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Blake Sisters #1
Lake News
With this powerful story, Barbara Delinsky, the bestselling and acclaimed author of Coast Road and Three Wishes, has written her richest and most exciting novel yet.
At its center is Lily Blake, a talented singer who shuns the limelight and cherishes her privacy. Tricked by a devious reporter into unwittingly giving an interview about her friendship with a distinguished churchman -- a newly appointed Cardinal -- she finds herself accused of having had an affair with him.
Shocked and dismayed, Lily becomes a pariah and suffers the brutal, ultimate violation of her privacy as headlines all across the country proclaim her guilt. Hounded by the press, fired from her job, deprived of all public freedom, Lily has no choice but to flee. She returns in secret to her hometown of Lake Henry, in a remote, beautiful part of New Hampshire.
But, idyllic as it may look, Lake Henry, too, has its secrets. Some were the cause of her leaving home in the first place, so returning to her birthplace and her family is not without its own stress and pain.
Driven by the need to exact justice -- and, for herself, some kind of closure -- from the media that changed her life forever, Lily forms an uneasy alliance with John Kipling, a journalist who was born and raised in Lake Henry's poorest neighborhood. His successful career as a big-city reporter has ended disastrously, and John has come back home to edit the local newspaper, Lake News. At first he sees Lily as a victim, as well as a subject for the book he hopes to write. But soon she becomes someone whose appeal -- and cause -- he cannot deny, even at the risk of taking on his former colleagues in her defense.
Set against the physical beauty of New Hampshire and against the complex web of family life and relationships in a small town, Lake News moves triumphantly toward a surprising and deeply satisfying conclusion.
Barbara Delinsky's bestselling Three Wishes was praised by Publishers Weekly for its "spare, controlled, and poignant prose that evokes the simplicity and joys of small-town life." Those same qualities are abundant in Lake News, which offers an intimate look at the complex relationship between an enigmatic man and a vulnerable, besieged woman, both struggling to find a new sense of community in a strange place they once called home.
At its center is Lily Blake, a talented singer who shuns the limelight and cherishes her privacy. Tricked by a devious reporter into unwittingly giving an interview about her friendship with a distinguished churchman -- a newly appointed Cardinal -- she finds herself accused of having had an affair with him.
Shocked and dismayed, Lily becomes a pariah and suffers the brutal, ultimate violation of her privacy as headlines all across the country proclaim her guilt. Hounded by the press, fired from her job, deprived of all public freedom, Lily has no choice but to flee. She returns in secret to her hometown of Lake Henry, in a remote, beautiful part of New Hampshire.
But, idyllic as it may look, Lake Henry, too, has its secrets. Some were the cause of her leaving home in the first place, so returning to her birthplace and her family is not without its own stress and pain.
Driven by the need to exact justice -- and, for herself, some kind of closure -- from the media that changed her life forever, Lily forms an uneasy alliance with John Kipling, a journalist who was born and raised in Lake Henry's poorest neighborhood. His successful career as a big-city reporter has ended disastrously, and John has come back home to edit the local newspaper, Lake News. At first he sees Lily as a victim, as well as a subject for the book he hopes to write. But soon she becomes someone whose appeal -- and cause -- he cannot deny, even at the risk of taking on his former colleagues in her defense.
Set against the physical beauty of New Hampshire and against the complex web of family life and relationships in a small town, Lake News moves triumphantly toward a surprising and deeply satisfying conclusion.
Barbara Delinsky's bestselling Three Wishes was praised by Publishers Weekly for its "spare, controlled, and poignant prose that evokes the simplicity and joys of small-town life." Those same qualities are abundant in Lake News, which offers an intimate look at the complex relationship between an enigmatic man and a vulnerable, besieged woman, both struggling to find a new sense of community in a strange place they once called home.
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2000
455 people are currently reading
2111 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Delinsky
307 books4,356 followersI was born and raised in suburban Boston. My mother’s death, when I was eight, was the defining event of a childhood that was otherwise ordinary. I took piano lessons and flute lessons. I took ballroom dancing lessons. I went to summer camp through my fifteenth year (in Maine, which explains the setting of so many of my stories), then spent my sixteenth summer learning to type and to drive (two skills that have served me better than all of my other high school courses combined). I earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. The motivation behind the M.A. was sheer greed. My husband was just starting law school. We needed the money.
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
April 2, 2017
Lake News is the first Barbara Delinsky book I read, years ago. I loved it from the first page, and the same with An Accidental Woman, the second book in the series.
Excellent character development, and wonderful expression of family relationships, plus interaction all around.
If you want to read a great story, this book is for you.
Excellent character development, and wonderful expression of family relationships, plus interaction all around.
If you want to read a great story, this book is for you.
March 29, 2021
I have read a few of Delinsky's books and have enjoyed each of them. She has a way of captivating the reader from the beginning as she describes the setting and the characters. Her description of the setting is usually so detailed that you feel you are there. the characters are written in such a way that you either feel for them or want them out of the story and soon as possible.
