Suddenly

by Barbara Delinsky

In the idyllic small town of Tucker, Vermont, life flows at a rhythmic pace for thirty-nine-year-old pediatrician Paige Pfeiffer. But when Mara O'Neill, Paige's best friend and medical partner, inexplicably commits suicide, Paige's comfortable world is shattered. Temporarily caring for Mara's newly adopted baby daughter while she comes to grips with her grief, Paige clings to hope that, in time, she'll understand why Mara chose to end her life, and Paige's own orderly life will return.

But just when Paige is at her darkest moment, fate steps in. Noah Perrine, acting head of the private school where Paige coaches girls' athletics, enters her life and fills her days with unexpected hope. But before Paige can allow herself to embrace a future she never imagined, she must let go of the past and learn to trust her newfound happiness.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Chick Lit, Audiobook

469 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

I 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

Reviews

[Anne Gabrielle Cousineau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I am often amazed at how you read books and they have a message that pertains to your life at that particular time in your life; as they say: there are no coincidences!!

[Rena McClain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book via Audible.
I have enjoyed the Barbara Delinsky books I have read but this one was so slow, so predictable. From the start the plot was thin and easy to anticipate what was going to happen. It left little to the imagination or anticipation as the book went along.

As for the reader, the delivery was awkward with very long, too long, pauses. Also, the reader had a very limited range of voices for the characters which made the book read more difficult to enjoy. Overall I just finished listening to be done with the book as the ending was totally predictable.

Could I recommend this book/reader? No on both counts.

[BookBuds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tragic beginning to this story that turns the main character’s life upside-down. Barbara Delinsky writes a moving story alongside a beautiful romance that made my heart happy. An overall feel good book.

Book Buds are on YouTube with unique reviews that often include fun reenacted scenes of some awesome reads: https://youtube.com/channel/UCrj6tJF-...

Spoiler Free Review: https://youtu.be/1lKCd2sLHnw

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each member of a medical clinical of 4 pediatricians is adversely affected when one of the partners commits suicide. No one can comprehend why a young women who was so successful in her practice and looking forward to the arrival of a baby girl from India would choose suicide. Some wonder if she really committed suicide.

The one part of the story that wasn't very realistic in my mind was the foster placement, and later adoption, of the baby girl by the dead woman's best friend, Paige. I've gone through international adoption twice. In the story a caseworker shows up at night knocking on the door of Paige because she hasn't been able to get hold of Mara, the woman adopting the baby from India. The reason she can't get hold of Mara is because she is dead. Mara was expecting the baby to arrive sometime in the next few weeks. When Paige tells the caseworker this, the baby is left with Paige after a few phone calls to the agency. Paige agrees to provide foster care until another home can be found for the baby. This just would not happen in real adoption life.

Also part of the story is the private boarding school in the town, and its new headmaster, brought on board to change the atmosphere of the school where partying and ignoring rules has led to poor educational performance and the dislike of the students by the community. Paige is the coach for the girls' track team.

All in all this was a good book with interesting characters and a good story that kept me interested.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by Barbara Delinsky and so far it is my favorite. The plot kept moving and was believable. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into so many different lives. So sad that the book centers around Mara's suicide but it delves into how one tragic act can bring so many people closer together and change lives forever. I also enjoyed seeing Paige enrich her quiet life by bringing so many people and a kitten into her life. I also thought it was great how Peter, the "playboy" fell in love with Kate Ann, the town recluse-maybe a little too "perfect" how they fell in love, but sweet. Good, relaxing read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn that Delinsky was a sociologist before she became a writer. I’ve always loved the depth of our characters although I have to say that usually I fall in love with the men in her stories and I wasn’t too crazy about the two in this one. Nevertheless, I thought this story was believable, heartwarming and well written.

[Judy Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tender story about taking risks in life as opposed to staying in the safe lane. It encompasses a tragic suicide, a mass causality when a theater balcony collapses during a rock concert, and an unjust accusation of rape. It was fast moving with lots of characters. It is a good story.

[Ellen Spes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern story of love unwanted for baby kitten and man.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers!
I would never recommend this book to a younger girl- I wouldn't want her thinking these kinds of reactions to rape/assault are ok. It's absurd the various ways rape is handled by these characters.

