastrous consequences.
Like many people, I enjoy a good chick-lit novel, a romance that's light on angst and sex but with more humour and silliness than you usually get from romance (a romantic comedy, in other words). It's the relationships side of these novels that I enjoy, as much as the silly misunderstandings, the humour or the growth of the characters as they figure things out. Marriage Matters definitely has that side of things down pat. It is entertaining at times, especially June's side of the story, and Chloe goes through some good maturing, though she never quite seemed able to articulate what was so obvious to everyone else. Kristine's side of the story was the most realistic, a story that will no doubt feel all-too familiar to many people who've been married as long as she has. But I have to say that I struggled a bit with this book, for a few reasons.
Firstly, the three different narratives is a device I usually enjoy, but here it kept moving onto a different character right when I was enjoying what was happening with another. And some key scenes - scenes that I was really interested in witnessing as they happened, that is - often occurred "off stage" so to speak, and are shared by being told to another character or in a quick flashback, making the women's emotions feel, well, second-hand. Clearly, taken individually you'd get a chance to get to know each woman so much better, and their stories would have been told rather differently in such a format. As it was, they felt a bit superficial to me. I never really understood them and I couldn't say that I knew much about them. I only knew what I was told in the here-and-now. And June and Kristine, especially, were a bit too stereotypical for my liking. June was a bit unreal, to be honest. I had a hard time even picturing her. She just didn't seem like a woman her age (how old was she? I'm not sure. Late sixties, early seventies? I can't remember).
Having the three entwined narratives also made for quite a long book, which is my second point. It just seemed to drag on a bit, and in such a disjointed manner too that it was hard to get momentum and find the flow. It moved around in time a fair bit too, and that was hard to keep track of. And once the big triple wedding is decided upon, it became almost crowded.
That's my third reason for not liking this very much. I'm not a big fan of weddings. In fact I like to avoid them as much as possible. I have watched a few episodes of Four Weddings and it tends to make me angry - not just because of how mean the women are towards each other, but also for the irrelevant and old traditions they blindly follow. Marriage Matters is no different in that regard. These women have pretty, ah, conservative and traditional ideas for a wedding. Which is fine, really, each to their own. Your wedding should be what you want it to be, right? Except of course, here it is the wedding June wants, and Chloe just agrees to everything and Kristine just looks sick because she hasn't told anyone she thinks her marriage is over. Really it just comes down to the sad fact that I got bored. I find listening to people's wedding plans pretty boring, especially when they're the same-old thing as everyone else's. (I strongly object to the cliched idea that all women want to get married and all women imagined their dream wedding when they were little girls - what a crock of shit.) To be honest though, the title should have been enough to warn me. I just thought it would be more fun than it was.
All of these things overshadowed the parts that I did enjoy - like Chloe's first meeting with Geoff, that was fun. I found myself getting really angry with Chloe for not facing up to Geoff's expectations of her, which I'm sure was the point, as is the way you feel about Mary Beth, who's just horrible. There's a great scene actually, one of the ones I enjoyed, that highlights it:
"You look beautiful," he repeated. Looping an arm around her shoulder, Geoff pulled her in close. Chloe thought he was going to kiss her, but Mary Beth made short work of that idea.
"Daddy!" Ripping off a patent leather shoe, she flung it at Geoff's face. It hit him square in the jaw, just missing Chloe.
The other kids at the park gave up a collective gasp. Mary Beth was obviously In. For. It.
Dropping Chloe's hand, Geoff took a step away. "I'm so sorry. Mary Beth must feel threatened." Walking toward the jungle gym, he called, "Honey, let's go get that ice cream."
Ice cream seemed to be Geoff's go-to parenting move. And it was all wrong, as the women at the park were quick to point out.
"Ice cream? Hell no." A heavyset mother glared at Geoff. "Don't you set a bad example in front of my kids." The woman shook a thick finger at her daughter, as if her daughter had done something wrong. "You don't get ice cream after that."
The other parents nodded. Delighted to have everyone's attention, Mary Beth took off her other shoe and whipped it at Chloe. Catching it, she considered her options.
Kids needed security. They needed boundaries. Even though Chloe wanted Geoff to like her, letting Mary Beth run wild wasn't helping anyone. Especially not Mary Beth. "Geoff, can I please have your permission to get your daughter under control?"
"Fine." His expression was as petulant as Mary Beth's. "I don't know what to do anymore." [p.169]
Suffice it to say, I never really liked Geoff at all. As Chloe pointed out early on, for a psychologist, he makes a terrible father. But then she just feels bad for him and lets him use her as a nanny - which Ben points out to her and which she, naturally, takes badly.
After all the drama and goings-on in the book, the ending was rather pat. And needless to say, rather predictable as well. It all worked out so nicely - and no that's not a spoiler, this is chick-lit after all: they don't come with sad endings. I was left feeling a mix of things. Sad that I didn't get to know Kristine better, as she was the character I was most interested in (Chloe second), and relieved that it was finally all over. Not a great feeling to have when you finish a book. Aside from my dissatisfaction with the split narrative, it's well written and there're some really entertaining moments, but overall it was sadly lacking. I can see others enjoying this a lot more, especially if you enjoy wedding planning, the antics of a sprightly grandmother and women who take forever to realise that their male best friend is really in love with them.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
July 2, 2023
3.7 stars
April 9, 2018
Definitely a chick-lit, light romance and family dysfunction story which highlighted a buttinski grandmother, her daughter and her graduate student granddaughter and what happened along the way to the alter.
May 5, 2013
Reviewed by: Crystal B
Book provided by: publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
The first thing about Marriage Matters by Cynthia Ellingsen that caught my eye was the cover. It’s a very striking cover. After I read more I just could not wait to read this book. I love books about weddings. There is just something about a wedding that makes you feel happy. I really liked the characters in this book and felt instantly bonded to them.
Chloe is a busy girl with a LOT going on in her life. She has a hectic schedule with school and working part time. She doesn’t really have a lot of time for love. She unexpectedly meets a very nice man with a young daughter. Chloe find herself trying to make time for her new love and his daughter. She becomes engaged much to the dismay of her best friend Ben. I loved Chloe she is one determined young woman that knows what she wants out of her professional life and she is going after it. She just isn’t quite sure what she wants in her love life. She has some though choices to make for what is right for her. I enjoyed Chloe’s story of discovering a love that has always been there, she just didn’t see it.
Kristine is a married women that isn’t exactly happy with her marriage. Things just aren’t going well for her. She is busy running her business and missing her husband whom is gone a LOT. I liked how this part of the story shows how marriage still needs work after even after being together many years. I really enjoyed Kristine and Kevin’s story, Watching them over come the problems they have in their marriage and build on their love. These two have loved each other for years and still love each other even more then when they were married. What a wonderful love story.
Then there is June. Oh how I loved June! She is one spunky Grandma that ever so gently (well sometimes not so gently) leads her family in the right direction. I found June to be so much fun! She finds the second love her life in a very unlikely man that she has had an on going battle of mischief with. I adored June and Charley’s story. These two are so adorable! I could not help myself from giggling during parts of their story.
I really, really enjoyed this book. There is humor, drama, and love. I would really enjoy reading more more by Cynthia Ellingsen. I enjoyed her style of writing and the flow she has of telling us a great story.
Book provided by: publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
The first thing about Marriage Matters by Cynthia Ellingsen that caught my eye was the cover. It’s a very striking cover. After I read more I just could not wait to read this book. I love books about weddings. There is just something about a wedding that makes you feel happy. I really liked the characters in this book and felt instantly bonded to them.
Chloe is a busy girl with a LOT going on in her life. She has a hectic schedule with school and working part time. She doesn’t really have a lot of time for love. She unexpectedly meets a very nice man with a young daughter. Chloe find herself trying to make time for her new love and his daughter. She becomes engaged much to the dismay of her best friend Ben. I loved Chloe she is one determined young woman that knows what she wants out of her professional life and she is going after it. She just isn’t quite sure what she wants in her love life. She has some though choices to make for what is right for her. I enjoyed Chloe’s story of discovering a love that has always been there, she just didn’t see it.
Kristine is a married women that isn’t exactly happy with her marriage. Things just aren’t going well for her. She is busy running her business and missing her husband whom is gone a LOT. I liked how this part of the story shows how marriage still needs work after even after being together many years. I really enjoyed Kristine and Kevin’s story, Watching them over come the problems they have in their marriage and build on their love. These two have loved each other for years and still love each other even more then when they were married. What a wonderful love story.
