What do you think?
Rate this book
Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly: A Novel
MP3 CD Format From the author of The Restoration of Celia Fairchild, comes a novel about the meaning of family and the places we call home. If you love "southern summer" fiction authors like Mary Alice Monroe and Kristy Woodson Harvey you'll love this delicious novel about family, friendship, and finding your true path in life. Esme Cahill thinks she has failed fired from her New York City publishing job, divorced from her husband, and possessing little more than a broken-down car and a pile of unfinished manuscripts, she drives home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother, Adele, who had begged her, just before she died, to return to the place she grew up. There she discovers the once-charming lakeside retreat run by her family is sliding toward financial ruin, so with the help of her grandfather, George; estranged mother, Robyn; and a travelling chef Dawes (maker of the world's best grilled cheese sandwich) they set to work. In the attic, Esme unearths a trove of museum-worthy art quilts, sewn by Adele. Piecing together the inspiration behind them, Esme discovers a forgotten chapter in her family history and her grandmother's untold story, that of a gifted artist who never received her due. This is an always-emotional, sometimes humorous, very human novel of what it means to be family--the ties that bind us together and the unintentional hurts that can rend us apart. And, along the way, Esme learns that failure can be the first step toward the life you're meant to find.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published May 30, 2023
284 people are currently reading
9664 people want to read
About the author
Marie Bostwick
41 books1,746 followersMarie Bostwick is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of uplifting historical and contemporary fiction. She lives in the state of Washington and travels frequently to sign books, speak to reading groups, and meet her readers. Keep up with Marie, her travels, new releases and lifestyle blog, Fiercely Marie, at www.mariebostwick.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 502 reviews
August 11, 2023
Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick
Contemporary women’s fiction. Chick lit.
Esme Cahill returns home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother. She feels leaving New York’s publishing industry as a failure of her lifelong goals. She finds the once charming lakeside retreat is run down, sad, and closer to financial ruin. Esme, her mother and grandfather come up with a plan to do the repairs themselves, and renew the retreat for the future. While working on repairs and reorganizing, Esme finds quilts her grandmother made and untold stories of her life. Esme starts putting together a history that needs to be shared.
Family is a large part of this book, both related and made. The residents ban together for a common goal. She finds that she didn’t fail at life at all. It’s simply a different chapter now in life.
Emotional, strengthening, and a reminder that a moment in time is not a whole life.
Contemporary women’s fiction. Chick lit.
Esme Cahill returns home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother. She feels leaving New York’s publishing industry as a failure of her lifelong goals. She finds the once charming lakeside retreat is run down, sad, and closer to financial ruin. Esme, her mother and grandfather come up with a plan to do the repairs themselves, and renew the retreat for the future. While working on repairs and reorganizing, Esme finds quilts her grandmother made and untold stories of her life. Esme starts putting together a history that needs to be shared.
Family is a large part of this book, both related and made. The residents ban together for a common goal. She finds that she didn’t fail at life at all. It’s simply a different chapter now in life.
Emotional, strengthening, and a reminder that a moment in time is not a whole life.
February 18, 2023
I learned a new word recently. Apricity. It means the warmth of the sun in winter. That’s kind of how I feel after reading the latest Marie Bostwick book. I felt warmed in winter. Esme returns home after a major change in her life and career. She thinks she’s failed spectacularly, but she hasn’t. What she’s given is a chance to learn more about her family, her upbringing, and the people who mean the most to her. Sometimes a significant change later in life isn’t such a horrible thing. In actuality, it’s exactly what we need. With a dual POV from past and present, we learned so much about this family, the life they lead, and the choices they made. Beautiful, insightful, funny, and heartwarming. Apricity.
~Tanja
*ARC via publisher
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok
~Tanja
*ARC via publisher
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok
February 28, 2023
Having lost her job and her marriage, Esme Cahill returns to the lake resort where she was raised by her grandparents. Her grandmother, Adele, had asked Esme to return to Last Lake just before she passed away. Now Esme finds her grandfather, George, and her estranged mother, Robyn struggling to keep the resort out of financial ruin. Not only are the finances shaky, but the resort itself is run down as well. On top of that, George has hired a mysterious (handsome) new chef that lives out of a van.
In a storage room, along with Adele's beautiful quilts, sits a box of items Adele left for Esme. As she goes through the box, Esme slowly unravels her grandmother's secret past and a beautiful love story.
. I think that one of the things I enjoyed so much about the story is that it adds a few touches of the unexpected. There are quite a few "stories within the story". Esme's relationship with her mother is strained at best since Esme was taken from her care as a child and placed in her grandparents' custody. Both Robyn and Esme have their share of regrets, and Robyn has a few secrets of her own.