This is a read about media and choosing to hold on or let go of your integrity. The trusting Lily Blake looking for a life away from Lake Henry and her judging mother and sister. She unfortunately gets caught up in a scandal that has her looking for shelter. Back in lake Henry, she finds comfort and support with her other sister Poppi and John Kipling, a childhood friend. As the story unfolds, there are several subplots that kept this reader engaged. Not quite a romance and not quite a mystery. I would say it is a read about small towns and the media.
This is a read about media and choosing to hold on or let go of your integrity. The trusting Lily Blake looking for a life away from Lake Henry and her judging mother and sister. She unfortunately gets caught up in a scandal that has her looking for shelter. Back in lake Henry, she finds comfort and support with her other sister Poppi and John Kipling, a childhood friend. As the story unfolds, there are several subplots that kept this reader engaged. Not quite a romance and not quite a mystery. I would say it is a read about small towns and the media.
November 6, 2024
Lily es una joven que vive en Boston que se dedica a dar clases de música y a cantar en un club en las noches. Un día concede una entrevista a un reportero sin saber las malas intenciones de éste. A partir de este encuentro, Lily es presa de un escándalo que pone su vida patas arriba y por el cual tiene que huir a su ciudad natal.
John Kippling por otra parte es un periodista que huyó de la ciudad por los pocos escrúpulos y mala voluntad de la prensa hacia los demás. Después de tener fama en la ciudad por su trabajo, decide ir a su pueblo natal Lago Henry para dirigir el periódico local.
Lily y John se conocen y tratan de buscar una solución para que Lily limpie su buen nombre y vuelva a su antigua vida en Boston.
El libro lo escogí porque decía romance por todas partes y creo que es lo que menos se trata en este libro. Me encontré también muy aburrido y repetitivo el tema de Lily con la prensa, el 80% de la lectura era acerca de esto. Estaba a punto de darle 2 estrellas y al final llegué a 3 porque me encontré muy emotivo la parte de los protagonistas con sus padres donde dan a conocer las razones de su indiferencia con ellos.
John Kippling por otra parte es un periodista que huyó de la ciudad por los pocos escrúpulos y mala voluntad de la prensa hacia los demás. Después de tener fama en la ciudad por su trabajo, decide ir a su pueblo natal Lago Henry para dirigir el periódico local.
Lily y John se conocen y tratan de buscar una solución para que Lily limpie su buen nombre y vuelva a su antigua vida en Boston.
El libro lo escogí porque decía romance por todas partes y creo que es lo que menos se trata en este libro. Me encontré también muy aburrido y repetitivo el tema de Lily con la prensa, el 80% de la lectura era acerca de esto. Estaba a punto de darle 2 estrellas y al final llegué a 3 porque me encontré muy emotivo la parte de los protagonistas con sus padres donde dan a conocer las razones de su indiferencia con ellos.
June 1, 2012
I've actually read Lake News by Barbara Delinsky a couple of times. I first bought it the summer of 2008 to read on the long, 10 hour flight to Hawaii. I had previously read Looking for Peyton Place by Delinsky and loved it so I was looking forward to reading Lake News as well. I wasn't disappointed, and I liked the book so much that I've read it again since.
Lily Blake and John Kipling are both from Lake Henry, New Hampshire, and both left after high school to create lives for themselves away from their small, New England hometown. However, through the twists and turns of their lives, they both find themselves back in Lake Henry. Lily, a music teacher and piano lounge singer in Boston, flees to her small hometown after being accused of having an affair with a newly appointed Cardinal, and John, a former reporter, with a mysterious past and trust issues of his own, is the editor of the Lake Henry weekly newspaper.
Although a former member of the Boston media, John is outraged at the lies and invasion of Lily's privacy. Together, they build an alliance and work through their trust issues as Lily prepares to take on the Boston media to clear her name.
While the overall storyline may seem generic, Delinsky's attention to detail, character development, and intertwining subplots sets this novel apart from the norm. As the reader, you travel to New Hampshire; you feel the damp air getting colder with the onset of Fall; and you can almost see and hear the loons (birds with a very unique call) that make Lake Henry their home from the Spring through November. But more importantly like in all of her novels, Delinsky has the innate ability to use these details to enhance her story rather than confuse or bore her audience.
Delinsky's book always have a permanent place on my bookshelf. Her characters are old friends that I like to revisit on those cold, winter nights by the fire and also on those sunny, hot summer days on the beach. So if you're looking for a great book to read while you cuddle up by the fire this winter, read Lake News and visit Lake Henry, New Hampshire.
Lily Blake and John Kipling are both from Lake Henry, New Hampshire, and both left after high school to create lives for themselves away from their small, New England hometown. However, through the twists and turns of their lives, they both find themselves back in Lake Henry. Lily, a music teacher and piano lounge singer in Boston, flees to her small hometown after being accused of having an affair with a newly appointed Cardinal, and John, a former reporter, with a mysterious past and trust issues of his own, is the editor of the Lake Henry weekly newspaper.
Although a former member of the Boston media, John is outraged at the lies and invasion of Lily's privacy. Together, they build an alliance and work through their trust issues as Lily prepares to take on the Boston media to clear her name.
While the overall storyline may seem generic, Delinsky's attention to detail, character development, and intertwining subplots sets this novel apart from the norm. As the reader, you travel to New Hampshire; you feel the damp air getting colder with the onset of Fall; and you can almost see and hear the loons (birds with a very unique call) that make Lake Henry their home from the Spring through November. But more importantly like in all of her novels, Delinsky has the innate ability to use these details to enhance her story rather than confuse or bore her audience.
Delinsky's book always have a permanent place on my bookshelf. Her characters are old friends that I like to revisit on those cold, winter nights by the fire and also on those sunny, hot summer days on the beach. So if you're looking for a great book to read while you cuddle up by the fire this winter, read Lake News and visit Lake Henry, New Hampshire.
January 5, 2025
Book #1 of 2025 done! A super easy read. It takes place in a small town and is drama filled with love stories mixed in. Talks about dynamics in parent-child relationships.
March 12, 2018
I think what bothered me most about this book, was that it wasn't quite a mystery and it wasn't quite a romance...and I wanted it to be one or the other. And I'm not even sure why. I suppose that my inner book snob is rearing its ugly head, and saying, "Reading this book was the equivalent of watching a Lifetime Movie. You are no worse for wear, but you also can't get those hours of your life back." But again, that is my own personal taste coming through. The author did craft a very intricate story, complete with scandal, family drama and a hint of romance. She took the reader from the streets of downtown Boston to the tranquil small town of Lake Henry. The clergy was involved...there were newspaper men without morals...and a love scene or two. Plenty to keep a reader interested. And I was. Sort of. Anyway, I would by no means discourage anyone from reading this or any other offering by Miss Delinsky...maybe this kind of escape reading just isn't for me.
January 15, 2009
This is an interesting tale of a woman living a quiet life in Boston who is accused in the news paper of having an affair with a newly named Cardinal in the Catholic Church. The story is totally false and this book tells of her journey back to normalcy and how it changes her life and adjusts her priorities. I enjoyed the book and the mix of characters and how they overcome differences to help this woman get her life back.
February 26, 2016
Part romance, part diatribe against the intrusiveness of the press, and the way innocent lives can be disrupted by overly-aggressive “investigative” journalists, this novel lacked the force of some of Delinsky’s other books. Nice enough characters, but too often bogged down in whining tone.
March 13, 2016
About 200 pages too long. I'm not sure why the main characters took such joy in publicly exposing a man's horrible childhood. I did not find it to be a happy ending at all.
January 30, 2025
4.45⭐️ picked this up at a thrift store because the pretty cover caught my eye-
This book reminded me a lot of Emily Henry’s Books, while it was in the romance section, it was so much more than a romance. in fact I’d go as far as to say the romance was subplot (which I personally enjoyed)
The characters have so much depth, they are so Individual and real🤧 I absolutely loved the setting, a small town on the lake- it was just so relaxing. The actual plot kept me hooked and I loved the element of mystery and excitement in finding the truth.
I think if you are a fan of Emily Henry you would probably enjoy this- it was published in 1999 so a few things may feel a bit dated but overall I think it read surprisingly very well!!
~thoughts on a few of the characters~ (spoilers)
Little Hannah was just a side character but I saw so much of my younger self in her and it broke my heart🤧 and her relationship with her mother reminded me of the awful voice in my head😭 but in a way it was sort of healing to read it on paper and be able to reflect
Although they were side characters Poppy and Griffin really stole the show for me🤭 they had mayyybbee 5 scenes through the book and I was absolutely locked in, screaming and giggling anytime they interacted
John and Lily were ofc the main characters and I love them both dearly! I love how much they care for each other, their romance felt very natural and didn’t take away from their individual journeys which I really loved.
Terry Sullivan, Maida, Gus, and Rose were all really well written antagonist characters. I loveeedd being able to understand why the way they were and how they effected the other characters. Their story’s were very sad but well executed🤧
This book reminded me a lot of Emily Henry’s Books, while it was in the romance section, it was so much more than a romance. in fact I’d go as far as to say the romance was subplot (which I personally enjoyed)
The characters have so much depth, they are so Individual and real🤧 I absolutely loved the setting, a small town on the lake- it was just so relaxing. The actual plot kept me hooked and I loved the element of mystery and excitement in finding the truth.
I think if you are a fan of Emily Henry you would probably enjoy this- it was published in 1999 so a few things may feel a bit dated but overall I think it read surprisingly very well!!