Then there is June. Oh how I loved June! She is one spunky Grandma that ever so gently (well sometimes not so gently) leads her family in the right direction. I found June to be so much fun! She finds the second love her life in a very unlikely man that she has had an on going battle of mischief with. I adored June and Charley’s story. These two are so adorable! I could not help myself from giggling during parts of their story.
I really, really enjoyed this book. There is humor, drama, and love. I would really enjoy reading more more by Cynthia Ellingsen. I enjoyed her style of writing and the flow she has of telling us a great story.
December 18, 2017
Marriage DOES matter!
Good summer beach read! Second book I have read by this author. Think I am going for three! Book is about family and relationships.
Good summer beach read! Second book I have read by this author. Think I am going for three! Book is about family and relationships.
April 2, 2013
Cynthia Ellingsen's forte lies in describing close connections between women. In this book she portrays three generations of a family with warmth, realism, and a lot of laughs.
Chloe is a young woman in grad school with no time for men, except for her "best friend" living next door. Her mother, Kristine, throws herself into running a travel bookstore, to compensate for the fact that her husband is always on the road for work. And June, my favorite, is the commanding matriarch who hold the three generations together with boundless energy and a twinkle in her eye. She is battling her widower neighbor over the garden fence, resorting to rhodendendron-eating rabbits and full camoflage in her all-out war. She makes you want to join the family, or at least be invited to their parties.
Cynthia also describes the men in this trio's lives with compassion and a bit of spice. I especially appreciated seeing the details of the character's working lives and how they balance their ambitions with their relationships.
The prose flows easily (I read the 480 pages in just two days!) The shifts in perspective between the three characters give you insight into all three generations perspective. While June was my favorite character, I identified most with Kristine and Kevin's struggle to recommit to their marriage after 25 years, showing the heart of why "marriage matters".
The scenes in Italy were a mini vacation, and the cake tasting a feast for the senses, until it turns into an eating contest between Chloe and June for who will control the bachelorette party planning. Believe me, the better planner wins...that party is one of the funniest scenes in the book.
I recommend it for a great beach read, mother's day present or bridesmaid gift. A sure sign of a good book, I am missing the characters already. Although it seems to be categorized as Romantic Fiction, I think the complexity of the relationships place it more in a contemporary fiction category.
Favorite quote, when Kristine returns to Venice: "The air was think and humid, tinged with salt and something else sharp but subtle. The inside of an empty crab leg, the vague hint of brine, the wet rust of metal...It sparked something in her, A tiny piece of history, a moment."
Chloe is a young woman in grad school with no time for men, except for her "best friend" living next door. Her mother, Kristine, throws herself into running a travel bookstore, to compensate for the fact that her husband is always on the road for work. And June, my favorite, is the commanding matriarch who hold the three generations together with boundless energy and a twinkle in her eye. She is battling her widower neighbor over the garden fence, resorting to rhodendendron-eating rabbits and full camoflage in her all-out war. She makes you want to join the family, or at least be invited to their parties.
Cynthia also describes the men in this trio's lives with compassion and a bit of spice. I especially appreciated seeing the details of the character's working lives and how they balance their ambitions with their relationships.
The prose flows easily (I read the 480 pages in just two days!) The shifts in perspective between the three characters give you insight into all three generations perspective. While June was my favorite character, I identified most with Kristine and Kevin's struggle to recommit to their marriage after 25 years, showing the heart of why "marriage matters".
The scenes in Italy were a mini vacation, and the cake tasting a feast for the senses, until it turns into an eating contest between Chloe and June for who will control the bachelorette party planning. Believe me, the better planner wins...that party is one of the funniest scenes in the book.
I recommend it for a great beach read, mother's day present or bridesmaid gift. A sure sign of a good book, I am missing the characters already. Although it seems to be categorized as Romantic Fiction, I think the complexity of the relationships place it more in a contemporary fiction category.
Favorite quote, when Kristine returns to Venice: "The air was think and humid, tinged with salt and something else sharp but subtle. The inside of an empty crab leg, the vague hint of brine, the wet rust of metal...It sparked something in her, A tiny piece of history, a moment."
