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Serendipity
Louise Shaffer brings to life three generations of Italian American women in this stunning novel of surprises, secrets, and serendipity.A child of theatrical royalty, Carrie Manning is having a hard time getting her own act together. Thirty-seven, aimless, and having just buried a famous mother she never understood, she is desperate to uncover her family’s mysterious past in the hopes that it will help her understand herself.Carrie’s search reveals the fascinating life stories of her estranged grandmother Lu, a glamorous Broadway star whose dreams came with a price; her great grandmother Mifalda, who gave up everything to come to America as a sixteen-year-old Italian bride; and her father, Bobby, the charismatic Broadway genius who wrote some of Lu’s greatest musicals and died tragically young. At the heart of Carrie’s discoveries lies the reason for her mother’s complicated life, and a dark secret that has been buried for thirty years.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
52 people are currently reading
839 people want to read
About the author
Louise Shaffer
18 books69 followersLouise is a believer in there’s always a second chance. An actress since she was fifteen, she found herself unemployed when she was in her mid-forties. The reason was…well, she was in her mid-forties. Not a good thing if you’re an actress – aging and eating are taboo. Louise has done both. Also, she was pretty clear about the fact that she was never going to have “knee surgery.” That’s what happens when an actress of a certain age drops out of sight for six weeks and her publicist announces that she’s having an old knee injury repaired. Then the actress emerges with her eyebrows hiked up kind of high on her forehead and all those nasty little lines around her mouth seem to have vanished… oh yeah, and her knee is working fine too.
The un-surgically enhanced Louise spent two years auditioning for commercials touting high fiber cereals and denture glue, she figured there had to be something better, and she decided to try writing scripts for soap operas. Writing had actually been her first love when she was a kid. She worked as a soap writer off and on—mostly off – for the next few years. The trouble was, she got fired a lot. Because what she wanted to do was tell her own stories. Finally she fought off the devil voices – those voices inside your head that tell you you’re an idiot for dumping a paying job to follow a dream—and wrote The Three Miss Margarets. It found a home at Random House and was published. It was followed by The Ladies of Garrison Gardens, and Family Acts
Louise's latest novel, Serendipity, takes Louise back to her home in the northeast.
Today a very happy Louise lives in the lower Hudson Valley with her husband of twenty eight years, her eight cats and two rescue dogs ; the regal Joshua, and Charlie. Who is not regal. Just ask the neighbors.
The un-surgically enhanced Louise spent two years auditioning for commercials touting high fiber cereals and denture glue, she figured there had to be something better, and she decided to try writing scripts for soap operas. Writing had actually been her first love when she was a kid. She worked as a soap writer off and on—mostly off – for the next few years. The trouble was, she got fired a lot. Because what she wanted to do was tell her own stories. Finally she fought off the devil voices – those voices inside your head that tell you you’re an idiot for dumping a paying job to follow a dream—and wrote The Three Miss Margarets. It found a home at Random House and was published. It was followed by The Ladies of Garrison Gardens, and Family Acts
Louise's latest novel, Serendipity, takes Louise back to her home in the northeast.
Today a very happy Louise lives in the lower Hudson Valley with her husband of twenty eight years, her eight cats and two rescue dogs ; the regal Joshua, and Charlie. Who is not regal. Just ask the neighbors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
September 24, 2018
Well that was just fantastic! If you like a big, fabulous soapy drama with a side of Broadway glamour, you can’t go wrong with this story about three generations of women struggling to live their dreams. I devoured it in less than a day.
May 15, 2009
The story is a bit fluffy, but entertaining. I did not have to think much, and it read pretty quickly. The characters are interesting, though I thought it was funny that the 'main character' didn't really feel like the main character. She is overshadowed a lot by her mother and grandmother. It seemed strange to me that the people the main character talked with about her mother and grandmother seems to have so much insight into their minds. Basically, supposedly a character is narrating a portion of the story, when the real narrator is the mother or grandmother. It seems kind of strange that way. Overall, nothing serious and probably a good beach read.
