Nice To Come Home To

by Rebecca Flowers

A smart, funny, entertaining novel of love and family for our times, Nice to Come Home To breaks the mold of the conventional love story--and will have readers cheering. Everyone around Prudence Whistler, thirty-six, seems to be settling down. Her once-single girlfriends have lately married and had babies. Her gay best friend is discussing marriage with his partner. Even her irresponsible younger sister, Patsy is the single mother of a two-year-old. But when Pru loses her lackluster boyfriend of two years, she fears she's lost her chance at a traditional family of her own. What she then stumbles upon, however, may actually be even better. Setting about redesigning her life, Pru finds herself accumulating an unusual ad hoc family around her, both within her crowded apartment and in the broader community of Adams-Morgan in Washington, DC. With her new life comes the confidence to realize her dress-shop dreams, and a new understanding of family and happiness--one that may just deliver true love in the bargain. Endearing, romantic, witty, and satisfying, Nice to Come Home To is a charming, crowd-ple

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

8 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Rebecca Flowers is a writer living in western Masschusetts with her husband and two children. She has been an independent radio producer whose satires and commentaries have appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered and Day to Day. She’s one of the founding members of The NPR Players. Nice To Come Home To is her first novel.

Reviews

[Lisa Montanaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read in the chick lit genre. What I liked about it is it wasn't necessarily a romance, but really more about the protagonist, Prudence, who at 36 years old, is still trying to find herself. She's at a crossroads with her career, her love life, and how she wants to show up for her family. Her relationship with her sister was actually the most interesting to me. I wish more time had been spent on her career change. It was such a big shift and I would've loved more attention to be paid to that. But all in all, the book had a nice modern, funny, and realistic feel to it, which I enjoyed.

[Allison Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 2021: I’ve been re-reading some old favorites and it’s both strangely comforting and just plain strange how I feel when I revisit them. I remember reading this when it was released. I was in creative writing workshops, applying to MFA programs, hoping that one day I could write a book that hit others like this one did for me.
I was about 23? when I read this. I kept thinking “is that how my life will be when I’m in my 30s?” Now I’m almost the same age as the main character. I re-read it and felt like she was so much younger than me. Nothing like revisiting fiction for some good old-fashioned time travel.


Originally reviewed Feb 1, 2011, but I actually read it back in 2008 when it came out. It’s just as good this time around. For a book I love this much, I’m surprised I haven’t re-read it every year, like I usually do with my favorites. I’ll definitely remedy this by reading it again next year. Since I reviewed it decently before, I’ll just let this ramble on about how good this book is and how you should read it.


(Feb 1, 2011). Read this book. I can't even try to review it, or rave about it. Just know that, against my better judgement, I typed and sent a fangirl email to the author herself. Here's hoping she has an assistant screen her email, and her assistant will see my message and think it's silly, and not even worth mentioning, and Ms. Flowers will never read my raving gibberish.

It was so realistic; I could really identify with Pru, unlike most heroines she seemed down to earth, just as precarious as the rest of us. The story was amazing, sweet and honest at once. I took my time reading it, trying to drag it out even longer because the characters were so endearing, I wanted to stay in their world as long as possible.

Perfect sentence from the book - handpicked by me from many perfect scenes and amazingly worded paragraphs. This one just grabbed me, and squeezed my own little beating heart.
"Where probably countless others had done the same thing, their little beating hearts in their outstretched hands."

Oh my god. Perfection. Read in context, is sounds so profound. Read out of context, it sounds (I think) like a beautiful image. Being basically an emotional robot myself, I love the idea of being so open to love that you would just hold your heart out for someone else to take. Figuratively. Little beating hearts sounds so raw. And hopeful. Inspiring.

