The Resurrection of Tess Blessing

Tess #2

by Lesley Kagen

AN INDIE NEXT PICK FOR READING GROUPS! After she’s diagnosed with breast cancer, Tess Blessing sets forth on a mission to complete her to-do list before—what she’s sure is—her impending death. She needs to rescue her daughter, Haddie, from the grip of an eating disorder; guide her teenage son, Henry, through a bumpy adolescence; make peace with her estranged sister, Birdie; scatter her mother’s ashes; and reignite the spark in her almost thirty-year marriage to her husband, Will. Tess is accompanied on her quest by narrator, Grace, who lends the story its most brilliant elements; subtle magical realism and deep psychological complexity. Is Grace her guardian angel, imaginary friend, or a part of Tess that knows better than she? Lesley Kagen has created an unforgettable, redemptive story about a middle-aged woman with the odds stacked against her, who discovers that in the end—love really does conquer all.

Genres: Fiction, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Book Club, Chick Lit, Adult Fiction, Magical Realism

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 9, 2014

About the author

Lesley Kagen is a mother of two, a grandmother of two, an actress, narrator, speaker, essayist, and the award winning, New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including her newest, EVERY NOW AND THEN. She lives in a charming small town in Wisconsin in a hundred-fifty-year-old farm house with her dog, Gracie.

More about Lesley and reading guides can be found at: www.lesleykagen.com and www.facebook.com/LesleyKagenBooks.

Reviews

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXTRAORDINARY! When I see advance praise for a new book, from my two favorite authors, Beth Hoffman and Diane Chamberlain, I know this is an author and a book I need, want, and have to read!

Lesley Kagen's The Resurrection of Tess Blessing does not disappoint. Immediately after finishing, I purchased the novella to learn more about Tess and Birdie’s childhood. Recommend reading both.

Set in Ruby Falls, Wisconsin, we pick up with character Tess Blessing (the OCD “list-making” queen), from the novella, The Undertaking of Tess (formerly Tess Finley), now forty-nine years old, married to Will, for thirty years, and mother of Haddie and Henry, and lovable golden retriever, Garbo (the only one who seems to cooperate).

Will is the owner of the local popular Main Street 50’s style diner, Count Your Blessings where Tess helps out as well. Tess has all sorts of worries and fears (like her childhood); appears tragedy follows her everywhere she goes.

She is no longer the star of her children’s lives and she still holds on to her favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird,, and continues to experience panic attacks. Now her concerns are real adult ones, so she has still had her imaginary friend, Grace to help her bear the load.

A list of Tess’ new problems:

• Will, her husband is going through a mid-life crisis. She suspects he is having an affair with sexy Connie from the diner. (No sex action between the sheets at home. He disappears on Wed nights returning with blond hairs and smelling of Tabu) not good signs.

• At her age she still has Grace, her IF (imaginary friend), thank goodness. Her sister Birdie has IF (Bess).

• Tess has just discovered she has breast cancer and may die; no religious faith, and cannot tell anyone in the family of her illness. She is alone with PTSD and OCD among other fears

• Haddie, her eighteen-year-old daughter has an eating disorder; anorexia and bulimia, and she does not know how to help.

• Henry, her fifteen-year-old son, is distant, cruel and does not give her the time of day.

• Louise, her bitchy, self-centered mother (from novella), has recently died; her mother still talks to her from the grave, with continued sarcastic remarks and chimes in on every thought. She has to bury her once and for all and scatter her ashes.

• Birdie, her main problem. She has to get her to talk to her. Her fragile, agoraphobia, OCD, much loved sister is living in Boca and is not speaking to her, because they had a difference of opinion of trying to save their mother. Now she has to get her to help her spread their mother’s ashes. Thus far Birdie is ignoring her, and she may have to play the "cancer card".

If any of you have read my review of The Undertaking of Tess, you will learn how excited I was to discover this newfound author. The Resurrection of Tess Blessing is a poignant, emotional, and moving story, of a woman’s journey of dysfunction and life’s messiness, mixed with humor and wit. I laughed so hard, as Kagen has some great one-liners and so loved Tess’ To-Do Lists and the way she strikes through the ones checked off. Priceless.

A page-turner you will not be able to put down, fast-paced, keeping you in suspense to learn what the heck is going on with Will, dying to find out about Birdie, and rooting for some much-needed happiness for Tess.

Lesley’s writing is unique as her character development is superb, with insightful feelings and thoughts, crossing over to psychological. The book reminded me a little of Elizabeth Hein’s How to Climb the Eiffel Tower (cancer, bad childhood, social issues, and funny as heck), Claire Cook’s sense of humor, and Amy Hatvany and Jennifer Weiner’s style of tackling highly-charged subjects with brutal honesty and hilarious laugh out loud humor and wit.

A book for every woman of any age, crossing many genres from marriage, relationship, family, dysfunction, sisters, siblings, love, motherhood, fears, mental illness, social issues, tragedy, grief, redemption, forgiveness, cancer, and most of all the humor.

If you love complex, poignant, funny, and uplifting self-discovery reads, The Resurrection of Tess Blessings is for you!

A special thank you to SparkPress and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#JDCMustReadBooks

#TopBooksof2014

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Lesley Kagen (she is a Wisconsin girl, like me!) At first it was a little scrambled and the story seemed to jump around for me. It took a while before I got used to Tess' imaginary friend's narrating. While I grew to love Tess as a middle aged woman, I really love when Lesley writes from a child's perspective. I got so mad at Tess' husband when he dumped her off at the hospital, I could've screamed! I will recommend this book, especially to women who are getting to that menopausal state of life:)

[Catherine McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - it was original and funny and thoughtful. I definitely recommend it.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kagen is an amazing writer and here is why...she makes you feel the stories deep down into your bones, into your soul.

Her newest novel is about a woman who receives terrible news and sets out to try to make right the things in her life that are wrong. Her marriage is not the same, her daughter is going through some hard times, her son rarely speaks and her sister, well, her sister is a whole different story. When an unexpected friend enters her life, she is able to set forth with her check list and an unyielding determination that is both moving and heartbreaking. With the most emotionally brilliant story to date Tess takes you on a journey that touches on family dynamics, illness, and the strength that comes from having a friend by your side. Never predictable, with a story that you want to both savor and devour, The Resurrection of Tess Blessing is a book that will resonate with you long after you finish reading. 5 stars and a book club MUST read!!!

[Melodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read despite the fact I initially struggled to follow the jumpiness of the plot line. Once I figured out the trajectory I settled in. The characters were tragic, funny and strong. I laughed, got pissed off, despaired, and celebrated throughout the book.
This was a nugget of feminine empowerment. The multi-faceted lives we lead, the sometime insanity of trying to keep all the balls of our lives in the air. The consequence of accepting only the crumbs from the table of our family life. And the beauty of acceptance of our flawed but deserving selves.

[Cathy Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Lesley Kagen's books, and it was the same with this one. What I loved most of all are the issues in there that women can relate to. We have Tess, a woman who has To Do lists, in particular a special To Do list that she makes because she thinks she's going to die. She wants to accomplish everything on the list before that day comes.

She also has a husband she has to reconnect and romance with, a teenager having a hard time (didn't we all?), and she's in the middle part of life, so to speak, with all of those challenges.

Plus, it's funny and it's quirky. Here's a hint - Tess has an imaginary friend. Yes, like kids have when they're younger, but it works. It truly works and you might go and invent your own imaginary friend after reading the book.

[Carol Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant, Imaginary, Real ...a Beautiful Novel of Love

My review: By, Carol Boyer

This review is from: The Resurrection of Tess Blessing (Kindle Edition)

This poignant novel was one that is full of emotionally sad yet strong characters, Tess with her scarred childhood memories, Grace her imaginary friend who is with her throughout her journey, and is her spiritual hope. Tess is caught in the everyday struggles of her own midlife, her teenagers angst, and wondering if her husband is cheating, when she discovers she has breast cancer which puts her into a whirlwind of fear. She devises a 'to-do list' which Tess takes in stages, sometimes going back into her childhood, and battling her sadness with her estranged sister Birdie. Sometimes it seemed as if the plot digressed and left me wishing it would move forward more readily but by the time I reached the middle I saw why all of this was integral to the development of the plot and was totally engrossed in how this imaginary beautiful story pulled on all my heartstrings. Cleverly and brilliantly written with humor, sadness, hope, and redemption, this is a story I highly recommend.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved this author's book Whistling in the Dark. So I was excited to read her newest book. I really struggled with this book. This saddened me. I could not relate to the characters. I have read other books where the characters are dealing with personal issues and connected with them on an emotional level that drew me in and wanted to continue their journey through the highs and lows. This did not happen for me. I kept reading hoping this would change for me as again I loved the other book I read by this author. Although I did like the narrator, Grace. She did try her hardest to pull me into Tess's world. I finally had to put this book down after only a third of the way in.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is very minor - but Tess's "kitten mewling" got a bit annoying. Isn't there another way to describe this noise besides kitten mewl five times. The characters were a mess - maybe too much so - with their mental illnesses and breast cancer. However, Kagen did infuse some humor in the book. Quite a few references and full quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird. The treatment of Tess and Birdie by their mother was absolutely heartbreaking and cruel - which did lend credibility to their break with reality and mental health issues.