~thoughts on a few of the characters~ (spoilers)
Little Hannah was just a side character but I saw so much of my younger self in her and it broke my heart🤧 and her relationship with her mother reminded me of the awful voice in my head😭 but in a way it was sort of healing to read it on paper and be able to reflect
Although they were side characters Poppy and Griffin really stole the show for me🤭 they had mayyybbee 5 scenes through the book and I was absolutely locked in, screaming and giggling anytime they interacted
John and Lily were ofc the main characters and I love them both dearly! I love how much they care for each other, their romance felt very natural and didn’t take away from their individual journeys which I really loved.
Terry Sullivan, Maida, Gus, and Rose were all really well written antagonist characters. I loveeedd being able to understand why the way they were and how they effected the other characters. Their story’s were very sad but well executed🤧
May 11, 2025
The book opens with a beloved priest being elevated to Cardinal. (Timely, with a new Pope this week.)
A news story hits the stands claiming an illicit affair between the Cardinal and a music teacher/performer. According to the author, this story is about family relationships and being able to come home again. Although the book was published 25 years ago, I think it makes an excellent point for today's readers about the importance of evaluating everything we read and hear in the media.
It's difficult to find unbiased reporting, to separate fact from opinions, and AI will only amplify these difficulties.
Loved the story and the characters...another winner from Barbara Delinsky.
A news story hits the stands claiming an illicit affair between the Cardinal and a music teacher/performer. According to the author, this story is about family relationships and being able to come home again. Although the book was published 25 years ago, I think it makes an excellent point for today's readers about the importance of evaluating everything we read and hear in the media.
It's difficult to find unbiased reporting, to separate fact from opinions, and AI will only amplify these difficulties.
Loved the story and the characters...another winner from Barbara Delinsky.
July 18, 2018
I loved this book! It was a powerful story about doing the right thing. Do we ever quit looking for our parent’s approval? I don’t think so. These themes were elegantly explored. Give this book a try.
November 26, 2017
A very good read. I like the way the author developed the characters. Will definitely read more if her novels.
September 23, 2008
I really enjoy the way Delinsky inhabits the emotional aspects of a story. This time around, the issues are friendship, trust, family expectations and personal expression.
When Lily Blake innocently speaks to a reporter about a newly named Cardinal with whom she has a personal friendship, her life is turned into chaos. The reporter, whose motives are revealed as the story progresses, turns her story into a torrid affair as he misrepresents her current and former associations with men in the limelight. Hounded to death and under suspicion by her employers, Lily is left only to go back to the small town where she grew up, to hideout in a lakeside cottage in an idyllic New England setting.
While there, Lily has the opportunity to confront some very person demons as she works to clear her name. Amazingly she finds the almost unconditional support she has always sought and never found before in this tight knit community. In fact, through crisis and homecoming, she discovers who she really is and what is really important to her.
Even though I found the plot device used in the end emotionally satisfying, I also found it a bit too neat. I did very much enjoy the new mutual understanding reached by Lily and her mother. And the description of the lake, its wildlife and moods was lyrical and vivid.
When Lily Blake innocently speaks to a reporter about a newly named Cardinal with whom she has a personal friendship, her life is turned into chaos. The reporter, whose motives are revealed as the story progresses, turns her story into a torrid affair as he misrepresents her current and former associations with men in the limelight. Hounded to death and under suspicion by her employers, Lily is left only to go back to the small town where she grew up, to hideout in a lakeside cottage in an idyllic New England setting.
While there, Lily has the opportunity to confront some very person demons as she works to clear her name. Amazingly she finds the almost unconditional support she has always sought and never found before in this tight knit community. In fact, through crisis and homecoming, she discovers who she really is and what is really important to her.
Even though I found the plot device used in the end emotionally satisfying, I also found it a bit too neat. I did very much enjoy the new mutual understanding reached by Lily and her mother. And the description of the lake, its wildlife and moods was lyrical and vivid.
January 21, 2015
My biggest gripe about this book was how a 34 y/o woman living independently since the age of 18 could possibly even think that it was okay to talk about a (hypothetical) sexual relationship with the Cardinal (I mean seriously! Of all the public figures in the world to talk about) and to a reporter for crying out loud!
I was angry and upset of the injustice that happened to her but she really didn't help matters by commenting on a topic like religion which can very easily bring out the pitchforks. I wonder how she had survived in big cities like Boston where life can be very hard and people unkind without developing any sense of street smartness (Is that a word?) She was very fortunate that she had a home to go to, people who would back her up, and a partner who practically worshipped her.
I was angry and upset of the injustice that happened to her but she really didn't help matters by commenting on a topic like religion which can very easily bring out the pitchforks. I wonder how she had survived in big cities like Boston where life can be very hard and people unkind without developing any sense of street smartness (Is that a word?) She was very fortunate that she had a home to go to, people who would back her up, and a partner who practically worshipped her.
October 9, 2007
I really enjoyed listening to this book. Set in "Lake Henry, NH" (Yay New-Hampy!)and with very likeable characters, this one was a sure bet with me. The loon passages got a bit slow--perhaps the author visited the Moultonboro Loon Center a few times too many?...but there's plenty to chew on here. The tension in the plot kept this one from becoming too quaint.
Note: There are some seriously pathetic moments where the reader attempts a NH accent. All actors and actresses should just abandon the attempt NOW! To hear a slightly affected but pretty good NH accent, look up Fritz Weatherbee/NH Chronicle.
If you decide to buy/borrow this one, be sure to get the 12 CD set rather than the 3 hour edited version. How they reduced it from 12 hrs to 3 hrs is a complete mystery to me...
Note: There are some seriously pathetic moments where the reader attempts a NH accent. All actors and actresses should just abandon the attempt NOW! To hear a slightly affected but pretty good NH accent, look up Fritz Weatherbee/NH Chronicle.
If you decide to buy/borrow this one, be sure to get the 12 CD set rather than the 3 hour edited version. How they reduced it from 12 hrs to 3 hrs is a complete mystery to me...
March 4, 2013
After reading a couple of books that revolved around murder and mayhem, I needed something light and restful. Lake News was the perfect choice. Lily Blake as been caught in a publicity nightmare which links her with a newly-appointed Cardinal. She escapes to her old hometown to heal and regroup. Trouble is that old hometown carries bad memories of its own. I loved Delinsky's vivid description of loons, their haunting calls, etc. I could almost feel the fog in my face and could hear the whisper of canoe paddles in the water.
September 25, 2015
What a lovely book! Full of rich and complex characters, the author slowly unwinds the complexities of each until you feel like you see who they really are and what makes them "tick." The setting of the book is New Hampshire so I was able to relate to the changing of the seasons as Fall slowly fades away and you can feel winter coming in.
The book addresses something we all deal with on some level, invasion of privacy. Granted, most of us don't experience as deeply as the main character does, but we can all relate.
All in all, a very enjoyable book!
The book addresses something we all deal with on some level, invasion of privacy. Granted, most of us don't experience as deeply as the main character does, but we can all relate.
All in all, a very enjoyable book!
August 30, 2015
I couldn't put this book down! I loved the New England setting since it's in my neck of the woods and the believable and likable characters. The story was relevant in a time when privacy is so easily violated in social media and I found the complexities of journalism totally interesting. Woven into that were richly described family and relationship struggles and it all came to a gratifying ending. Can't wait to read the sequel!
September 27, 2016
Couldn't finish. After reading some reviews, I see others had the same response. The idea of a "character" who was appointed Cardinal being involved in that type of scandal seemed unlikely. I think what bogged the story down is so many pious (dated now) anti-press rants. The cover of the book caught my eye in our "little library". I am not going to read anymore tomes written by the author, too much preachy filler.
December 12, 2010
Because sometimes a no-brainer, easy-to-read library book is just the thing I need when James is on a trip. :-)
November 3, 2011
Never did finish this book. It was an ok story but just didn't hold my interest.
February 18, 2016
not her best work.
January 19, 2017
Um romance levezinho. Uma leitura agradável envolvendo um pouco de paixão e mistério
December 6, 2017
Onvan : Lake News - Nevisande : Barbara Delinsky - ISBN : 067103619X - ISBN13 : 9780671036195 - Dar 544 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1999
Read
December 28, 2017John Kipling returned to Lake Henry, New Hampshire and is editor for the Lake News. John was over 40 now. He had been friends with Terry Sullivan. Terry had a story that gave John to submit about a woman who said she had an affair with a senator. The story had turned out to be false and the senator committed suicide after losing his family over the ordeal. John left Boston after feeling guilty and blamed for Terry's story. He came back home hoping to work things out with his father. He was very angry at Terry for misleading him and allowing him to take the fall for his story.
Jenny Blodgett was pregnant and the father was John's younger cousin, Buck who John suspected was abusing her.
Maida Blake owned Blake Orchards after the death of her husband who had been 15 years her senior. Their children were Lily, Poppy, and Rose. Poppy had been involved in a snowmobile accident 12 years previous and was a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. She was the town's answering service and knew most everything that was going on around town. She took calls from everyone calling into town looking especially for the sheriff. She ended up talking to a book reporter that became interested in her while resisting his questions regarding Lily and her supposed affair.
Lily was born with a stutter and was bullied as a result. She sang beautifully and didn't stutter when she sang. Her mother had never been close to Lily. Lily didn't understand why and blamed it on the fact that she wasn't perfect. When she was a teenager, she was running around with Donald, John's brother. He had stolen a car and when they were caught, he blamed the whole mess on Lily. She hadn't known they were running around in a stolen car. Donald was jailed for two years and died two years after he was released when his car hit a tree while he was running from the cops. Lily was given probation and left town after she was given probation for the car debacle. Lily Blake had moved to Boston and taught music at Winchester School, a private school on Beacon Hill. She also sang at the Essex Club.
