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This Is Home
From the author of book club favorite The Salt House comes a deeply affecting novel about a teenage girl finding her voice and the military wife who moves in downstairs, united in their search for the true meaning of home.
Sixteen-year-old Libby Winters lives in Paradise, a seaside town north of Boston that rarely lives up to its name. After the death of her mother, she lives with her father, Bent, in the middle apartment of their triple decker home—Bent’s two sisters, Lucy and Desiree, live on the top floor. A former soldier turned policeman, Bent often works nights, leaving Libby under her aunts’ care. Shuffling back and forth between apartments—and the wildly different natures of her family—has Libby wishing for nothing more than a home of her very own.
Quinn Ellis is at a crossroads. When her husband John, who has served two tours in Iraq, goes missing back at home, suffering from PTSD he refuses to address, Quinn finds herself living in the first-floor apartment of the Winters house. Bent had served as her husband’s former platoon leader, a man John refers to as his brother, and despite Bent’s efforts to make her feel welcome, Quinn has yet to unpack a single box.
For Libby, the new tenant downstairs is an unwelcome guest, another body filling up her already crowded house. But soon enough, an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, when Libby and Quinn stretch and redefine their definition of family and home.
With gorgeous prose and a cast of characters that feel wholly real and lovably flawed, This Is Home is a nuanced and moving novel of finding where we belong.
Sixteen-year-old Libby Winters lives in Paradise, a seaside town north of Boston that rarely lives up to its name. After the death of her mother, she lives with her father, Bent, in the middle apartment of their triple decker home—Bent’s two sisters, Lucy and Desiree, live on the top floor. A former soldier turned policeman, Bent often works nights, leaving Libby under her aunts’ care. Shuffling back and forth between apartments—and the wildly different natures of her family—has Libby wishing for nothing more than a home of her very own.
Quinn Ellis is at a crossroads. When her husband John, who has served two tours in Iraq, goes missing back at home, suffering from PTSD he refuses to address, Quinn finds herself living in the first-floor apartment of the Winters house. Bent had served as her husband’s former platoon leader, a man John refers to as his brother, and despite Bent’s efforts to make her feel welcome, Quinn has yet to unpack a single box.
For Libby, the new tenant downstairs is an unwelcome guest, another body filling up her already crowded house. But soon enough, an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, when Libby and Quinn stretch and redefine their definition of family and home.
With gorgeous prose and a cast of characters that feel wholly real and lovably flawed, This Is Home is a nuanced and moving novel of finding where we belong.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2019
90 people are currently reading
3678 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Duffy
7 books283 followersLisa Duffy is the author of This is Home and The Salt House, named by Real Simple as a Best Book of the Month upon its June release, as well as one of Bustle’s Best Debut Novels by Women in 2017, a She Reads Book Club selection and Refinery 29’s Best Beach Reads of 2017.
Lisa received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts. Her short fiction was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and her writing can be found in numerous publications, including Writer’s Digest. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and three children.
Lisa received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts. Her short fiction was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and her writing can be found in numerous publications, including Writer’s Digest. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
December 27, 2019
**ONE OF MY TOP TEN BOOKS OF 2019**
I had been in a bit of a book slump and thriller burnout when a Goodreads friend, Susanne, recommended this book to me. I am so grateful to her, this book was just what I needed. Ms. Duffy’s writing flows so well and I was engaged by the book from the very beginning. This is a great story with wonderful writing and more than one life message that can be taken from it.
“This is Home” by Ms. Duffy shows us, by her carefully crafted characters and their interactions, just what the meaning of home is. It should be a place where you feel safe, comfortable, able to decorate your space as you like and if you are really lucky there may be other people in your building or house whom you care deeply about and who feel the same about you. Home should be a place that makes you feel happy to be there!
Bent Winters is an ex-serviceman who is now a police officer in a small town close to Boston named Paradise. After the death of his wife he is now solely responsible for his daughter Libby, age 16. Bent decided that moving into a 3 apartment home which his sister owns would be affordable and his sisters, Lucy and Desiree, could help look after Libby when he works long, late hours. The sisters live on the top floor and Libby and Bent on the second floor.
The three had just been getting to know each other when Bent rents out the lowest floor to a young woman, Quinn, who is trying to figure out her life. Her husband John has come back from several tours in Iraq, a completely different person. Quinn has tried all she can but John has pretty much deserted her, left their home and in fact later informs her that he has signed up for another tour. He has no interest anymore in making their marriage work. Bent had found Quinn on the steps outside her home, which she can no longer afford, and knew that he had to help her. Bent and John had been in the service together and he feels that he needs to try and help him and his wife.
This story will tug at your heartstrings, make you cry perhaps but also laugh. Throughout the book these characters will go through some tough times with Libby, as she tries to figure out her teenage self. Bent and Quinn begin a friendship which may lead to more than that. Somehow the five of them, including a rescue dog named Rooster and a new puppy, just seem to know how and when to help each other.
This is the kind of book that I would like to recommend to everyone. Don’t read a lot of reviews, just go into it blind, I just know you won’t be disappointed.
I received an ARC of this novel from the author and publisher through Edelweiss. This book will be published on June 11, 2019 by Atria books.
I had been in a bit of a book slump and thriller burnout when a Goodreads friend, Susanne, recommended this book to me. I am so grateful to her, this book was just what I needed. Ms. Duffy’s writing flows so well and I was engaged by the book from the very beginning. This is a great story with wonderful writing and more than one life message that can be taken from it.
“This is Home” by Ms. Duffy shows us, by her carefully crafted characters and their interactions, just what the meaning of home is. It should be a place where you feel safe, comfortable, able to decorate your space as you like and if you are really lucky there may be other people in your building or house whom you care deeply about and who feel the same about you. Home should be a place that makes you feel happy to be there!
Bent Winters is an ex-serviceman who is now a police officer in a small town close to Boston named Paradise. After the death of his wife he is now solely responsible for his daughter Libby, age 16. Bent decided that moving into a 3 apartment home which his sister owns would be affordable and his sisters, Lucy and Desiree, could help look after Libby when he works long, late hours. The sisters live on the top floor and Libby and Bent on the second floor.
The three had just been getting to know each other when Bent rents out the lowest floor to a young woman, Quinn, who is trying to figure out her life. Her husband John has come back from several tours in Iraq, a completely different person. Quinn has tried all she can but John has pretty much deserted her, left their home and in fact later informs her that he has signed up for another tour. He has no interest anymore in making their marriage work. Bent had found Quinn on the steps outside her home, which she can no longer afford, and knew that he had to help her. Bent and John had been in the service together and he feels that he needs to try and help him and his wife.
This story will tug at your heartstrings, make you cry perhaps but also laugh. Throughout the book these characters will go through some tough times with Libby, as she tries to figure out her teenage self. Bent and Quinn begin a friendship which may lead to more than that. Somehow the five of them, including a rescue dog named Rooster and a new puppy, just seem to know how and when to help each other.
This is the kind of book that I would like to recommend to everyone. Don’t read a lot of reviews, just go into it blind, I just know you won’t be disappointed.
I received an ARC of this novel from the author and publisher through Edelweiss. This book will be published on June 11, 2019 by Atria books.
April 23, 2019
People leave people behind everyday. Sometimes they just walk out the door, sometimes they die, sometimes they go off to war and sometimes even when they are with you, they have already abandoned you. The alternating narrators have the latter in common. Sixteen year old Libby’s mother died of cancer, but Libby is perceptive enough about her life to reflect on the reality of what happened. “And in my mind I think, dying isn’t the only way someone disappears.” Quinn’s husband, suffering from PTSD after Iraq, walks out the door one night. Like Libby, she comes to understand what has happened. “ He hadn’t left her on that night, she realizes, because he hadn’t really come home.” But yet they still struggle to come to terms with different ways of being abandoned and how to move forward and find their home. Quinn moves into the bottom floor of the three story house where Libby and her Dad share the middle apartment and where her two Aunts live on the top floor. Living on different levels of the same house couldn’t keep these characters from touching each other’s lives.
