Topanga Canyon: A Novel

by Elizabeth Sumner Wafler

Candy empire heiress Dare O'Day has never done a reckless thing in her life, or so her Version 2.0 hippie daughter believes.

Talbots-clad Dare lives quietly in quaint Foxfield, VA, where she is features editor of the local paper. Caroline, her twenty-seven-year-old daughter lives in an intentional community with other professional Millennials in Topanga Canyon, CA, working to translate French-to-English documents, composting, and chasing chickens. Caroline, reared by emotionally distant Dare, and who consequently never wanted to be a mother herself, has just learned that she is pregnant, and the last person's support she wants is Dare's.

When Dare is involved in a scandal that rocks her community, she needs to get out of town fast. Acting on a hunch that it could be her last chance to forge an authentic relationship with her daughter, she and her one-eared rescue dog head for Caroline's "Crewtopia." Despite their differences, Dare and Caroline manage to confront a lifetime of family secrets and misunderstandings. Dare eventually adapts to and even embraces the wildness of Caroline's world, while at the same time reconnecting with her first love, who she hasn't seen in thirty-four years. Ultimately, Dare and Caroline must learn that a loving and supportive relationship between mothers and daughters has the power to influence generations to come and is the strongest and most important bond of all.

282 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2022

About the author

I believe in second chances. The theme has surprised me by prancing into every one of my books. So many people live out their lives without getting what they want or what they need. Instead, they settle for less, subsisting instead of making things happen.

As you get to know my characters, I want you imbued with a sense of hope and possibility--with the magic that can happen when someone first pokes a toe out of her comfort zone and decides to make things happen. I want you to relate to my discretely individual characters who, like most women, desire and deserve true love; authentic relationships, whether they be friends, mothers, grown children, lovers, or partners; and work that is meaningful. I want you to care about the character's emotional hurts and the misunderstandings that cause them to stumble and to cheer them on as they make choices that ultimately lead them to create empowered and fulfilling lives. As you read the last page, I hope my work will have given you that "Aww-that-was-so-good" feeling that makes you want to hop up and share the story with your best friends.

As an evocative writer, I bring strong images, memories, or feelings to mind. You will find my work filled with vivid metaphors, unique prose, and detailed descriptions that make you feel part of the scene. And alliteration. I go gaga over glorious alliteration. That's the kind of book I enjoy reading myself. My stories will always involve friendship and a love interest for my main character. You'll find swoon-worthy love scenes, but the sex will be "behind closed doors." You will find conflict at every turn, tension on most pages, and "cliffhangery" scene and chapter enders. I hope my overall style pleases and resonates with you and further deepens your reading experience.

I enjoy working with other writers through my freelance editorial business Four Eyes Editorial. I live with my husband and a pair of puppers in a sweet spot of South Carolina, between the Blue Ridge Mountains and some of the country's most beautiful beaches. I can be found reading or enjoying a glass of sauvignon blanc on my screened porch, gardening, at a yoga class, working at my blue desk, or at a farmer’s market in search of the perfect heirloom tomato.

Website: https:/elizabethsumnerwafler.com

Instagram: #elizabeth_sumner_wafler

Four Eyes Editorial: https://elizabethsumnerwafler.com/edi....

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories that highlight interpersonal relationships, especially those involving mothers and daughters, interest me greatly, so I eagerly picked up Topanga Canyon by Elizabeth Sumner Wafler. Point of view characters Dare O’Day and her daughter, Caroline, live on opposite sides of the country, but it’s not just the miles that separate them—like many mothers and daughters, their relationship is complicated. When Dare needs to leave town (no spoilers here!), she chooses to visit Caroline, and it’s there, in Topanga Canyon, that both women learn and grow. The book is full of wonderful description, and the characters are authentic, engaging, and oftentimes funny. Topanga Canyon reminds the reader that second chances in life can come along, and that sometimes taking a risk is worth it.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare O’Day had a strained relationship with her mother that seemed to be passed down to her relationship with her daughter Caroline. Now separate and living on opposite sides of the country, Dare has been unable to describe her relationship with Caroline as anything but turbulent. An unexpected event forces Dare to take time away from her city and she finds herself living with her modern-hippie daughter and her crew of misfits in their intentional community. Newfound love and appreciation blossoms between mother and daughter despite their differences, though a long-kept secret threatens to unravel their fragile reconciliation.

TOPANGA CANYON is a sweet, heart-warming story about mothers and daughters and the complications their relationships face. It explores overcoming one’s differences and approaching family with love and understanding. Wafler crafts a group of unique and personable characters who embrace the idea that being open and honest can lead to glorious truths and much-needed forgiveness.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful read. The language drew me in, painting the characters and setting like fine brushstrokes on a canvas. The story of Caroline and Dare is genuine, and as both a mother and a daughter, I could relate to both characters and their flaws and misconceptions.

