Wow, this was a tough one. I ultimately went with 4 stars because upon reflection I could see that I was placing my personal preferences on the writing style. Laura & Emma is a series of moments in a mother daughter relationship, set in the 1980's-90's. I wanted to see growth from the characters, especially the mother, and was disappointed by the author's treatment of her and the conclusions I drew as a result. kate Greathead went a different direction than I would have liked, and that's what makes for great book discussion selections.

while the prose read smoothly, I could never really compel myself to care about the plot as it felt very...white...

I'm sorry to say I had a hard time finishing this book. It started out well, although I have to say I found Emma's verbal eloquence as a three-year-old hard to believe. I don't need a story to be packed with action, but this one just kept moving through seemingly unrelated events that became less than compelling over time. I couldn't related to the characters, either. As I generally do not post two-star reviews on my blog, I will not be posting a review elsewhere.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and reviews.

I have been in a reading slump - not in terms of quantity but in terms of quality. I have been gravitating more toward more literary fiction so I was excited to have been granted a digital copy of Laura and Emma by Kate Greathead from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

The story started off interesting with Laura, a person of means who makes a choice to live modestly with her unplanned daughter. As a single mom, I appreciated the choices that she had to make to find ways to make ends meet, however, the fact that she did come from wealth and had access to round the clock help and a guaranteed if needed dulled that camaraderie between myself and the main character somewhat. As a result, it took me a long time to finish this book.

I can't fault the writing which was stylized and descriptive and made me feel the time period with the emergence of the AIDS epidemic and the changing view of the ability of single women to support themselves and their own freedom. I wish the focus has been more on the relationship between Laura and Emma. There seemed to be some disconnect in their relationship and I was expecting more given the title.

I recommend this book for your next book club pick as I'm sure that different women would have a great time discussing their perspectives on the story and the time. This was a solid 3.5 star read for me.

Kate Greathead’s debut novel is an excellent short story
Laura & Emma by Kate Greathead is a great little story about old money and a single mother in Manhattan that unfortunately just doesn’t fill up 350 pages. When the most interesting character dies mid-way and the last scene of the book follows interactions about dining room chairs and laundry detergent, what seemed like a promising premise at the beginning of the story feels diluted beyond recognition. Quiet personalities can make for a good read, it’s just that this one isn’t flushed out no matter how colorfully adept the descriptions.

Wendy Ward
http://wendyrward.tumblr.com/

Laura is a single mother in NYC who comes from a good bit of money. She's the "Plain Jane" type and doesn't seem to get too excited about many things. After a random one night stand, Laura becomes pregnant with Emma. The novel continues with the story of Laura and Emma's lives and the ups and downs they experience together. I really thought this novel was going to be amazing because other readers said it was similar to Gilmore Girls, but it fell a little flat for me.

There were definitely some fun and hilarious moments, but I thought Laura's character was pretty bland and I also wasn't too crazy about her relationship with her daughter. They didn't seem all that close to me and I thought the whole novel just had a sad feeling to it. There were some definite character positives, I loved Laura's mother and I thought Emma was pretty charming the more we got to know her.

All in all, I thought Laura & Emma was a little slow and boring. I felt like the novel didn't really have much of a direction and the ending left me wanted something more. This novel was not my typical read, so I don't want to judge too harshly as I think there are a lot of people who would really enjoy this read. I would recommend this novel if you enjoy contemporary women's fiction.

Laura and Emma is a story about a complex, but rich on depth mother-daughter relationship, told in vignettes throughout the 80s and the 90s.

I read Kate Greathead’s debut over two evenings, engrossed in Laura’s wealthy world of simplicity (in spite of her unlimited resources, she doesn’t want to live opulence) and the delightful bubble of raising Emma. Laura doesn’t want many things in life, she’s just used to them being always there. She doesn’t need exotic vacations, new clothes or a bigger house. She doesn’t need a man in her life or many friends. She’s content the way she is, the way her life is and that’s what propelled my interest in her journey. The thing is, we don’t get much understanding of her emotional inner world, there weren’t many things or people she cared about. Just Emma. I wished we followed more of Laura’s personal growth as we followed Emma’s throughout the years.

What is in the center of the novel, however, is Laura and Emma’s mother-daughter bond – something she didn’t have during her own upbringing. That’s why Laura’s strive for simplicity is her own way of making sense in her world of wealth, her way of restoring order guided by guilt of being born rich.

The vignette-structure of the novel was well-fitting with the concept and the characters. Personally I’ve always been a fan of vignette storytelling and I can see how it enhances the plot. Yet there is something regarding the characters’ emotional representation that’s slightly missing, but I don’t think the structure is the reason for that.

Laura and Emma is an entertaining read, it has ease and movement, New York charm and can compliment your evenings better than a glass of wine.

I have kindly received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster in exchange of a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once upon a time, there was a very clever burglar who when he was discovered by the daughter of the house spun a yarn about being her brother’s roommate at school. He was a delightful and handsome fellow who spun her right into bed before disappearing with the silver. So when she fell pregnant, she spun her own story about going to a sperm bank and that was how Laura got Emma.