Libby, Quinn and the other characters are relatable dealing with realistic struggles and it’s heartening that sometimes it just takes a single connection with one other person to lift you from despair. Duffy doesn’t shy away from the difficulties of PTSD for both the person who suffers from it and on the lives of those close to him. Nor does she shy away from family dysfunction or addiction. It’s through friendship and family that a sense of belonging and the meaning of home are ultimately defined.
This ARC was provided by Atria via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2019
4 WARM AND FUZZY STARS!
This is Home is about friendship, love, and family. Most importantly, it is about those who are there to pick up the pieces when all else fails--no matter what.
Libby is 16 years old and lives with her police officer father, Bent, and their large and lazy dog, Rooster. After her mother dies, she and Bent moved from their home to a 3 family house, owned by her aunt Lucy. Her aunts Lucy and Desiree live on the third floor, and recently, a woman named Quinn moved in on the first floor. Quinn has a lot on her plate--her husband who has PTSD left her and she is dealing with the fallout. Libby and Quinn form an unlikely bond and friendship enabling them to heal from the tragedies of their pasts.
This is Home was a pleasure to read. I thought that this was going to be an emotionally messy family drama, and while is emotional and there are some messy situations, it really is just a lovely book and I felt happy while reading it. The characters are the best thing about this book--they are well developed and felt very real! They are all loveable in their own way, but Rooster the dog stole my heart. I wanted to be friends with these characters and be part of their world.
I admire Lisa Duffy’s ability to create such characters and storyline without being overly sappy or cheesy--sometimes these types of books cause me to groan and roll my eyes a lot, but I am happy to report that there was no eye rolling this time around! I highly recommend for a feel-good read!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.
This is Home is about friendship, love, and family. Most importantly, it is about those who are there to pick up the pieces when all else fails--no matter what.
Libby is 16 years old and lives with her police officer father, Bent, and their large and lazy dog, Rooster. After her mother dies, she and Bent moved from their home to a 3 family house, owned by her aunt Lucy. Her aunts Lucy and Desiree live on the third floor, and recently, a woman named Quinn moved in on the first floor. Quinn has a lot on her plate--her husband who has PTSD left her and she is dealing with the fallout. Libby and Quinn form an unlikely bond and friendship enabling them to heal from the tragedies of their pasts.
This is Home was a pleasure to read. I thought that this was going to be an emotionally messy family drama, and while is emotional and there are some messy situations, it really is just a lovely book and I felt happy while reading it. The characters are the best thing about this book--they are well developed and felt very real! They are all loveable in their own way, but Rooster the dog stole my heart. I wanted to be friends with these characters and be part of their world.
I admire Lisa Duffy’s ability to create such characters and storyline without being overly sappy or cheesy--sometimes these types of books cause me to groan and roll my eyes a lot, but I am happy to report that there was no eye rolling this time around! I highly recommend for a feel-good read!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2019
5 Heartfelt Stars. One of My Favorites of 2019!
There is this feeling that overcomes you as soon as you open “that book” - that one special book. The ones that are few and far between. It’s like when you strike that match and it lights. A glow, an ember of orange fire takes hold and whoosh: flame. A warm feeling took hold of my entire heart when I began reading “This is Home” by Lisa Duffy. It was as if a flame ignited inside of me and I knew, I too, was home.
There are two young women who are desperate for safety, security and stability. A man named Bent provides it for both of them. Libby is a teenager and is Bent’s daughter. He always took on the role of mother and father. Quinn is a woman in her late twenties. Her husband John deserted her after two stints in the war. Bent served with John and did his best to take care of him, and now he’s doing the same for Quinn. Bent is now a Police Officer, Taking care of people is what he does.
To know these characters is to love them. There are no secrets here. Bent stole my darn heart. I wish HE was my next door neighbor! While Bent stole my heart, both Libby and Quinn sort of of broke mine for different reasons (none of which I can go into - you must read this for yourself!). Lisa Duffy writes in such a fluid way that I was immediately drawn into this story. It was almost like I was taken away on a cloud and I drifted along.
Simply put: “This is Home” by Lisa Duffy is literary fiction at its best. It’s a book that opens your heart from the very first. My eyes filled with tears over and over again. This is a book that reminds you about the important things in life: to always let the people in your life know how much you love them and to stick by them. It’s a story that makes you take notice and be grateful for everything you have. In case it’s not obvious, it’s a story that I adored and it will be on my best of list for 2019 and is one I hope all of you will take a chance on. It is so very worth it.
Thank you to Megan Rudloff, Atria Books, NetGalley and to Lisa Duffy for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 4.7.19.
*Will be published on Amazon and Twitter on 6.11.19.
Excerpt to be published on Instagram.
There is this feeling that overcomes you as soon as you open “that book” - that one special book. The ones that are few and far between. It’s like when you strike that match and it lights. A glow, an ember of orange fire takes hold and whoosh: flame. A warm feeling took hold of my entire heart when I began reading “This is Home” by Lisa Duffy. It was as if a flame ignited inside of me and I knew, I too, was home.
There are two young women who are desperate for safety, security and stability. A man named Bent provides it for both of them. Libby is a teenager and is Bent’s daughter. He always took on the role of mother and father. Quinn is a woman in her late twenties. Her husband John deserted her after two stints in the war. Bent served with John and did his best to take care of him, and now he’s doing the same for Quinn. Bent is now a Police Officer, Taking care of people is what he does.
To know these characters is to love them. There are no secrets here. Bent stole my darn heart. I wish HE was my next door neighbor! While Bent stole my heart, both Libby and Quinn sort of of broke mine for different reasons (none of which I can go into - you must read this for yourself!). Lisa Duffy writes in such a fluid way that I was immediately drawn into this story. It was almost like I was taken away on a cloud and I drifted along.
Simply put: “This is Home” by Lisa Duffy is literary fiction at its best. It’s a book that opens your heart from the very first. My eyes filled with tears over and over again. This is a book that reminds you about the important things in life: to always let the people in your life know how much you love them and to stick by them. It’s a story that makes you take notice and be grateful for everything you have. In case it’s not obvious, it’s a story that I adored and it will be on my best of list for 2019 and is one I hope all of you will take a chance on. It is so very worth it.
Thank you to Megan Rudloff, Atria Books, NetGalley and to Lisa Duffy for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 4.7.19.
*Will be published on Amazon and Twitter on 6.11.19.
Excerpt to be published on Instagram.
May 8, 2019
If you are in a reading slump, if you want to feel good, if you want to read a book with well-developed characters dealing with real life issues - READ THIS BOOK!
I'm not going to say too much about the plot as the book synopsis nails it. What I will say is what worked for me. I was immediately drawn into the world of these well-developed characters who had their own quirks and distinct personalities. Some were entertaining, some were interesting, some were lovable, some you wanted to shake, but either way they all were beautifully flawed and felt extremely real. Their relationships with others felt believable and I loved some of their eye rolling interchanges.
Lisa Duffy took real life issues such as soldiers experiencing PTSD, addiction, being a single parent, love, loss and grief, and wrote a beautiful novel about people the reader grows to care about dealing with and supporting each other through these issues. There are some sad parts, some heart break, some endings, but there are also beginnings, and new starts.
I love books which cause me to think and feel. I was cheering for some characters, feeling heartbroken for others during various parts of the novel. I was happy when they were happy and felt anxious during certain scenes. This is to the Author's credit. She can pull the heart strings of her readers by making us feel for her characters.
I found the pacing to be spot on. There was never a dull moment and to tell the truth when the book was over, I wanted more. This book became a page turner for me as I read most of the book today in one sitting.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
I'm not going to say too much about the plot as the book synopsis nails it. What I will say is what worked for me. I was immediately drawn into the world of these well-developed characters who had their own quirks and distinct personalities. Some were entertaining, some were interesting, some were lovable, some you wanted to shake, but either way they all were beautifully flawed and felt extremely real. Their relationships with others felt believable and I loved some of their eye rolling interchanges.
Lisa Duffy took real life issues such as soldiers experiencing PTSD, addiction, being a single parent, love, loss and grief, and wrote a beautiful novel about people the reader grows to care about dealing with and supporting each other through these issues. There are some sad parts, some heart break, some endings, but there are also beginnings, and new starts.
I love books which cause me to think and feel. I was cheering for some characters, feeling heartbroken for others during various parts of the novel. I was happy when they were happy and felt anxious during certain scenes. This is to the Author's credit. She can pull the heart strings of her readers by making us feel for her characters.
I found the pacing to be spot on. There was never a dull moment and to tell the truth when the book was over, I wanted more. This book became a page turner for me as I read most of the book today in one sitting.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 13, 2019
I loved this beautifully written and intensely emotional story. At times I found myself crying and laughing, and other times, I was yelling at the characters. The characters became so real to me with their struggles and heartache.
I found the different POVs interesting here with teenager Libby who is trying to understand an adult world and adult Quinn who is trying to understand her adult world. Each with their own sorrow and conflicts and both are trying to find their place in it all.
Lisa Duffy does a great job here, exploring the different ways we feel alone in grief and disconnected from others. Through the relationships and dynamics here, we see how the characters find out something about themselves, each other, along with some understanding of each other's struggles and conflicts. It left me thinking, maybe home is somewhere in that understanding. She weaves a few well-plotted heartbreaking themes here with a feel-good story of hope. I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
I found the different POVs interesting here with teenager Libby who is trying to understand an adult world and adult Quinn who is trying to understand her adult world. Each with their own sorrow and conflicts and both are trying to find their place in it all.
Lisa Duffy does a great job here, exploring the different ways we feel alone in grief and disconnected from others. Through the relationships and dynamics here, we see how the characters find out something about themselves, each other, along with some understanding of each other's struggles and conflicts. It left me thinking, maybe home is somewhere in that understanding. She weaves a few well-plotted heartbreaking themes here with a feel-good story of hope. I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
April 17, 2019
”… ‘There’s no place like home.’
- Dorothy
Books like This is Home are why I read. The hope that I will find some connection, feel some sense of this created world, these people, the place, the struggles they face, and the joy they manage to find despite the many obstacles, to feel it all, the hearts broken, and the ones healed. We learn so much, about the world, and about ourselves, when we walk in another person’s shoes.
Engaging from the start, this story is about love in its many forms. From the love of young couples suddenly faced with tough decisions, to men at war, whose lives depend on the willingness to put their lives on the line for the safety of others, the way they carry those moments home with them creates a bond that is difficult for some to understand. The PTSD that bleeds over onto spouses and family members adds a sense of heartbreaking realization of the damage people carry inside.
Set in the fictional town of Paradise, Massachusetts, where Quinn Ellis lives, a young woman married for the last five years to John, who was deployed twice during that time. Stateside now, John disappeared soon after his latest tour ended, and when Quinn isn’t working as a nanny, she is trying to find him, or hoping he will contact her. When she receives a notice that threatens to leave her homeless, Bent Winters, one of the local police officers, offers her a small apartment on the first floor in his triple-decker house. His two sisters, Desiree and Lucy, live on the top floor, he and his teenage daughter, Libby, live on the middle floor with Rooster Cogburn, a dog he rescued.
In the traditional sense, they are not a family, but over time they grown to be one, looking out for one another. Finding ways to connect and share their lives. I tend to think of family as being a unit that belongs to one another, a bond formed through shared experiences, shared feelings, hopes and dreams. And this is what they have, a bond formed through everything they’ve experienced, all the moments in their lives that have made them the person they are now, that allows them to let down their own walls, to rebuild with a new definition of how they see themselves, their lives, and life, in general. And with this, allowing joy to enter their lives and build on that feeling. Eventually, we all want to, need to find the place where we can say: “This is Home,”
My thanks to my goodreads friend Susanne, whose lovely review prompted me to add this one.
Her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pub Date: 11 Jun 2019
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books
Books like This is Home are why I read. The hope that I will find some connection, feel some sense of this created world, these people, the place, the struggles they face, and the joy they manage to find despite the many obstacles, to feel it all, the hearts broken, and the ones healed. We learn so much, about the world, and about ourselves, when we walk in another person’s shoes.
Engaging from the start, this story is about love in its many forms. From the love of young couples suddenly faced with tough decisions, to men at war, whose lives depend on the willingness to put their lives on the line for the safety of others, the way they carry those moments home with them creates a bond that is difficult for some to understand. The PTSD that bleeds over onto spouses and family members adds a sense of heartbreaking realization of the damage people carry inside.
Set in the fictional town of Paradise, Massachusetts, where Quinn Ellis lives, a young woman married for the last five years to John, who was deployed twice during that time. Stateside now, John disappeared soon after his latest tour ended, and when Quinn isn’t working as a nanny, she is trying to find him, or hoping he will contact her. When she receives a notice that threatens to leave her homeless, Bent Winters, one of the local police officers, offers her a small apartment on the first floor in his triple-decker house. His two sisters, Desiree and Lucy, live on the top floor, he and his teenage daughter, Libby, live on the middle floor with Rooster Cogburn, a dog he rescued.
In the traditional sense, they are not a family, but over time they grown to be one, looking out for one another. Finding ways to connect and share their lives. I tend to think of family as being a unit that belongs to one another, a bond formed through shared experiences, shared feelings, hopes and dreams. And this is what they have, a bond formed through everything they’ve experienced, all the moments in their lives that have made them the person they are now, that allows them to let down their own walls, to rebuild with a new definition of how they see themselves, their lives, and life, in general. And with this, allowing joy to enter their lives and build on that feeling. Eventually, we all want to, need to find the place where we can say: “This is Home,”
My thanks to my goodreads friend Susanne, whose lovely review prompted me to add this one.
Her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pub Date: 11 Jun 2019
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books
July 12, 2019
This was a terrific book!
Sixteen-year-old Libby Winters is surrounded by family. She has lived with her father, Bent, in the middle-level apartment of a triple-decker house, since her mother died. Because Bent is a policeman and often works nights, his two sisters, Lucy and Desiree, are tasked with watching over her, which generally means smothering her or encouraging her rebellion, depending upon which aunt is in charge.
For her part, Libby is tired of everyone giving her advice or worrying about her, and she longs for the opportunity to be her own person.
When Quinn moves in to the apartment downstairs, Libby immediately chafes at the idea of another person crowding her. But when she realizes that Quinn has issues of her own to deal with, the two begin to depend on one another—although their lives are vastly different, both are weighed down by the pressures of life and disappointed by those around them.
Quinn's husband John, who deployed to Iraq shortly after they got married, returns home after two tours, the man her husband has become isn't someone she recognizes. He suffers from PTSD, which he refuses to acknowledge, choosing instead to self-medicate with copious amounts of alcohol.