Woof, this book is disgusting regards to rape. The author has a rape victim agree she wasn't raped at the second half of the rape...wtf. Seriously. What. The. fuck. Peter is so gross. (I scrolled through a bunch of reviews and didn't see any others that referred to his RAPE, so come on, fellow readers. Call a spade a spade. He's not a complicated guy. He's a rapist. When you force a person to have sex with you, that's rape. When you have sex with someone telling you no, that's rape.) We barely know anything about Kate Ann, but she deserves someone better than that raping, takes nude pics of underage girls, shouldn't keep his medical license, piece of shit.

And then, in another creepy 'romantic' moment, a headmaster with an erection kisses and sexually touches a woman, while his daughter is also in the house, when the woman is passed out. Ick. I don't want my child at his school.

This book is only eight years old- I thought it was DECADES old by what was deemed socially appropriate to do to a woman against her will. I hope the #MeToo platform will help stop getting that trash in print. There were no good men in this book.

This was another book where I just can't stand how 'small' towns are portrayed. Literally everybody doesn't know every resident. (Grew up in a town of 2000. I lived on the same street through high school. I have lifelong neighbors on that street whose names I still don't know) Small towns don't have hospitals, multiple ambulances, police departments, four pediatricians, etc. This small town must have minimum 20k residents that all know each other.

The reader was constantly reminded 'doctors are noble' every few pages. And I found it utterly ridiculous how Mara was martyred. Past patients popped in, with appointments, to the clinic just to talk because they missed their doctor from years ago? I haven't a clue who my pediatrician was. Sure, it's sad when anyone dies, but this was complete fantasy. I ain't paying for an appointment to reminisce. Also, why the fuck was a pediatrician in a surgery?!

Dialogue was often stilted and awkward. Noah telling Paige he was clean of stds but they may have made a baby, ugh. How that got past an editor, I don't know.

I was annoyed with Noah putting so much blame on the lack of the relationship with his daughter on her. When you make zero effort when she's a child, you can hardly blame her for not confiding in you as a teenager.

How embarrassing the way Kate Ann was described...she's introverted, so the townsfolk refuse to be seen talking to her, even for business purposes? They're legit adults going to her house under the cloak of darkness to get their bookkeeping done. I don't want to live in this town.

Very bothered by some of the comments by doctors- like Paige telling Jill it was for the best her baby died, comments about rape, or asking a student if she was pregnant in front of the headmaster. (Who then got on his high horse about how irresponsible she was, even though HE had condomless sex, and sexually assaulted a woman. Fuck off, Noah. I do not like you,) I get that, in this story, Julie lied about Peter raping her. But holy fuck, you always support alleged victim first (it's very rare that someone lies about this), and her headmaster and doctor did not have her back. ( and the headmaster was way too candid when questioning students about Julie and Peter- way to get the whole school gossiping, jerk, especially when he acts as though its fact Julie is lying when it's only speculation. And it's only speculation because his girlfriend defends her friend-who by the way IS a rapist, just with a different woman. I CANT STAND THIS REACTION. The dumbass then goes on to say to a board member Julie was allegedly molested. No, she was allegedly raped, and there is a distinct difference between the two. THEN, he goes to the dorms and tells the students, without proof, Peter is innocent. FUCK OFF.)




Look, this book was pretty predictable. It was obviously Peter had a thing for Mara. It was obvious Paige was gonna keep that baby and end up with Noah. It was obvious the concert hall would have an emergency. Etc. Buuuuuut, it was an okay enough 50 cent audiobook read for driving to and from work. But a serious shame on you to the author for perpetuating rape culture.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the idyllic little town of Tucker, Vermont, life flows at a slower pace for everyone. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the lives of thirty-nine-year-old pediatrician Paige Pfeiffer and her colleagues. However when Mara O'Neill, Paige's medical partner and best friend since college, inexplicably takes her own life, the consequences of that one irrevocable act shatters Paige's peaceful life, and throws the lives of the three other doctors who practiced with her into absolute chaos.

For Angie Bigelow, grieving Mara's death becomes the final straw in the disintegration of her once well-organized - and ostensibly happy - home and marriage. Peter Grace, whose relationship with Mara was much more complicated than he admits publicly, is left with a sense of desolation at her death. He has difficulty coping with his feelings of grief and feels a growing discontentment with life; a feeling which has its roots in his youth.

Paige deals with her own feelings of loss and deep sadness by temporarily caring for Mara's newly-adopted baby daughter. As she slowly comes to terms with her grief, Paige clings to the hope that, in due time, she'll understand why Mara chose to end her life. And that her orderly life will eventually return.

