It All Comes Down to This

by Therese Anne Fowler

Meet the Geller sisters: Beck, Claire, and Sophie, a trio of strong-minded women whose pragmatic mother, Marti, will be dying soon.

Beck, the eldest, is a freelance journalist whose marriage has long been devoid of passion, and she's recently begun to suspect that her husband, Paul, is hiding something from her. Though middle sister Claire is an accomplished pediatric cardiologist, her own heart is a mess, and her unrequited love for the wrong man is slowly destroying her. And while Sophie, the youngest, appears to have an Instagram-ready life of glamorous work and travel, her true existence is a cash-strapped house of cards that may fall at any moment.

But Marti’s will surprises them with its provision that the family’s summer cottage in Maine must be sold, the proceeds split equally between the three sisters. While there’s a ready buyer in C.J. Reynolds, he’s an ex-con with a complicated past and a tangled history with one of the women.

Choices and consequences, mistakes and misapprehensions, obligations and desires: before long, everyone in this cast of indelible characters will have to come to terms with the ways their lives have turned out differently than they expected, as well as the secrets they’ve been keeping from each other––and themselves.

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

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2022

Reviews

[Whitney Erwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the beginning of this book, it grabbed my attention!! I was excited and really thought I was going to enjoy it. Sadly, it slowed down for me fast though and I had a hard time staying engaged in the story from then on. The characters were all uniquely different, but I felt they were sub par and boring. I did not connect with them. The storyline wasn’t interesting enough to hold my attention and I had to fight to finish it. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in return for my honest review.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It All Comes Down to This" by Therese Anne Fowler is a "Sisters' Story".

After the death of their widowed mother, Marti, the Geller sisters, Beck, Claire, and Sophie come together in Manhattan to mourn their loss. Then the work begins of following Marti's last wish: selling the beloved family summer cottage on Mount Desert Island in Maine.

These three sisters have very complicated relationships with one another. Each sister has painted a slightly skewed picture of their life to the other two. There are hidden truths, deceptions, and secrets, but each one remains hopeful for change in their future.

Good news! There's an anxious buyer for the summer cottage. A southern gentleman with a past and secrets of his own. Could this be the catalyst for the change Beck, Claire, and Sophie are hoping for?

This book proves to be a deep character study about relationships, self esteem, how life plays out versus how you envisioned, and taking back control. The larger story is the Geller sisters' story and the secondary story is everything that takes place on Mount Desert Island in the past and present. How the author fits all the pieces together is what makes this story so satisfying.

This author knows how to create deeply complicated and complex characters and this story is absolutely loaded with them. I may have not liked all of them but each of them contributed meaning to the larger story.

Topics of change, fear of the unknown, and family support are central and common themes for all three sisters while handled in three completely different ways. I loved how each sister's life played out and I loved this well-written story!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Therese Anne Fowler for a free ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve had a very mixed relationship with Fowler’s books. I’ve loved some and disliked some. This one, unfortunately, fell in the latter category. I just could not get invested in the lives of any of the characters. Marti Geller, mother of three adult daughters, dies at the start of the story. Her daughters are very different from each other and not particularly close. Fowler does a good job of making each character distinct, with their own issues. They each struggle with the loss of their mother and the need to unload the family’s Maine cottage. But I just could not relate to their problems, especially their romantic entanglements. The book deals with playing it safe and being pushed out of your comfort zone.
I also found the story very uneven. It’s not a good sign when you keep checking how many more pages there are to read. The ending was a cliche that did little to make me feel like I hadn’t wasted my time.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - tired of sickness! · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Therese Anne Fowler for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 6.7!**

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine
'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

Three sisters perhaps need to feel this sentiment more than ever. Brought together after their mother Marti passes away, Beck, Claire, and Sophie are drawn back together from their VERY different walks of life to help process the sale of their mother's cottage. However, each sister has a differing perspective on what to do with the property. Sister Beck is the unofficial Jo March of the group, a writer stuck in a passionless marriage for reasons she just can't explain...but her husband probably could. Middle child Claire has a successful career in the medical field, but her lovesick obsession with the 'one that got away' is more complicated than it even sounds. Sophie relies on her looks, her Instagram fame, and the ability to flit from continent to continent, luxury penthouse to B-list celebrity's bedroom, just getting by...but how long can it last?