When John disappears after revealing his plans to return to Iraq, John sends Bent, his former platoon leader, to bring her to his home. At first, Quinn doesn't want someone else to do her husband's bidding, but she begins to rely on Bent more and more as events in her life become more uncertain.
"It occurred to her that over the years, she'd accumulated things to show her existence: a birth certificate, a marriage license, a college degree...but she'd never really thought about herself outside of these narrow margins—who was she after all? Especially now, with the hours stretching in front of her and nowhere to be?"
As Libby deals with problems which challenge a long-time friendship, and tries to figure out the revival of an old attraction, Quinn must figure out what she wants from John, for her future, and from others that seem to occupy her mind and her heart.
Lisa Duffy's This is Home is a beautiful, emotional story about family, friendship, parenthood, and the struggles and challenges love can cause. Duffy does a great job capturing how PTSD affects not only the individual suffering from it, but those around them, and the ripple effects it can cause.
There is a lot going on here, and not every storyline gets resolved neatly, if at all. But Duffy has created such memorable, complex characters, and no one is without flaws or struggles. It will be a while before I can get them out of my mind.
This is Home is a book that has gotten a lot of hype, and it's great to see just how worthy it is of this praise. Read it!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Sixteen-year-old Libby Winters is surrounded by family. She has lived with her father, Bent, in the middle-level apartment of a triple-decker house, since her mother died. Because Bent is a policeman and often works nights, his two sisters, Lucy and Desiree, are tasked with watching over her, which generally means smothering her or encouraging her rebellion, depending upon which aunt is in charge.
For her part, Libby is tired of everyone giving her advice or worrying about her, and she longs for the opportunity to be her own person.
When Quinn moves in to the apartment downstairs, Libby immediately chafes at the idea of another person crowding her. But when she realizes that Quinn has issues of her own to deal with, the two begin to depend on one another—although their lives are vastly different, both are weighed down by the pressures of life and disappointed by those around them.
Quinn's husband John, who deployed to Iraq shortly after they got married, returns home after two tours, the man her husband has become isn't someone she recognizes. He suffers from PTSD, which he refuses to acknowledge, choosing instead to self-medicate with copious amounts of alcohol.
When John disappears after revealing his plans to return to Iraq, John sends Bent, his former platoon leader, to bring her to his home. At first, Quinn doesn't want someone else to do her husband's bidding, but she begins to rely on Bent more and more as events in her life become more uncertain.
"It occurred to her that over the years, she'd accumulated things to show her existence: a birth certificate, a marriage license, a college degree...but she'd never really thought about herself outside of these narrow margins—who was she after all? Especially now, with the hours stretching in front of her and nowhere to be?"
As Libby deals with problems which challenge a long-time friendship, and tries to figure out the revival of an old attraction, Quinn must figure out what she wants from John, for her future, and from others that seem to occupy her mind and her heart.
Lisa Duffy's This is Home is a beautiful, emotional story about family, friendship, parenthood, and the struggles and challenges love can cause. Duffy does a great job capturing how PTSD affects not only the individual suffering from it, but those around them, and the ripple effects it can cause.
There is a lot going on here, and not every storyline gets resolved neatly, if at all. But Duffy has created such memorable, complex characters, and no one is without flaws or struggles. It will be a while before I can get them out of my mind.
This is Home is a book that has gotten a lot of hype, and it's great to see just how worthy it is of this praise. Read it!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
January 9, 2020
Lisa Duffy beautifully crafts a story about finding love and connections with others in the most unexpected ways.
This truly was a masterpiece of a story and left my heart full of happiness.
I think this book came at the best time in my life right now. It's been so hectic and crazy with wedding planning and Lisa's talent and voice soars through this novel. Lisa creates unforgettable characters that will leave you aching for them, loving them, and crying for them. I was absolutely floored with Lisa Duffy's talent and not sure why I haven't read her work before!
Our main characters in the town of Paradise face challenges but are never left alone. This is a true reminder of how powerful love and making connections with other human beings is. I highly highly recommend this book... and this is one not to be missed.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!
I would give this 10 stars if I could!!!!
Thank you so much to Atria for the advanced arc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: 6/25/19
Published to Goodreads/instagram: 4/1/19
This truly was a masterpiece of a story and left my heart full of happiness.
I think this book came at the best time in my life right now. It's been so hectic and crazy with wedding planning and Lisa's talent and voice soars through this novel. Lisa creates unforgettable characters that will leave you aching for them, loving them, and crying for them. I was absolutely floored with Lisa Duffy's talent and not sure why I haven't read her work before!
Our main characters in the town of Paradise face challenges but are never left alone. This is a true reminder of how powerful love and making connections with other human beings is. I highly highly recommend this book... and this is one not to be missed.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!
I would give this 10 stars if I could!!!!
Thank you so much to Atria for the advanced arc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: 6/25/19
Published to Goodreads/instagram: 4/1/19
May 26, 2019
4 stars
I thought this was a really enjoyable and worthwhile novel, the first I have read from Lisa Duffy. The title just as well could have been “What Is Home?” as the story makes that clear. It’s not where you are or if you are with blood relatives or not. It’s where you are with people you care about and who care about you, and it’s a place you can build out of the rubble of your life.
Quinn has it rough. She loses a set of precious twins through miscarriage and essentially loses her husband to PTSD. Her parents are gone. Things look bleak. This is her starting point. The reader goes on the journey with Quinn as she wades through even more difficult times on her way to finding her home.
Libby is 16-years-old and is being raised by her solo dad who is a cop. She and her dad have had to move in with her two aunts in order to make things work after her mother dies. Libby has her own set of problems. And so does her dad Bent (short for Bentley) and her aunts Lucy and Desiree. And we haven’t even talked about Madeleine. You will have to read the book for her story.
This is a touching, heartwarming, fast read about a group of well-characterized people whom I really cared about, especially Quinn and Libby. After a slow start, it picks up considerably at around 15% and maintains good pace to the end. The main theme of the search for security, happiness, and stability is handled wonderfully and with beautiful prose. The book gets extra credit for having an epilogue.
If you are looking for a feel good, life-affirming story with a healthy dose of people caring for and looking out for each other, pick this one up. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Net Galley, Atria Books, and Ms. Lisa Duffy for an advanced review copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
I thought this was a really enjoyable and worthwhile novel, the first I have read from Lisa Duffy. The title just as well could have been “What Is Home?” as the story makes that clear. It’s not where you are or if you are with blood relatives or not. It’s where you are with people you care about and who care about you, and it’s a place you can build out of the rubble of your life.
Quinn has it rough. She loses a set of precious twins through miscarriage and essentially loses her husband to PTSD. Her parents are gone. Things look bleak. This is her starting point. The reader goes on the journey with Quinn as she wades through even more difficult times on her way to finding her home.
Libby is 16-years-old and is being raised by her solo dad who is a cop. She and her dad have had to move in with her two aunts in order to make things work after her mother dies. Libby has her own set of problems. And so does her dad Bent (short for Bentley) and her aunts Lucy and Desiree. And we haven’t even talked about Madeleine. You will have to read the book for her story.
This is a touching, heartwarming, fast read about a group of well-characterized people whom I really cared about, especially Quinn and Libby. After a slow start, it picks up considerably at around 15% and maintains good pace to the end. The main theme of the search for security, happiness, and stability is handled wonderfully and with beautiful prose. The book gets extra credit for having an epilogue.
If you are looking for a feel good, life-affirming story with a healthy dose of people caring for and looking out for each other, pick this one up. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Net Galley, Atria Books, and Ms. Lisa Duffy for an advanced review copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
May 7, 2019
This is Home is an emotional story of Libby, a motherless teenage girl trying to create and define her home along with Quinn, a military wife who feels abandoned and is searching for belonging. The characters are searching for connection and the family they really want is not always an option.