What I loved most, though, is that they both had a desire to grow: to become better people, to look beyond past grievances and assumptions, and try again. Like any relationship worth its salt, theirs took work. Discovering their faults and being willing to own them and work on themselves was only on part of what I loved, and what made this such an uplifting story.

Hope, second chances, forgiveness and love of all kinds make Topanga Canyon a book I'll read again and again. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Wafler.

[Rebecca Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This multi-generational story was a delightful read. Wafler has expertly crafted three very different characters in Caroline (daughter), Dare (mother) and Taffy (grandmother) who, over the years, have experienced estrangement from one another in various forms. All three women are strong and independent but are held together by their DNA. Taffy we meet through flashbacks, Dare is introduced in the midst of a scandal, and Caroline we meet against the almost utopian backdrop of an intentional community nestled within Topanga Canyon, where most of the story is set. The mother-daughter relationship was so realistic. The Febreeze scene was particularly relatable (you’ll know it when you read it) and the relationship between Dare and her daughter’s partner was a balanced blend of wanting to make it work and irritation over little things. It was these daily, almost mundane, moments that drew me into the characters’ lives and made me devour the book in only two sittings. I needed to know if and how these remarkable women reconciled past misunderstandings and long-held secrets, and I wasn’t disappointed. Yes, I found it predictable in parts, and I also found comfort in that predictability, but there were also a couple of hold-your-breath moments that had me turning the pages to find out what happened next. Altogether, a heartwarming read that delves into the sometimes conflicted lives of a complicated matriarchal family.

[Lara Bernhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Topanga Canyon explores mother/daughter relationships and the pain we unintentionally inflict on each other. A story of healing those hurts and moving forward better and stronger, this book will stay with you long after you finish it. I loved learning about intentional communities and how they allow us to choose family and provide a strong support network. Great characters I enjoyed spending time with. Looking forward to more by the author!

[Laurie Batzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story of second chance romance, found family and the unique bond between mothers and daughters. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Elin Hilderbrand! This author's lyrical prose and dramatic reveals will keep you turning pages until you reach the heartwarming and satisfying conclusion.

[Vickie Shallcross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and uplifting

I am a bit intrigued by intentional communities so this story line made the read more interesting. The characters were easy to relate to and the lovely outcomes were encoura
ging but is life ever so perfect?-maybe. I would have given 5 stars if there had been more intrigue or mystery.

[Kristina Parro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wafler does it again in Topanga Canyon, an evocative, authentic, and sanguine saga that Women’s Fiction lovers will devour. Wafler explores the importance of the mother-daughter bond and how patterns set forth by previous generations can impact a family’s future.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting and charming story of the importance of multi- generational families and the complexity of mother- daughter relationships. Families are made in many different ways and sometimes when you least expect it!

[Summer Song · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Topanga Canyon" is a beautiful, heartwarming, and thought provoking story written by Elizabeth Sumner Wafler. The author has done great work creating three-dimensional characters— each with their own personality, thoughts, emotions, and struggles. As we follow the story we begin to better understand Taft, Dare, and Caroline as well as the reasons behind their past conflicts and pain. The Crew are also very well written characters! I enjoyed seeing the Crew's strong friendship group and how they love and care about each other as family. I really liked reading about their everyday lives and how things worked in their intentional community. I love Jimi and Miles! The meaning behind the bow-tie was so sweet and moving. And Lucie! She is adorable. I loved seeing Jimi and Miles interact with Lucie and take care of her. I also really enjoyed the references to bands and specific songs— it added to the already rich narrative texture and to the overall feeling of the story.

The writing style is smooth, beautiful, and poetic in its imagery! "At CA 27 N to Topanga, we leave the palms behind and pass through an evergreen forest of Manzanita, Rosemary, and coast live oaks. I roll down my window in hopes any lingering tension will escape the car like a hornet who's been trapped inside." "Taffy's examining the face of a sunflower, her fingers gently skimming the seeds, as though reading a message there."

I like the speed of the plot! The author has written a story that focuses on important themes including: family, friendship, pain, faith, and healing. All within a story that is warm, sunny, breezy, and at times stormy. It was great to follow the characters on their emotional and personal journeys and to see them grow and change as people. I highly recommend reading "Topanga Canyon"! There is something beautiful and of high value to be found within this story for everyone. Definitely a 5 star read! Thank you very much to the author for sending me a paperback copy to read and review honestly. I will be revisiting this story and the Topanga Canyon Crew again soon.