When blast-from-their-past C.J. Reynolds, a Southerner with secrets of his own, enters the picture as a potential buyer, EVERYTHING gets more complicated. Will this trio be able to reconcile the past, their present, and move toward a united front in the future...however twisted, tangled, and unnerving their new paths may be?

I first stumbled on Fowler's writing in Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald (yes, my obsession with all things Gatsby and the 20s rears its ugly head once again) and I fell in love with her writing and ability to turn a phrase, not to mention fabulous character development. I figured going from historical fiction to more contemporary fiction would be an easy transition for me with this author, and I'd quickly be absorbed by this book.

...Sadly, this was not the case.

This is yet another book that I felt missed a golden opportunity to explore emotional connections on a deep level. And why was that?

Because SO much of this book focused on, well, sex.

Not exactly what I anticipated when I read in a blurb that a mother's death is drawing a family together. But there are mentions of everything from some uh, less mainstream sexual acts, to prostitution, masturbation...and I won't say any more than that because I don't really need to relive it. I suppose in a sense some of this helped to make 'the plot' work, but trust me when I say the plot drags on and on for a book that isn't particularly long to begin with and had such a strange ending, I had no idea what the author was getting at in terms of character arcs. I don't consider myself a prude by any stretch, but this was not a romance novel, yet it kept attempting to be one and I just got tired of it.

The dialogue at times also felt very off. I'm not quoting exactly, but there is one point after a big reveal where a character responds not with the expected indignation, sadness, or anger, but with an (almost cheerful) "Wow. You've given me a lot to chew on!" which just felt so insincere and out of place it almost took me into eye-roll territory. I understand these characters needed to be unlikable on some level (and truly, all of them are in one way or another) but I think if they had felt more realistic I could have overlooked some of the frustration with their (very stupid) decisions.

While I still enjoy Fowler overall as an author and would consider another book of hers, perhaps books of hers NOT set in the present era are a better fit for me. (or maybe it's 2022 and I can't let the 20's go...TBD!) 😉

3 stars

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It All Comes Down to This is a slowly-paced family drama.

Marti Geller knows she will be dying soon. It’s only a matter of days. She has organized everything herself, including the directive to sell her summer cottage to lessen the burden on her daughters after she’s gone. There’s just one final secret that she’s ready to tell them.

After Marti’s death, the story follows Marti’s three daughters: Beck, Claire, and Sophia, as they process their grief and the messiness of their own lives. Then there’s C. J., recently released from prison and looking to buy a house in the same area as the Geller’s cottage.

There’s not really much going on in the terms of plot. It’s more of a domestic slice-of-life story.

It was somewhat difficult to keep track of all the characters at first but less so over time. And there was a bit of the male gaze, which was odd since the author is female.

The beginning wasn’t all that interesting, but the longer I read, the more I became invested in these characters’ lives. It didn’t blow me away, but it was a nice, slow weekend read.

I recommend it if you enjoy messy family dramas.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

[Melissa ~ Bantering Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relatively speaking, I’m a newbie to audiobooks. I first listened to one in January 2022, less than a year ago, and while I’m a fan, I often find them more difficult to rate and review than books in print. Particularly when it comes to audiobooks that I don’t love because I seem to inevitably wonder: would I have enjoyed the book more had I read it instead of listened to it? Could the narrator have not been to my liking rather than the book itself? It’s hard to know.

It All Comes Down to This, Therese Anne Fowler’s latest family drama, is the perfect example of my conundrum. It’s a story of three sisters who have recently lost their mother, all of whom are struggling to rearrange their lives after her death. The story is compelling enough. The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did an adequate job of bringing the characters to life. Yet I found I was never fully engrossed in the story.

Perhaps the biggest reason for this is the sisters. Not one of them is likable. They're selfish. And it’s difficult to empathize with their troubles.

