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Condemn Me Not
The words no mother wants to say, and every mother yearns to hear.
Bound by friendship, two women find themselves at common crossroads, struggling with choices both past and present, career and home.
Simone Sheridan and Claire Atkins have been friends since college. Upon graduation, they took off in different directions, forging separate paths through motherhood. Neither planned to look back on the road they traveled with regret—yet that's exactly what’s at stake when their daughters issue opposing proclamations with regard to college.
Both mothers battle the news, but soon come to learn they must change course, or lose the sacred relationship between mother and daughter. But change is not an easy task when Simone and Claire unexpectedly find themselves staring down their choices, confronted by the same question: Where did I go wrong?
Bound by friendship, two women find themselves at common crossroads, struggling with choices both past and present, career and home.
Simone Sheridan and Claire Atkins have been friends since college. Upon graduation, they took off in different directions, forging separate paths through motherhood. Neither planned to look back on the road they traveled with regret—yet that's exactly what’s at stake when their daughters issue opposing proclamations with regard to college.
Both mothers battle the news, but soon come to learn they must change course, or lose the sacred relationship between mother and daughter. But change is not an easy task when Simone and Claire unexpectedly find themselves staring down their choices, confronted by the same question: Where did I go wrong?
- GenresFiction
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2012
30 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Dianne Venetta
21 books96 followersDianne Venetta is the award-winning author of contemporary romance and cozy mystery novels, including Jennifer's Garden, winner of Best in Romance for 2012 Indie Discovery Awards. When not knee-deep in romance, she contributes gardening advice to various websites and publications and has been featured on GalTime, Huffington Post, Earth Eats (Indiana Public Radio) and Ideal Home Garden among others.
She lives in Central Florida with her husband and two children. When not whacking away at her keyboard you'll find her in their organic garden chasing grasshoppers and plucking hornworms all while drawing wild analogies between kids and plants and men. Definitely men. A girl's gotta have fun, right?
Dianne also enjoys volunteering in school gardens and has begun a children's series chronicling her adventures called Wild Tales & Garden Thrills. It's a crazy existence to be sure, but at the end of the day, if she can inspire someone to stop and smell the roses--or rosemary!--kiss their child and spouse good-night, be kind to a neighbor and Mother Earth, then she's done all right.
She lives in Central Florida with her husband and two children. When not whacking away at her keyboard you'll find her in their organic garden chasing grasshoppers and plucking hornworms all while drawing wild analogies between kids and plants and men. Definitely men. A girl's gotta have fun, right?
Dianne also enjoys volunteering in school gardens and has begun a children's series chronicling her adventures called Wild Tales & Garden Thrills. It's a crazy existence to be sure, but at the end of the day, if she can inspire someone to stop and smell the roses--or rosemary!--kiss their child and spouse good-night, be kind to a neighbor and Mother Earth, then she's done all right.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 29, 2013
I received a copy of Condemn Me Not by Dianne Venetta in exchange for an honest review.
Two women, who have been friends since college, Simone and Claire, have lived very different lives. Upon graduation from college, they both chose different paths. Now, years later, the two find themselves at a common crossroads where they must look into their past and their present and examine what really matters when their daughters issue opposing proclamations with regard to college. As the two long time friends battle the news differently, they soon come to the realization that some decisions are not easy and it may complicate each of their respective relationships with their daughters. In turn, that leads both of them to wander where they went wrong.
Oh man, I really, really enjoyed this book. For years I have sat back and watched people around me with kids make decisions and I will be honest, I sometimes judged them based on what those decisions were. But, as a new mom myself, I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes things aren’t as easy as they appear and everything always looks different from an outside perspective. Well, the same thing applies here. These two women are faced with a tough decision and the way that they react could really have repercussions with their daughters. So, whats a parent to do? I think Dianne examines that question and really presents the characters in a very raw and real portrayal of what that might look like in real life. This book is really good and I am so glad that I had the privilege to read it.
Two women, who have been friends since college, Simone and Claire, have lived very different lives. Upon graduation from college, they both chose different paths. Now, years later, the two find themselves at a common crossroads where they must look into their past and their present and examine what really matters when their daughters issue opposing proclamations with regard to college. As the two long time friends battle the news differently, they soon come to the realization that some decisions are not easy and it may complicate each of their respective relationships with their daughters. In turn, that leads both of them to wander where they went wrong.
Oh man, I really, really enjoyed this book. For years I have sat back and watched people around me with kids make decisions and I will be honest, I sometimes judged them based on what those decisions were. But, as a new mom myself, I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes things aren’t as easy as they appear and everything always looks different from an outside perspective. Well, the same thing applies here. These two women are faced with a tough decision and the way that they react could really have repercussions with their daughters. So, whats a parent to do? I think Dianne examines that question and really presents the characters in a very raw and real portrayal of what that might look like in real life. This book is really good and I am so glad that I had the privilege to read it.
March 5, 2013
This was a free Kindle book. Should have given up after 50 pages, but I wanted to give this book a fair chance. No character development; dumb story; a waste of time, when there are so many good books out there.
March 1, 2013
Yeah, a Lifetime movie plot. Very unrealistic.
November 28, 2019
Interesting, insightful and frightening when one considers this story could have actually happened.
March 16, 2021
I wouldn't recommend this book.
February 19, 2013
If you're looking for about about self-involved, overly controlling mothers trying to quash their daughters's, graduating seniors, dreams--then this book is for you. Mothers Claire and Simone have been best friends for decades, and so are their daughters, Mariah and Rebecca. When the girls want to forgo college--Mariah to start a well planned business and Rebecca to a prestigious design school in Paris, their mothers implode.
Though the women raised their daughters to be strong, independent young women, they forgot to consider that might mean choosing paths different than the ones they had planned for the girls.
This is a frustrating read, and I found myself disliking Claire and Simone for their narcissism as they struggle to hold on to their daughters and adapt to their daughters growing apart from them, a natural part of becoming adults.
The book is fairly well written, but could have used better editing. I'd try another book from this author.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Though the women raised their daughters to be strong, independent young women, they forgot to consider that might mean choosing paths different than the ones they had planned for the girls.
This is a frustrating read, and I found myself disliking Claire and Simone for their narcissism as they struggle to hold on to their daughters and adapt to their daughters growing apart from them, a natural part of becoming adults.
The book is fairly well written, but could have used better editing. I'd try another book from this author.
2.5 out of 5 stars
March 13, 2013
I'd say 95% of this book is one mother or the other trying to justify her choices. One felt she couldn't be a good mother if she didn't work twelve hour days in her chosen profession. The other felt she wouldn't be a good mother if she didn't stay at home. It went on and on and on. If these two mothers weren't conversing and justifying their choices, we were reading their constant thoughts on the matter. A huge, life-altering event happened, and what did these two do during a conversation about that event? Ended up talking even more about their work or stay-at-home choices instead of the crisis at hand! They each had a moment of self-realization at the end, but it fell flat and I just wanted to be done with the book.
March 31, 2013
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
From before a time I can remember, I have always wanted to be a career woman and wasn't ever sure if creating a family was on my to do list. I loved reading this book as two best friends are working through life changes with their young adult children as they are trying to leave the nest. One is a working mom who spent most of her hours at the office while the other was a stay at home mom, although the girls grew up in very different lifestyles each have decided right before high school graduation to take a different path than what their parents had assumed was mapped out.
From before a time I can remember, I have always wanted to be a career woman and wasn't ever sure if creating a family was on my to do list. I loved reading this book as two best friends are working through life changes with their young adult children as they are trying to leave the nest. One is a working mom who spent most of her hours at the office while the other was a stay at home mom, although the girls grew up in very different lifestyles each have decided right before high school graduation to take a different path than what their parents had assumed was mapped out.
March 26, 2013
This novel is meant to invoke passion and heated opinions. You'll love or hate all of these characters at different points. If you've never had a child you won't be able to understand these mothers, who are trying to ensure their daughters have the best life possible, while dealing with their own fears in letting go. They ARE NOT PERFECT. They don't act as they should at all points, but the author does a great job tugging back and forth between a teenage daughters will and a moms fears and struggles with letting your child go out into the world on their own. Surprises are sprinkled within. It was a good read.
April 26, 2013
This was a hard book for me to read. It’s one of my greatest fears and it wasn’t easy to see two mothers who raised their daughters in completely opposite ways grappling with the fear and loss of their daughters. To make it to mere weeks before your child’s high school graduation and learn that you don’t really know her at all. I must say, kudos, Ms. Venetta – unfortunately for me – this book was like living through it.
April 12, 2013
This book really hit home. My daughter will be graduation high school in June and reading this book made me think: what if she wants to change her college plans? How will I react? How supportive will my husband be? But in these days, it's common for graduates to decide which way they want to go, which may not necessarily be where the parents want them to go. The emotional roller coaster between mother & daughter and 2 friends was quite realistic. Condemn Ne Not was an enjoyable read.
June 23, 2014
I was hoping for more depth to the story. Very predictable, over the top flowery phrases and stereotypical characters made this a disappointment. It would make a great TV movie - family tensions, friendship conflicts, grand themes of life's dreams and regrets. Great for someone who loves these types of books and stories, but too fluffy for my taste.
February 25, 2013
This book began in a very whiny way with the main characters defendingntheir choices of carreer woman vs. stay at home Mom. It ended predictably with both women seeing the others point ofmview and coming to terms with their daughters life decisions.
March 4, 2013
Interesting book abbout the conflict between working and stay at home mothers and their daughters. I didn't love it but it was interesting.
March 6, 2013
I was disappointed in the ending. I also felt as if this book didn't have enough layers. It was just kinda blah.
Want to read
April 19, 2013Received by Book Rooster.com for read and review.
April 21, 2013
Totally enjoyed this book. REal issues of being a mom, having a career and the epectations we set for ourselves and our children.
June 4, 2013
I should have know by the reviews not to waste my time. These characters have absolutely no redeeming qualities and I was bored from the start,
April 19, 2014
This was a good book about relationships, especially between mothers and daughters, and the age old question of staying-home versus working moms. I enjoyed it, but it left me hanging at the end.
June 17, 2014
One of those books you keep reading in hopes that at some point it gets really good....yet it never does
September 6, 2014
Very short, to the point where I thought two-thirds of the book must be missing. No character or plot development. Not worth reading.
September 30, 2014
This was the most repetitive book I have ever read...ended up skimming the last 1/2 of it just to be done.
December 30, 2014
Too pushy about women working vs staying at home for my opinion
July 1, 2015
Waste of time
February 28, 2016
Was a good story open ended for perhaps a series of books. I can relate closely to the decision of career mom vs stay at home mom.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews