The Serendipity of Catastrophe

by Lisa Fellinger

A mother defeated by anxiety. A daughter determined not to become her mother. Can one month in Europe reunite them?

Anita Lorello is paralyzed by grief. When her husband dies in an accident the night before a long-awaited retirement trip, she's devastated by the loss of her partner and once again shelves her dream to finally visit Europe. But when her estranged daughter agrees to accompany her nearly a year later, Anita is eager for the opportunity to repair their relationship.

Carrie Lorello's life is crumbling. After a night of clouded judgment ends in her being fired, her mother's offer of a one-month paid vacation seems like her best option. But she refuses to get caught up in her mother's irrational worries and critical comments, and under no circumstances is she to learn what a failure Carrie's proven to be.

Desperate not to lose her daughter again, Anita fights to conquer her anxiety and become the mother Carrie always wanted. But as Carrie's life grows more and more complicated, her mother is the last person she wants to confide in.

Without anyone else to hold them together, can Anita and Carrie overcome their differences, or will the secrets between them derail their trip and destroy their relationship for good?

The Serendipity of Catastrophe is an emotionally compelling work of women's fiction. If you enjoy travel stories, complex mother-daughter relationships, and lovably flawed characters, you'll love this hopeful story of resilience and second chances.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2024

Reviews

[Kammi Manchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM BAWLING!!!!!!!! In the best way possible…honestly what a sweet and honestly precious book!! My mother is my best friend in the whole world but it took a lot of trials and tribulations to get us to that point and this book just spoke to my soul! It was so sweet, and so real, and so raw. The author’s portrayal of anxiety and regret and loss and grief. Ugh. I’m crying all over again. Seriously incredible read, highly recommend when you need a good cry with an ending that also brings on the water works!

[Elizabeth Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SERENDIPITY OF CATASTROPHE offers one of the best depictions of a tricky mother/daughter relationship that I've ever read.

Following the loss of her husband, Anita Lorello invites her daughter, Carrie, to join her on the dream vacation that she never took with her late husband. And that's why I chose to close out my summer with this book: I wanted to go too. I wanted to follow these characters through London, Paris, and Barcelona. I coveted the descriptions of locals and setting and food. I was more than ready to join them for the ride.

While this book absolutely transports readers to iconic destinations, I hadn't anticipated such layered, delicately rendered relationships. Fellinger explores each character's mental health with a deft touch and approaches each perspective with empathy. I loved that this story showed every facet of two complex personalities, yet never took a side.

I won't spoil the ending. However, I will say that I'm grateful to have ended the summer season with this book in hand and a deeper sense of our capacity for hard-won understanding.

Don't let September sway you from indulging in this escape. Trust me - it's the perfect accompaniment to a new season.

[Elizabeth Merck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took "The Serendipity of Catastrophe" on vacation with me to read, and I finished it in two days. I absolutely loved it! This story is so realistic and hit so close to home I was practically crying at the end. Anita is a mom who never had that great of a relationship with her daughter Carrie. Carrie much preferred her father, but he passed away unexpectedly, and now she's left to work through her grief while Anita works through hers. When they wind up on a European vacation together, they have to figure out whether they can mend their relationship once and for all or whether it's a lost cause.

As a mom of teenagers, I could very much relate to Anita's pain. As a daughter of someone with anxiety, I could also relate to Carrie and her frustrations with her mother. Relationships can be difficult and messy, especially when we're navigating all of life's twists and turns and what to reveal to those we love. This book captured that dilemma perfectly.

Fellinger's writing is also fantastic. The story is fast-paced, and it flows well. It's an easy read that keeps you wanting more from chapter to chapter. Highly recommend!

[CJ Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ALWAYS judge a book by its cover, and this one drew me in right away with its vibrant colors and the scenescape, not of European destinations, but of Niagara Falls, NY! :-) I love reading about places close to where I live. Not every story has to be primarily set in New York, Paris, or LA, right?

I devoured Lisa Fellinger's "The Serendipity of Catastrophe" in two sittings. The opening chapter drew me into the life of grief-stricken Anita (which I related to) and I needed to know where the journey was going to take her. The dynamic between a mother and daughter who have a strained relationship is something a lot of people can relate to. Many of us want to be closer to our parent or child, but struggle to do just that. This story transports us through the complicated and nuanced layers of a mother-daughter relationship revealing its tensions, shocks, disappointments, but reminding the reader of the deep connection despite the flaws.

I enjoy stories that alternate between character viewpoints and this one did not disappoint. I look forward to Fellinger's next work.

[Winnie Pagora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written realistic novel

I enjoyed reading this women's fiction book about coping with grief and moving on. Anita and Carrie were a relatable mother-daughter duo, and the author portrayed their relationship realistically.

I felt terrible for Anita as a mother and empathized with her issues. Her painful past resonated with me, and I was rooting for her throughout the novel.

However, I could not connect with Carrie, the daughter. Despite making so many mistakes, Carrie was rude and unapproachable. I did not like how she treated her mother or other characters in the story either, and I didn't care much about her love story.

Nevertheless, this did not stop me from enjoying the book. The author's amazing writing engaged me throughout the story, and I was eager to continue reading. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a realistic women's fiction book with emotional depth and character growth.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[E.D. Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I found the mother-daughter relationship believable and the layers of plot natural and moving. The story demonstrated the complexities of family, love, and loss. I rarely cry at the end of novels, but the ending brought tears to my eyes, probably because I saw myself and my daughter in the two main characters. It was a beautiful story set within the romance of Europe. If you're looking for a story that tugs on the heart and is strongly rooted in family relationships, you'll love this novel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chelsea H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was a charming book about a mother and daughter that struggle with their relationship but, while traveling across Europe, work through it to find common ground. The characters' struggles were realistic and I could feel the tension and turmoil they were experiencing. I felt the story was a tad slow at times but overall it was a good book that I enjoyed.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - it was realistic and sweet. Every mother/daughter relationship has its trials and tribulations. I liked seeing the two sides of thought as they were working through how to relate to each other. Especially to be able to come to a place where they could have an honest conversation. Well written and a pleasure to read.

[Shelby Harbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I don’t even know where to begin in describing this book. It’s so well done! You find yourself bonding with and supporting every character and it’s so real and relatable. You’ll finish the book feeling hopeful and encouraged. I loved reading it!

[Beth Cocuzza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and relatable story of a complicated mother/daughter relationship. Read it in one sitting at the beach.

[Kate Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book for the deep mother-daughter relationship issues, the way it deals with grief, and especially for the travel through multiple European cities. It's a poignant story of how a mother and her adult daughter navigate terrible loss and find their way toward understanding each other better.