April 2, 2013
Marriage Matters: A Novel. Cynthia Ellingsen. Penguin Group (USA). April 2013. 496 pp. pbk. ISBN #: 9780425258002.
June, Kristine and Chloe are three generations of a feisty family who know what they want, at least up to this point. Each of their lives is about to be overturned, forcing new decisions that are more carefully arrived at and threatening to totally divide them or unite them more deeply than ever before! What a journey!
June is a great gardener, that is until her neighbor Charley puts up a glaring gazebo that starts a huge fight between the two neighbors. Add to that all June’s female friends think Charlie is “hot.” How will their growing animosity develop or at least how could a neighborly compromise emerge? Where will it go?
Kristine and Kevin have been married a long time and now Kristine is wondering if the best of their life together has passed forever. Kevin travels constantly and is exhausted and depleted when home. After winning a trip with one of her employees, she realizes that her marriage is on the rocks. Will Kristine call it quits and what should she do or not do? This part of the story undergoes several surprising twists and turns that make the reader flip those pages furiously to see what happens next.
Chloe is just too busy to think about romance. She’s working on an art therapy degree and is just about to blow it when a run-in with a very rude professor turns into something else. Is this really it? Or not? Is she destined to remain single or is the love of her life closer than she can see?
Various stages of romance and lack of same swing back and forth in the always fascinating pages of this funny, frustrating and tender story. Cynthia Ellingsen knows what lurks within the hearts and minds of every woman and the men who all too often don’t have a clue. Marriage Matters: A Novel leaves the reader questioning, reading, laughing and loving it all – nicely done, Cynthia Ellingsen!
June, Kristine and Chloe are three generations of a feisty family who know what they want, at least up to this point. Each of their lives is about to be overturned, forcing new decisions that are more carefully arrived at and threatening to totally divide them or unite them more deeply than ever before! What a journey!
June is a great gardener, that is until her neighbor Charley puts up a glaring gazebo that starts a huge fight between the two neighbors. Add to that all June’s female friends think Charlie is “hot.” How will their growing animosity develop or at least how could a neighborly compromise emerge? Where will it go?
Kristine and Kevin have been married a long time and now Kristine is wondering if the best of their life together has passed forever. Kevin travels constantly and is exhausted and depleted when home. After winning a trip with one of her employees, she realizes that her marriage is on the rocks. Will Kristine call it quits and what should she do or not do? This part of the story undergoes several surprising twists and turns that make the reader flip those pages furiously to see what happens next.
Chloe is just too busy to think about romance. She’s working on an art therapy degree and is just about to blow it when a run-in with a very rude professor turns into something else. Is this really it? Or not? Is she destined to remain single or is the love of her life closer than she can see?
Various stages of romance and lack of same swing back and forth in the always fascinating pages of this funny, frustrating and tender story. Cynthia Ellingsen knows what lurks within the hearts and minds of every woman and the men who all too often don’t have a clue. Marriage Matters: A Novel leaves the reader questioning, reading, laughing and loving it all – nicely done, Cynthia Ellingsen!
June 24, 2013
Weddings are pretty stressful affairs, especially considering it's supposed to be the best day of a woman's life... Imagine walking down the aisle, however, with your mother and grandmother! All three of you getting married on the same day!
Chloe is the granddaughter and she's engaged to a man who just may want her around solely to take care of his daughter...hum. Kristine has been married 25 years and it's going stale (he'd rather go hunting with his buddies than go to Italy with her!), but she's expected to renew her vows. Does she want to spend another 25 years with him? June swore off men since she was widowed, but she has this love/hate thing with her neighbor.
The story is funny with bits of humor here and there as all three women prepare to walk to down the aisle and plan their triple wedding. I laughed out loud at June's antics at destroying Charley's garden and her old lady friends competing for the same man. Chloe...I had a harder time with her. I was like "Are you blind???" Kristine--I totally got her. Her story had the most effect on me. She's tired, feels like her husband doesn't love her anymore, and is tempted by another man. It's a rut I imagine most marriage face at some point. And the way the author handled this was fantastic. At no point was this subplot distasteful or dirty.
I especially loved watching June and Charley move on from widowhood and into each other's arms while at the same time, maintaining the sweetest respect for their dead spouses. The family time between the three women warmed my heart too.
I have few more words. See the blog post: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
Chloe is the granddaughter and she's engaged to a man who just may want her around solely to take care of his daughter...hum. Kristine has been married 25 years and it's going stale (he'd rather go hunting with his buddies than go to Italy with her!), but she's expected to renew her vows. Does she want to spend another 25 years with him? June swore off men since she was widowed, but she has this love/hate thing with her neighbor.
The story is funny with bits of humor here and there as all three women prepare to walk to down the aisle and plan their triple wedding. I laughed out loud at June's antics at destroying Charley's garden and her old lady friends competing for the same man. Chloe...I had a harder time with her. I was like "Are you blind???" Kristine--I totally got her. Her story had the most effect on me. She's tired, feels like her husband doesn't love her anymore, and is tempted by another man. It's a rut I imagine most marriage face at some point. And the way the author handled this was fantastic. At no point was this subplot distasteful or dirty.
I especially loved watching June and Charley move on from widowhood and into each other's arms while at the same time, maintaining the sweetest respect for their dead spouses. The family time between the three women warmed my heart too.
I have few more words. See the blog post: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
April 4, 2013
I received a copy of Marriage Matters by Cynthia Ellingsen in exchange for an honest review. This story follows three lovely ladies – June, Kristine, and Chloe – as they prepare for their wedding. For June this will be her second marriage, after her husband’s passing years prior. For Kristine, a vow renewal after twenty-five years of marriage with husband Kevin, and for Chloe, her first trip down the aisle. The three women are also family, June being the grandmother to Chloe and leader of the pack. It is her idea for a triple wedding, but she doesn’t realize both her daughter and granddaughter are having doubts. Kristine is worried that her marriage to Kevin won’t survive if he keeps traveling for work, and Chloe wonders if fiancé Geoff loves her for her – or wants her as a mother for his young daughter. She also keeps having feelings for her best friend Ben...
What a sweet story! I really took a liking to June, who is clever, loving, and quite the prankster! I loved reading about her sly ways, but it was also clear she loved her family deeply. Kristine I wasn’t always so crazy about. She just seemed too ready to throw in the towel on her marriage, and I didn’t quite always get her reasoning. Poor Chloe was just confused, and found herself caught up in the excitement of wedding planning, trying on dresses, and taste-testing cake. It was fairly obvious who she was supposed to end up with, but watching her journey was a fun one. I had a great time reading this story, loved the family values that are written in, and think you should read this one!
What a sweet story! I really took a liking to June, who is clever, loving, and quite the prankster! I loved reading about her sly ways, but it was also clear she loved her family deeply. Kristine I wasn’t always so crazy about. She just seemed too ready to throw in the towel on her marriage, and I didn’t quite always get her reasoning. Poor Chloe was just confused, and found herself caught up in the excitement of wedding planning, trying on dresses, and taste-testing cake. It was fairly obvious who she was supposed to end up with, but watching her journey was a fun one. I had a great time reading this story, loved the family values that are written in, and think you should read this one!
April 16, 2013
Chloe, Kristine, and June are all planning weddings. Well, all planning a wedding for three, they are grandma, mom, and granddaughter and are all getting married in one sensational ceremony.
Chloe and Ben have been best friends for almost their whole lives. When Chloe gets engaged to Geoff with a G she is terrified to tell Ben, her best friend.
Married for 25 years, Kristine and Kevin are renewing their vows. Since Kevin’s job has him traveling more than he is home, their marriage is struggling. A trip that she goes on with an employee to Rome makes her wonder if her marriage is worth saving.
June is a meddling grandma and mom. She takes charge of planning this family wedding after her neighbor Charlie proposes. The rest of the family is struggling to keep her under control.
As I started reading Marriage Matters, I knew I would love this romantic comedy. I found myself putting faces to the characters and making them real people and making them my friends. I also loved that it was writing in a place I am very familiar with, Chicago. Living right outside the city I could relate to the weather, the closeness of neighbors, the cabbies, and the location.