I think from that beginning it is clear that Laura is not your usual single mother and this is not your usual story about the challenges of single motherhood. She is more concerned about climate change than hemlines. A photo of her was posted as an example of street fashion so she took that as official imprimatur and never changed her look again. She is the child of wealth, multi-generational wealth, though she morally disapproves of privilege and lives right on the edge of Harlem because it’s more affordable and shops at a neighborhood grocery rather than at an upscale market.

Emma is a fairly typical young girl who wants a more fashionable mother, at least at first. She has an awakening that sets her on a course of self-improvement and self-discipline that distances her somewhat from her mother, though a lot of that seems normal teen angst.



Laura and Emma is filled with subtle humor that pokes and pricks at Laura’s pretensions. For example, Laura thinks she is commendably democratic and anti-elitist because she shops at a discount grocery and lives in an apartment without a concierge, with a real cross-section of society on the edge of Harlem. Others might see her as a gentrifier. But it’s more than that, she’s a working mom, but when her supervisor told her she could not work half-time and take summers off to take care of Emma, she appealed to the board–her relatives since she was working for a library founded by her grandfather.

This is is not a big story, it’s a quiet little book about a family. I enjoyed the humor, the subtle hypocrisies that Laura remained oblivious to. Laura is one of those people who move lightly through life, often taking the easy road, meaning well, but not always doing good. This is not a book with broad laugh out loud humor, but it is saturated with the moments that make you grin.

I was provided an e-galley of Laura and Emma by the publishers through NetGalley.

Laura and Emma at Simon & Schuster

Kate Greathead author site

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com

Having read a few reviews before reading this book, I had high expectations. After reading it, I can say that I enjoyed it, however didn't love it. It felt as though not much ever happened, which I guess is the premise of the story, but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. They all seemed very self absorbed to me. The relationship between mother and daughter was interesting and even between Laura and her own mother. I enjoyed reading about NYC in the 80's since I grew up there in the 80's and would be just a little older than Emma.

The book was well written and quick to read. I just wish I had liked the characters a bit more.

I liked the premise and the idea of this book more than the book itself. The characters felt a little bit one-note, and the story came across a bit scattered. There was enough to enjoy that I finished it and would be interested to read more from the author, but this was not one of my favorite recent reads.

Nothing big happens in this novel. There are no big splashy scenes, no dramatic renderings, no horrific accidents, just the life lived of a young woman, Laura and her daughter Emma. Just life as it goes day by day, in all it's often messy glory. Laura comes from a very privileged background, and as much as she discards part of its trappings on one hand,on the other her job is owed to this background. As is part of her financial health and the monetary with all to buy the apartment she lives in and send her daughter to an exclusive school. Although she tries to make conscientious choices in her dress and shopping habits, she doesn't question many of the things her family's wealth provides.

She conceives Emma in a slightly funny, slightly sad way. The young Emma is alot of fun, some of the early scenes involving her a joy to read. As she ages she questions many of the things her mother never could. The humor is restrained, ironic and amusing. In fact I felt the writing itself was restrained, kept me at a distance, an observer of the mother and daughter process.

This was a good book, an interesting look at the differences and similarities between mothers and daughters. Laura's own mother provides quite a bit of humor in the early chapters. A fascinating look of family!y dynamics at play. One doesn't always need big scenes to enjoy a book, and this book proved,for me, that to be true. Would have rated this higher but I would have liked a little more emotion, so I could feel part of the story instead of just looking in from a distance.

ARC from Netgalley.

The word "vignette" appears in quite a few reviews of Laura & Emma. When I found out that the author is a Moth Slam champion, I could easily picture her delivering vignettes like the ones in this book from a stage, to raucous laughter. As to whether they hang together as a novel, I'm not so sure. I certainly didn't find any of the incisive class critique that the description had me expecting.

I definitely cared about the characters, but I couldn't quite get under their skin. I found myself wanting Laura to break more decisively with her past. It's one thing to be reserved; it's quite another to be a doormat. The portrayal of her sexuality also rubbed me the wrong way.

I can imagine this being a good book club pick - the ambiguous ending alone could spark an hour's worth of discussion.

There really wasn't anything special about the characters in this story. Laura was a rich girl who had a very strange, almost childish way of seeing things. And, Emma was a very precocious and outgoing little girl. Some of the things that came out of Emma's mouth were hilarious. I laughed out loud several times.

Despite that, I really liked these characters and sped right through this book. I liked both characters and had a great time sharing their lives.

The ending was definitely a strange one which could hint a sequel. (Yay!!)

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is a quirky little book that has short chapters which makes for quick reading. I really enjoyed this book and laughed out loud in many spots. This is Kate Greathead's debut novel and I think she did a great job with it. Thank you for this complimentary copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for debut novels; I also really enjoy novels that are organized in vignettes, a style that is not often utilized but, when done well, can be very pleasing. When I heard that Laura & Emma had been recommended to fans of Gilmore Girls and Ladybird, and is set in the 1980s and 90s, I couldn't resist!

In 1981, and in her early 30s, Laura discovers that a rare sexual encounter has left her with child; she considers abortion, decides against it, and readers are introduced to Emma. Laura's parents are supportive, though surprised, and go to great measures to ensure that Laura is able to adequately provide for this new member of their family.

"Over the years, when meeting her mother’s friends, Laura was aware that she was not what they expected, perhaps a disappointment, and it made her feel bad about herself."

While this story could have taken a more serious turn, it does not; in fact, it's quite hilarious. Laura is rather quirky (think The Rosie Project or Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine), but not damaged; the cast of characters around her provide a heartwarming supporting cast and this is where I find the most appropriate comparison to Gilmore Girls.

"Among the misperceptions others had about Laura was that she was oblivious to her looks. This was largely due to the simplicity of her wardrobe. To work she wore a white turtleneck, one of three rotating Laura Ashley skirts, and a pair of Frye cowboy boots."

Laura's mother, Bibs, is a big supporter of the local private academy Laura attended, The Winthrop School, and pushes for Emma's enrollment; everything there is referred to as "the Winthrop way." While Laura is not hesitant to enjoy the benefits of her family's financial success, she never takes advantage or does anything extreme; she is always very practical and Greathead uses this trait as a tool to develop Emma into the independent young woman she becomes, throughout the novel.

"It wasn’t about cool versus uncool, pretty versus ugly, funny versus boring, or even happy versus sad, but goodness - goodness versus everything else that might not seem bad, but wasn’t good either. To do good things, to be a good person: this was all that really counted."

I'll admit that Laura & Emma is a little tough for me to describe; however, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I read it quickly, eager to hear more and learn what would happen to both of these beautifully-written, unique characters; Greathead definitely has a talent for authentic, relatable storytelling and I hope this debut receives all of the attention it deserves.

The key to loving Laura & Emma is loving Laura’s voice and the writing style (which I did)…because there isn’t a ton of action to propel the story. It’s been compared to the TV show Gilmore Girlsand I’d say that’s true with the story’s premise (single mother from a wealthy family trying to raise her daughter differently than how she grew up, but not totally disconnecting), but not at all in character or style. Laura is offbeat, but likable and funny in an awkward way (she reminded me of a less damaged version of Eleanor Oliphant). She’s uncomfortable with her family’s wealth, but her guilt doesn’t stop her from taking advantage of the benefits that come with it. The story is told in vignettes both momentous and mundane, which might turn some people off, but these hung together quite well to form a cohesive story (e.g. similar to Goodbye, Vitamin). However, the ending is perplexing to say the least. I’m still not sure what happened and it will probably annoy readers who don’t like things left open-ended. P.S. – there’s an entertaining, kooky grandmother…always a plus in my reading!

A mother daughter story like no other. Super funny, charming and engaging. This is one that you read in one decadent bite!

This book revolves around the Upper East side from the 80s and 90s. While the characters are born into wealth there is a lot of family conflict. Interesting read.

Laura has grown up in a wealthy family but has a job and lives in her own small place. She works as a wedding consultant for a venue called The Library. Sex is just not something she enjoys.

One night, Laura has decided to stay in her parents large home while they are out of town. Thinking she is alone in the house, she hears a noise and figures (hopes) that her brother, Nicholas, has just allowed a friend to stay there. In the morning, Laura finds a man in the kitchen and assumes it’s her brother’s friend. He introduces himself as Jefferson and says he was her brother’s roommate at school. Laura and Jefferson end up having sex and he goes on his way. Later on Laura’s brother says he doesn’t know the guy. Oops!

When Laura finds herself pregnant, she opts to continue with the pregnancy and gives birth to a nearly 11 pound girl whom she names Emma. She decides to breast feed Emma which disgusts her mother who wouldn’t have dreamed of doing that with her children.

Emma’s mother is an eccentric woman and a bit of an airhead. Her father just goes along with the flow, but he seems to intimidate Nicholas who works hard to overcome a lisp that takes over when he’s in his father’s presence.

Emma and Laura have a relationship that is more like friends than mother and daughter. The story follows them from Emma’s early school years until she enters 8th grade and attends a boarding school. That’s when their relationship becomes different.

This is a strange type of book. The vignettes are little snippets of their lives and one can’t help but say: “So?” Maybe the reason for the book is deeper than I can figure out. That’s why I can only give it 3 stars. It’s just not something to get excited over.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

You know when you take a long walk, in no hurry, and stop and look at all the little nuances around you? Well, that is what this book is like. I felt like I was peeking in on Laura’s life as she raised Emma. Emma was conceived in a rather strange one night stand but Laura let’s everyone think it was artificial insemination. Laura was raised in a well-to-do family in New York. And though she tries to believe she is different than most of the same kind of people, she really is not that different.

The books follows through Emma’s growing years. We get little snippets of each of their personalities. We see the family interactions. There is no great big story line besides the story line of life. (Which I guess cannot get much bigger!)

I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the slow pace. I enjoyed getting to know them. I enjoyed the mother/daughter love/hate relationship. The ending left me kind of wondering but that did not take away from the rest of the story.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for a copy of this lovely little book.