Still, I am left with a niggle. A niggle that wishes I had instead read It All Comes Down to This and not listened to it. My recommendation, therefore, is that if you have any interest in reading it, you do just that.

Read it.

[Angela M · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I loved Fowler’s last book, A Good Neighborhood. It was sad, but moving and relevant. I had high hopes for this novel. I was drawn in at the beginning wanting to know Marti’s secret that she had kept from her family. When we are introduced to CJ who crosses paths with Marti’s daughters, I was interested in his story. Ultimately, I was disappointed. It all comes down to this - the book just wasn’t for me.

It had too much of a soap opera feel. Family dynamics, past events, some of which felt realistic, felt at the same time too coincidental, a bit contrived. I finished reading it for two reasons - this was a buddy read with my good buddy Diane and I really did want to know what would happen with CJ and Arlo, the only characters I cared about. There are a number of positive reviews, I recommend to be read to get another perspective.


I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through Edelweiss.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

It All Comes Down to This: Unfortunately, this Book Was a Let Down for me. And I had VERY High Hopes.

I SIMPLY adored Therese Anne Fowler’s prior book A Good Neighborhood. It was in fact one of my favorite reads of 2019. I, therefore, couldn’t wait to get my hands on her next release..and then I did.

This is the story of three sisters, Beck, Claire, and Sophia, who are more or less estranged when their mother passes away after an illness and what happens thereafter.

Perhaps if I had liked one of the characters, I would have felt that “pull” - but sadly I did not. Perhaps if something happened to capture my attention, I would have liked it, but it did not.

Perhaps.

The writing here is good. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. The characterizations are fantastic - real, honest, and frankly, ugly at times, but that wasn’t enough to draw me in.

Enough said.

Though this novel wasn’t my favorite by this author, I will still be eagerly awaiting her next book, hoping that it’s more in line with A Good Neighborhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc.

Published on Goodreads and Twitter.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little perplexed about my feelings for “It All Comes Down To This”…..
but, I really like *Therese Ann Fowler*.
I gave five stars to four other books she wrote—enjoyed them immensely:
….”A Good Neighborhood”,
….”Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald”,
….”A Well-Behaved Women: A Novel of the Vanderbilts”,
and
….”Exposed”.
….with other un-read Fowler novels, I still want to read.
So, clearly I like Therese Ann Fowler.

So….I’m puzzled by my own mixed feelings.
I had expected ‘messy-family-dramedy’…..(complicated relationships, marriages, divorce, parenting, career’s, difficulties, lies, secrets, betrayals, unfaithfulness, mistakes, unfairness, vulnerabilities, regret, loss, questions of thyself, lessons learned of thyself, A Great Undoing”, etc.)…
along with joy, humor, and a pleasurable reading experience.
Mostly, this novel was all those things. It’s a character driven (soap opera-ish novel). And although it moves unsteadily at times - I was involved right up to the conclusion.

I felt Therese captured all the qualities I had anticipated—yet, the plot was spinning in so many directions, no one thing ever happened that became the ‘main’ focus of the book.

The idiosyncratic authenticity of the ensemble cast of characters felt pretty real. Messy-but real.
Fowler is excellent at describing her characters- their personalities, their strengths and flaws…..delivering engrossing contemporary stories.

At the center of this novel are three sisters — The Geller Sisters: Beck, Claire, and Sophie….a journalist, a pediatric cardiologist, and an assistant gallerist—
Their jobs are the least of what’s interesting about any of the sisters…
Their conundrums—[their intricate particulars]—are much more mystifying.

It’s a book to have a little fun with — not to take seriously — even though serious issues are examined —
It could have been tighter — but if you go with the flow — there are plenty of micro tales to enjoy.

…A character who called herself “The Resident” (real name was Tabitha), was hilarious.
…A couple of the children ( Arlo and David) were both adorable.

This novel is a great tribute to the theme “life is messy”.
We grow, we change, life happens!

3.5 stars —

[Therese Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

In early 2020, I released A Good Neighborhood, my modern take on classic tragedy. Many of you embraced it and supported it, and continue to do so. Thank you so much for that.

The novel had the unfortunate timing of hitting shelves on March 10, the same week the country shut down due to the pandemic. The extensive book tour we’d planned fell into the black hole of those first strange and difficult weeks when no one knew yet what to do in place of in-person store events.

Coming out of that experience, and with all the difficulties and uncertainties of pandemic isolation and political drama, I needed to immerse myself as much as possible in things that made me happy. So, I read happy books. I watched happy TV shows and movies. And late that summer, I began writing a wryly funny story that I populated with a cast of sympathetic characters, then aimed them at a joyful ending.

All went well until early 2021, when I developed some troubling and mysterious health issues. From January through May, I was in and out of doctor’s offices and imaging centers in search of answers and solutions. Amid that, I returned to the story whenever I could, distracting myself in this playground I’d made. I can see now that my anxieties and intentions about making the most of life, about making meaning, got distilled into each of my characters’ journeys as well.

I designed It All Comes Down to This to be a big-hearted tale that utilizes dramatic irony, one of my favorite story forms. Everyone’s got a secret, and the reader is in on all of it while the characters are not. The result, I hope, is a smart, entertaining, compelling, even endearing story that in its slightly subversive way also takes on issues of class and feminism and identity. It’s a story about fate and coincidence and choice, about how we can remake ourselves in the face of adversity. It’s about Art. And family. And love.

It's also a story about storytelling: the stories we tell one another, the stories we tell ourselves, and the literal act of writing stories—with a slightly meta twist that I’ll leave for you to discover.

To those of you who’ve been on this writing journey with me since my early days, I thank you for sticking with me. To those of you who are recent or just joining now, welcome! I value you all so much, and I thank you, and I hope you enjoy reading It All Comes Down to This.

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.' –Buddha


Near the end of 2019 I read Therese Anne Fowler’s A Good Neighborhood, which I loved, but it’s the only other book of hers I’ve read. I’d hoped to enjoy this one as much, or nearly as much, but… alas, it was apparently not meant to be.

Three sisters, a mother who dies early on in this story, and the grief that follows. Grief for the loss of their mother, but also finding out that their mother had determined that the summer cottage that has fond memories, along with everything else, is to be sold, with each receiving one third of all proceeds.

The loss of their mother wasn’t exactly a surprise, they knew there was a strong potential for it on the horizon, but hoped for more time with her.

Sophie, the youngest, seems to be living a carefree lifestyle, living well beyond her means, hob-nobbing with the rich and famous, with clothes and accessories to impress.

Claire, now divorced, is the middle child and a pediatric cardiologist, and while she treats the hearts of others, her heart belongs to one who is unaware.

Beck’s marriage isn’t exactly rocky, but it isn’t exactly what she’d hoped for in a marriage. There’s no passion, at least none coming from her husband Paul. She suspects another reason for the lack of passion. Beck is a freelancer, currently as a journalist, but she has long wanted more. To write a novel, and to rewrite her life.

Struggling over the terms their mother set over the sale of the cottage, Beck tries to convince her siblings to keep the cottage. It is where she plans to write, and she can’t bear to lose this place. So she goes there in order to clear out the things that need to go, save the things that have memories attached, and hope, somehow, that all will turn out in the end.


Published: 07 Jun 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press

[☮Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

There's a quote toward the end of this that sums up the plot to me, and I'm not quoting the NetGalley ebook I was given, but Mick Jagger.

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you just might find
You get what you need.

This comes at a turning point for Beck, one of the three sisters whose life, at middle age, is changing too quickly, with too many surprises, which she's not used to. Actually all three of the sisters, after just losing their mother, are experiencing changes; but it all seems too unfair to Beck as she's used to always having her way.

This book! I can credit it with finally getting me out of a two month long reading slump. I will say it's unlike the Fowler books you may have read in the past. It's a warmer lighter read, more similar to an Elizabeth Berg offering, but a real page turner too. I predicted how it would end for all of them, but it was satisfying and reassuring to me in this case.
I highly recommend.

[Danielle]

Note: I received a free copy of this book. In exchange here is my honest review.

Adding this to my DNF list. 😬 Made it about 33% through…. It’s not for me. 👎🏻

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

It All Comes Down to This is a story about the Geller sisters, Beck, Claire, and Sophie, in the aftermath of their mother’s death. The adult sisters learn of their mother’s wish that they sell the family’s summer cottage in Maine. Claire doesn’t mind and Sophie welcomes the influx of cash they’ll receive, but Beck is not happy. She doesn’t understand her mom’s reasoning and works to create a plan for how she can keep the cottage.

As Beck works through her plan, also wondering about the blasé state of her relationship with her husband and her long-paused pursuit of writing a novel, Sophie tries to keep calm as her funds and career plans continue to falter, and Claire grapples with feelings for someone who is definitely off limits. A familiar face resurfaces in Maine too, with plans for his own future.

I remember seeing mixed reviews when It All Comes Down to This was published a couple of years ago. While there is a progressing plot, it leans character-driven. Listening to the audiobook, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ family fiction
Setting ~ Maine
Publication date ~ June 7, 2022
Page Count ~ 347 (28 titled chapters)
Audio length ~11 hours and 37 minutes
Narrator ~ Barrie Kreinik
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ cheating

When Beck, Claire and Sophie's mom, Marti, dies of lung cancer the girls are heartbroken. All grown in their 20's and have their own lives, Marti states in her will she wants them to have one last hoorah at their summer cottage in Maine before it's to be sold. They're, also, thrown for a loop when Beck's husband, Paul, is named the executor of her estate, instead of one of them. Beck is the only daughter that wants to keep the house in the family. There is a bit of family drama in more ways than just about the house.

Overall, this was a little on the slow side and was a bit too long for me. Although I enjoyed getting the backstories and learning the secrets of the characters, I felt like it could have been condensed down a bit.

This is my first time with this author and I would give her another try because maybe her other work would be more up my alley.

Narration notes:
Barrie was a perfect narrator, but multiple would have been great.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't met the Geller sisters (Claire, Beck, and Sophie) you are in for a amazing wild ride! It all Comes Down to This is Therese Anne Fowler's dramatic upcoming novel due out June 7th.

Marti Geller is dying of cancer. She leaves a will with a few unexpected surprises for her three daughters. In a video she tells her daughters about her past and is very specific about her future wishes concerning her estate. Readers learn how inheritance, tumultuous relationships, secrets, betrayal and dysfunction can alter a family dynamic. Can the three sisters maintain their bond and follow through with their mom's last wishes? There is an element of Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson in this book and I think the same crowd will enjoy it. (4⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to review this book. I appreciate your kindness.

[Bkwmlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Therese Anne Fowler is a “new to me” author whose books I’ve heard good things about but never got a chance to read. When I heard she had a new book out and I happened to get approved for an ARC, I figured now would be as good a time as any to acquaint myself with Fowler’s works. Now having finished this book, I’m thinking I probably should’ve started with a different book of hers, as this one turned out to be a huge disappointment.

While the premise had sounded interesting, I quickly discovered, a few chapters in, that this book would be different from what I originally expected. To me, the basic gist of this book could be summed up this way: a bunch of privileged, self-centered people endlessly try to justify the foolish (and at times downright stupid) life choices / decisions / actions that they may (or may not) regret making. None of the characters were likable (and that’s putting it mildly) — nearly every character was whiny to the point of grating on my nerves and the more they complained about their messy lives (and even messier relationships), the less sympathy I had for any of them. The only character I was able to tolerate (and probably the only character I didn’t find annoying) was 10-year-old Arlo— unfortunately, his scenes were too few and far between.

In terms of the writing — well, let’s just say that it left much to be desired. There were way too many instances where scenes and dialogue were drawn out unnecessarily in what I would call “stating the obvious” type of writing (“he picked up the newspaper, opened it, read it, folded it back up, put it back down” — not a direct quote, but it conveys the general idea) — which, of course, is the type of writing I absolutely cannot stand.

Basically, I could not get into this one at all — many of the scenes (in fact, the plot in general) felt contrived, the characters were frustratingly whiny, the writing felt stilted and rudimentary — so much so that each time I put the book down, I dreaded picking it back up again. I did end up finishing this one (I’m the type of reader who finds it extremely hard to DNF a book once I start it), but not without A LOT of skimming through nearly 50% of the book. While I don’t intend to write Fowler off based on this one experience, I’m not necessarily in a rush to read another book of hers yet either, as I need some time to get the bad taste from this one out of my system.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler is a sensitive family drama about the Geller sisters: Beck, Claire and Sophie. Their mother dies leaving undivulged secrets and instructions to settle her estate between all three women. She also specifies that the family “camp” on Mount Desert Island in Maine be sold and also divided between all three. The problem is that Beck wants to keep the cottage and Claire and Sophie want it sold and monies disbursed as per their mother’s instructions. The best features of this novel are the characters. The reader is introduced to each sister’s past and present, denoting the differences between all three. The chapters generally alternate between Beck, Claire and Sophie. The cottage is at the center of the novel and each woman’s future revolves around it. This is a quiet and enjoyable book. Therese Anne Fowler has created great female characters and the book is a reminder that all families have their issues, large or small. I look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revelation is risky; suppose it leads to a fall?

Ah, but suppose it leads to flight?
from It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler

Having read Therese Anne Fowler’s last novel A Good Neighborhood, I was eager to read her new novel It All Comes Down To This. It added to my interest to learn it was set in Maine, and when I opened up the book was thrilled to read it’s set on Mount Desert Island. On our first visit there, staying at Acadia National Park, we fell in love and returned year after year.

In her Acknowledgements, Fowler notes that she has written in many genres, but “never this kind of bighearted, upbeat tale,” a story that arose from the “darkness of the world around me” during the pandemic. For readers weary in body and soul, here is a book to raise your spirits.

The story of three sisters coping with the death of their mother may not sound like the premise for a happy ending, and yes, they all are struggling not only with her death but with her videotaped deathbed revelation, a confession that shocks them. Their mother also requests that they sell the family Maine vacation cabin.

Eldest daughter Beck is a mother and homemaker with a comfortable life and grown children. She writes on the side. She loves her husband, but they have never really ‘connected’ in a deep way, or sexually. They are polite and caring, but the distance is growing and their marriage is on shaky ground. Her heart was broken as a teen with a summer romance in Maine.

The middle daughter Claire is a doctor who is recently divorced after her husband discovered she ‘settled’ for him. Claire juggles her career and child and dog, adding up to tension and high blood pressure.

Sophie has a glamourous lifestyle and a multimillion following for SimplySophie! on social media. She wines and dines artists and prospective art buyers, but has a massive credit card debt and no permanent home. She is hovering on the edge of disaster.

Meanwhile, a man has returned to the island seeking a home, staying at the home of an old friend. He wants to buy the sister’s family cabin. But he shares a history with one of them, and it won’t be working in his favor.

When the sisters met up at the cabin, they finally have a reckoning, and faced with their truths, must decide where they go from there.

Fowler offers wonderful characters, and adeptly reveals backstories and inner lives in a suspenseful way. Readers will be hooked by the story and gratified by the ending. And the message of what’s important in life–“it all comes down to this”–is essential.

I received a free ARC and egalley from the publisher. My review is fair and unbiased.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn’t rush out to go buy this…

It was fine.

The premise had me hopeful, but honestly, this one just didn’t contain enough meat for me. The plot was unorganized and the pacing was off. I think if this was just Beck’s story and she was the only child trying to decide to sell the cabin and CJ was the flame from her past, it would have felt a lot tidier. It needed focus! The sisters and their drama was distracting (mostly Sophie) and so much from their chapters would have been edited out.

Just my opinion. Rounded this up to 3 for Goodreads.

[Laura Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fourth generation Mainer so I was delighted to find a summer cottage on Mt. Desert Island central to the story. I was taken back to my own summers on a different stretch of coastline, the sounds and smells of the rocky beaches, the miles of rustic trails just begging to be traveled.

It All Comes Down To This is a light, enjoyable family drama where no one's life is as it seems. The lies are not malicious, more of a "what you don't know won't hurt me" variety. The three Geller sisters are distinctly different, likeable but flawed characters who are consistently portrayed throughout this evenly paced story. Fowler is particularly adept at conveying both what is thought and what is said. When their mother dies leaving behind the family vacation home, the sisters face a common family conundrum, how do you decide what to do when everyone's needs are different. Add to the mix a little romance and a loveable young orphan boy and you have a story that provides a pleasant way to spend a couple of evenings.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing a complimentary drc for my enjoyment and review.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Geller sisters' lives are in turmoil. They've just lost their mother to cancer and now have learned her will specifies that they must sell the family's beloved Maine cottage on Mount Desert Island. This all seems to be the catalyst which will reveal the cracks and secrets in each woman's life.

Therese Anne Fowler has written what she calls 'a messy-family dramedy, with wry humor and joyful resolution.' As their father Leo Geller was fond of saying: 'I am confident that the universe will take care of it.' I found this to be a light and humorous read, perfect to to take along on summer vacation. Fowler does sibling relationships so well!

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity to read another interesting tale from author Therese Anne Fowler. Kudos for the gorgeous cover art.

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes it's just best to quit while you're ahead. And it's certainly the case with It All Comes Down to This.

I'm sure that other readers will disagree with my assessment. But I found It All Comes Down to This, just uninteresting. The characters are dry as dust. And the family drama really isn't drama at all. The Geller sisters just seemed to be self-centered -- each touting their own agenda, not caring about the other. The only character that I did like was their mother, Marti. Too bad she had to die, rather than cementing the family relationship.

Basically, I read the first 25%, then skimmed the last few chapters to see if I missed anything. Nope. Nothing missed and I dodged another bullet. One star.

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written story of three sisters, Beck, Claire, and Sophie and the impending death of their mother, Marti. Each of the sisters are very strong, independent women with busy lives. Beck is the oldest sister and is a freelance writer and is married to Paul. Claire is a pediatric cardiologist and recently divorced. Sophie works for an exclusive art gallery and is also a social media influencer. Each sister is dealing with their own issues they must face and try to overcome. Secrets are uncovered as the book progresses.

This is a character driven novel dealing with relationships, some messy situations, some self-discovery, betrayal, loss and regrets. Mixed in there's some humor too. Each character is portrayed distinctly so the differences are clear. My favorite charcters were C.J. and Arlo, although the sisters were good characters too.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published June 7, 2022.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book for review.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope you do too.

Read this book if you like :

Dysfunctional Families
Secrets
A rekindled childhood romance.
The setting of a house near the lake and mountains.

I absolutely adored this cover. You pictured the house whilst reading the book. This book is a story about revelations and forgiveness in order to reconcile relationships. I connected the most with Beck as she was the booklover.

[Cathrine ☯️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75★★★

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotionally powerful and evocative tale of family, exploring the lives and relationships of three sisters as they come to terms with their mother’s death and her last request to sell the family’s holiday cottage on Mount Desert Island.

I found this a really entertaining and compelling read, full of complicated family bonds, secrets and lies in need of untangling. All three sisters have their own struggles, flaws and secrets, each yearning for the missed opportunities that could’ve led to a far different life than the one they’ve found themselves in.

Beck, the eldest is a freelance writer who appears to have her whole life together, but that’s far from the case, being trapped in an unsatisfying marriage. Now her dream of writing a bestselling novel rests solely on the Maine cottage she and her sister’s have to sell.

Recently divorced Claire, the middle sister is too preoccupied with her secret unrequited love to care much about the sale and despite her successful career as a doctor, still harbours a little resentment of her sister’s seemingly glamorous accomplishments (Beck’s articles in major publications or Sophie’s celebrity connections) which took up most of her mother’s praise.