[Stephanie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice take on chick lit for a change. Finally we aren't reading about women who have shopping addictions or desperately want to get married (don't get me wrong, I enjoy those too every once in a while). Pru seemed like such a real person. Sometimes she seemed like, well, me (minus the fact that i am not 36 unemployed and single). She made me actually take a step back and examine myself, because I saw so many of my own qualities in her, particularly the ones I don't like about myself. She's hyper-organized, dislikes and is afraid of wilderness, tries to change the men she dates (I absolutely do not do this) and also tries to control every situation. Despite these things she is also incredibly caring, intelligent and kind. Almost all of the characters are like-able with the exception of a few. Patsy drove me absolutely mad. She's so needy and spoiled and irresponsible. I felt no remorse for her. Other than her everyone else is pretty great. I found the ending to be sweet and appropriate. Over all a lovely, easy read.

[Reddwhine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so not my kind of book, not only am I nowhere in the vicinity of 35 (almost twice that) so I didn't think it would be very relatable, but I downloaded the audible version in a moment of weakness and took it with me on my iPod to listen to while on a 2 week road trip around Eastern Canada. I wanted something fun and light (I guess this could be defined as chic lit) and I got what I wanted. I listened to it solo in the beginning because I figured my husband would just scoff over what he thought was such a silly book, but during the trip I listened to it plugged into the radio so he had to listen too. I finally took pity on him and plugged in the head phones...him: what happened to that book you were listening to? Me: I'm still listening but with the headphones. Him: well plug it back in to the car, it's interesting. Soooo. Sometimes when forced men might like it too. It was very enjoyable. Loved the cat's name. Hope she writes something else.

[Cece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily my favorite women's fiction with a romantic subplot. I stumbled across this ages ago, at my local independent bookstore, and it had been highlighted because the author lived nearby, but I remember absolutely loving it. Reading it felt like a warm hug, in the best way possible. I'm looking forward to re-reading it soon.

[Sheila McCarthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes I wanted to drop this book and quit reading. And I probably should've. It didn't even get interesting until almost the end. But you might like it. The girl was pretty drab and pathetic. But it did get better.

[Joanna]

Rather mediocre. Nothing really stood out as great but it wasn't terrible either. I did like the cat.

[Warren Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book club book. I was warned that I probably wouldn't like it beforehand (whatever that means). I went into this looking for reasons why they thought I wouldn't like it and had to clear my head and give it a fair shot after a few chapters. After finishing, I didn't care for it much.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/18/2012

So far, I just have to say this. Pru is a complete wuss and pretty much an idiot. I would not like her if she was a real person. First of all, owning a cat is not rocket science. You confine him to a small kitchen during the day and lock him in a closet over night? Of course it's going to be a nut-case and rip up your clothing!!! DUH. And he lashes out at you? No shit? How would you treat someone who's a complete lunatic that tried to toss you into a closet each time they saw you? And you needed to spend over $200 to have a pet psychologist tell you this?!?!?!?!? First of all there's a thing called common sense and secondly, there's this little thing called the internet. And when you finally got some sensible information from that pet psychologist... Let me give you a tip. Making sure that that cat always has food available to them does not mean that you buy an 8lb bag of cat food and put it all into a large tupperware dish. Seriously, how would you like it if someone put out a giant trough of cheerios out for you and made you eat from it for a month. They'd get pretty stale and gross, huh? At least get an automatic feeder if it's too much trouble to put a scoop of food in a bowl a couple times a day.

Then there was the bit when she was hiking a little to late in the day with this guy and their van wouldn't start. Oh no! They had to stay in the van over night at a ranger station that was closed for the night and she completely freaked out because she had to sleep OUTSIDE for a whole night! First of all, you were not "outside". You were in a van with locks, you big ninny. Plus, you had food, water, and blankets. I'm sorry, but that is far from roughing it. I'll give you the bit about it being uncomfortable, but it's not the tragedy that it was made out to be. At least your cat had a giant pile of food and wasn't made to suffer.

4/20/2012

Finally finished. Pru eventually became a little more likable, but I still think she's a ninny. She did eventually take a little more charge in her life, but basically that just lead her to prince charming. At least she figured out how to take care of a cat.