April 14, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I happened to find it on my shelves recently, but I bought it awhile ago (at Borders, according to the sticker on the book!) and just never got around to reading it. I sort of expected that this would be a pretty standard fluff book, but it was better than I thought. I actually developed a connection to the characters, especially by the end of the book, and I really didn't expect that to happen. I really like how the author switches the POV throughout the book so you can really get a sense of where the mother came from, and where the grandmother came from, and even where the great-grandmother came from. It was really interesting to see life from their eyes, as opposed to a third party retelling what they think the character in question would have been feeling during their life experiences.
Overall, it's a good book. Is it a great book? No. There isn't anything remarkable about it, but if you've got some time to kill and want a fun story about a multi-generational family with a little bit of fame and lot of emotional issues, then this is a good book for you.
Overall, it's a good book. Is it a great book? No. There isn't anything remarkable about it, but if you've got some time to kill and want a fun story about a multi-generational family with a little bit of fame and lot of emotional issues, then this is a good book for you.
July 20, 2014
"Serendipity" is definitely a new favorite! My copy came marked with a sticker declaring the novel a "Must Read", and I feel like this is true, particularly if you are a lover of historical fiction or a self-proclaimed "theater geek", both of which I am. It's a rather fluffy read in the sense that it's quick and easy, no deep thinking required, but the story definitely has heart and truly beautiful moments as it explores the bonds which hold together---and the forces that tear apart---four generations of Italian-American women, all part of a fictional famous family of showbiz greats. The book had nearly every fibre of my theatrical being at full attention and longing to be back on a stage in a way that I haven't felt in a really long time while also making me curious about my own family history and the stories my mother and grandmothers might have to tell (oh, the books I could write!) I loved it!
July 25, 2016
This is a great vacation book. Easy to pick up and get lost in, yet not so intensive that you have to stay engaged with it for long periods of time. I was able to read this in 4 hours. The characters are engaging and honest in a way that is refreshing for a grandmother-mother-daughter novel. The emotions were real without being overplayed and the main character was relatable without being pretentious. A great read that is perfect for short bursts or as a break between heavier reading.
August 2, 2011
Carrie Manning is the daughter of a legend. Her mother, Rose Manning, is renowned for her philanthropic efforts and devotion to a homeless shelter. At Rose's funeral, little is discussed about Rose's family and her past, instead the focus was on her mission. That is all Carrie seems to know about her larger than life mother; she has refused to let her know more.
Now that her mother is gone, Carrie is at a crossroads in her life. She is torn between wanting to know more information about Rose and her past, and honoring her previous request not to find information-specifically from one important person. Lu Lawson is the grandmother Carrie has not seen since she is three years old-the woman she is dying to meet.
While Publisher's Weekly calls this novel Louise Shaffer's "ho-hum latest," I thought this book was anything but boring. It was intriguing from the beginning, and I wanted to be with Carrie the entire way while she discovered her family's past. The characters Shaffer paints are extraordinary but honest. But the real heart to the novel is the story of three generations of mothers and daughters. Any woman can tell you that her mother (or mother figure) shaped her to be who she was. In "Serendipity" you can feel the characters molded by their mothers' actions and their own free will. It was a book I didn't want to put down and thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
Now that her mother is gone, Carrie is at a crossroads in her life. She is torn between wanting to know more information about Rose and her past, and honoring her previous request not to find information-specifically from one important person. Lu Lawson is the grandmother Carrie has not seen since she is three years old-the woman she is dying to meet.
While Publisher's Weekly calls this novel Louise Shaffer's "ho-hum latest," I thought this book was anything but boring. It was intriguing from the beginning, and I wanted to be with Carrie the entire way while she discovered her family's past. The characters Shaffer paints are extraordinary but honest. But the real heart to the novel is the story of three generations of mothers and daughters. Any woman can tell you that her mother (or mother figure) shaped her to be who she was. In "Serendipity" you can feel the characters molded by their mothers' actions and their own free will. It was a book I didn't want to put down and thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
August 25, 2009
If you treasure Broadway as much as I do, then this is the book for you. This wonderful novel depicts three generations of women and their stories - starting with the Italian great grandmother who came to America as a sixteen year old bride.
