It All Comes Down to This
by Therese Anne Fowler (Goodreads Author)
265730
Lauren Kaz's review Feb 15, 2022 · edit
liked it
bookshelves: arc, kindle, netgalley

I read Therese Anne Fowler's "A Good Neighborhood" and I found it very thought provoking, so I was expecting a similar experience with "It All Comes Down to This." I think first person plural narration is difficult for any author, and it mostly works here. Typical of her writing, there are many characters and the character development is strong, but having so many fully developed characters while using first person plural narration can get messy. The story starts off strong as we learn the dying Mother's story, but most of the book focuses on fleshing out the characters and thus, the plot didn't have as much movement as needed. The main characters are the 3 sisters...Beck, Claire, and Sophie. All of the characters have their secrets and using dramatic irony, the reader is let in on these secrets while the characters are still making these discoveries. Everything is not quite like it seems, and the reader is along for the ride as the characters begin to piece together the stories they hear about their family and friends. I liked the settings, NYC and Maine. Many themes are explored such as class, identity, family, art, love, sibling rivalry, and one's relationship to their past and how that shapes their future. I think the strongest part of the book is the last section when the focus is on Beck. I was most interested in her journey and her writing, her relationships, her family, and her sense of self. Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy before the June 2022 publication.

Marti Geller has recently passed away, leaving her three daughters to sell the vacation home on a Maine Island along with the truth about her past. As the daughters deal with their mother's past, they are all looking at the decisions they made about their own lives, the regrets they have and the secrets they keep. As one daughter heads to the island to prepare the home for sale, she encounters the one who broke her heart years ago. The sisters reunite on the island, secrets are revealed and change is in the air.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Three sisters in their 30s and 40s - they haven't been particularly close, although not estranged, but when their mother dies, they're forced together to deal with the death. The particular issue at hand is the family's vacation home in Maine, which their mother has directed them to sell. There is also a message left for them with her son-in-law (the executor), revealing for them a hidden family history. All three sisters are in crisis of one kind or another - the oldest, Beck, is dealing with a marriage that is lacking any passion or excitement, the middle, Claire, is recently divorced and dealing with an hidden passion, and the youngest, Sophie, is heavily in debt and rootless.

All of this sounds like the making of a good story. Sadly, it just didn't do it for me, beyond being somewhat meh. I couldn't find any liking for any of the main characters. I just didn't like any of the sisters - each of them seemed selfish and cold. I didn't much care for the deceased mother and her order that the cottage must be sold - which did not seem to be some psychic premonition that this what the daughters needed to resolve all their problems, but rather to shed her ties with the town where the house was located, while not having to explain why.

And, finally, it all ends up with everyone happy ever after, and loving each other, and no hard feelings about anything. I just didn't buy it. However, it's an easy and somewhat entertaining read.

This is an interesting story of 3 sisters (seems like there is an epidemic of 3 sister families), forced to work together and change their lives after their beloved mother dies. Despite their differences, each is going through an existential crisis when they come together after the death.

The sisters, Beck, Clare and Sophie confront memories and learn shocking truths about their mother and their roots.

Much drama takes place over the sale of the family camp on Mount Desert Island. It is there that a stranger comes into the mix. Yet, perhaps, not really a stranger. The author mixes these characters together, makes them all very sympathetic and then shuffles the deck and creates a lovely, if unbelievable ending.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more novels by Fowler. This is a great choice for book clubs!

I have enjoyed other books by this author such as Exposure and A Good Neighborhood but this one did not work for me. I gave it my best shot but after 31% I am calling it quits. I will not post my review on Goodreads since I didn’t finish the book. I was not enjoying the characters or the storyline. I will try again in the future.

The three Geller sisters come together following their mothers passing to settle her estate. They all seem to have secrets and their mother did as well. They seem to be at turning points in their lives and don’t really see eye to eye. I found the ending to be pretty predictable, but it was an enjoyable read.

Well-written book with a pat ending that was lovely but (in my opinion) far-fetched to the point of absurdity.