[Previous TCL Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prudence Whistler can’t seem to find “It” in her life. In the first fifty pages of the novel, the reader learns she has lost her job with a non-profit and her fix-me-up of a boyfriend, Rudy Fisch, dumps her. She does what anyone would, she turns to those closest to her…friends who seem to be more like a family to her than her own, largely because she is more willing to be herself with them in favor of acting in the roles of dutiful daughter (to her mother, an attentive if somewhat naïve widow) and balanced, in-control older sister (to her younger sister, Patsy, a free-spirited idealist, who herself is looking for “it-ness” in this world). Through her professional and personal lives, she re-examines (often through struggle) what this “it” quotient might really mean to her in terms of her expectations for herself in her personal relationships, her career, her family bonds, and even her choice of address in D.C. I read that Flowers’ novel has been likened to a modern-day Austen work, and that seems a succinct comparison. Sub-plots involving the nature of motherhood, sisterhood, friendship, and self-fulfillment tie in with one another through Flowers’ steady hand. As readers, we are not surprised by the ending (a happy one, for all intents and purposes), but the path along which Flowers takes us there is shaped through an original voice and Flowers’ sharp eye for creating grounded characters who reflect our reality as they draw us further into that of her novel. (The bit about “Thunder Road” was nice, too.)

Teton County Library Call No: F FLOWERS
Review written by: Brie Richardson

[Gina Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the cover to the conclusion.



Seriously--the sweet cover with the pretty dresses and the lovely girl holding the perfectly-engraved sign was a pleasure to carry around. Unfortunately, I finished the book in about a day, so I didn't get to carry it for long.



The story behind the cover was a delight. Pru and her collection of relatives and friends and more-or-less-than-friends kept me entertained--laughing and crying--the entire 230+ pages. The story--set in DC without sounding like a tourist guide--was absolutely believable while also gently transcending my expectations.



Pru's struggle with well-worn themes such as ticking biological clocks, authentic and fulfilling work, boys, and family were somehow freshened up for this telling. And our protagonist is worthy of that title--she actually grows and changes over the course of the story in meaningful ways and none of it feels pressured or contrived.



Flowers' writing is flawless--dialogue, situations, and pace. The ending was absolutely satisfying and avoided all of my pet peeves--rushed wrap-ups, sappy happy after miles of sadness, and really bad exposition. Nice to Come Home To is a truly great book marketed as Chic Lit. I am looking forward to Flowers' next offering, but I won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.

[Sandra Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read this book because I took over the author's classes at my community college a couple of years ago and googled her out of curiosity -- and then went on to read the book out of curiosity. And yes, she should arguably be writing instead of teaching, although I have no idea what she's doing now. (If traditional publishing has failed her, maybe she should try self publishing.)

This book is not really trying to be more than very good chick lit, and it is indeed a light read. But it's a very pleasant book, perfectly executed, with a nice sardonic edge and fun characters. For example, I generally steer clear of any book that does much with fashion, but here it's made integral to the character in a way that really works and doesn't just sound like name dropping. I'd love to see more from this author.

This is also the kind of plot that would make a classic Parker Posey indie movie, if you're into that kind of thing.

[Beth Snider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading too much dystopian fiction lately and have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the characters, realizing that I don't much care what happens to them. Needing a change, I stumbled upon this and took a chance. Despite the slow pace, i immediately identified with Pru and her emotional oscillation between fighting the changes life throws at you and embracing them. With the support of friends and family, she regains her footing and finds contentment in unexpected relationships. Reality is often different from what you envision for yourself, sometimes better. I found this novel and its characters endearing and closed the book with such a fondness for all of them. It was precisely the refreshing read that I needed!

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so I read this book every few years. I still enjoy it, but this time I noticed all the little things that drive me nuts in a book. Why in 320+ pages does it take 150 of them to set you up with an introduction to the characters, then about another 100 to have their 'moment of conflict' and then the finish is so rushed you honestly feel like you missed something, it ends so quickly.

That said, I do still like the story of Pru Whistler. She's a bit of a mess, all grand plans and no follow through for most of her life. She's a bit of a squirrel crossing a road. But that is what makes her relatable and why I'll read this one again in another few years.

[BrocheAroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to Come Home To by Rebecca Flowers. Doesn't that sentence have a lovely ring? As the title may give away, this is a novel about finding love (that someone it's "nice to come home to"), but it's also a novel about finding yourself. What I liked best about this book, and I mean this in a complimentary way, is that the novel doesn't take itself too seriously while exploring that vein. I admit to being a deep thinker; I tend to apply everything - books, movies, music - to feelings and situations in my own life (often way overdoing it!), and it was really nice to read something that spoke to me without taking me too deep.

The main plot involves the character Prudence Whistler - Pru for short. She's in her mid-to-late 30s, has just lost her job, and is about to lose her boyfriend. Suddenly she sees herself reflected in a stranger - a woman full of children, husband, and her place in life as mother/caregiver - and Pru is catapulted into uncertainty about where her own life is taking her without any of those things. Prudence Whistler is a woman of lists, of plans, of still waters running deeply without surface ripples giving away her inner deliberations. The plot unfolds as Pru struggles to find what it is she is really meant to be doing, really wants to do, and how any sort of romantic entanglement fits into all of that.

A small sub-plot involving her younger sister, Patsy's, romantic life only serves to underscore the things Pru is finding out about life, love, and herself. The subplot was well-done, adding some familial substance to the character of Pru, forwarding the plot just enough, without overwhelming Pru herself.

Now, even though I began this post by saying I'm glad things didn't get too hot and heavy into a discussion of topics such as life philosophy and the feminist female psyche (or as I put it earlier, "deep"), I admit to being a bit disappointed by how things worked out so well for everyone in the end. I won't write a spoiler, but I will say everything ends up as it should. Though on the surface Pru suffers - lost job, boyfriend, spoiling second romance, struggling career options - I really didn't feel Prudence taking enough charge of her own life. She went with the flow a bit too much for me, the universe threw a few too many good coincidences her way, and when she finally did stick up for her emotional well-being, the moment quickly became anti-climatic (which may have been the point, but really only served to take the wind out of my reading sails). As a list maker and planner myself, I didn't see enough determination, enough drive, enough (yes, I'll admit to it) ambition from her regarding her own life. Things sort of happened, she dealt with them, accepted them or didn't accept them, but there was something lackluster in her character, some missing spark or spirit that kept me from getting 100% behind her and fully celebrating for her at the end. Real life just isn't that pat of a story.

What really held the book for me was the solid writing. Though by no means a riveting page-turner, I consistently went back for more. Rebecca Flowers has a way of putting together a sentence that gets to the heart of the matter and makes you want to know what's coming next (even if it the event itself is slightly predictable). Overall, a good, light read, well-written and meaningful, without the headache of too many unanswerable life questions.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pru Whistler is at a crossroads of sorts when we meet her.
Between jobs, confronted with the phantom of a parallel of herself, a tall blonde doppelganger with the husband and kids Pru has yet to have herself and feeling the press that the late 30s can smash on us with it's ticking bio clock and dwindling inventory of decent available men, it is unsurprising that the very next thing to happen is Pru losing Rudy, the incredibly whiny and subpar specimen she was just, literally, talking herself into settling for on the way to her impending breakup.
Sad, relatable, and in a few moments mildly surprising, Flowers weaves a tale that is exceedingly competent but short on action, and very, very high on familial tension and drama (Patsy was an incredibly exhausting character to read from her bad romantic decisions to her borderline psychotic break when the consequences of an impulsive and reactionary decision she makes, two year old bumping along behind her for the ride, unfold).
Throw in the afterthought love interest, John, for Pru who plays second fiddle in a story she's supposed to be the star of and it feels like a tale wrapped up neatly when it would have been better served left tattered, worn at the knees, and shooting threads at the seams.
I hung in there because of the moments, of which there were plenty, where Flowers had me laughing alongside Pru at the "can you believe the nerve of this jamoch" antics of the people around her.