Teenage Libby lives with her father, Brent, who has returned from the military to raise her. Her mother left when she was very young, came back in time to fight and lose her battle with cancer, leaving the father and daughter to face the world without her. Brent’s sisters live in the apartment upstairs and are on hand to take care or Libby when he is at work.
Quinn’s husband, John returned from the military with PTSD and then abruptly goes missing, so, now all alone, she moves in to the first floor apartment of Brent’s house to figure out her life. Brent was John’s platoon leader in Iraq and he feels responsible for helping Quinn out. Initially, Libby is not happy with the intrusion of a stranger in her house and in her life, but she and Quinn, both struggling with abandonment and redefining home, develop a friendship.
Lisa Duffy’s characters are imperfect and believable – they all are in search of something and they also offer comfort, camaraderie and support to each other, making this a book I didn’t want to end. The author touches on PTSD, pregnancy, drugs and alcohol, and coming of age – real life problems and challenges that are relatable. I enjoyed all the relationships that were forged, the growth each character experienced, and I was rooting for them all! I highly recommend This is Home as well as Lisa Duffy’s first book, The Salt House.
Q & A with Lisa Duffy
Do you have experience with ptsd and the military and how much research did you do for this book?
One of the reasons I wanted to write about this subject was....
continue at https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/05/0...
Teenage Libby lives with her father, Brent, who has returned from the military to raise her. Her mother left when she was very young, came back in time to fight and lose her battle with cancer, leaving the father and daughter to face the world without her. Brent’s sisters live in the apartment upstairs and are on hand to take care or Libby when he is at work.
Quinn’s husband, John returned from the military with PTSD and then abruptly goes missing, so, now all alone, she moves in to the first floor apartment of Brent’s house to figure out her life. Brent was John’s platoon leader in Iraq and he feels responsible for helping Quinn out. Initially, Libby is not happy with the intrusion of a stranger in her house and in her life, but she and Quinn, both struggling with abandonment and redefining home, develop a friendship.
Lisa Duffy’s characters are imperfect and believable – they all are in search of something and they also offer comfort, camaraderie and support to each other, making this a book I didn’t want to end. The author touches on PTSD, pregnancy, drugs and alcohol, and coming of age – real life problems and challenges that are relatable. I enjoyed all the relationships that were forged, the growth each character experienced, and I was rooting for them all! I highly recommend This is Home as well as Lisa Duffy’s first book, The Salt House.
Q & A with Lisa Duffy
Do you have experience with ptsd and the military and how much research did you do for this book?
One of the reasons I wanted to write about this subject was....
continue at https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/05/0...
July 24, 2019
I received a free e-copy of This is Home by Lisa Duffy from NetGalley for my honest review.
Oh my goodness, my heart. Such a moving and unforgettably emotional yet heart warming story!
Libby, who is sixteen years old, lives in the town of Paradise, near Boston. She lives in the middle apartment of her Aunt Lucy's building that consists of three apartments. Libby's two aunts live in another of the apartments and the third tenant is a man named John, who served with Libby’s dad, Bent, in the military, and his wife, Quinn.
John, who suffers from PTSD, leaves without telling Quinn where he is going. Bent knows where John is but has promised not to tell Quinn.
Libby misses her mom, who died of cancer. She and her dad had to sell their house to pay all the medical bills. Libby misses her home but doesn't want to tell her dad.
The story line goes back and forth between Libby and Quinn and each of their stories and eventually the stories intertwine. The friendship that becomes of them both. A story of pain, addiction, friendship, sadness, pain and joy.
Oh my goodness, my heart. Such a moving and unforgettably emotional yet heart warming story!
Libby, who is sixteen years old, lives in the town of Paradise, near Boston. She lives in the middle apartment of her Aunt Lucy's building that consists of three apartments. Libby's two aunts live in another of the apartments and the third tenant is a man named John, who served with Libby’s dad, Bent, in the military, and his wife, Quinn.
John, who suffers from PTSD, leaves without telling Quinn where he is going. Bent knows where John is but has promised not to tell Quinn.
Libby misses her mom, who died of cancer. She and her dad had to sell their house to pay all the medical bills. Libby misses her home but doesn't want to tell her dad.
The story line goes back and forth between Libby and Quinn and each of their stories and eventually the stories intertwine. The friendship that becomes of them both. A story of pain, addiction, friendship, sadness, pain and joy.
August 1, 2020
This Is Home is a beautiful story of redemption, family, and friendship. Duffy’s prose is lyrical, and her ability to tell a story is outstanding. I highly, highly recommend this book; it is a spectacular read.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews including an interview with Lisa. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews including an interview with Lisa. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
June 13, 2019
“This is Home” is a perfect title for this beautiful story, because this book feels just like HOME. Books like this remind me why I love to read; they just make me FEEL. It was a pleasure reading this novel and I will definitely buy a copy of it to keep it on my shelf as this book is worth re-reading whenever I am feeling nostalgic or stressed out. Wonderful story of love, friendships, family dynamics, and everyday problems that many of us face in this crazy world. Just do yourself a favor and read this gem, and you will not be sorry. Beautiful writing style, well-developed characters, that you will wish were your own family, gripping plot, and so much emotions packed in just 300 pages.
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author, talented Lisa Duffy for giving me an opportunity to read an early copy of this stunning book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author, talented Lisa Duffy for giving me an opportunity to read an early copy of this stunning book in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 18, 2019
Libby lives with her father, Bentley (Bent to nearly everyone) and their oversized, lazy dog Rooster Cogburn. And then there's also her Aunts Lucy and Desiree, who live in the apartment above them. And now there's Quinn. Quinn's husband John and Bent served together in Iraq. Bent invites Quinn to live in the basement apartment after John goes missing, suffering from PTSD. Libby feels the place is crowded enough already. And Quinn's not too thrilled to be there either. But, before either of them realize it, they are thrust together and slowly become friends.
This is one of those quiet, unassuming books that sneaks up on you, pulling you in with its beautiful writing and wonderful characters. There's no wild plot, insane mystery, or major twist--just elegant prose, a troubled cast, and some real and raw moments that will stick with you long after you finish the last page. Lisa Duffy is an excellent writer, and I so enjoyed her book.
"He'd come home from from the war a different person. A stranger to her. Someone she moved around carefully, gently, as if he were a bomb, ready to explode."
There is a lot going on here--the aftermath of war; family issues; a budding teen romance; marriage problems--but it all works. Libby and Quinn each tell their own story, and as their lives begin to intertwine, it's very heartwarming to watch each come into their own a bit. They each have their own unique voice, and it's hard not to fall for both of them. Libby, especially, tugged at my heart. (But I loved Quinn, too!)
There is, of course, darkness here. This novel offers a very thoughtful exploration of the aftermath of war, not only on the soldiers, but those who love them. It's not always an easy read, but I think it's a valuable one. It gives a very unwavering look at the PTSD these men and women face and how it can not only can ruin them, but their families as well.
Overall, I found this to be an excellent and poignant read, and I'm sorry I let it sit on my Kindle so long. Easily 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from Atria Books and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
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This is one of those quiet, unassuming books that sneaks up on you, pulling you in with its beautiful writing and wonderful characters. There's no wild plot, insane mystery, or major twist--just elegant prose, a troubled cast, and some real and raw moments that will stick with you long after you finish the last page. Lisa Duffy is an excellent writer, and I so enjoyed her book.
"He'd come home from from the war a different person. A stranger to her. Someone she moved around carefully, gently, as if he were a bomb, ready to explode."
There is a lot going on here--the aftermath of war; family issues; a budding teen romance; marriage problems--but it all works. Libby and Quinn each tell their own story, and as their lives begin to intertwine, it's very heartwarming to watch each come into their own a bit. They each have their own unique voice, and it's hard not to fall for both of them. Libby, especially, tugged at my heart. (But I loved Quinn, too!)
There is, of course, darkness here. This novel offers a very thoughtful exploration of the aftermath of war, not only on the soldiers, but those who love them. It's not always an easy read, but I think it's a valuable one. It gives a very unwavering look at the PTSD these men and women face and how it can not only can ruin them, but their families as well.
Overall, I found this to be an excellent and poignant read, and I'm sorry I let it sit on my Kindle so long. Easily 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from Atria Books and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
August 28, 2019
This is Home is a beautiful, character driven novel. What is home? Is home where the heart is or the place you feel wanted and safe?
This story is told in alternate perspectives. We meet Libby, a 16 yr old , living with her Dad Bent. She is a strong, assertive young lady- such a likeable character. We also meet Quinn, whose husband has gone missing, leaving her feeling in limbo. Thanks to Bent, she has a place to stay.
Through our two main characters and all the loving people that surround them, the author paints a beautiful portrait of how people should look out for each other. I loved getting to know these people. They definitely burrowed a place in my heart, and left me wanting more.
Lest you think this is a light fluffy read, it is not. The author delves into weighty topics like PTSD, substance abuse, and abandonment .
I definitely recommend this one !
This story is told in alternate perspectives. We meet Libby, a 16 yr old , living with her Dad Bent. She is a strong, assertive young lady- such a likeable character. We also meet Quinn, whose husband has gone missing, leaving her feeling in limbo. Thanks to Bent, she has a place to stay.
Through our two main characters and all the loving people that surround them, the author paints a beautiful portrait of how people should look out for each other. I loved getting to know these people. They definitely burrowed a place in my heart, and left me wanting more.
Lest you think this is a light fluffy read, it is not. The author delves into weighty topics like PTSD, substance abuse, and abandonment .
I definitely recommend this one !
April 29, 2019
I knew after reading Lisa Duffy's book The Salt House in 2017 that she was a special writer—the kind who writes a book that just grabs at your heart and leaves such an impression because it's so deeply moving and heartfelt. I knew then that I'd read anything Duffy wrote, a feeling that was deepened after reading her exquisite new novel, This is Home.
Lucy, Desiree, and Bent are three adult siblings who share a three-level apartment home along with Bent’s 16 year old daughter Libby. Bent, ex-military and now a police officer, works really late nights and doesn't want Libby to be left alone. Under her aunts watchful and wildly different styles of nurturing and her dad's tender yet tough parenting, Libby is a teenager a bit adrift, trying to find her own way, and wishing for a home of their own.
Then there is Quinn, the new neighbor who is renting out the bottom floor of the house. In her own way, she's lost and looking for a place to call home since her husband John, who served with Bent in Iraq, has deserted her after returning from his last tour a much-changed man. She has no idea who the man she married is anymore.
Duffy's characterization is just perfect and so memorable—I'm not going to forget these characters for quite some time. I found myself connecting with each of them in some way but especially with Quinn since I understood some of her struggles as an ex-military wife since my own husband served 3 tours in Iraq. It's a hard thing being a military spouse and serviceman, and I think Duffy captured this with great effect and raw honesty.
Duffy's writing is profound and captivating as she brings the small town of Paradise and its inhabitants to life. Duffy so wonderfully captures the struggles of her characters but also reminds us that home is where we least expect it because of the connections that are forged with people in the unlikeliest circumstances. Even more, the prose is gorgeous, and this is truly beautiful literary fiction. The writing is effortless, fluid, and so elegant. Duffy is a true storyteller, and it was an absolute pleasure to read this novel.
The novel made me laugh and cry because it filled me with happiness while also filled me with moments of absolute heartbreak, but I love books that are able to wreak havoc on my emotions because that means the author knows and understands people.
This is Home is one of those novels that touch your heart and soul, and I found myself lost in the story about family, connections, friendships, love, and relationships. This is one novel that can't be missed this year and will be on my list of favorites for 2019—I'll be savoring this book for a really long time and recommending it to everyone I know for much longer.
**Thank you, Isabel DaSilva, NetGalley, and Atria Books for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Lucy, Desiree, and Bent are three adult siblings who share a three-level apartment home along with Bent’s 16 year old daughter Libby. Bent, ex-military and now a police officer, works really late nights and doesn't want Libby to be left alone. Under her aunts watchful and wildly different styles of nurturing and her dad's tender yet tough parenting, Libby is a teenager a bit adrift, trying to find her own way, and wishing for a home of their own.
Then there is Quinn, the new neighbor who is renting out the bottom floor of the house. In her own way, she's lost and looking for a place to call home since her husband John, who served with Bent in Iraq, has deserted her after returning from his last tour a much-changed man. She has no idea who the man she married is anymore.
Duffy's characterization is just perfect and so memorable—I'm not going to forget these characters for quite some time. I found myself connecting with each of them in some way but especially with Quinn since I understood some of her struggles as an ex-military wife since my own husband served 3 tours in Iraq. It's a hard thing being a military spouse and serviceman, and I think Duffy captured this with great effect and raw honesty.
Duffy's writing is profound and captivating as she brings the small town of Paradise and its inhabitants to life. Duffy so wonderfully captures the struggles of her characters but also reminds us that home is where we least expect it because of the connections that are forged with people in the unlikeliest circumstances. Even more, the prose is gorgeous, and this is truly beautiful literary fiction. The writing is effortless, fluid, and so elegant. Duffy is a true storyteller, and it was an absolute pleasure to read this novel.
The novel made me laugh and cry because it filled me with happiness while also filled me with moments of absolute heartbreak, but I love books that are able to wreak havoc on my emotions because that means the author knows and understands people.
This is Home is one of those novels that touch your heart and soul, and I found myself lost in the story about family, connections, friendships, love, and relationships. This is one novel that can't be missed this year and will be on my list of favorites for 2019—I'll be savoring this book for a really long time and recommending it to everyone I know for much longer.
**Thank you, Isabel DaSilva, NetGalley, and Atria Books for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.**
May 23, 2019
Every once in a while, a book comes along that absolutely stuns me, blows me away and makes me want to savor every chapter. As a naturally speedy reader, forcing myself to slow down is tough, but This is Home had me so utterly gripped that I did not want this book to end. Told in beautiful writing, I was gripped from the beginning with this story of father/daughter duo Libby & Bent and their downstairs neighbor, Quinn. Uniting this family is their military bond and shared experiences with PTSD and abandonment. Told in alternating perspectives from Libby and Quinn, you truly feel these characters jumping off the page and that you are living the story - a hallmark of an amazingly written book..
This is the first book of Lisa Duffy's that I have read but she has earned must-read status for me after this one and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Plot, prose & strong characters, this book has it all and you can pick this up and be sure to thank me later.
Thank you to Atria for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
This is the first book of Lisa Duffy's that I have read but she has earned must-read status for me after this one and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Plot, prose & strong characters, this book has it all and you can pick this up and be sure to thank me later.
Thank you to Atria for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 10, 2019
There is a feeling of home about this book although there are tragedies as well - we all have them don't we? Libby lives with her father, Bent, in a 3 apartment building owned by her Aunt Lucy who lives on the third floor with Libby's Aunt Desiree. A newcomer, Quinn, moves into the first floor apartment. Quinn's husband had disappeared before she moved in and Bent, who had been in the service with Quinn's husband, helps her move into the apartment.
The characters in this book are both well-developed and believable, though they are flawed. I think I would like to have them as my own neighbors. The writing is well done and pleasurable to read. The story entwines PTSD, addiction, loss, love and family in a way that is not corny or mauldlin. I enjoyed my time with this book.
Thanks to Lisa Duffy and Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
The characters in this book are both well-developed and believable, though they are flawed. I think I would like to have them as my own neighbors. The writing is well done and pleasurable to read. The story entwines PTSD, addiction, loss, love and family in a way that is not corny or mauldlin. I enjoyed my time with this book.
Thanks to Lisa Duffy and Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
July 7, 2019
This is Home is a heartbreaking story that tackles some tough issues like PTSD. It’s also a heartwarming story that contains lovable flawed characters and issues of overcoming hardships and living your best life.
September 23, 2019
"Home is where the heart is"--something the two main characters of this new story by Lisa Duffy need to learn.
Libby is the motherless teenaged daughter of Bentley Winters, Iraqi war veteran and police officer in Paradise, MA. They are living on the second floor of a three-decker house, owned by Bent's sister Lucy. She shares the upper story with their youngest sibling, Desiree, who is once again fighting with her boyfriend.
Into their midst comes Quinn Ellis, whose husband, a soldier suffering from PTSD, who served under Bent, has left her. She moves into the first floor of this house, at Bent's invitation. He seems to want to watch over her. At her husband John's request? Or is he just someone who takes in strays, like the dog Rooster?
Libby is upset--who needs more people living in this house?! And why can't she and her father just go back home? And Quinn can't even bring herself to unpack, to make herself 'at home.'
Both come to learn what makes a home--a place where you are known and loved. This is a lovely character-driven, heart-felt story about relationships. Strong female characters struggle to find their place, their home.
Duffy also addresses PTSD and the difficulties of returning to a 'normal' life. Is there any real chance of coming home for these men? Is the gulf between war and civilian life just too wide for some to get over?
I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I apologize for being late coming to read it.
Libby is the motherless teenaged daughter of Bentley Winters, Iraqi war veteran and police officer in Paradise, MA. They are living on the second floor of a three-decker house, owned by Bent's sister Lucy. She shares the upper story with their youngest sibling, Desiree, who is once again fighting with her boyfriend.
Into their midst comes Quinn Ellis, whose husband, a soldier suffering from PTSD, who served under Bent, has left her. She moves into the first floor of this house, at Bent's invitation. He seems to want to watch over her. At her husband John's request? Or is he just someone who takes in strays, like the dog Rooster?
Libby is upset--who needs more people living in this house?! And why can't she and her father just go back home? And Quinn can't even bring herself to unpack, to make herself 'at home.'
Both come to learn what makes a home--a place where you are known and loved. This is a lovely character-driven, heart-felt story about relationships. Strong female characters struggle to find their place, their home.
Duffy also addresses PTSD and the difficulties of returning to a 'normal' life. Is there any real chance of coming home for these men? Is the gulf between war and civilian life just too wide for some to get over?
I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I apologize for being late coming to read it.
June 7, 2019
Thank you to the author, Atria Books, and Simon and Schuster for a free copy of this book for review. This was one of my most anticipated books for 2019. I loved the author’s previous book The Salt House and I was eager to read this one. I’m happy to say it was just as good as I had hoped. Lisa writes such amazing authentic characters. Sixteen year old Libby lives with her father Bent. Her estranged mother has passed away and Libby and Bent live on the middle floor of their house and her aunts live upstairs. All of the family members have very distinct, strong personalities and different ideas about how Libby should be raised. As Libby struggles to find her identify you can really empathize with her. Quinn is a new tenant and she lives on the bottom floor. Quinn brings another aspect to the story as she is recently on her own after her husband has disappeared. Her husband suffers from severe PTSD due to serving two tours of Iraq and he is in denial he needs help. All of the tenants become a quasi family and are able to turn to each other for advice and help. This book tackles many important issues - PTSD, drug and alcohol addiction, abandonment, etc. All the characters had their own personal struggles and they all were searching to find their way. This book is well written and it totally draws you in. This is another great character driven book. I loved it!
June 18, 2019
If you are looking for a beautifully written story with a ensemble cast of characters that are not only incredibly well drawn, but also wholly relatable, then look no further because This is Home was absolutely gorgeous! I’ve had The Salt House on my TBR forever and after reading this gem it won’t be lingering on my unread shelf much longer.
This is told via alternate perspectives, it flips between Libby and Quinn as Quinn moves into a new apartment where Libby lives with her family. Each woman had a strong, distinct and woefully raw voice, the type of realness that tugs on your heartstrings and also almost hurts to read about because it’s so heartbreakingly honest. Both are struggling with similar issues and find they have more in common than they first thought, they’re dealing with everything from abandonment issues to alcoholism, PTSD and just being a part of a military family in general and all of the issues that come with that. Add in an additional supporting cast of characters that are also genuine and basically leap from the page and you have magic.
Duffy shines light onto dark topics with a graceful and sensitive touch, she talks about highly important issues that should be discussed more in such a poetic and truthful way and I was captivated by the whole thing. I think anyone who has struggled in their life (and really, who hasn’t?!) can relate to this one in some way, it really is an amazing read and one that comes highly recommended by me. Would also be ideal for a book club pick, lots to unpack here and I think it would lead to some thoughtful discussions.
This is Home in three words: Raw, Beautiful and Heartfelt
This is told via alternate perspectives, it flips between Libby and Quinn as Quinn moves into a new apartment where Libby lives with her family. Each woman had a strong, distinct and woefully raw voice, the type of realness that tugs on your heartstrings and also almost hurts to read about because it’s so heartbreakingly honest. Both are struggling with similar issues and find they have more in common than they first thought, they’re dealing with everything from abandonment issues to alcoholism, PTSD and just being a part of a military family in general and all of the issues that come with that. Add in an additional supporting cast of characters that are also genuine and basically leap from the page and you have magic.
Duffy shines light onto dark topics with a graceful and sensitive touch, she talks about highly important issues that should be discussed more in such a poetic and truthful way and I was captivated by the whole thing. I think anyone who has struggled in their life (and really, who hasn’t?!) can relate to this one in some way, it really is an amazing read and one that comes highly recommended by me. Would also be ideal for a book club pick, lots to unpack here and I think it would lead to some thoughtful discussions.
This is Home in three words: Raw, Beautiful and Heartfelt
June 3, 2019
**This Is Home generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
4 "I wasn't sure when things had changed." Stars
This novel was a great joy to read; completely unexpected and wholly heartfelt. It's a group of misfit characters muddling through life attempting to understand that they actually do fit, it's just the where and how that's tripping them up. The author very eloquently and honestly delves into tough subject matter without laboring on those topics. She acutely makes them a living part of the story to showcase how those matter leave lasting effects on the effected. Lisa Duffy's writing engages you in her story perfectly. She never tells you anything but shows you the very ordinary lives of these people and the adjustments they make for each other.
The plot is woven together with some mystery and allure, romance and longing, grief and elation. It's a family story. A patchwork quilt of quirky, illuminating characters that fill your reading heart from beginning to end. Self discovery is abundant. Understanding and acceptance profound. Letting go and moving on essential. The two characters from whom we get duel perspectives are seeking understanding, security, and a keen sense of self. They grow together throughout this book in a myriad of ways with the unsolicited help of the motley crew of eccentric secondary characters.
I would classify this as contemporary women's fiction. There's seeds of romance planted throughout but it's not even close to the main component of this story. Love, loss, and growth are tangled up together to create just a really refreshing, honest story of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4 "I wasn't sure when things had changed." Stars
This novel was a great joy to read; completely unexpected and wholly heartfelt. It's a group of misfit characters muddling through life attempting to understand that they actually do fit, it's just the where and how that's tripping them up. The author very eloquently and honestly delves into tough subject matter without laboring on those topics. She acutely makes them a living part of the story to showcase how those matter leave lasting effects on the effected. Lisa Duffy's writing engages you in her story perfectly. She never tells you anything but shows you the very ordinary lives of these people and the adjustments they make for each other.
The plot is woven together with some mystery and allure, romance and longing, grief and elation. It's a family story. A patchwork quilt of quirky, illuminating characters that fill your reading heart from beginning to end. Self discovery is abundant. Understanding and acceptance profound. Letting go and moving on essential. The two characters from whom we get duel perspectives are seeking understanding, security, and a keen sense of self. They grow together throughout this book in a myriad of ways with the unsolicited help of the motley crew of eccentric secondary characters.
I would classify this as contemporary women's fiction. There's seeds of romance planted throughout but it's not even close to the main component of this story. Love, loss, and growth are tangled up together to create just a really refreshing, honest story of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 10, 2020
I loved everything about this book!!
You know those books that grab you from the beginning and you want to spend every waking moment devouring the pages while simultaneously not wanting it to end? This Is Home was that book for me. Libby, Quinn, Bent and Desiree (all the characters really) were so authentic that I felt like I knew them personally. Some were flawed and messy while still full of heart. One moment my heart was breaking then the snarky dialogue would come along and have me laughing out loud.
I know I'm just gushing over this book and not really doing it the justice it deserves. Just read it! If you are in a book slump this is the book to restore your love of reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and Lisa Duffy for providing me with an arc of this stunning novel.
You know those books that grab you from the beginning and you want to spend every waking moment devouring the pages while simultaneously not wanting it to end? This Is Home was that book for me. Libby, Quinn, Bent and Desiree (all the characters really) were so authentic that I felt like I knew them personally. Some were flawed and messy while still full of heart. One moment my heart was breaking then the snarky dialogue would come along and have me laughing out loud.
I know I'm just gushing over this book and not really doing it the justice it deserves. Just read it! If you are in a book slump this is the book to restore your love of reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and Lisa Duffy for providing me with an arc of this stunning novel.
June 12, 2019
Listen up people!! If you have't read Duffy's The Salt House, I suggest you run out and buy that immediately and while you're there, might as well pick this one up too. Both are solid 5 star reads for me and this one truly touched my heart because of the very real and important subject matter of PTSD that this story surrounds. As a military brat and as someone who did a year internship at the Domiciliary Care Unit at the VA hospital in Dayton helping those with PTSD, this one just shot straight to my heart. Especially in looking at the side of those who love those that suffer from this terrible affliction. This is an extremely important subject that should absolutely be discussed and honestly, I'm horrified at our government and the limited access and help that the VA gets to help the military personnel that need it from defending our country and people. Uff - /rant or this will turn into a soapbox and not a review.
So, back to the story at hand. Duffy does an extremely good job in touching on PTSD - and really looking at the different sides. She also dips her toe in addiction and domestic abuse in this story but it translates so smoothly across the pages that you don't even realize you're eyes are about to leak until your vision goes hazy and you think you're going blind. The last few chapters really just squeezed my heart. I was IN IT. Now, before you think this is such a bleak and highly emotional read (which it IS very emotional), the author also manages to sprinkle in humor that helps balance this out. All the characters... ALL of them, are al so very real and human that you can't help but get involved with each and every one of them. EACH AND EVERY ONE.
Libby is someone I would love to sit down on a porch and talk with - where I'm sure she would teach me some very important lessons. Desiree and Lucy are two I would grab a beer or two with (or attend a work out class with). I'd rub Rooster's tummy and I would go out of my way to help Quinn. Let's not forget about Jimmy and Flynn - these two ... oh these two. Listen, I could go on and on about these characters. And can I please have Bent as a second father? While the storyline and plot itself is an amazing read, it is the characters that absolutely make it. Duffy created a family that I am very pleasantly and delightfully happy to have been a witness of.
Lisa, I need more stories from you. I have created a little home inside your brain because that's where I want to live right now! Also, everyone, I am honored to be in her acknowledgments. Never for a second question whether or not your support and reviews make a difference to every author out there.
Thank you to the author and Atria Books for this heartwarming story.
So, back to the story at hand. Duffy does an extremely good job in touching on PTSD - and really looking at the different sides. She also dips her toe in addiction and domestic abuse in this story but it translates so smoothly across the pages that you don't even realize you're eyes are about to leak until your vision goes hazy and you think you're going blind. The last few chapters really just squeezed my heart. I was IN IT. Now, before you think this is such a bleak and highly emotional read (which it IS very emotional), the author also manages to sprinkle in humor that helps balance this out. All the characters... ALL of them, are al so very real and human that you can't help but get involved with each and every one of them. EACH AND EVERY ONE.
Libby is someone I would love to sit down on a porch and talk with - where I'm sure she would teach me some very important lessons. Desiree and Lucy are two I would grab a beer or two with (or attend a work out class with). I'd rub Rooster's tummy and I would go out of my way to help Quinn. Let's not forget about Jimmy and Flynn - these two ... oh these two. Listen, I could go on and on about these characters. And can I please have Bent as a second father? While the storyline and plot itself is an amazing read, it is the characters that absolutely make it. Duffy created a family that I am very pleasantly and delightfully happy to have been a witness of.
Lisa, I need more stories from you. I have created a little home inside your brain because that's where I want to live right now! Also, everyone, I am honored to be in her acknowledgments. Never for a second question whether or not your support and reviews make a difference to every author out there.
Thank you to the author and Atria Books for this heartwarming story.
July 25, 2019
**4/5**
After getting fully invested in the characters I needed more at the end! Really good.
After getting fully invested in the characters I needed more at the end! Really good.
May 27, 2019
(free review copy) Lisa Duffy has done it AGAIN ❤️ My husband and I both adored her debut novel, THE SALT HOUSE, and felt ALL the feelings while reading it. In THE IS HOME, Duffy yet again brings out the emotions, this time the trauma caused by untreated PTSD in soldiers.
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I don’t want to share too much of the storyline this early but I highly recommend adding this domestic fiction to your summer reading list.....and make sure you pick a block of dedicated reading time to start it because you simply won’t want to stop. It’s full of book club potential too, just like THE SALT HOUSE.
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I don’t want to share too much of the storyline this early but I highly recommend adding this domestic fiction to your summer reading list.....and make sure you pick a block of dedicated reading time to start it because you simply won’t want to stop. It’s full of book club potential too, just like THE SALT HOUSE.
February 11, 2019
I loved this story. This is Home is a story about connections—pulling those we love close, and choosing not to let go. Characters in the small town of Paradise face challenges, but never struggle alone. There’s always a friend or family member extending a hand to those in need, and as a reader I wanted to reach out myself and help, as I got completely engrossed in the story. The story perfectly captures the authentic, every-day struggles of a tight-knit community, with characters I empathized with and relationships I could relate to. Lisa Duffy delivers the goods, with a story that I was sorry to see end and that I'll remember long after turning the final page.
July 8, 2019
I didn’t like the writing style, overly simplistic and I never cared about the characters. I have read nothing but amazing reviews so I was surprised to find myself so bored. I only finished it because I got the audiobook and had some long rides to fill. If I were reading it I would have quit after about 10 chapters in.
I do not recommend
I do not recommend
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