The Year Everything Changed: A Novel

by Georgia Bockoven

As Jessie Patrick Reed’s attorney, I’m writing to you on behalf of your father, Jessie Patrick Reed. I regret to inform you that Mr. Reed is dying. He has expressed a desire to see you . . . Elizabeth, even though sustained by a loving family, has suffered the most from her father’s seeming abandonment and for years has protected herself with a deep-seated anger that she hides from everyone. Ginger, in love with a married man, will be forced to reevaluate every relationship she’s ever had and will reach stunning conclusions that will change her life forever. Rachel learns of her father’s existence the same day she finds out that her husband of ten years has had an affair. She will receive the understanding and support she needs to survive from an unlikely and surprising source. Christine is a young filmmaker, barely out of college, who now must decide if her few precious memories of a man she believed to be long dead are enough to give him a second chance. Four sisters who never knew the others existed will find strength, love, and answers in the most unexpected places in . . . The Year Everything Changed .

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Book Club, Contemporary, Marriage, Ebooks

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2011

About the author

Georgia was a Army child, who after a successful career as a freelance photo journalist before she turned to fiction writing. Published since 1983, she is an award-winning author whose books have sold more than four million copies worldwide. Her romance novel, A Marriage of Convenience, became a CBS movie in October of 1998 starring Jane Seymour and James Brolin.

Married wich John Bockoven, she is the mother of two, and resides in Northern California. When her husband retired from the fire department, she decided to take a break from writing and spend more time together. The result was a nature photography business that is both challenging and filled with creative energy.

Reviews

[Sharon Huether · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four sisters, Elizabeth, Ginger. Rachel and Christine never knew each other, until this year that Jessie
Patrick Reed was dying. This information was sent to each girl. Jessie was their biological father.
Jessie's attorney made arrangements with each daughter to meet Jessie before he died.

Jessie waited a little too late, missing out of many years he could have had a better relationship with each one.

[EpidermaS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rażąco nierealne postacie męskie, a to za sprawą zero-jedynkowego podejścia. Masz szansę trafić albo na księcia z bajki, albo narcystycznego, niedojrzałego gnojka. Podczas lektury tych pięciuset stron zatęskniłam ze zwykłym bohaterem męskim z krwi i kości, co to i kawę zrobi, i wysłucha w zły dzień, i uszczelkę wymieni, nie będąc w tym wszystkim idealnym. Postacie kobiece oczywiście zostały nakreślone pełniej, wyraźniej. Mniej w nich fikcji i skrajności. Rodząca się silna relacja czwórki nieźle skonstruowanych sióstr nie ratuje jednak całej historii, która kompletnie się nie broni. Jakieś to wszystko ckliwe, cukierkowe i hollywoodzkie. Końcówka to było dla mnie zbyt wiele. Nope.

[Celia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually hated this book until I read the review by momruncraft

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Her comment about 'food for thought' really helped me to 're-think' the book and what it was trying to tell me.

Still had a hard time with the book: too many characters. There were the 4 sisters, their 4 significant others and the 4 mothers (actually I think there were 5) that were involved.

The stories were engaging, the writing was very good. I love similes and I found a few good ones.

Jessie's story was compelling and occassionally differed significantly from that of the mothers'.

The women, as they got to know each other, shared some crazy moments and grew to be friends.

Will discuss with my book club Monday night. If there is anything said that will add to this review, I WILL share.

3.25 stars

[Michelle]

The Year Everything Changed is an immensely readable, albeit predictable, story about family and love. Four women are thrown together at the behest of their biological father. Two never knew him; two were seemingly abandoned by him at young ages. All must adjust their expectations and opinions of him in order to seek closure, if closure is what they seek. No matter what their relationship to their biological father, all must adjust to the fact that they each have three "new" sisters.