As the wedding plans were made I could see exactly where each character was heading and was really looking forward to seeing how they got there. I was surprised that such a light read could have so much depth in the relationship and romance. I highly recommend this novel.
Chloe and Ben have been best friends for almost their whole lives. When Chloe gets engaged to Geoff with a G she is terrified to tell Ben, her best friend.
Married for 25 years, Kristine and Kevin are renewing their vows. Since Kevin’s job has him traveling more than he is home, their marriage is struggling. A trip that she goes on with an employee to Rome makes her wonder if her marriage is worth saving.
June is a meddling grandma and mom. She takes charge of planning this family wedding after her neighbor Charlie proposes. The rest of the family is struggling to keep her under control.
As I started reading Marriage Matters, I knew I would love this romantic comedy. I found myself putting faces to the characters and making them real people and making them my friends. I also loved that it was writing in a place I am very familiar with, Chicago. Living right outside the city I could relate to the weather, the closeness of neighbors, the cabbies, and the location.
As the wedding plans were made I could see exactly where each character was heading and was really looking forward to seeing how they got there. I was surprised that such a light read could have so much depth in the relationship and romance. I highly recommend this novel.
May 6, 2013
I won Marriage Matters through a Goodreads giveaway and I loved it! This book centers around three women (grandma, mom, daughter) who are all planning on getting married/renewing vows in the same ceremony and the journey they have leading up to the wedding. My first thought was this is going to be the typical book about a couple who finds love and first sight, get married, and live happily ever after. Even though there was some of this, the book wasn't all about how great being in love and getting married is. The author touched on the problems that arise in marriage/relationships as well. I found this realistic approach to be refreshing.
The characters were well developed. Grandma June is hilarious and really makes the story come alive. The story is not just about romantic relationships. It also focuses on the importance of family and the obstacles involved in incorporating family with one's romantic interest.
The characters were well developed. Grandma June is hilarious and really makes the story come alive. The story is not just about romantic relationships. It also focuses on the importance of family and the obstacles involved in incorporating family with one's romantic interest.
June 15, 2014
I received Marriage Matters as a free book from Goodreads. What follows is my honest review of this book.
The first thing to draw me to a book is the cover, and I was not at all disappointed in this one! From the photo to the font, this was just perfect. Marriage Matters was a great, fun read about a very special family. With daughter Chloe, mom Kristine, and grandma June all catching the bouquet simultaneously at a wedding they attend together, this story then takes us through their subsequent relationships up to their planned shared wedding ceremony. So many twists and turns develop in this story about love, friendship and family! There was a lot of humor, excellent character development and a great plot line, which kept me involved and barely able to put this book down to the absolute end! Let's get this one made into a movie! Should we cast Betty White as June, Diane Keaton as Kristine and Emma Watson as Chloe?
The first thing to draw me to a book is the cover, and I was not at all disappointed in this one! From the photo to the font, this was just perfect. Marriage Matters was a great, fun read about a very special family. With daughter Chloe, mom Kristine, and grandma June all catching the bouquet simultaneously at a wedding they attend together, this story then takes us through their subsequent relationships up to their planned shared wedding ceremony. So many twists and turns develop in this story about love, friendship and family! There was a lot of humor, excellent character development and a great plot line, which kept me involved and barely able to put this book down to the absolute end! Let's get this one made into a movie! Should we cast Betty White as June, Diane Keaton as Kristine and Emma Watson as Chloe?
April 9, 2013
I was a little wary of this book. I received it through first reads and when it arrived, it arrived at the worst possible moment. I think everyone has rough patches in their relationships but no one wants to be handed a book on marriage at that exact moment. I really felt that since I received it I needed to read and review it.
I was completely wrong about this book. I loved it. And it was exactly what I needed. Its humorous, its lighthearted and the characters are completely relate-able. All of the characters have very realistic and somewhat flawed relationships with each other. I don't mean just the couples but everyone, it comes across as very real.
This is the perfect summer book! Summer is coming and I think this is the perfect book to read on the beach. I really had trouble putting it down. June's antics are hysterical!
I was completely wrong about this book. I loved it. And it was exactly what I needed. Its humorous, its lighthearted and the characters are completely relate-able. All of the characters have very realistic and somewhat flawed relationships with each other. I don't mean just the couples but everyone, it comes across as very real.