For Sophie, the youngest who’s celebrity laden lifestyle and commitment free life is not nearly as carefree or fun as she portrays. With no permanent residence and a stack of debt, she’d never admit to her sister but Sophie desperately needs the sale in order to survive.

The upheaval of their mother’s death brings the Geller sisters together for the first time in years, leading to the discovery of a long buried secret that has them all reevaluating their own lives. Not to mention the charming C.J, an ex con trying to move on from his past who’s interest in buying the cottage complicates matters further.

I really enjoyed how evocative and emotional Fowler’s writing was, getting to the heart of each sisters insecurities and the realities that life brings—as Mick Jagger says “we can’t always get what we want” but thankfully for the Geller sisters things do eventually work out, and satisfyingly so at that—especially specially when everyone starts to actually communicate with one another.

Overall, this a compelling and emotionally powerful page turner that gives off contemporary Jane Austen meets Louisa May Alcott vibes that’s perfect for curling up with in the evening and loosing yourself in. If you love literary, women’s fiction or are fans of Ann Patchett or Emma Staub then I definitely recommend checking this out.

Also a huge thank you to Isabelle at Headline for this wonderful finished copy

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Satisfying Family Drama about The Messiness of Life


SUMMARY
Marti Geller’s doctor told her to get her affairs in order. She has been playing whack-a-mole with cancer for several years, but now there is nothing else that the doctors can do. Marti made all her own arrangements so that her three daughters, Beck, Claire, and Sophie, have nothing to worry about once she is gone. Marti has a long-hidden secret, which she intends to have revealed upon her death. What will her daughters think of this secret revelation? Marti’s last wish is to sell the family’s cottage on Mount Desert Island. This wish will come as a shock and a surprise to her daughters.

The three sisters' lives and their relationship with each other are complicated. Their mother was not the only family member with long-held secrets. Beck, a journalist, and the oldest daughter, is in a loveless marriage, and her secret dream is to write a novel while staying at the Maine cottage. Claire, the middle daughter, is a pediatric cardiologist and is recently divorced, and has been in love with another man for many years. The youngest, Sophie, hangs with celebrities and is an Instagram blogger, but she struggles financially to keep up with this fast-paced life and is way over her head in debt.


REVIEW
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS is a satisfying and nicely built family drama about the lesson learned from the messiness of life. Beck, Claire, and Sophie are all attempting to make the most of the lives they have built. Their secrets keep them stagnating. Their mother’s death makes them realize that now might be the time to come clean and embrace new possibilities.

The story is skillfully written, and the characters are well developed. The story's point of view alternates between the various characters, so be prepared to keep up. Their lives are filled with complications, difficulties, betrayals, and mistakes. You might even want a glass of wine to accompany this dramatic read.


Author Therese Anne Fowler has plenty of tricks up her sleeve here. She is also the author of the New York Times best-selling novel Z: a Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald (2013). Raised in the Midwest, Fowler migrated to North Carolina in 1995. She holds a BA in sociology/cultural anthropology and an MFA in creative writing from North Carolina State University. Additional novels Fowler has penned include A Good Neighborhood (2020), and A Well Behaved Woman (2018)

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the audiobook for IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS and found the narration and the performance entertaining.


Publisher St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan Audio
Published June 7, 2022
Narrated Barrie Kreinik
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Marti Geller has terminal cancer and has chosen to die on her own terms in the apartment in NYC she and her husband raised their family. The three sisters, Beck, Claire and Sophie have chosen different paths and have drifted apart. Upon her death Marti left specific instructions for the distribution of her assets, including selling their cottage in Maine, Beck is reluctant to sell, yearning for the tranquility of the cottage to evaluate her life and write her novel. Claire and Sophie are also at crossroads in determining their futures. Marti has also surprised the girls with a revelation about her past and family history. Marti is not the only one who had been harboring secrets as the sisters have their own secrets about the lives they are living. Will Marti's death bring them closer together?
A touching story of family, loss, forgiveness and forging new beginnings.