What Paige hadn't counted on were the unexpected pleasures that often come with change. In the wake of such a tragedy, Paige never realized that she would ultimately discover true meaning and purpose in her own life; including the touch of a man who offers Paige things she never thought she wanted. But before she can allow herself to fully embrace a future she never imagined, Paige must let go of the past and learn to trust her new found happiness.

Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this book. It was a relatively quick read for me, and was very well-written. The story featured a wide variety of well-developed characters, and was written with a true understanding of the complexities of human nature and the intricacies of relationships.

This wasn't necessarily my favorite book by Barbara Delinsky, but it certainly was well worth reading anyway. I give Suddenly an A!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometime I need to take a break from Psy thillers and this one fit the bill. It also has drama, not just romance.
This Summary/Review was copied from other sources and is used only as a reminder of what the book was about for my personal interest. Any Personal Notations are for my recollection only.
**
Each member of a medical clinical of 4 pediatricians is adversely affected when one of the partners commits suicide. No one can comprehend why a young women who was so successful in her practice and looking forward to the arrival of a baby girl from India would choose suicide. Some wonder if she really committed suicide.

The one part of the story that wasn't very realistic in my mind was the foster placement, and later adoption, of the baby girl by the dead woman's best friend, Paige. I've gone through international adoption twice. In the story a caseworker shows up at night knocking on the door of Paige because she hasn't been able to get hold of Mara, the woman adopting the baby from India. The reason she can't get hold of Mara is because she is dead. Mara was expecting the baby to arrive sometime in the next few weeks. When Paige tells the caseworker this, the baby is left with Paige after a few phone calls to the agency. Paige agrees to provide foster care until another home can be found for the baby. This just would not happen in real adoption life.

Also part of the story is the private boarding school in the town, and its new headmaster, brought on board to change the atmosphere of the school where partying and ignoring rules has led to poor educational performance and the dislike of the students by the community. Paige is the coach for the girls' track team.
**
So sad that the book centers around Mara's suicide but it delves into how one tragic act can bring so many people closer together and change lives forever. I also enjoyed seeing Paige enrich her quiet life by bringing so many people and a kitten into her life. I also thought it was great how Peter, the "playboy" fell in love with Kate Ann, the town recluse-maybe a little too "perfect" how they fell in love, but sweet
**
letter to Mara:

Spring has finally come. The sun is appearing earlier, rising higher, staying longer. I saw the first of the snowdrops today, vividly green against the last of the melting snow, topped by little white bells just aching to open. They are sweet things, hopeful things, things of promise, as life is now. In the six months since you left us, much has changed. The least of that is the practice, which continues to thrive and will do so as long as babies are born, toddlers catch colds, and children shove impossibly small foreign objects into their ears. Cynthia Wales is wonderful—young, full of energy, and dedicated to kids. She isn’t the crusader that you were. Hell, she isn’t you. But then, we knew she wouldn’t be. And it’s all right. Because we’re carrying the ball more now. The three of us. Who survived. For Angie and Ben, the past few months have been ones of soul-searching and healing. You’d have hated Ben for what he did, but I do believe he hates himself for it, too. Hurtful as it was, his telling Angie about Nora Eaton shocked them both out of complacency. They think about things now that they had taken for granted. They talk more. They do more. Ben has signed on to teach a seminar at Dartmouth next fall, which will give him the intellectual stimulation he needs, and with Doug boarding at Mount Court, he and Angie have more time to devote to themselves. They go off for weekends sometimes, or just for the day—though there are times when I suspect that they are holed up at home not answering the phone. If so, that’s good. Angie needs it. And Ben. Men are needy creatures. You knew that long before we did. Needy. But neither hopeless nor helpless, as Peter has proven. He was devastated when you died, though it took him a while to admit it. He loved you deeply and profoundly. When he came to realize it, he hit rock bottom. Then the old movie house collapsed, and it was like he rose from the debris, a phoenix from the ashes. He is more at peace with himself now and, in that sense, more self-confident, which isn’t to say that he’ll ever be totally free of the little boy who was the playground pariah, just that he accepts himself more now. He feels better about himself. He takes pride in doing things that are right, things that once upon a time you would have done. He has picked up the banner you left behind and carries it well. Kate Ann Murther lives with him. You knew she was special, didn’t you? Not me. I was as guilty as the rest of the town in overlooking her. Having come to know her now, I find her loyal and determined. She is probably more active in a wheelchair than she ever was before, though that is in part because of Peter. He takes her out—to dinner, a movie, even on a sled in the snow when he’s in a photographing mood. He has forced the town to take notice of her, and while he doesn’t exactly take her to the Tavern, nor does he go there nightly himself anymore. A few times a week—enough to keep dibs on his booth—that’s all. The rest of the nights he’s with Kate Ann. Trite as it sounds, she has made his house a home. As for justice, Jamie Cox is cooked. Ben gave Peter the name of an aggressive lawyer from Montpelier, who is in the process of filing a class action suit against him. By the time the courts are done, Jamie will be persona non grata in Tucker. He’ll be powerless. He’ll also be stone broke. And for me, the only way my life could be richer would be if you were here to share it. I have formally adopted Sami, who is such a joy that I shudder to think of her not being mine. You did that, Mara, forced me to be a mother, and if it had never happened, I would have missed out on a kind of fulfillment that being a pediatrician just can’t match. Now I have Sara, too. And with a little luck, given the way Noah and I spend our nights, I’m bound to have another. Nonny says I should have six. Don’t ask me why six. But she keeps saying it. We’ll settle for one or two, Noah and I. I’m not sharing him with six. He’s too special. We had a Christmas wedding. It was beautiful. You been should have been there damit!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great read by Delinsky!!