Terry Sullivan had come to listen to her set and had asked her for a date a few times. She repeatedly turned him down but they did speak occasionally. She was friends with the newly appointed Cardinal, Fran Rossetti. She was singing one evening and Terry was waiting for her when she got off work. He asked to walk her home and asked a lot of questions about the Cardinal. She didn't know that he was recording their conversation and was surprised to find out the next day that he had twisted what she had told him to and made up a story about her having an affair with the Cardinal. She ended up losing her job at the school and the club. She had little choice but to return home to Lake Henry to hide out at the house left to her by her grandmother, Celia St. Marie.
John's father, Gus, was 81 and didn't much car for John. He gave him no credit for making something of himself and blamed John for the mistake he made in printing the story about the senator. He felt that John got what he deserved having had to return home. He didn't accept that it was John's choice and that he felt guilty for printing the story. Gus had been a brick layer and couldn't do it anymore. He resented feeling useless as he aged. He and John hadn't gotten along especially since Donny's death. John tried and tried to get to the bottom of why they didn't get along and when Gus died, Gus admitted that his attitude was because he never felt he was good enough. His wife had left him and his son had died. He didn't get to close to John because he was afraid of failing him too.
Maida blamed Lily for the reporter publicizing the story about her even though it was a complete lie. She felt like Lily could have prevented it. The local sheriff's wife had told the reporter about her stuttering and about the car theft that was supposed to have been a sealed. Lily went to see Maida when she came back to Lake Henry but told her off about her attitude toward herself.
Lily then went to see a local attorney to ask 'The Post' for a retraction because they apologized to the Cardinal but not to Lily. Lily then went to talk to John because they had talked when she first arrived and he had mentioned having ammo to get back at Terry for printing the story. She was curious as to what it was. John was doing research on Terry trying to find out why he printed stories like he did and if there was a reason he hurt people with those stories. He wanted to discredit Terry if he could for all of the damage he did and not just to Lily. He had done the same to others. There were plenty of people that he knew that hated Terry for the things he had done and continued to do. John had decided to ask those that he knew for help.
John found out that the Cardinal had been a boyfriend to Terry's mother before he became a priest. She married John's father and had two boys. One had become a priest and John went to visit him. The boys father beat Terry and his mother hadn't stopped it. She protected the brother but not him. Terry grew up hating Rosetti due to the way he was treated. He wasn't trying to hurt Lily but he was trying to discredit the newly appointed Cardinal.
Lily found out that her mother knew that Lily was special due to her voice and didn't want anyone drawing attention to the her or anyone in the family because she was ashamed of her past. She had been raised with her uncles when her mother raised her brothers after their mother's death. She and one of the uncles had been lovers. Once she admitted this to Lily, Lily understood why she had a problem with Lily becoming well-known as a pianist and singer.
John also discovered that some of the other reports pursuing the story about Lily had things they didn't want to be found. One didn't have a degree that he lied about to get his job. The other had a different name for public use and often hired prostitutes.
Terry wouldn't let up on Lily even after apologizing to the church about the story in regard to the Cardinal. He called John asking for more dirt on Lily. So, John called a press conference telling others that he had new information. He brought to light that the tape that he had given 'The Post' regarding his interview with Lily had been spliced and taken illegally. He let it be known in the press conference that Terry had been fired and that he had written the story to get back at the Cardinal. John mentioned that Terry knew the Fran Rosetti and had for years. His agenda was personal. The other two reporters asked questions to try and turn the focus on Lily again and John mentioned that he didn't have a right to ask because he wasn't qualified because he didn't have the degree that he used to obtain the position he held. The other reporter said something about Lily being 'shady' and he brought up his paying prostitutes. Lily got her revenge. John had told her that he wouldn't use the information unless he had too. The questions they were asking played right into his hands.
Lily and John knew they were in love with each other by this time and they agreed that they would marry and try to have children.
Poppy's guy that she talked to on the phone showed up at the press conference and told Poppy that her being in a wheelchair wasn't going to scare him off and he asked her to dinner, which she accepted.
Lily's mother told her that she was proud of her and actually gave her the hug that Lily had waited her whole life for. She mentioned to Lily that she was going to speak to Rose about her treatment of her own daughter, Hannah. She didn't want history repeating itself in Rose turning away and not respecting Hannah because she was still chubby after turning 11. Lily knew that she would be in town to give her the love she needed that her grandmother had given to her.
Jenny Blodgett was pregnant and the father was John's younger cousin, Buck who John suspected was abusing her.
Maida Blake owned Blake Orchards after the death of her husband who had been 15 years her senior. Their children were Lily, Poppy, and Rose. Poppy had been involved in a snowmobile accident 12 years previous and was a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. She was the town's answering service and knew most everything that was going on around town. She took calls from everyone calling into town looking especially for the sheriff. She ended up talking to a book reporter that became interested in her while resisting his questions regarding Lily and her supposed affair.