There is not much that is a surprise in Georgia Bockoven's latest novel. The reader can predict every plot twist and turn in the novel several pages, if not chapters, in advance. The characters are one-dimensional with little to no character development. The novel itself is too short to adequately build any empathy with any of the characters or to learn more about them at a level deeper than the superficial. It is a testament to Ms. Bockoven's writing that in spite of all this, a reader will find it difficult to stop reading. In fact, I would say that I kept reading The Year Everything Changed because of these normally negative elements.

The Year Everything Changed makes no demands on the reader. One only has to suspend a modicum of disbelief at some of the occurrences. The story is prettily written, glossing over some of the more dubious situations with lighthearted grace. It requires no deep philosophical studies but rather shows the ebbs and flows of love - parent, spouse, child - over generations and how one's perceptions can so easily be skewed by others. It is a simple reminder that one very rarely knows the entire story of someone else's actions.

The Year Everything Changed fits in to the ubiquitous genre of "chick lit". I think a more fitting term would be to describe it as "relationship lit" since the novel is more about the relationships between parent and child than about women in general. As expected, there are no earth-shattering revelations. Instead, it is a charming story about love that is ridiculously difficult to put down and that leaves a reader with the all-important "warm fuzzies". Everyone deserves/ needs a book like this periodically.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to Megan Traynor from William Morrow for my review copy!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein ganz tolles Buch. Werde ich irgendwann erneut lesen

[Shaheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire book last night. Something about it made me keep reading and although I agree some of it was predictable, it was written in a way that I just could not put it down and had some true surprises in it.

It seems every book I read lately is written in the manner of a prologue, epilogue and chapters from different people. This usually annoys me but something about the author's writing kept me very engaged. This must be a current trend in novels and although it has it's benefits, I'd like it to stop.

[momruncraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of four women, four complete strangers, and the link that ties them all together: an estranged father. A father, in some cases, that wasn't known to exist until the presence of a mysterious letter sent by an attorney in Sacramento. The letter claimed the man to be their father, claimed he wanted to see them before he passed, claimed he was dying.

Jessie Reed admitted he made mistakes and wanted to do all he could to correct them before it was too late.

Elizabeth, Ginger, Rachel and Christine embark on a journey that changes all their lives. Each one carrying baggage and scars from the man who claims to be their father. Each one struggling with their current relationship as a result.

While many would be quick to write off a man who seemingly abandons his wife and child, this book explores the reasons and story behind the man. Why he left? Why his leaving is not always as black and white as it may appear. How ones history, man or woman, shapes who they are, the paths they take, and the decisions they make.

Slow in parts, predictable at times, an overall good read. A lot of food for thought.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed The Year Everything Changed. It's a story about sisters who didn't know their father or that they even had sisters. The four sisters have very little in common. Their mothers, upbringing, and opportunities were vastly different. Each is sympathetic in their own way. Although I was particularly fond of Ginger - the beautiful girl who didn't know that she'd been adopted. The anger, resentment, hopefulness and friendship that develops among the sisters makes the story an absorbing and heartwarming read.

It would have been easy to make the story predictable or overly sweet but Georgia Bockoven bypasses all of these pitfalls and delivers a book to savor and to share.

ISBN-10: 0062069322 - Paperback $14.99
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (August 23, 2011), 432 pages.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ridiculously cliche and trite, this book had my teeth on edge for half of the novel. The second half of the novel I spent recovering from whiplash as the author put us (and her characters) through a frantic and hurried pace. And yet, I felt compelled to finish the story, to know for sure how it would all end. (As if there were any doubts.)
I realize that the author's intent was to have a character that the audience believed to be beyond redemption and yet somehow redeem the fellow. However, in doing so three characters had rather crappy childhoods, one mother morphed into a vindictive and cruel person, another mother became a schizophrenic, and another mother was a callous and cold individual. All to make one man look better. So all in all, I would call it a failed experiment.
I doubt I will be searching for any more books from this author. The writing just wasn't there.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to read while relaxing on the deck on a beautiful day - rather predictable, but an easy, decent read.

[Michelle Rusch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Four women discover they are sisters. They all had the same father but differed mothers. Their father passes and leaves them with a recording of his life. He has bequeathed 10 million dollars to each of them on the condition they meet once a month in his home and listen to his tapes. They learn about their moms and why this man was wasn’t involved in their lives. They also learn about each other.

[Amber]

Pick your Poison-Delve into the past-someone who could be your ancestor. Perhaps a bit of a stretch for this prompt? A dying man sends for his four daughters (each with a different mother) that he abandoned for various reasons when they youngsters. When arriving at the lawyers to tell their father off, they find they are 'sisters' and none knew about the others..

Was sorry this book had to end. Really good!

[Alline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm still kicking myself for wasting my time and finishing this book. However, I wanted to know if the ending was just as trite and predictable and STUPID as the rest of the book. The answer: yes. Very "romance"-y, with an incredibly unrealistic, fairy tale ending. Not recommended unless there are no other books available for you to read and you are very, very desperate.

[Phylis F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A purposeful book full of revelations about sisterhood

Never would I have anticipated what these women were capable of. From acrimony and resistance, relationships were born and these “sisters” actually became SISTERS in the fullest sense of the word. You’ll curse, you’ll cry, but most of all you’ll love “The Year Everything Changed” and yearn for more.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection

This is a story about family, secrets and the heart's great capacity for love. Jesse is a man with a short time to live and many amends to make. Four daughters are already furious with Jesse, then they learn that each one is a half sibling to the others.
A rich, complicated tale unfolds that is very well written. I highly recommend this book.

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it's not the greatest book ever but I really enjoyed this. There were some predictable moments but the way the relationships among the women developed was fun to read. Of course, the four women brought baggage but the resolution was satisfying. A refreshing look at how family - no matter how messed up it is, makes a difference.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐➕
I listened to the audio version and I had a hard time keeping up with the different characters and their scenarios. The chapter titles helped some, but I really need to read this one so I could easily go backand check/recheck background info.

It was a good book and I enjoyed it a lot. I like Georgia Bockoven. This is the first book of hers that I've listened to instead of read.

[Kelly Broker · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading 2 of Claire Lombardos books and then being disappointed by most of what I’ve read since, finally, an author who can weave a family drama you can’t put down. I’ve now read all of Bockovens books except the romances and I love all of them but this was the best. The beach series is lighter but still good to read; but this one about the sisters is on par with my favorite books.

[Rebekah Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not something I would have gravitated to in my 20s. But in my 30s & as a parent myself it spoke to me deeply... Lots of flawed but ultimately loveable characters, each of which are relatable in certain ways. I'm glad the author chose to write the book from multiple points of view. I think it added to the emotional depth of the story.

[JT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t write a great enough review about this novel! The characters are gripping and ones not soon forgotten after reading the last page! I’d love to have a sequel to see how they all are getting on now! A definite must read for lovers of family drama and tragedy.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging book

Four sister with the same father but different mother’s are forced together. The story focuses on the sister and their lives but it is also an account of the father’s life and his actions. An enjoyable story with some nice surprises and a great epilogue.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this tale of 4 sisters finding each other and bonding once they found out they were, in fact sisters.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Kathy Gilliland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book has very easy to read. Really got invested in each sister’s story.

[Renee Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Look forward to reading more books from her.

[Babs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leider überzeugt dieser Roman erst im letzten Drittel. Zuvor ist sind die Figuren meiner Ansicht nach zu selbstverliebt, um bei Lesern als interessant und liebenswert rüberzukommen. Echt Schade!

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this.....4 very different women....1 unknown father.....the characters and their changes over time were completely believable.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the year

I really liked this story. It made me cry at times. I liked how the author wove the sisters together and made them a family.

[Debbe]

Thumbs down!!!

[Kaylee Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

This book had a great story line and I enjoyed the intertwining perspectives. The characters were well written and felt like friends.