Esme's story is interspersed with chapters of Adele's. As Esme finally learns what brought Esme to Asheville and why she decided to stay, she has to take a long look at herself and her own life choices. This is a book about our dreams and the decisions we make to follow them, or let them go.
Read this book if...
...you love southern fiction
... you love stories of coming home
... you love books about family.
In a storage room, along with Adele's beautiful quilts, sits a box of items Adele left for Esme. As she goes through the box, Esme slowly unravels her grandmother's secret past and a beautiful love story.
. I think that one of the things I enjoyed so much about the story is that it adds a few touches of the unexpected. There are quite a few "stories within the story". Esme's relationship with her mother is strained at best since Esme was taken from her care as a child and placed in her grandparents' custody. Both Robyn and Esme have their share of regrets, and Robyn has a few secrets of her own.
Esme's story is interspersed with chapters of Adele's. As Esme finally learns what brought Esme to Asheville and why she decided to stay, she has to take a long look at herself and her own life choices. This is a book about our dreams and the decisions we make to follow them, or let them go.
Read this book if...
...you love southern fiction
... you love stories of coming home
... you love books about family.
March 11, 2024
I have been a fan of Marie Bostwick since her Cobbled Court series. Each of her books have well developed characters and include quilting and cooking (two of my favorite hobbies) in the storyline. I truly enjoyed Esme's growth throughout the novel, along with all the supporting characters. Another wonderful book.
April 24, 2024
3.5 stars.
"Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly" by Marie Bostwick is a lovely little book full of changing minds, second chances, redemption, discovered secrets, and altered lives. The characters are grand, and I found myself attached to them by the book's end. I loved Esme and her grandmother Adele. We learn about their lives as they unfold across a dual timeline. As Esme licks her wounds from a divorce, the loss of a job, and the loss of her grandmother, she learns what's really important in Asheville, NC, where she is from (though it is a place where she hasn't been back to in quite some time). Esme decides to use her savings to help repair and renovate the family business, a rustic resort lodge in the mountains, where her grandpa George and her estranged mother Robin reside. While she's there, Esme discovers another side of Adele when she finds a box of quilts that she made throughout her life, as well as many letters detailing her life and her relationship with George in the 1940s. Esme gets the idea to write about her grandmother and hopes to get the book published. The longer she stays at the resort in North Carolina, the longer her pull back to New York dwindles. Esme has always been a perfectionist and a rule follower, someone who thinks ad nauseum before leaping into anything, so when she jumps at the chance to renovate the resort without so much as a backup plan, it's surprising to everyone around her. She eventually finds that she prefers a more quiet, laid-back life to the Big Apple rat race by connecting with her grandmother's written word and stitched creations. I think this story is pretty successful, though it does go on a bit long. I figured out what was going to happen long before it was ever written. This story reminds me of something I have read before, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's an amalgam of a lot of different books rolled into one. It's familiar, sure, but does enough new stuff that I was never bored by it (despite its length). This would be a *very* successful Hallmark Channel adaptation. Put this on your summer reading list for sure. It passes the small-town vibe check.
Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Bostwick, and William Morrow for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly" by Marie Bostwick is a lovely little book full of changing minds, second chances, redemption, discovered secrets, and altered lives. The characters are grand, and I found myself attached to them by the book's end. I loved Esme and her grandmother Adele. We learn about their lives as they unfold across a dual timeline. As Esme licks her wounds from a divorce, the loss of a job, and the loss of her grandmother, she learns what's really important in Asheville, NC, where she is from (though it is a place where she hasn't been back to in quite some time). Esme decides to use her savings to help repair and renovate the family business, a rustic resort lodge in the mountains, where her grandpa George and her estranged mother Robin reside. While she's there, Esme discovers another side of Adele when she finds a box of quilts that she made throughout her life, as well as many letters detailing her life and her relationship with George in the 1940s. Esme gets the idea to write about her grandmother and hopes to get the book published. The longer she stays at the resort in North Carolina, the longer her pull back to New York dwindles. Esme has always been a perfectionist and a rule follower, someone who thinks ad nauseum before leaping into anything, so when she jumps at the chance to renovate the resort without so much as a backup plan, it's surprising to everyone around her. She eventually finds that she prefers a more quiet, laid-back life to the Big Apple rat race by connecting with her grandmother's written word and stitched creations. I think this story is pretty successful, though it does go on a bit long. I figured out what was going to happen long before it was ever written. This story reminds me of something I have read before, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's an amalgam of a lot of different books rolled into one. It's familiar, sure, but does enough new stuff that I was never bored by it (despite its length). This would be a *very* successful Hallmark Channel adaptation. Put this on your summer reading list for sure. It passes the small-town vibe check.
Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Bostwick, and William Morrow for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
June 5, 2023
Beautiful story about finding where you’re supposed to be. I liked the dual timeline but was happy that the story was mostly told in the present rather than every other chapter. While I enjoyed the setting and the story overall, I felt that this book dragged on in places and was entirely too long to tell the same story that others have done before; there is nothing new here – MC goes home after “insert recent failure here”, struggles to get along with family and finds a way to save them all. I would have liked more focus on either George and Adele, the lodge, or Dawes, but this book just slightly tells a little about each so there’s no full story to get lost in.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
May 1, 2023
This was my first book by this author, and would be a perfect read for a hammock or a porch swing -- sweeping you away to a family-owned North Carolina summer camp in need of every kind of TLC.
ESME CAHILL FAILS SPECTACULARLY will make you think twice about what "failure" really means: It's a cozy and warm yet artfully told story of coming home again, forgiveness, rediscovering our parents and grandparents through adult eyes, reinventing ourselves as we grow, and learning to let go.
ESME CAHILL FAILS SPECTACULARLY will make you think twice about what "failure" really means: It's a cozy and warm yet artfully told story of coming home again, forgiveness, rediscovering our parents and grandparents through adult eyes, reinventing ourselves as we grow, and learning to let go.
September 1, 2023
So this one marks the 100th book that meets my reading goal for 2023. And I’m so glad it was a great one! Started off fine, but then each chapter slowly sucks you in. Read this if only for the relentlessly endearing character (grandpa) George. How grand it would be if everyone had a George in their life ❤️
July 4, 2023
Много се радвам, че в тези юлски жарки дни успях да прочета Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly на Marie Bostwick! Това не е, " което се продава в момента - изключително концептуални неща, книги, които можете да обясните с едно изречение, с огромни обрати на сюжета, екзотична обстановка, ярки граници между доброто и злото.“ Напротив. " Esme Cahill...." е тиха книга. Разкриваща обичайните ежедневни борби за утвърждаване на млад човек в работата, откритията и разочарования в личния живот и връзката с детството му, която идва като спасение или самопознаване в определен момент. Книгата съдържа всички любими за мен елементи на приятното четиво : работата на книжния издател и ролята му в раждането на чудесни заглавия; любящи баба и дядо, които са стабилни като живота и остават наследство от емоции и история; място сред езерата и хълмовете, осеяно с дървени хижи, предоставящи почивка сред природата. И още : вкусна храна, идеи за нови рецепти и заземяващото усещане за принадлежност в близост до семейството. Както в реалността, животът на Есме предлага завръщане, разочарования, хъс за успех, планове за ново начало и между всичко това шеметни и неочаквани събития и срещи.
Тишината в книгата има свойството да ни накара да се отдалечим от хаоса, с който живеем, и да ни върне нормалността на желаното, макар и непризнато търсене на уюта. Душевния, емоционалния и физическия. Онзи, в който се развиваме най - сигурни , даваме най - доброто от себе си и откриваме частици от миналото на предците си. А сред това се учим да прощаваме и да обичаме!
Абсолютно удоволствие беше и стила, с който пише Marie Bostwick! Чувство за хумор на точното място. Без страстни влюбвания от нищото на всяка страница. И чиста доза уважение към любовта, която прави родители от онези, които я засвидетелстват към едно дете.
* " Сигурността на смъртта вероятно е една от малкото абсолютни истини в живота, но ние не знаем почти нищо за нея. Хората имат своите мнения, но всъщност никой не знае къде отиват хората, когато ги няма, защото никой не се връща, за да ви каже."
* " Което означава, че разбирате какво представлява четенето: намиране на връзка, знаейки, че не сме единствените, които се борят или мечтаят. Трябва да разбереш другите хора, преди да разбереш себе си."
Тишината в книгата има свойството да ни накара да се отдалечим от хаоса, с който живеем, и да ни върне нормалността на желаното, макар и непризнато търсене на уюта. Душевния, емоционалния и физическия. Онзи, в който се развиваме най - сигурни , даваме най - доброто от себе си и откриваме частици от миналото на предците си. А сред това се учим да прощаваме и да обичаме!
Абсолютно удоволствие беше и стила, с който пише Marie Bostwick! Чувство за хумор на точното място. Без страстни влюбвания от нищото на всяка страница. И чиста доза уважение към любовта, която прави родители от онези, които я засвидетелстват към едно дете.
* " Сигурността на смъртта вероятно е една от малкото абсолютни истини в живота, но ние не знаем почти нищо за нея. Хората имат своите мнения, но всъщност никой не знае къде отиват хората, когато ги няма, защото никой не се връща, за да ви каже."
* " Което означава, че разбирате какво представлява четенето: намиране на връзка, знаейки, че не сме единствените, които се борят или мечтаят. Трябва да разбереш другите хора, преди да разбереш себе си."
June 8, 2023
This is a wonderful story. A true gem of a book. I absolutely loved it.
March 23, 2023
When Esme Cahill loses her marriage, her job and her grandmother Adele in quick succession, she packs up her life and moves back to Asheville, NC. Once there, she realizes the Lodge her grandparents have owned forever is at risk of going under and her now-widowered grandfather George is struggling with dementia. Esme commits to staying in Asheville for the summer, to help her estranged mother Robyn turn the Lodge around.
This reads like a book club selection, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but ultimately this book wasn't a great fit for me personally. I felt like the book zoomed through a lot of story, and it was hard for me to feel a connection with any of the characters. The interstitial chapters set in the 1940s, where we meet Adele and George as young adults first coming together, are the most interesting, but even those feel really surface level.
There is also the possible love interest for Esme in Dawes, and quite frankly I got whiplash from how often we snapped back and forth between Esme being interested and then not interested and then maybe interested and then definitely not? It didn't resolve itself until the very end, and I think honestly Dawes could have stood on his own as a character without ever needing to add that (unsatisfying) element.
This would be a good summer book club selection, as I think it brings up a lot of good discussion points, but I don't know that I would want to read it on its own without having anyone to talk to about it. But for fans of light summer reads with some historical elements, it has it's merits. For me personally, it was a two star read. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
This reads like a book club selection, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but ultimately this book wasn't a great fit for me personally. I felt like the book zoomed through a lot of story, and it was hard for me to feel a connection with any of the characters. The interstitial chapters set in the 1940s, where we meet Adele and George as young adults first coming together, are the most interesting, but even those feel really surface level.
There is also the possible love interest for Esme in Dawes, and quite frankly I got whiplash from how often we snapped back and forth between Esme being interested and then not interested and then maybe interested and then definitely not? It didn't resolve itself until the very end, and I think honestly Dawes could have stood on his own as a character without ever needing to add that (unsatisfying) element.
This would be a good summer book club selection, as I think it brings up a lot of good discussion points, but I don't know that I would want to read it on its own without having anyone to talk to about it. But for fans of light summer reads with some historical elements, it has it's merits. For me personally, it was a two star read. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
May 30, 2023
Marie Bostwick pulled me into the story of Esme Cahill, who finds herself divorced, loses her beloved grandmother, and her job. Her dreams of a garden apartment and writing her own novel are dashed. She soon finds herself defeated and heads back to her grandparent’s lakeside resort to regroup for the summer.
Esme hasn’t been back since her estranged mother showed up years ago and is shocked to see the place rundown and her grandfather having issues. Esme plans to stay until summer’s end. A package from her late grandmother sets her on a journey to discover more about her and the quilts she made. I loved this thread with its touches of magical realism and history.
I loved Esme and enjoyed the growth we witness in her from restoring the resort to dealings with a curmudgeon writer. I laughed, cheered, cried, and felt as if I were there.
The lakeside resort is delightful and the new cook whips up delectable dishes and cakes. All the food talk had me wanting to pack my bags and visit for a week.
You’ll cheer Esme on as she tries to save the resort, reunite with an old friend and enjoy the possibilities of a new romance. This story has it all, from mending relationships to restoring your passion.
Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly is the PERFECT beach read this summer. Fans of family, healing and finding yourself will love Esme. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Esme hasn’t been back since her estranged mother showed up years ago and is shocked to see the place rundown and her grandfather having issues. Esme plans to stay until summer’s end. A package from her late grandmother sets her on a journey to discover more about her and the quilts she made. I loved this thread with its touches of magical realism and history.
I loved Esme and enjoyed the growth we witness in her from restoring the resort to dealings with a curmudgeon writer. I laughed, cheered, cried, and felt as if I were there.
The lakeside resort is delightful and the new cook whips up delectable dishes and cakes. All the food talk had me wanting to pack my bags and visit for a week.
You’ll cheer Esme on as she tries to save the resort, reunite with an old friend and enjoy the possibilities of a new romance. This story has it all, from mending relationships to restoring your passion.
Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly is the PERFECT beach read this summer. Fans of family, healing and finding yourself will love Esme. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
May 30, 2023
Happy Publication Day to Marie Bostwick for Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly! I finished this novel late last night, and let me tell you—it did NOT disappoint! This was an absolute delight, my friends. It’s a historical fiction/southern fiction/contemporary fiction mash-up with a sprinkle of romance thrown in. There’s truly something for everyone, and no doubt about it, Esme Cahill will charm the socks right off of you. She’s down on her luck, recently divorced, and just got fired from her New York City publishing job. She decides to make her way back home to Asheville, North Carolina, and the plot excitedly thickens from there.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama
- Dual timelines
- Complex mother/daughter relationships
- North Carolina lakeside resort setting
- Southern charm and hospitality
- Summer vibes galore
- Friendship fiction
- Writer’s life/publishing world
- Second chances/starting over stories
- A book within a book
This is the first novel I’ve read by Marie Bostwick, but definitely won’t be my last. If you’re a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey or Mary Alice Monroe, I highly recommend that you read this book. You won’t be disappointed—trust me! 4.5/5 stars for Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly! Grab your copy TODAY!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama
- Dual timelines
- Complex mother/daughter relationships
- North Carolina lakeside resort setting
- Southern charm and hospitality
- Summer vibes galore
- Friendship fiction
- Writer’s life/publishing world
- Second chances/starting over stories
- A book within a book
This is the first novel I’ve read by Marie Bostwick, but definitely won’t be my last. If you’re a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey or Mary Alice Monroe, I highly recommend that you read this book. You won’t be disappointed—trust me! 4.5/5 stars for Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly! Grab your copy TODAY!
August 4, 2023
This is my 12th book by the great Marie Bostwick and oh how I’ve missed her. I was excited when I saw she had a new one come out. I’ve always enjoyed her quilting stories and this one has some in it too. A nice charming story. Loved it!
August 14, 2023
A book about coming home, family, and the importance of learning from your perceived failures. How those failures aren't failures but stepping stones. Heartwarming and endearing.
Set in North Carolina and chalk full of southern charm (and recipes!)
Recap:
Esme's marriage has failed and she has also recently lost her job as an editor so she heads home to her grandparents camp style inn to help out for the summer while she regroup.
While there she will have to face a mother from which she is mostly estranged after she (Robyn) makes some unfortunate choices that ultimately land her in jail and cause her to lose custody of Esme when she is only 10 years old.
Her grandfather is showing the early signs of dementia but still manages to hire a new chef who is very talented but is also living out of his van.
All of these characters will band together to make the property profitable again, mostly by making it a wedding destination.
On the way she will be met with a grumpy author who needs her editing expertise, while simultaneously writing the beautiful love story of her grandparents which showcases Adele's artistry with quilts.
In the end she is offered her editing job back and almost takes it, before her old friend offers to publish her book.
Now as a published author and part owner of the property, she sets off to live a life that's better than she ever dreamed.
Set in North Carolina and chalk full of southern charm (and recipes!)
Recap:
Esme's marriage has failed and she has also recently lost her job as an editor so she heads home to her grandparents camp style inn to help out for the summer while she regroup.
While there she will have to face a mother from which she is mostly estranged after she (Robyn) makes some unfortunate choices that ultimately land her in jail and cause her to lose custody of Esme when she is only 10 years old.
Her grandfather is showing the early signs of dementia but still manages to hire a new chef who is very talented but is also living out of his van.
All of these characters will band together to make the property profitable again, mostly by making it a wedding destination.
On the way she will be met with a grumpy author who needs her editing expertise, while simultaneously writing the beautiful love story of her grandparents which showcases Adele's artistry with quilts.
In the end she is offered her editing job back and almost takes it, before her old friend offers to publish her book.
Now as a published author and part owner of the property, she sets off to live a life that's better than she ever dreamed.
July 15, 2023
This was a feel good dual timeline family drama set at a struggling North Carolina lakeside resort that sees Esme returning home after her grandmother dies and she gets fired from her New York City editor job.
Esme is determined to save the resort and is forced to make amends with her estranged mother, Robin. She also develops feelings for the resort chef and takes solace in reconnecting with her ailing grandfather George.
When Esme discovers a box of letters and old quilts from her grandmother and learns about her and George's love story and finds inspiration to write their story, hoping this is the book she'll finally be able to get published.
This was a moving summer story with good disability rep (dyslexia and synesthesia). Perfect for fans of Kristy Henry Woodson and Dorthea Frank Benton or fans of the Elyssa Friedland's Last summer at the Golden Hotel or J Ryan Stradel's Saturday night at the Lakeside Supper Club. Good on audio too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Esme is determined to save the resort and is forced to make amends with her estranged mother, Robin. She also develops feelings for the resort chef and takes solace in reconnecting with her ailing grandfather George.
When Esme discovers a box of letters and old quilts from her grandmother and learns about her and George's love story and finds inspiration to write their story, hoping this is the book she'll finally be able to get published.
This was a moving summer story with good disability rep (dyslexia and synesthesia). Perfect for fans of Kristy Henry Woodson and Dorthea Frank Benton or fans of the Elyssa Friedland's Last summer at the Golden Hotel or J Ryan Stradel's Saturday night at the Lakeside Supper Club. Good on audio too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
May 16, 2024
Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly is absolutely delightful! What's not to love . . . a lakeside retreat run by the protagonist's grandparents, discovering the story behind her grandmother's quilts and mending family relationships. It's a touching, and sometimes humorous, take on failing, taking risks and through it all finding your path in life. To top it off, the author also offers book club discussion questions as well as some recipes (that are referred to in the story) on her website. Talk about going the extra mile! It's my first Marie Bostwick read but it definitely won't be my last!