Lily was born with a stutter and was bullied as a result. She sang beautifully and didn't stutter when she sang. Her mother had never been close to Lily. Lily didn't understand why and blamed it on the fact that she wasn't perfect. When she was a teenager, she was running around with Donald, John's brother. He had stolen a car and when they were caught, he blamed the whole mess on Lily. She hadn't known they were running around in a stolen car. Donald was jailed for two years and died two years after he was released when his car hit a tree while he was running from the cops. Lily was given probation and left town after she was given probation for the car debacle. Lily Blake had moved to Boston and taught music at Winchester School, a private school on Beacon Hill. She also sang at the Essex Club.
Terry Sullivan had come to listen to her set and had asked her for a date a few times. She repeatedly turned him down but they did speak occasionally. She was friends with the newly appointed Cardinal, Fran Rossetti. She was singing one evening and Terry was waiting for her when she got off work. He asked to walk her home and asked a lot of questions about the Cardinal. She didn't know that he was recording their conversation and was surprised to find out the next day that he had twisted what she had told him to and made up a story about her having an affair with the Cardinal. She ended up losing her job at the school and the club. She had little choice but to return home to Lake Henry to hide out at the house left to her by her grandmother, Celia St. Marie.
John's father, Gus, was 81 and didn't much car for John. He gave him no credit for making something of himself and blamed John for the mistake he made in printing the story about the senator. He felt that John got what he deserved having had to return home. He didn't accept that it was John's choice and that he felt guilty for printing the story. Gus had been a brick layer and couldn't do it anymore. He resented feeling useless as he aged. He and John hadn't gotten along especially since Donny's death. John tried and tried to get to the bottom of why they didn't get along and when Gus died, Gus admitted that his attitude was because he never felt he was good enough. His wife had left him and his son had died. He didn't get to close to John because he was afraid of failing him too.
Maida blamed Lily for the reporter publicizing the story about her even though it was a complete lie. She felt like Lily could have prevented it. The local sheriff's wife had told the reporter about her stuttering and about the car theft that was supposed to have been a sealed. Lily went to see Maida when she came back to Lake Henry but told her off about her attitude toward herself.
Lily then went to see a local attorney to ask 'The Post' for a retraction because they apologized to the Cardinal but not to Lily. Lily then went to talk to John because they had talked when she first arrived and he had mentioned having ammo to get back at Terry for printing the story. She was curious as to what it was. John was doing research on Terry trying to find out why he printed stories like he did and if there was a reason he hurt people with those stories. He wanted to discredit Terry if he could for all of the damage he did and not just to Lily. He had done the same to others. There were plenty of people that he knew that hated Terry for the things he had done and continued to do. John had decided to ask those that he knew for help.
John found out that the Cardinal had been a boyfriend to Terry's mother before he became a priest. She married John's father and had two boys. One had become a priest and John went to visit him. The boys father beat Terry and his mother hadn't stopped it. She protected the brother but not him. Terry grew up hating Rosetti due to the way he was treated. He wasn't trying to hurt Lily but he was trying to discredit the newly appointed Cardinal.
Lily found out that her mother knew that Lily was special due to her voice and didn't want anyone drawing attention to the her or anyone in the family because she was ashamed of her past. She had been raised with her uncles when her mother raised her brothers after their mother's death. She and one of the uncles had been lovers. Once she admitted this to Lily, Lily understood why she had a problem with Lily becoming well-known as a pianist and singer.
John also discovered that some of the other reports pursuing the story about Lily had things they didn't want to be found. One didn't have a degree that he lied about to get his job. The other had a different name for public use and often hired prostitutes.
Terry wouldn't let up on Lily even after apologizing to the church about the story in regard to the Cardinal. He called John asking for more dirt on Lily. So, John called a press conference telling others that he had new information. He brought to light that the tape that he had given 'The Post' regarding his interview with Lily had been spliced and taken illegally. He let it be known in the press conference that Terry had been fired and that he had written the story to get back at the Cardinal. John mentioned that Terry knew the Fran Rosetti and had for years. His agenda was personal. The other two reporters asked questions to try and turn the focus on Lily again and John mentioned that he didn't have a right to ask because he wasn't qualified because he didn't have the degree that he used to obtain the position he held. The other reporter said something about Lily being 'shady' and he brought up his paying prostitutes. Lily got her revenge. John had told her that he wouldn't use the information unless he had too. The questions they were asking played right into his hands.
Lily and John knew they were in love with each other by this time and they agreed that they would marry and try to have children.
Poppy's guy that she talked to on the phone showed up at the press conference and told Poppy that her being in a wheelchair wasn't going to scare him off and he asked her to dinner, which she accepted.
Lily's mother told her that she was proud of her and actually gave her the hug that Lily had waited her whole life for. She mentioned to Lily that she was going to speak to Rose about her treatment of her own daughter, Hannah. She didn't want history repeating itself in Rose turning away and not respecting Hannah because she was still chubby after turning 11. Lily knew that she would be in town to give her the love she needed that her grandmother had given to her.