[Eva Popovich · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a while, but I did finally come to like the main character. I found the author very critical of ALL her characters, and a cast of UNlikable characters is not a recipe for a book I want to read. But I kept at it, and sure enough, I found someone to like! By the end, Ms. Flowers had mellowed out most of her characters enough that they seemed more approachable and relatable. I enjoyed the character development, the touches of personality that she gave Pru and, after many many pages, Patsy. At first I thought the book was going to center on the dysfunctional family Pru and Patsy grew up in, but I don't really think that was it. It was more a cast of characters who were all extremely immature and self-centered, who finally grew up a little bit. I was happy for them, at the end. But like any "real" family or friends, I don't think I would want to spend too much time with them. But that's life, isn't it?

[Janel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun read. The ending was a little disappointing (to me).

A woman (Pru) decides she is ready to get married and start a family and then her long term boyfriend breaks up with her. She had been fired from her job and isn't having any luck finding another job. Her sister comes for a visit and falls in love with a great guy. Except the "great guy" ends up being married and breaks her heart. But her sister had already moved all of her things to be closer to him. So her and her daughter end up moving in.

Meanwhile Pru starts a budding romance with a man who owns a diner. But after they sleep together, his wife tells him that she wants him back. He tries to make it work with her, but in the end he tells her he still wants a divorce and he goes to Pru.

It would have been a more interesting end if they didn't end up together. But it does give the book a Hallmark happily ever after feel.

[Cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great, if you like those predictable books about a woman who loses her job and boyfriend and despairs of finding love and having a family, etc, etc.

It was a bit odd the way some things were a feature then completely dropped out, like Big Whoop, who dropped out of the story for so long I started to wonder what was going on, but eventually got the odd mention.

Since it's so predictable I probably don't need to use spoilers, but I was so disappointed with the end of the story. Pru and Patsy had both found something to love; the shop for Pru and a man for Patsy. Nice! I thought. Pur has learned that however nice a man is, she can be happy and fulfilled without one. But no. The guy who spent 6 months or whatever back with his wife turns up on the doorstep with a bunch of flowers, and now her life is complete. Pffft.

[Lisa Huninghake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light read about life, family, circumstances and choices. Pru has always been the anchor, the steady one, and when life throws her a curve ball, she must adapt. However, the curve balls keep coming. Life changes dramatically. Pru discovers there is more to life than she ever dreamed possible; job, marriage; friends; her sister and mother and niece. Everything changes and it can be for the better. Maybe even the best!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am finding this book so unbelievably boring. The non-fiction frustrating book about Trump I am also working on is more interesting and engaging.

2/26/20-Thank goodness this got slightly better just after the last update. I have no idea who decided this is a good idea of a romance novel though.

2.5 rounded up to 3. The first 1/3 of the book is unbelievably boring, the second 1/3 is tolerable and the last 1/3 is an okay book.

[Joan]

Dnf. I nearly finished one half of the book but just couldn't take it anymore. The main character was constantly whining. There are so many great books out there I just felt it was time for me to quit this particular book. I did not give the book a star rating because I didn't think it would be fair to the author since I never finished the book.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've owned this one since its 2008 publication. A fast read. Pru loses her job and boyfriend within just a few days of each other. But somehow, what could be a devastating turn of events, results in some very good things. Pru's sister Patsy is also in the midst of some life altering events. I liked the setting as well as Pru's family and group of friends.

[Annalisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet easy listen. It wasn't anything special, but I liked the characters and the narration was good. I'd recommend it for anyone who is looking for a light novel with love and a happy ending.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read listened to it coming to and from work.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book

[Trudy Bodwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sisters in this story very much bring to mind Austen's Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. I enjoyed it.

[Susan White-Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I hoped. Felt the story and writing were lacking.

[Rochelle Nash · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. I cant makenit beyond the 7th chapters. The characters are awful. The main character is pathetic. She literally has no redeeming qualities. I dont understand why this book was written. I have no idea how the book ends and I could care less.

[Pamela Gorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good and relatable. I have it 4 stars because a couple parts were slow and confusing. I loved the main character, Prudence.