Overall, I found the characters compelling and I was intrigued by their stories, but I felt this book - in large part because of how it ended - to be a little too "shiny". I preferred 'A Good Neighborhood' - but I would recommend this for anyone looking for a chicken-soup-for-the-soul-esque novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Great family story of 3 sisters and what they discover after their mom passes away. Interestingly, what they discover about their mother becomes far less significant than what they discover about themselves and each other.
The women range in age from mid 30’s to mid 40’s so they are still young women embroiled in the most lengthy and challenging time of life - middle age. It is that time in life when all the responsibilities, obligations, and expectations of adulthood must be faced. It can also be the time when a person comes to understand who they are, where they are, who they want to become and where they want to go. Their mother’s death is the catalyst for the momentous changes in their lives.
Wonderful, relatable characters. Very fluid and well woven. Only one caveat and that is an event at the end of the novel where a rather contrived surprise reunion occurs. I was able to accept this only because in my life I actually experienced a similar situation several thousand miles from home on another continent. Who knew?
In short, it can be a revelation when you are no longer any one’s child.

Well, this was fine. It wasn't amazing and it wasn't bad. I don't know what happened but the last 20% fell flat to me. Before that I was pretty hooked. I still recommend it but it didn't blow me away.

This book was so different from what I was expecting. The three sisters all have issues along with several other characters. I can’t say I liked them very much in the beginning. They were all so wrapped up in themselves.
I think the last several chapters were the most interesting.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

The tree Geller sisters have reunited to settle their mother's estate . Buried family secrets and tension between the sisters are the themes in this book. I have read other books by this author and enjoyed. However, this one could not keep me interested at all, so disappointing. I will not be recommending.

Having read Therese Anne Fowler’s last novel “A Good Neighborhood”, I was looking forward to reading her new novel “It All Comes Down To This”.

Fowler writes a story about three sisters each at a crossroad in their lives, sparked by the death of their mother. The disclosure of their mother’s secret learned after her passing propels this family drama as each sister reveals secrets of their own.

While the writing was good, I found the characters a bit shallow and the story too contrived for my liking. I've liked this author in the past and will still look out for her next book. I thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Marti’s three daughters with three different lives come together after their mother dies. Beck is the eldest, a freelance journalist, and married to Paul. Claire, the middle daughter, is a pediatric cardiologist and in love with Paul. The youngest is Sophie, who drifts about, house-sitting for a wealthy entertainer friend currently, in reality, she is cash strapped and surviving the best she can.
Marti had specified in her will that the vacation home would be sold then divided between the three in the event of her death. Marti had secrets in her past and wasn't attached to the vacation home her husband had insisted on having. Beck had designs on using it to write the novel that had been developing in her head for year's. Claire and Sophie wanted to sell as soon as possible. Beck had come up with a plan to buy out her sisters. All was going according to plan until Paul decided he needed a life change.
The sisters have to then work it out between them.

What I enjoyed most about It All Comes Down to This is the sisters succeeding in growing and coming to an awakening after going in directions they settled with for year's.

There was nothing I disliked about the book. A previous review I read said the politics threw them off and I was concerned it would be saturated with it. There was a brief mention that only served to give a better understanding of the character.

I rate this 5 stars and would recommend it to women who enjoy a story of growth and acceptance.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinions. I enjoyed the book however I felt it moved a bit slowly as it describes all the characters. I felt she held my interest throughout the book and I enjoyed the ending. I will for sure continue to read more books by this author as she doesn't disappoint.

Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

It All Comes Down to This: Unfortunately, this Book Was a Let Down for me. And I had VERY High Hopes.

I SIMPLY adored Therese Anne Fowler’s prior book A Good Neighborhood. It was in fact one of my favorite reads of 2019. I, therefore, couldn’t wait to get my hands on her next release..and then I did.

This is the story of three sisters, Beck, Claire, and Sophia, who are more or less estranged when their mother passes away after an illness and what happens thereafter.

Perhaps if I had liked one of the characters, I would have felt that “pull” - but sadly I did not. Perhaps if something happened to capture my attention, I would have liked it, but it did not.

Perhaps.

The writing here is good. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. The characterizations are fantastic - real, honest, and frankly, ugly at times, but that wasn’t enough to draw me in.

Enough said.

Though this novel wasn’t my favorite by this author, I will still be eagerly awaiting her next book, hoping that it’s more in line with A Good Neighborhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc.

Published on Goodreads and Twitter.

My thanks to NetGalley for a free prepub ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.

I have always loved multigeneration family dramas where secrets may be hidden for decades but ultimately come to life. Dramas where love and best intentions frequently come across as jealousy and disappointment. Dramas where each sibling believe the others were favored by parents who never-ever could possibly understand the angst experienced by their children. Fowler's It All Comes Down to This has all these elements and more.

Widowed mother Marti is dying of lung cancer. Her marriage to Leo produced three daughters - Beck, Claire, and Sophie. Beck is a married freelance writer whose marriage is outside perfect and inside dull; Claire is a divorced doctor who hides her true feelings for a married man; Sophie is an Internet influencer living on the edge financially and emotionally. Their mother's death, will and personal confession force them to confront what they really want and need in life.

The only offsetting point for me is the incredible coincidental meeting at the end of the book. Yes, the two characters had unfinished business but the meeting is implausible at best.

Still, I recommend this book highly.
#ItAllComesDowntoThis #NetGalley

This was quite an interwoven story of the Geller sisters. Your birth order and how you are raised definitely has something to do with how you live your life. The family history they find out about their mother is another part of who they are that they didn't even realize. I enjoyed this real life look at how families interact with each other.

This author is fast becoming a favorite. She has wonderful character studies like Patchett and the ability to capture family drama evocatively. It is also set in Maine . Wonderful book !

This is an engaging family story about the bonds between sisters and their mother, and how they evolve in a variety of ways as children leave the nest and return. I look forward to recommending this to readers who enjoy books by Elin Hilderbrand, Emma Staub, and Lian Dolan.

Revelation is risky; suppose it leads to a fall?
Ah, but suppose it leads to flight?
from It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler

Having read Therese Anne Fowler’s last novel A Good Neighborhood, I was eager to read her new novel It All Comes Down To This. It added to my interest to learn it was set in Maine, and when I opened up the book was thrilled to read it’s set on Mount Desert Island. Our first visit there, staying at Acadia National Park, we fell in love and returned year after year.

In her Acknowledgements, Fowler notes that she has written in many genres, but “never this kind of bighearted, upbeat tale,” a story that arose from the “darkness of the world around me” during the pandemic. For readers weary in body and soul, here is a book to raise your spirits.

The story of three sisters coping with the death of their mother may not sound like the premise for a happy ending, and yes, they all are struggling not only with her death but with her videotaped deathbed revelation, a confession that shocks them. Their mother also requests that they sell the family Maine vacation cabin.

Eldest daughter Beck is a mother and homemaker with a comfortable life and grown children. She writes on the side. She loves her husband, but they have never really ‘connected’ in a deep way, or sexually. They are polite and caring, but the distance is growing and their marriage on shaky ground. Her heart was broken as a teen with a summer romance in Maine.

The middle daughter Claire is a doctor who is recently divorced after her husband discovered she ‘settled’ for him. Claire juggles her career and child and dog, adding up to tension and high blood pressure.

Sophie has a glamourous lifestyle and a multimillion following for SimplySophie! on social media. She wines and dines artists and prospective art buyers, but has a massive credit card debt and no permanent home. She is hovering on the edge of disaster.

Meanwhile, a man has returned to the island seeing a home, staying at the home of an old friend. He wants to buy the sister’s family cabin. But he shares a history with one of them, and it won’t be working in his favor.

When the sisters met up at the cabin, they finally have a reckoning, and faced with their truths, must decide where they go from there.

Fowler offers wonderful characters, and adeptly reveals backstories and inner lives in a suspenseful way. Readers will be hooked by the story and gratified by the ending. And the message of what’s important in life–“it all comes down to this”–is essential.

I received a free ARC and egalley from the publisher. My review is fair and unbiased.