This is the perfect summer book! Summer is coming and I think this is the perfect book to read on the beach. I really had trouble putting it down. June's antics are hysterical!
May 14, 2013
I won this book through the First Reads giveaway and was very pleased with it. It's a fun story about the love lives of three women, a daughter, her mother, and her grandmother. The characters are relatable and fun; their family bond is something that everybody should want to have with their own families.
I loved this book, I finished it in two days. It was very well written, the character development was pretty impressive. I'd recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great story with romance for every one. It was very easy for me to read and I couldn't put it down.
Big thank you goes out to Cynthia Ellingsen and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely novel!!
I loved this book, I finished it in two days. It was very well written, the character development was pretty impressive. I'd recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great story with romance for every one. It was very easy for me to read and I couldn't put it down.
Big thank you goes out to Cynthia Ellingsen and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely novel!!
June 4, 2014
A book that has happiness, sadness, anger, and love. This book manages to tell the story of three women who are family (grandmother, mother, and child)- who jointly catch the wedding bouquet. You expect the funniness from the very beginning of the story and the author delivers. But that does not make this a like, feel-good novel. Instead she explores all aspects of feelings and love, disappointment and need. Every emotion a woman can feel in a relationship is portrayed by these character while maintaining the importance of family. The characters were amazing and I really enjoyed this book.
April 10, 2013
This book is hilarious. It actually caught me off guard, considering the very pretty, girly cover. But the women within the pages are fiercely funny. I couldn't help but smile everytime Grandma June graced the page. What a hoot! But beyond the humor, there is a sweetness about these women and their love, not only for the men in their lives, but for one another. the title may say marriage matters, but the real tug of the novel is the importance of family - and the lengths we will go for those we love. A fantastic fun read.
June 26, 2013
This was a good book and Goodreads giveaway. I have to say that there is no way I'd ever get married with my mom and grandmother, well maybe :). It is stressful enough with the planning and everyone watching you on your day.
In this book, to sum it up quickly, You have 3 generations of family who to decide to "share a wedding". How can you do that when one wants something simple, one is confused about marriage (renewing her vows) and one wants a dream wedding?
I'm passing this book on to my girls and mother to read now.
In this book, to sum it up quickly, You have 3 generations of family who to decide to "share a wedding". How can you do that when one wants something simple, one is confused about marriage (renewing her vows) and one wants a dream wedding?
I'm passing this book on to my girls and mother to read now.
July 21, 2013
I don't think I have ever felt like a book cover does not fit the book quite as much as I do with Marriage Matters. This book should have had a more light hearted cover as this book was a pretty light hearted read. June, the grandmother, was a hoot, trying to run everybody's lives.
It ended up being a pretty good book and I was really glad that I was wrong about an assumption I made in the beginning of the book. I was hiking I was going to be wrong. Want to know what I was wrong about? You'll have to read the book yourself, but I'll give you a hint. It is in regards to Kevin.
It ended up being a pretty good book and I was really glad that I was wrong about an assumption I made in the beginning of the book. I was hiking I was going to be wrong. Want to know what I was wrong about? You'll have to read the book yourself, but I'll give you a hint. It is in regards to Kevin.
January 10, 2014
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. THE LOVE STORIES OF THE 3 WOMEN, A GRANDMOTHER-JUNE, A MOTHER-KRISTINE, AND A DAUGHTER-CHLOE, are interwoven and need the input/support of the others. The ending is fabulous and there are plot twists to keep it interesting. the travel bookstore is based on the college friend of the author, whose sister is a supervisor in my office. Six degrees of separation!!!
August 26, 2013
I could not put this book down. It is a wonderful story about Love and wedding planning. It is story of grandmother, daughter and granddaughter and their journey through love and do they have the right man.
August 28, 2013
This book made you think about the love of family and how important family is. Very well written book about three generations of love.
May 5, 2013
Fun, quick, easy read. Loved the characters! Great way to smart my summer reading!
May 15, 2013
Read the review at: Marriage Matters
May 25, 2013
Really enjoyed this one. This is the first novel I've read by Ms Ellingsen and certainly wont be my last. Looking forward to her next novel and to finding a copy of her first book.
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