Carrie is a thirty-seven year-old child of theatrical royalty who is desperate to uncover the family's mysterious past to maybe get a clue as to who and what she is. Her charismatic genius father died young and her estranged esteemed actress and singer grandmother were Broadway legends, but neither was a part of her life. She was raised by a mother so dour, conflicted and tortured that Carrie couldn't even ask questions. She grew up isolated and ignorant about anything in the past. When her mother dies, she is determined to fill in the blanks and try to come to grips with the secrets and lies.
This is a very good read, especially for those who love a Broadway background.
Carrie is a thirty-seven year-old child of theatrical royalty who is desperate to uncover the family's mysterious past to maybe get a clue as to who and what she is. Her charismatic genius father died young and her estranged esteemed actress and singer grandmother were Broadway legends, but neither was a part of her life. She was raised by a mother so dour, conflicted and tortured that Carrie couldn't even ask questions. She grew up isolated and ignorant about anything in the past. When her mother dies, she is determined to fill in the blanks and try to come to grips with the secrets and lies.
This is a very good read, especially for those who love a Broadway background.
January 18, 2016
I was skeptical about this book when I first picked it up. I'm a fan of flashback narratives, but I have a problem when the main story is reduced to nothing more than a frame story. The main character's story is either sidelined and not fully fleshed out, or it gets ignored completely. I was interested in the plot, and I went into it crossing my fingers that it would be done well.
I couldn't have been happier with what I read.
The part of the book that speaks to Shaffer's skill is the way she writes the women of the story. Beginning with the great-grandmother, you can see the struggle of women trying to save their daughters from themselves, and how that effort is essentially what screws them up.
I'm also a fan of writers who can illicit a strong emotion from me, and at the beginning of the story I hated Rose Manning. Her pious, holier-than-thou attitude just set my teeth on edge.
Five stars, across the board.
I couldn't have been happier with what I read.
The part of the book that speaks to Shaffer's skill is the way she writes the women of the story. Beginning with the great-grandmother, you can see the struggle of women trying to save their daughters from themselves, and how that effort is essentially what screws them up.
I'm also a fan of writers who can illicit a strong emotion from me, and at the beginning of the story I hated Rose Manning. Her pious, holier-than-thou attitude just set my teeth on edge.
Five stars, across the board.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, and had a hard time putting it down. It's true what other readers said: it's a bit fluffy. So if you're looking for something that will involve deep thinking, look elsewhere.
Carrie isn't as interesting as the other women in her family, but that's okay; the other stories make up for it. I enjoyed how the book spans several generations, and how the author described the different places and times. My imagination probably helped, but I could really picture each place, from the Italian part of New Haven to Broadway in all its glory.
And the story is good, and the author handles the suspense in it really well. Very enjoyable read.
Carrie isn't as interesting as the other women in her family, but that's okay; the other stories make up for it. I enjoyed how the book spans several generations, and how the author described the different places and times. My imagination probably helped, but I could really picture each place, from the Italian part of New Haven to Broadway in all its glory.
And the story is good, and the author handles the suspense in it really well. Very enjoyable read.
February 12, 2015
I am glad I did bought cheap book at my old Library :) ONLY 50 cents...or one dollar? YEAH! Oh boy, I already miss my old Library D:
This book is so beautiful because Carrie do not know about Mother's past and history with families that she never told Carrie about it. After her mother died then Carrie is super curious why her mother and grandmother doesn't talk to other each. Carrie finally found the answer after she met her Uncle, then George, then grandmother. SO BEAUTIFUL. I am really enjoy this book so much.