August 5, 2018
Mi segundo libro de esta escritora y ya puedo decir que soy fan, tiene una manera de contar sus historias que realmente te atrapan, te llevan de la mano hacia sentimientos reales y reconocibles, nada ostensible, nada exagerado, no se trata de dramas para ponerte a llorar o de relaciones fraternales perfectas o terriblemente malas, simplemente plasma lo que es, la vida misma.
Ligero, fácil de leer, digerible y por supuesto hermoso, Delinsky nos plantea en esta historia la vida de Lily, una mujer dedicada a la música que se ve envuelta en un escándalo en los medios de comunicación, eso la hace perder todo, su trabajo y su vida tranquila y va a refugiarse a su pueblo natal.
Si bien este es el argumento, lo cierto es que solo es utilizado para poner sobre la mesa los sentimientos de una familia que para nada es perfecta, pero ¿qué familia en la vida real lo es?, lo cierto es que todas las familias son disfuncionales y cada miembro de la misma tiene su propia historia que los hace ser y actuar de cierta manera, por supuesto tiene una historia romántica por ahí pero en absoluto es el protagonista y tampoco resulta en una historia romántica empalagosa.
Este es el viaje de Lily para reencontrarse con ella misma, con su fuerza interna, reconocer a su madre, replantearse su relación con ella y también aprender a perdonar a través del conocimiento de la vida de su madre y que como hijos, decidimos pensar en nuestros padres como seres que ya estaban ahí cuando nacimos y no pensamos en que tienen una historia que también los marca y los hacer ser como son.
He disfrutado mucho con este libro y con esta escritora, por supuesto seguiré leyéndola, recomiendo ampliamente este libro, lo he leído literalmente en una sentada y les aseguro que deja un sentimiento de buen rollo al terminarlo.
Ligero, fácil de leer, digerible y por supuesto hermoso, Delinsky nos plantea en esta historia la vida de Lily, una mujer dedicada a la música que se ve envuelta en un escándalo en los medios de comunicación, eso la hace perder todo, su trabajo y su vida tranquila y va a refugiarse a su pueblo natal.
Si bien este es el argumento, lo cierto es que solo es utilizado para poner sobre la mesa los sentimientos de una familia que para nada es perfecta, pero ¿qué familia en la vida real lo es?, lo cierto es que todas las familias son disfuncionales y cada miembro de la misma tiene su propia historia que los hace ser y actuar de cierta manera, por supuesto tiene una historia romántica por ahí pero en absoluto es el protagonista y tampoco resulta en una historia romántica empalagosa.
Este es el viaje de Lily para reencontrarse con ella misma, con su fuerza interna, reconocer a su madre, replantearse su relación con ella y también aprender a perdonar a través del conocimiento de la vida de su madre y que como hijos, decidimos pensar en nuestros padres como seres que ya estaban ahí cuando nacimos y no pensamos en que tienen una historia que también los marca y los hacer ser como son.
He disfrutado mucho con este libro y con esta escritora, por supuesto seguiré leyéndola, recomiendo ampliamente este libro, lo he leído literalmente en una sentada y les aseguro que deja un sentimiento de buen rollo al terminarlo.
sampled-but-no
September 19, 2020This book by a bestselling author I'd never before heard of came onto my radar through a friend after I wrote about loons on a Wisconsin lake last month. For ten days the loons gave a lavish performance, both their mournful cries and their hide-and-seek dives.
Loons play a large role in Lake News. But the plot —a smear campaign, Catholic priest, secret childhood trauma, romance and retribution— wasn't for me. So after 100 pages I closed the book. I have too many books waiting for me that I'm eager to read. Peace out.
However, going on Amazon "Look Inside" (<- honestly, one of the best tools) and searching "loons" allowed me to read and enjoy all those passages. Which is the reason my friend told me about the book.
Loons play a large role in Lake News. But the plot —a smear campaign, Catholic priest, secret childhood trauma, romance and retribution— wasn't for me. So after 100 pages I closed the book. I have too many books waiting for me that I'm eager to read. Peace out.
However, going on Amazon "Look Inside" (<- honestly, one of the best tools) and searching "loons" allowed me to read and enjoy all those passages. Which is the reason my friend told me about the book.
April 16, 2022
I think Barbara Delinsky may have just convinced me to read more adult fiction. Or, at least to read more of HER books. Lake News was so intelligently written, it was just a joy to read. I didn’t have to roll my eyes at loose plot points and surface level characters, I didn’t ever have to suspend my disbelief for the sake of allowing the story to work. It was clear that Delinsky had thoughtfully and deliberately plotted out the whole story ahead of time and worked out all possible bugs so that everything wove together in a gratifyingly realistic way and came to a satisfying conclusion. Moreover, I’m a sucker for stories that read like love songs to hometowns, and this book was just that.
Oh also, I listened to much of this on audiobook and Jen Taylor as the narrator was just *chef’s kiss*. Perfect.
Oh also, I listened to much of this on audiobook and Jen Taylor as the narrator was just *chef’s kiss*. Perfect.
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