June 20, 2023
this! is!! a!!! perfect!!!! book!!!!!✨ after having just recently read Carley Fortune’s “Meet Me at the Lake” I couldn’t help but compare these two stories of women who leave their lives in the big city to return to the lakeside resort where they grew up after the deaths of maternal figures in their lives….but the similarities stop there as Bostwick’s story contains sO much depth & is a stunning portrayal of family, community & legacy with a lil bit of mystery whereas Fortune’s—as detailed by a previous review—was a confused mess.*
I’m absolutely shook by Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly. It incorporates real history & portrays an inspiring amount of creativity, imagination & imagery. I am FLOORED. The back & forth between present day Esme at Last Lake Lodge picking up the pieces post Adele’s death & 1940s Adele’s life first arriving to Asheville was sO well done ?? was hooked since the beginning & didn’t once feel a twinge of disappointment.
Towards the end when Esme is reading George his love story with Adele & him not remembering it’s his own due to dementia is very much giving “The Notebook” + the detailing & uncovering mystery of an iconic older woman’s life into a book was giving a bit of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” & I was fully, utterly HERE FOR IT!!!!! Also was absolutely obsessed with the fact that just when things started to feel a lil predictable in this book, something shifted & kept me on my toes. This is a new all-time favorite & one I will not stop talking about & recommending. truly captures the essence of life & change & complicates family. Incredible amazing chefs kiss. now tHIS is a STORY!!
*Note: super odd to me that these came out at the same time, hence were written around the same time & are so parallel in plot…again distinctly different outcomes but it’s just nuts? are they in kahoots? something is happening here
QUOTES🥹 so many lil nuggets
- “Five days later, Adele died of a stroke. I couldn’t believe it. She was eighty-three, but, somehow, I thought she’d go on forever. Maybe that’s why I was able to hold myself together in the immediate aftermath, because it didn’t seem real” thinking of Mamie
- “When it comes to our lives, the absolute truth is less important than the truth we believe. For good or for ill, what we believe about ourselves is what shapes our life, our future, our legacy; that is our story” (chapter13)
- “Good books are written; great books are rewritten” (C 19)
- ❤️“Everything is a story…the stuff that happens to us is just…stuff. The only reason it means anything is because we attach stories to it, declarations of what wedge decided is true and worth passing on. Without stories, there aren’t any memories” (C 20)
- “Names are like words, possessing no inherent meaning in & of themselves, & easily forgotten. It’s actions line that makes the lasting mark, and things we do or create that reveal what we believe and care about, that testify to our presence long after we’re gone” (“ordinary triumph”)
- “Life has a way of steering you toward the path you’re meant to take, whether you meant to take it or not” (chapter 32)
- “Anything worth doing takes longer than you think. Mistakes are a gift, the way we discover what actually works” (C32)
- ❤️ “You can work hard, & you should. Because even the most spectacular failure serves its purpose, setting you up for the success to come…the stuff that really matters tends to come with a built-in timeline that���s usually a secret & almost always different than yours. But it’s worth the wait, believe me” (C 35) YALLLLL screaming crying throwing up at this quote
- “For the first time in my life, I’m not waiting for anything to happen. I am savoring all I have & all I am in this moment” (C 35)
I’m absolutely shook by Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly. It incorporates real history & portrays an inspiring amount of creativity, imagination & imagery. I am FLOORED. The back & forth between present day Esme at Last Lake Lodge picking up the pieces post Adele’s death & 1940s Adele’s life first arriving to Asheville was sO well done ?? was hooked since the beginning & didn’t once feel a twinge of disappointment.
Towards the end when Esme is reading George his love story with Adele & him not remembering it’s his own due to dementia is very much giving “The Notebook” + the detailing & uncovering mystery of an iconic older woman’s life into a book was giving a bit of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” & I was fully, utterly HERE FOR IT!!!!! Also was absolutely obsessed with the fact that just when things started to feel a lil predictable in this book, something shifted & kept me on my toes. This is a new all-time favorite & one I will not stop talking about & recommending. truly captures the essence of life & change & complicates family. Incredible amazing chefs kiss. now tHIS is a STORY!!
*Note: super odd to me that these came out at the same time, hence were written around the same time & are so parallel in plot…again distinctly different outcomes but it’s just nuts? are they in kahoots? something is happening here
QUOTES🥹 so many lil nuggets
- “Five days later, Adele died of a stroke. I couldn’t believe it. She was eighty-three, but, somehow, I thought she’d go on forever. Maybe that’s why I was able to hold myself together in the immediate aftermath, because it didn’t seem real” thinking of Mamie
- “When it comes to our lives, the absolute truth is less important than the truth we believe. For good or for ill, what we believe about ourselves is what shapes our life, our future, our legacy; that is our story” (chapter13)
- “Good books are written; great books are rewritten” (C 19)
- ❤️“Everything is a story…the stuff that happens to us is just…stuff. The only reason it means anything is because we attach stories to it, declarations of what wedge decided is true and worth passing on. Without stories, there aren’t any memories” (C 20)
- “Names are like words, possessing no inherent meaning in & of themselves, & easily forgotten. It’s actions line that makes the lasting mark, and things we do or create that reveal what we believe and care about, that testify to our presence long after we’re gone” (“ordinary triumph”)
- “Life has a way of steering you toward the path you’re meant to take, whether you meant to take it or not” (chapter 32)
- “Anything worth doing takes longer than you think. Mistakes are a gift, the way we discover what actually works” (C32)
- ❤️ “You can work hard, & you should. Because even the most spectacular failure serves its purpose, setting you up for the success to come…the stuff that really matters tends to come with a built-in timeline that���s usually a secret & almost always different than yours. But it’s worth the wait, believe me” (C 35) YALLLLL screaming crying throwing up at this quote
- “For the first time in my life, I’m not waiting for anything to happen. I am savoring all I have & all I am in this moment” (C 35)
September 4, 2023
Heartwarming tale of a woman lost after her life implodes. Esme Cahill finds herself fired from her dream job book editing in NYC on the heels of her divorce. Shattered, she heads back to North Carolina, to her grandfather as her beloved grandmother had just passed away. She finds her estranged mother and grandfather struggling to keep rustic resort open. Tucked away is a story within the story of her grandmother, her war years and the glorious quilts she created. An enjoyable sick read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2023
The title of this book, so similar in style to the titles of many popular books today, promises something quirky, light, smart, and fun. This book is none of those things.
This book is a slow and self-congratulatory story of a writer who can’t stop talking about how amazing her book is. If her book were really that amazing, then that should have been the book that was published.
I did like the sense of place—the lodge on the water. But that was about it.
This book is a slow and self-congratulatory story of a writer who can’t stop talking about how amazing her book is. If her book were really that amazing, then that should have been the book that was published.
I did like the sense of place—the lodge on the water. But that was about it.
November 23, 2023
Un libro cálido y familiar.Me ha gustado
April 20, 2025
I don’t think I was vibing with it at the time. I just wanted to finish it to read another book.
Maybe I will like it better another time because the quilting a fly fishing aspects were right up my alley.
Mild swearing.
Maybe I will like it better another time because the quilting a fly fishing aspects were right up my alley.
Mild swearing.
June 12, 2023
This started slowly for me but then I was hooked & didn't want to stop reading. I found myself tearing up at the end, in a good way!
April 26, 2023
This was a fun, fast read. I liked the characters and the setting. I have read another novel by Marie Bostwick, I believe it was called, The Restoration of Cecelia Fairchild, that I also enjoyed. The only thing I did not like was Yolanda trying to set Esme up with Ryan Chrysanthemum. It wasn't necessary and did not add to the storyline. I would have liked to explore the Dawes and Esme angle a little more. .
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2023
Fantastic. A story of reimagining life. Fabulous read.
June 1, 2023
Such a heartwarming read with a cast full of interesting and loveable characters! This is a perfect read for the summer, and it really makes you want to take a trip to a small town lake resort. While it was a bit of a slow read at times for me, I really enjoyed the back and forth telling of Esme's and her grandmother's stories. This book made me laugh, cry, and want to break out my sewing machine to learn to quilt!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
July 28, 2023
4.5 Stars
Enjoyable and fun. I'd hoped for a tad more romance for Esme, but her story and discovery of her grandmother's legacy were compelling.
January 31, 2024
This book was so beautiful and so moving. The connection between grandmother and granddaughter was so powerful, even though you see so little of it on the page. I loved the peeks back in time, and the beauty of the quilts, and the absolute heart that is woven (sewn?) throughout every chapter.
January 3, 2023
Truly enjoyable and heartwarming.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2025
¿Esme es un fracaso? ¿O encontró un mundo de múltiples oportunidades?
Cuando Esme Cahill se veía a futuro, estaba a solo unos pasos de cumplir todo lo que había deseado; sin embargo, de un momento a otro, todo esto se fue cuesta abajo. Perdió su trabajo como editora en Nueva York, se divorció y, tras la pérdida de su abuela Adele, decide regresar a su casa en Asheville en busca de un nuevo plan de vida.
Aunque volver al refugio era solo algo pasajero, Esme encontró su hogar, pero también encontró el hogar que la vio crecer en ruinas. Así que se dispondrá a ayudar para salvar el refugio, aunque esto no será fácil: su abuelo George es demasiado mayor, la relación con su madre Robyn es bastante complicada, y el nuevo chef Dawes, con el que se siente un poco atraída, son su única esperanza.
Pero el pasado de su abuela sigue haciéndose presente. Adele era un alma incomprendida y ahora su legado, en colchas coloridas y con patrones únicos, generará interés para un museo de arte. Esto causará tanta inspiración que Esme decide comenzar a escribir la historia de Adele y volver a construir su historia gracias a los pequeños mensajes en esas colchas.
¿Lograrán salvar el refugio que tanto querían George y Adele? ¿Tendrá un nuevo fracaso Esme? ¿Mejorará la relación con su madre? ¿A qué nuevos problemas se enfrentará en el camino?
Opinión personal:
Me ha gustado mucho este libro. Sin duda, está un poco por fuera de lo que suelo leer, porque siempre estoy leyendo libros donde el romance es parte importante de la trama; sin embargo, en este libro nos envuelve completamente la vida un tanto desastrosa de Esme (como se titula el libro).
Cuando todo parece empeorar y te preguntas: ¿Qué puede ser peor?... y empeora. Esto es justamente lo que vemos de Esme en este libro. Iniciando con la pérdida de su trabajo y su reciente divorcio, las cosas siguen empeorando en el refugio, pero ella logra encontrar esa luz de esperanza y se aferra a ella hasta el último instante.
Es encantador cómo Esme nos va transportando a lo que fue Adele, una mujer incomprendida en su arte, pero que, después de años, logran mostrar el talento que todos se negaron a ver en ella.
Sin duda, he disfrutado mucho de la familia que se ha formado, de cómo relaciones que estaban rotas vuelven a reconstruirse y nuevas amistades nacen. Esto son Esme, George, Robyn, Dawes y otros que se unen en este camino.
Un reflejo mismo de la vida: no todo lo que planeamos o deseamos es lo que queremos, pero en el camino podemos encontrar mejores cosas que, en un comienzo, no nos hubiéramos imaginado. Regresar a tu lugar de origen no es un fracaso, y salir de tu ciudad no es sinónimo de éxito.
Muchas gracias a @nirvanalibros por el envío de este ejemplar.
Cuando Esme Cahill se veía a futuro, estaba a solo unos pasos de cumplir todo lo que había deseado; sin embargo, de un momento a otro, todo esto se fue cuesta abajo. Perdió su trabajo como editora en Nueva York, se divorció y, tras la pérdida de su abuela Adele, decide regresar a su casa en Asheville en busca de un nuevo plan de vida.
Aunque volver al refugio era solo algo pasajero, Esme encontró su hogar, pero también encontró el hogar que la vio crecer en ruinas. Así que se dispondrá a ayudar para salvar el refugio, aunque esto no será fácil: su abuelo George es demasiado mayor, la relación con su madre Robyn es bastante complicada, y el nuevo chef Dawes, con el que se siente un poco atraída, son su única esperanza.
Pero el pasado de su abuela sigue haciéndose presente. Adele era un alma incomprendida y ahora su legado, en colchas coloridas y con patrones únicos, generará interés para un museo de arte. Esto causará tanta inspiración que Esme decide comenzar a escribir la historia de Adele y volver a construir su historia gracias a los pequeños mensajes en esas colchas.
¿Lograrán salvar el refugio que tanto querían George y Adele? ¿Tendrá un nuevo fracaso Esme? ¿Mejorará la relación con su madre? ¿A qué nuevos problemas se enfrentará en el camino?
Opinión personal:
Me ha gustado mucho este libro. Sin duda, está un poco por fuera de lo que suelo leer, porque siempre estoy leyendo libros donde el romance es parte importante de la trama; sin embargo, en este libro nos envuelve completamente la vida un tanto desastrosa de Esme (como se titula el libro).
Cuando todo parece empeorar y te preguntas: ¿Qué puede ser peor?... y empeora. Esto es justamente lo que vemos de Esme en este libro. Iniciando con la pérdida de su trabajo y su reciente divorcio, las cosas siguen empeorando en el refugio, pero ella logra encontrar esa luz de esperanza y se aferra a ella hasta el último instante.
Es encantador cómo Esme nos va transportando a lo que fue Adele, una mujer incomprendida en su arte, pero que, después de años, logran mostrar el talento que todos se negaron a ver en ella.
Sin duda, he disfrutado mucho de la familia que se ha formado, de cómo relaciones que estaban rotas vuelven a reconstruirse y nuevas amistades nacen. Esto son Esme, George, Robyn, Dawes y otros que se unen en este camino.
Un reflejo mismo de la vida: no todo lo que planeamos o deseamos es lo que queremos, pero en el camino podemos encontrar mejores cosas que, en un comienzo, no nos hubiéramos imaginado. Regresar a tu lugar de origen no es un fracaso, y salir de tu ciudad no es sinónimo de éxito.
Muchas gracias a @nirvanalibros por el envío de este ejemplar.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 502 reviews