"In the idyllic small town of Tucker, Vermont, life flows at a rhythmic pace for pediatrician Paige Pfeiffer. But when Mara O'Neill, her best friend and medical partner, inexplicably kills herself, Paige's comfortable world is suddenly shattered. Temporarily caring for Mara's newly adopted baby daughter while she comes to grips with her grief, Paige clings to the hope that, in time, her orderly life will return.

What she hadn't counted on were the unexpected pleasures that often come with change, including the touch of a man who offers Paige things she never thought she wanted. She hadn't counted on finding the meaning of life in the death of a friend."

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had heard great things about this author but I have a feeling I didn't pick up one of her better novels. The plot was an interesting one and held much promise - a friend's surprise suicide and its rippling effects on her friends and family. However, I didn't much like the characters. They are supposed to be professionals but their breaches of personal ethics are terrible! And the story line with the adopted child from India was highly implausible - I can't see a social worker just handing over the child to the good friend of the deceased.

Truthfully, I ended up skimming to the end of the book. I might be willing to read something else by this author because she writes well but I did not really like this book.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book is definitely a character study where you step into the community of Tucker following a tragedy and just watch how 3 main character's lives unfold. All of their lives are impacted by the tragic death, but many of the changes were unrelated and by the end it seemed like the death was just an introduction to the town and the characters. I definitely liked Paige's story the most, but even it had some things that were just too convenient and unrealistic. I really didn't like Peter's story and I thought it was completely ridiculous. I really wish we would've gotten more resolution to the death- was it a suicide? Was more involved? Theres a lot of strings started but it never ends. I thought the description of Kate Ann as terrible and Peter was a nasty jerk regardless. I thought all of the pediatricians being GP's all the time was unrealistic and the adoption storyline was unrealistic. Overall, I'd recommend this book if you're ready to settle in with a group of people and not have a huge riveting plot, but learn alot about the community and people that probably wouldn't happen but is entertaining anyway.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
This book is about a group of 4 doctors. At the very beginning, one of the doctors, Mara, kills herself. Everyone is shocked and nobody saw it coming so it throws the other 3 for a loop.
Paige is the main character. She's a woman who's married to her job and doesn't want any family or anything. However, Mara was trying to adopt and was about to get a kid from India. She shows up and Paige becomes the temporary foster but of course, falls in love with the kid, and becomes this motherly figure that is completely different than the person she was in the beginning. Her life is completely 180'ed. Her grandma comes live with her to help her and all is well. In the end, there is a family found to adopt the baby, but Paige says that can't happen and ends up adopting her. I've never personally gone through the adoption process, but I think the whole temporary foster situation where she kept her for a year or more was unlikely in the first place, then her having the right to say no to the adoptive family also seems a little sketch. There's a curmudgeon-ish guy who comes to be the new head of the private boarding school in the town and he and Paige fall in love. He's got a daughter at the school and the 4 of them become a happy family in the end. Paige also coaches the school's cross country team. It seems like these doctors have their hands in everything in the community, but if its a super small town that may be likely.
I can't remember the other female doctor's name, but she is also pretty attached to her job, however, she has a husband and son who attends the boarding school. He is a young teen and wants to board, but the woman is very helicopter-y and doesn't want to let her little boy grow up. She's trying to be so many places, her husband admits that he's been having an affair for many years just to get some attention from her and she never had a clue. In the end, she and her husband work it out and rekindle their love and the son boards and is happy.