I think I will reread this book in someday :)
This book is so beautiful because Carrie do not know about Mother's past and history with families that she never told Carrie about it. After her mother died then Carrie is super curious why her mother and grandmother doesn't talk to other each. Carrie finally found the answer after she met her Uncle, then George, then grandmother. SO BEAUTIFUL. I am really enjoy this book so much.
I think I will reread this book in someday :)
May 5, 2011
I guess just picking up any book at the library generally doesn't yield good results... but I really liked the title :) Not that great of a read
August 16, 2011
Not a fan. I like my five senses to be engaged when I am reading. This book failed to do this. In all fairness I couldn't finish this book because the writing was not to my liking.
June 20, 2013
This was a nice story but I was never able to get involved with the characters.
March 27, 2023
Picking this one had a couple of reasons. 1) Needed something for book club and this seemed like we could have some good convos and 2) it's been collecting dust on my shelf for yearsssss so it is part of a TBR Pile reading challenge.
Carrie Manning has had a hard time getting her act together. She is 37 and aimless. And now even more so after having to bury her famous mother. Now, Carrie is desperate to understand her mother and uncover her family's mysterious past and secrets. Maybe she will finally understand herself! Her search reveals a fascinating past of her mother, grandmother, and even her great-grandmother. She will also uncover some dark secrets that have been buried for a long, long time.
So this started out slow for me. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into it. I did step away for a couple of days to finish up a different book. When I picked this backup.......I could NOT stop reading. I literally finished this in a day.
Where do I even begin?
Each woman is complex and different but similar to their daughter. Honestly, I would love to learn more about the great-great grandma now too! It seems that these women have complicated relationships with their daughters. Hopefully, if Carrie has a daughter one day, she can break the cycle. There are so many hurt feelings and trauma with these women. If they all just sat down and tried to be understanding of each other MAYBE, JUST MAYBE there wouldn't be such bad blood and the whole "I'll never be like my mother!!!!!". But we wouldn't have this story and Carrie trying to find her way ;)
I really adored this book. TBH it could be a good contender for best of the year. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I kept finding myself surprised at each turn of the page. I literally ate this book up.
So many lessons could be learned from this story.
I can't wait to talk about this at book club! It is unaliving me not to be able to spoil this for ya'lls ;)
But yes. Great stories. Great characters. There are times you just want to scream, "TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!!!!" But you know the generational trauma continues until Carrie. 5 stars 100%
Carrie Manning has had a hard time getting her act together. She is 37 and aimless. And now even more so after having to bury her famous mother. Now, Carrie is desperate to understand her mother and uncover her family's mysterious past and secrets. Maybe she will finally understand herself! Her search reveals a fascinating past of her mother, grandmother, and even her great-grandmother. She will also uncover some dark secrets that have been buried for a long, long time.
So this started out slow for me. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into it. I did step away for a couple of days to finish up a different book. When I picked this backup.......I could NOT stop reading. I literally finished this in a day.
Where do I even begin?
Each woman is complex and different but similar to their daughter. Honestly, I would love to learn more about the great-great grandma now too! It seems that these women have complicated relationships with their daughters. Hopefully, if Carrie has a daughter one day, she can break the cycle. There are so many hurt feelings and trauma with these women. If they all just sat down and tried to be understanding of each other MAYBE, JUST MAYBE there wouldn't be such bad blood and the whole "I'll never be like my mother!!!!!". But we wouldn't have this story and Carrie trying to find her way ;)
I really adored this book. TBH it could be a good contender for best of the year. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I kept finding myself surprised at each turn of the page. I literally ate this book up.
So many lessons could be learned from this story.
