This is a well-done story told from multiple points of view about motherhood. Sometimes I felt the descriptive language was a little overdone, and I was amazed at how nearly every major event was incorporated into this story. Despite that, it was a book I enjoyed reading.

After her rape ends in pregnancy, seventeen-year-old Bea, the daughter of wealthy Bostonians, is banished to the family’s summer home on the coast of Massachusetts. Ten years later, still unhinged from the trauma, she meets the woman raising her daughter. Set in Prohibition-era New England, Solomon’s sumptuous tale of motherhood and secrets is dazzling.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Una

This is a complex story of two women and their families from different societal worlds whose lives become entangled due to the birth of Lucy Pear. Beatrice a music prodigy is sexually taken advantaged of and becomes pregnant in her teens. Her wealthy Jewish parents send her to her Uncles to have the baby but expect her to commit to her career when the baby is born. The baby girl is to be sent to an orphanage however Beatrice won’t condemn her to that life and decides to leave her under the pear trees where she knows the Irish families come to steal pears. Beatrice’s life is never the same after that decision and she never really can commit to any type of relationship.

The baby is picked up and raised by Emma Murphy along with her natural children. Both Emma’s and Beatrice’s lives become weaved together when Emma becomes caregiver to Beatrice’s Uncle.

Both families’ complexities were hard to follow at times but I for one got immersed in the setting of prohibition in the 1920’s and the complicated lives of women at that time. Mothers having to do almost anything to put food on the table, their children having to try and survive through wit and brawn and the very male dominated society that was the time, all told by the actions and story of Lucy Pear herself.

Lucy Pear although older than her 11 years decides to go and find her brother who moved to Canada. To do that she knows she has to earn enough for her train ride. Even when she finds out that Beatrice is her mother she does not take it for granted that money will be easy come by. She stays loyal to Emma and her siblings. The story touches a little on Emma’s husband’s abuse of the children but that story line really doesn’t get resolved other than the children go with Emma and live in the big house with Beatrice and her uncle.

The only part of the book I found difficult was the ending when Lucy goes on the train by herself. There is no closure as to whether the meeting up with her brother goes well or whether she gets sent back home. Perhaps that is another book. I for one would like to continue with the life story of Lucy Pear.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Really liked this book. Liked the characters and story flow. Entertaining read. The banter and the interaction between characters was good reading. Conflicts and mystery leave you guessing what happens next. Tough choices were made and these decisions are what you have to live with. Would recommend. Voluntarily review from book received from NetGalley.