The 3rd and final living doctor is Peter. Hes a little bit of a player and is also uncommitted. He was sleeping with Mara but seems to think he's too good for anybody. He comes off as pretentious and arrogant. He's also into photography and in the end it gets discovered that he's been taking risque pictures of underage girls. One girl ends up pregnant and accuses him, but finally it comes out that it wasn't him and his reputation is saved. There is a point in the book in which one of the big real estate mogels in the town hosts a concert and the building collapses. A few people die and many more are injured. All 3 doctors rush in to help and seem to fill the role of GP and specialties that they aren't actually qualified for. If this town is really so small that that would happen then most of those patients likely would've been life flighted elsewhere. Anyway, there's a hermit lady in the town named Kate Ann. Apparently she's like a leper and and everyone in the town avoids her and doesn't even notice her. People are ashamed to have her name associated with them. It's disgusting the way she's portrayed. She's completely ignored at the hospital despite having terrible injuries and Peter takes her under his wing and eventually falls in love with her and asks her to move in. That storyline felt so stupid to me.
Finally, theres a little bit of Mara's story woven throughout. She was a very lonely woman and had been through a divorce and infertility. She had an abortion when she was young and seemed to blame that on her infertility. Now, as a single lady, she was going to adopt a girl from India, but then she got a call that the plane the child was on had crashed and she died. Shortly after that is when Mara committed suicide. She had no hope left. She had been writing letters to an imaginary friend that she had her whole life and they were almost like journal entries. Paige read through them all and found out how truly depressed and lonely her friend was and she never knew. There was a lot of guilt surrounding that from all of the living doctors. The suicide seemed so out of character that other scenarios are suggested, but I guess its just that she was really lonely and depressed.
Overall, good story, but I dont' know if its worth 500 pages to reread.

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read a few of Delinksy's more recent novels and thought they were done well. This goes further back in her repertoire and had quite a few troubling messages about rape and even gave misinformation about adoption and medical ethics. Part of this may be that it was written in the 90s and may reflect that time period. But it was difficult to care about the story as a result.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of romantic fiction, you will probably rate this higher than I did. For me, it was just too long and too predictable. The author does do a good job with developing interesting characters however. Just average: 3/5 stars.

[Christi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bleh. Couldn't wait to finish this book. Bad medical research. I wish different characters had been developed. Gratuitous sex scenes. Not my thing.

[Marge Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather predictable and too much gratuitous sex. My first Delinsky read, and won't be looking for more.

[Sarah Jensen]

Book Review: Suddenly by Barbara Delinsky

Barbara Delinsky’s Suddenly is a captivating novel that weaves together themes of love, loss, and the unpredictability of life with deft storytelling and rich character development. Delinsky, known for her ability to create emotionally complex narratives, delivers a poignant tale that resonates deeply with readers.

Plot Overview

The novel centers around the life of its protagonist, a woman navigating a sudden and life-altering event that forces her to reevaluate her existence, her relationships, and her future. Delinsky expertly captures the protagonist’s internal struggle as she confronts unexpected challenges that shake her world to its core. The narrative unfolds in a way that keeps readers engaged, with unexpected twists that mirror the unpredictability of life itself.

Character Development

Delinsky excels in creating well-rounded, relatable characters who evolve throughout the story. The protagonist, faced with a sudden crisis, embodies resilience and vulnerability, making her journey both inspiring and heart-wrenching. Supporting characters are fleshed out with their own struggles and motivations, adding depth to the narrative and enriching the central themes of love, friendship, and personal growth.

Themes of Love and Resilience

At its heart, Suddenly explores the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which tragedy can prompt profound personal transformation. Delinsky delves into the nature of love—romantic, familial, and platonic—and how these bonds can be tested in the face of adversity. The theme of resilience is also prevalent, as the characters learn to navigate their pain and emerge stronger, reflecting the human spirit’s capacity to endure.