I can't wait to talk about this at book club! It is unaliving me not to be able to spoil this for ya'lls ;)
But yes. Great stories. Great characters. There are times you just want to scream, "TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!!!!" But you know the generational trauma continues until Carrie. 5 stars 100%
November 14, 2017
Loved it! Picked it up at my local library by chance. I needed a book to take with me to New York City for the marathon to read on the plane and the airport. It was cool to be walking up and down the same streets that this book mentions and going to the theater to see Wicked, I had a new perspective on the theater scene. I enjoyed the way it was written and how it moved through time even in the same chapter. It was surprisingly easy to follow. I loved how each character was portrayed, so different from each other but still similarities within the family members. As far as being a clean read, there were a few swear words scattered throughout the book but there were no drawn out love making scenes which I despise. Thanks for the fun read!
January 4, 2019
Most of this reading, I told myself 2 stars, .. But nope. This book sucked-Up one way and down the other. Boring. Pointless. Nobody was likable. In the end, the dead lady got blamed for everything, when she had spent her life being emotionally abused. But don't get me wrong, she was a bitch, ... And so was her mother, ... and husband, ... and daughter. The only thing that wasn't crappy was the cover. It was very pretty... Much too pretty for this novel.
January 31, 2019
Something keeps holding Carrie Manning back from allowing happiness to come into her life. Her mother recently died from cancer. But Rose never shared information about herself with her daughter. So Carrie looks up people who tell the story of three generations of Italian women and the events that shaped their lives. How did mothers pass on to their daughters the strength and ability to strike out on their own to discover the kind of life they wanted?
March 15, 2018
All the world’s a stage
A look inside the hearts and minds of those people who’s work—or art—is their life. And, how this driven pursuit affects the people that love them. I enjoyed the rhythm of every other chapter switching from past to present. It made it easy to follow and I enjoyed the varying point of view from the different characters’ voices.
A look inside the hearts and minds of those people who’s work—or art—is their life. And, how this driven pursuit affects the people that love them. I enjoyed the rhythm of every other chapter switching from past to present. It made it easy to follow and I enjoyed the varying point of view from the different characters’ voices.
November 20, 2019
Carrie Manning, the daughter and granddaughter of Broadway royalty, tries to figure out why her life is not together. So she begins to investigate her mother's family--that she was never allowed knew--to figure out why her mother left a socially prominent life to become a fundraiser for a homeless shelter. Good read.
July 1, 2022
I really enjoyed the story. It was interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading, and I was also able to put it down without a problem - though it took only a few days to finish.
Carrie's mom has just died and she has a lot of questions about her family. She finds several people to help her fill in the gaps, and we as readers get the real story from the characters themselves.
Carrie's mom has just died and she has a lot of questions about her family. She finds several people to help her fill in the gaps, and we as readers get the real story from the characters themselves.
September 12, 2017
Families have secrets and this book does an excellent job of exploring three generations of women and what they hide and how it affects their lives. I really liked the format and I think this is an author I will absolute read more of.
January 8, 2019
This good was actually surprisingly really good. I really got to understand all the main female characters. It took me a bit to get into it at first, but it became to me an honest type of read. Very good read!
October 23, 2019
I loved the Three Miss Margarets but this one dragged and was difficult to keep track of at times. It took me a while to finish but I was glad to be done - which makes me a bit sad. I hate it when I really enjoy one book by an author and am later disappointed.
October 10, 2021
Book is great; Kindle edits are not. A last name that starts with 5??? Really?? And the Latin... Panis Angelicus is a song that runs through the story which means the reader can suffer from the edits many times.
August 15, 2017
Surprisingly good book. Great summer read!
August 24, 2017
Very enjoyable book to read.
June 14, 2018
An interesting read with lots of nice mother/daughter/family issues. Much of it was "this is what happened" rather than pulling you into the story very deeply, but a good read.
January 17, 2020
This definitely exceeded the expectations I had for it, and thought quite repetitive, was still enjoyable.
August 20, 2020
At time each character seemed to be a little too much of a pushover, but I enjoyed how each generation's story intertwined to make one complete tale.
April 5, 2021
Italian American women would enjoy this book. Great character development and setting from an earlier time brings back memories of life in the 50s and 60s. I enjoyed the book a great deal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews