The Godmother - Carrie Adams

Tessa King is not your average mid-thirty woman; she is currently without a job and has way too many godchildren. She is also unlucky in love (although there are probably several women out there who relate to that one), but fortunately, has great friends in her life. She lives in London, is currently unemployed due to a disastrous stalking debacle with her former boss (she is an attorney), and she finds herself with too much time on her hands. She can only shop too much, eat out too much, and meet friends for drinks too often before she's wishing for something better. Wishing for Ben, her platonic friend, with whom she has a history (downfall of this novel: carries on too long) and who is also married, to another one of her friends.

Tessa's involvement with her friends is truly incredible - I do believe she's a great friend, and she goes through hoops to help her godchildren, which is so sweet. Her biggest downfall is her meddling into her friends' lives and relationships (with their spouses and their kids), which creates some friction. She pushes and pushes and meddles and meddles, and mostly because she is jealous. Her friends are all living their lives with husbands and kids and what she thinks are white picket fences, and lives life with a classic "the grass is always greener on the other side" feeling.

But then one day it all goes to pot.

[SPOILER ALERT!]

Tessa's great friend Helen and her (lousy) husband are killed in a car accident, and Tessa is devastated. She also instantly goes into mommy mode, as she is Helen's twin sons' godmother. Although she does not adopt them, she does care for them during transition, and it is this event that sends her into the arms of her true love, Ben.

Happily ever after, right?

WRONG.

Tessa considers the conversations she's had with her beloved friends, the lessons they've given her in love and marriage, and the truths she's learned (that people are never who they seem), and she cannot go through with stealing Ben from his wife. She cannot break a marriage and be the one who creates more tension with her friends. They had their chance and the moment passed, life goes on.

I did very much enjoy this book, despite some parts being excruciatingly long and dramatic, and some predictability, but I think the lessons were bountiful. And Adams' writing style is amazing. I found myself cracking up at some points, angry at others, and feeling solemn at other points. Going through these stages of emotions will usually leave me with a great feeling about a book, and I recommend this book to all.