Writing Style and Emotional Resonance

Delinsky’s writing is both accessible and evocative, characterized by vivid descriptions that bring settings and emotions to life. Her ability to convey deep feelings and intricate thoughts allows readers to connect intimately with the characters’ experiences. The pacing of the story is well-tuned, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective passages that allow for character introspection.

Conclusion: A Thought-Provoking Read

Suddenly is a compelling exploration of life’s unpredictability and the strength required to face it. Barbara Delinsky captures the essence of human experience—the joy, the sorrow, and everything in between—with grace and authenticity. This novel is highly recommended for readers who enjoy emotional narratives that prompt reflection on love, loss, and personal resilience. Delinsky’s storytelling prowess makes Suddenly a memorable and impactful read that lingers in the minds and hearts of its audience long after the last page is turned.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paige Pfeiffer is one of a team of four pediatricians who care for the children in the small town of Tucker, Vermont. When Mara, another team member commits suicide, Paige, Angie, and Peter try to figure out what happened. As they look into her past, what they find both alarms and dismays them. As they move forward, Paige takes on responsibilities she didn't plan for, and Angie finds that her idyllic life isn't really as perfect as she assumed. Peter and Mara had a complex relationship and he discovers he simply can't cope with Mara's death.

The story focused on how Mara's death was the catalyst for Paige, Peter and Angie to think about their own lives and make changes before it's too late. This was a relatively quick read, and was very well-written. The story featured a wide variety of well-developed characters and a 90's typical romance storyline.

[Beth Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four pediatricians share a practice in a small town in Vermont. One of the seemingly most confident and ‘together’ of them commits suicide shocking the other three into reevaluating and changing their own lives. Delinsky handles suicide well revealing the desperation, often hidden from even those closest to a person, that leads to taking such a drastic step. She shows the effects on others who loved the person. Ending is upbeat though. At least 100 pages too long-she drug it out and it lost momentum and was easy to put down for long periods of time.

[Milton Edgeworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story

Not my normal type of story, but found the story believable, the characters real and true in this day of "me" first. Watching the characters grow out of the "me" first rut and become compassionate beings glimpsed a hope for the real world for me. If the author could believe it then perhaps a better world is possible where we humans care enough to look below the surface of our fellow beings and see the pains we all suffer, rather then shut our hearts into introspective boxes of lonliness we keep hidden away.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mara is found dead in her car her three partners in a medical practice are left to deal not only with her death but the secrets they come across trying to deal with her death. Paige, Mara best friend, not only finds out she really didn't know her like she thought but now the little girl from India that Mara was adopting shows up. Paige agrees to keep the little girl until another home and family is found. I really enjoyed this book a lot and would like to read more by this author.

[Janice Cafarelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige, Peter, Angie and Mara had a medical practice in Tucker, Vermont. When Mara commits suicide it seems to set off turmoil in everyone's private and professional lives most of which had nothing to do with Mara but her death seems to have made the other 3 come to terms with their own lives and they struggle to find a new "normal" way of life.

[Cobygirl517 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I LOVED this book! I loved the writing, I loved the characters, I loved the premise... Being of similar age, also childless, also suffering from depression, and also in the medical field, this book really hit close to home. I can see my life in parallels to Mara and Paige, and, therefore, this book left a big impression on me.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading Barbara Delinsky's books for many years, but didn't feel this one came up to her usual standard. I felt it needed more plot and character development. Trying to follow the lives of thshouree different characters could be challenging in a book like this one. I feel that the author would have done a better job if he had followed just one.

[Lynne Spreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story lines, interesting situations. But the characters are oblivious and their introspective monologues (while friends listen) go on for.ev.er. And the couple of scenes of seducing a reluctant participant (borderline date rape) didn't age that well. This book was published in the early 90s. Glad we've evolved.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! The characters were relatable and by the end of the story, felt like friends. This story explored friendship, suicide, adoption and mass tragedy at a hospital. The story flowed well and made one ponder several of the themes. The ending pulled it all together and let the reader with wanting more of new found friends!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suddenly

I absolutely loved every page of this book. It showed how we don’t really know our friends or ourselves as well as we think we do; and how opening your mind and your heart can complete your life.... never hold back.

[Twobchelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suicide in a small town rocks the people who knew and loved her. As they face reality so many issues come in to play as they work to keep their practice, marriages and friendships whole. A lot going on and some fantasy here and there but an entertaining read.