[Phyllis Gauker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if you don't have the mental problems that Tess Blessing has, you will probably recognize yourself in some of her mother's words echoing in her mind, meaning, we can't quite escape the human experience. It is a fun book to read, although the mental states of Tess and her sister Birdie are pitiable Sort of lets you know that even "abnormal" people can function in our society, but are happier within when they can dump some of mom's words at her burial. There were a few editorial errors that bugged me, but that's me.

[Jennifer Struss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to discover this new (to me) wonderful and funny author! The narration was a little difficult at first because I had to decide how much disbelief I could suspend, but I got used to it and ended up really enjoying Grace's voice. Tess was a relatable character for me and I have teenagers, so it was easy to recognize her brittle daughter and distant son. Loved how Kagen worked in "To Kill a Mockingbird," too. I will be looking up Lesley Kagen's other books!

[Candy Greenway · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I was reading a book written by O'Farrell. I don't know how the mix up occurred, but I'm glad it happened. I enjoyed this book from a healing perspective. I think most daughters have some terrifying memories of their Mother that go unresolved. I certainly do! This book helped me remember, resolve, and forgive passed encounters that loomed larger than they had a right to.

[Jennifer Miroglotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved everything I ever read by Lesley Kagen, and this book is no exception. The narrator is the imaginary friend of the main character, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, among other things. Though Tess suffers many problems in her life, her sense of humor and her imaginary friend carry her through. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Cassie Selleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, too, love everything Lesley Kagen writes, and this is no exception. Lesley is a phenomenal storyteller with an ear for dialogue. Her characters are lovable and completely unforgettable. This is one of a series, so be sure to check out her other work. Love, love, love Tess Blessing.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t you just love when a book gives you good feels? This book was great and made me feel so good. The writing is addictive, I could not put it down. I want more of Tess and Birdie and more IFs. I rooted for Tess the whole time. The Resurrection of Tess was the story of a woman checking off her to-do list and couldn’t have been penned better!

The whole story is told through the narrator, Grace, who is Tess’ guardian angel/imaginary friend, (IF). Tess has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Tess had a traumatizing childhood with a mother who didn’t show love, and now she has a sister that won’t talk to her and a (possibly) failing marriage with two kids who have a bit of trouble showing their love. Tess sets out with a to-do list to make a few things right before she departs from this life. This story takes us through sisterhood, heartbreak, and abuse. Lesley Kagen skillfully guides us through Tess’ journey with tears and humor.

This book touched me in a way few reads can. Tess’ story is close to home for me. Tess is growing older and she suspects her husband may be cheating on her. As if this wasn’t bad enough, her children are going through problems of their own and take them out on poor Tess. On top of that the only one who knows what Tess really went through in her childhood, her little sister Birdie, won’t talk to her anymore. She is lonely and suffering with PTSD that affects everything in her world.

I loved this tale. I don’t usually cry while reading, and almost never with someone sitting in the room with me. I felt bad for Tess. I cried big sloppy alligator tears for her. I just couldn’t help it. Tess and I have similar issues with our kids, and that really got me. Tess reminisces a lot, because her past is so haunting and her present is so not right. The characters felt so real to me. I rooted for Tess and awed at her strength. I appreciated that not everything got magically resolved. In real life, somethings just don’t and we accept what we got. This book shows that asking for help is necessary sometimes and true strength comes from within.

[Jill Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has read some of Lesley's other books like WHISTLING IN THE DARK, and GOOD GRACES, will know she can put herself into the mind of a young girl with a sense of humor looking at the sometimes dark world she lives in. In this case, Tess Blessing is a middle-age woman who loves her teenagers too much (is that possible?), her husband of thirty years - as much as she did the day she married him, and her quirky sister, Birdie, who she's been estranged from for way too long.
As if Tess doesn't have enough on her plate, breast cancer has been tossed into her life. The childhood voice that Lesley does so well comes in flashbacks of Tess and Birdie's less-than-happy childhood, and how they've dealt with it (or not dealt with it) as adults.
This novel (for me) took be back down memory lane with random things like the mention of Ovaltine, or graham crackers and butter (both things I still love from my childhood.) Tess just wants what most of us want: A simple life with those we love, and for them to love us back.
With Tess's compulsive list-making, she sets out to 'fix' things in her life and for those she loves, as we cheer her on through the novel to cross out each item on her list, to make things right for everyone she cares about. A great read!

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so very much enjoyed this book. It is the first for a while that I didn't want to end. Tess was so engaging - for all her difficulties in life, from her pretty awful childhood to all that came from that childhood, she was such a loving, interesting person.

It is a difficult time for Tess, when we start reading her story. A lump is found during a routine mammogram, she feels her relationships with her husband and children drifting away, and through it all she has to cope with pretty serious anxiety issues. Thankfully, she isn't completely alone - her childhood 'invisible friend', who came to her rescue many a time to help her survive a simultaneously abusive and neglectful parent is waiting in the wings, ready to leap into action when the time comes.

One of those fun and quirky books that manages the whole heart-warming thing, without becoming drippy. Love, love, love it.

2017 - loved it still, when I reread it.

[SueK · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a satisfied sigh and a tear in my eye... I've finished this thoroughly charming book.

I love Tess Blessing. Should I be embarrassed to admit that I identify with a great number of her issues? I think not. Written with humor and warmth, and just a touch of magic, this is a wonderful book about family dynamics, the hurts we carry forward, and the hidden issues of so many women of a certain age.

I have to also admit that, after five years of reading e-books almost exclusively, I enjoyed this paper book immensely. I don't remember a paperback that had a cover that felt like this - a lovely tactile experience in itself.

It may be a few days before I pick up another book - I'll fill the spaces with home decor books or magazines. I want some time to cherish the way I feel about this one right now.

A very strong four rating, incidentally.

[Kate Moretti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesley Kagen's largest skill as a writer is her unique, funny, poignant voice. It's just so unmistakably hers alone. In The Ressurrection of Tess Blessing, Kagen's voice is on the front burner, highlighted by a unique dual narrator: Grace and Tess tell this story. Grace is Tess' imaginary friend, a carryover from childhood. When she stares at middle age with all the familiar problems: a stale marriage, two troubled teenagers, her estranged sister and now, breast cancer, she sets out repair the wrongs in her life before what she believes to be her impending death. Tess is so real, funny and heartwarming, you'll find yourself wishing you knew her in real life. You'll feel like you have a new best friend. A fabulous read, I highly recommend!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesley Kagen is a terrific storyteller who knows how to get to the heart of her characters. Events of the past have damaged Tess Blessing, and though many would crumble beneath a history such as hers, Tess refuses to buckle. Willful and strong, Tess works through the minefields of her psyche to build and maintain a normal life, but when she receives news about her health that leaves her stunned, something happens. Is it real? Is it her imagination? Or could it be both? But one thing is for certain -- Tess blessing is real -- she could be your sister, your neighbor, or your best friend.

Kagen's talent shines in this wholly original and richly imagined story where heartbreak is softened with humor and a touch of magic.

[Jayne Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. The two sisters are estranged, Tess is diagnosed with breast cancer, she thinks her husband Will is having an affair, & her two children have their own problems. Such a lot for Tess to do on her 'To Do List'. the its on the To Do List get scored out as they are attended to - the only think I didn't like about this book was the way it went from past 2 present so quickly and frequently in places. Would definitely read more by this author

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with heart and humor

Tess is a middle-aged woman who is dealing with teenaged children, a husband having a mid-life crisis, a cancer diagnosis, PTSD , and anxiety. Her story is told by Grace, her imaginary friend. This novel is much more than the above blurb; it's a warm, sensitive, and humorous exploration of life, love, family, forgiveness, and the human heart.

[Vada Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story by Lesley Kagen. The things that make children resilient are the things that make adults neurotic. I loved the child Tess and had empathy for the adult Tess and the life she built.

[Carol Turznik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story with serious subject undertones and marvelous reflections on real Milwaukee and surrounding area landmarks. It brought me back to my growing up years in Milwaukee in a most enduring way!

[Teresa Gamble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book by Lesley Kagen! Ive enjoyed all of her books and look forward to many more.

[Kendra West-barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesley Kagen has done it again. She has written an unforgettable story with characters that I fell in love with. I can't think of one thing about this book that I didn't enjoy.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is what made me buy this one. It look a bit to get really into the story, but then I was hooked.

[Rita Bresnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I myself have battled cancer so it did hit a chord with me. The character was likable and quirky.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written story that gives us hope.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

now I have to find a way to read the first one!