Fifty-four Holly Lane

by Christine C. Heuner

Ashleigh and Tommy Gallagher are fully fledged members of the “Sandwich Generation” who move in with Tommy’s aging parents, John and Peggy, to rescue them from bankruptcy. At the same time, they’re also raising their two teenagers, Emily and Troy. Ashleigh’s crush on a much younger colleague, John’s hoarding, Peggy’s denial of past wrongs, and Tommy’s work stress divide the family. When a major crisis occurs, will the Gallaghers be able to overcome their grievances and support one another, or will the family fall apart?

Genres: Fiction

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2022

About the author

I have been teaching high school English in New Jersey for over two decades. My fiction has appeared in several journals and is available to read at my website: christineheuner.com. Thank you to all my readers! I appreciate your support.

Reviews

[Steve Karas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gallaghers are quite the dysfunctional family. And when Tommy, his wife Ashleigh, and their teenage kids (Emily and Troy) are forced to move in with Tommy’s aging parents to save them from bankruptcy, all their problems are amplified—Tommy’s anger control issues, Ashleigh’s wandering eye, Emily’s self-injurious behavior and drug abuse. But as Ashleigh says to Tommy, “How many normal people do you know?” In Fifty-Four Holly Lane, Heuner expertly crafts a feel-good family saga/coming-of-age story. Emily gets pregnant with her new boyfriend, and it threatens to tear the family apart at the seams. With compassion and a delicate hand, and from the perspective of each Gallagher family member, Heuner tackles some heavy topics—mental health, abuse, getting old and nearing death—a minefield in less-skilled hands. And, in the end, Heuner and the Gallaghers show us that from suffering can come triumph.

[Rene Cozzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me forever to finish. It didn’t grab me the way I thought it would. The story is told in rotating chapters by each character in the book, and I didn’t really like any of the characters. There were a lot of topics, but nothing really held my interest until 3/4 of the way through the book. Oh, and lots of Catholicism talk.

[Kathryne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books you try to read slowly. It’s good and you want it to last a while. See for yourself. I have mostly thrillers on my shelf. Not easy to find an invaluable work of fiction.

[Paula Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so many different themes throughout, from sandwich generation to mental illness and self harm, to domestic abuse and child abuse, and balancing faith & religion with modern times. There is literally something relatable to everyone’s family in here. I loved hearing the same events from different family members perspectives and especially related to Ashley, the glue that holds everyone together.

[Barbara Dzikowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful look at three generations living under the same roof. The true "sages", for me, ended up being the grandmother and the youngest child, Troy. The line that resonated with me the most comes from Troy: "all the craziness we go through and all the ways we hurt each other with words and love each other in silence."

[not applicable · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t get it. The book is marketed as a story about the sandwich generation. So I thought it would be a poignant picture of just that: adults “trapped” in the seemingly impossible situation of raising children while caring for aging parents. I was looking forward to something to relate to as that was me for many years.

Instead it felt like a bunch of separate stories haphazardly thrown together, with no hard thread interconnecting them. Yes, you learn about the various characters. But the central theme isn’t about being in the sandwich generation. It’s “here’s the grandparents” and some randomness. Then it’s “here’s some stuff about the adult kids.” Then “here’s some topics the children of the adult kids are dealing with”. Lather, rinse, repeat. And the “crisis?” It was a scary “moment” for sure, given that it revolved around a baby, but lacked the build up or resolution that I would have expected.

And the title doesn’t match either. It didn’t seem centered or focused on the house on Holly Lane. Yes it’s mentioned, like another character. But overall the plot wasn’t very refined, I found it boring and disappointing because I really wanted to like it more.

[Carrie Birde · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Christine Heuner’s 2022 novel, “Fifty-Four Holly Lane”, three generations of family navigate life together in – literally – close quarters. Each character seems to speak directly to the reader in an almost confessional manner, making the reader complicit in conflicting personal aims, concealed truths, and escalating tensions. The novel reflects the experienced reality that many couples of the “Sandwich Generation” (roughly 23% of American adults) find themselves in today – raising children and caring for aging parents, while trying to balance careers, parenting, and finances against the hopes and expectations that initially brought them together as a couple. Heuner drives home the stressful complexities in raw, dramatic fashion.

[BookTrib.com]

Explore the unique family tensions that arise when multiple generations share a small home. FIFTY-FOUR HOLLY LANE by Christine Heuner shows that sometimes what seems like a bad situation can reinforce bonds among family members.

Read the full review on BookTrib.com

[Mary Tharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

[Elaine Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read!

[Beth Gripor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The story is relatable in many ways and will appeal to parents of teens.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! So relatable on so many levels - marriage, kids, in-laws , work, etc. I didn’t want it to end. Great work of fiction.