The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

 

I love going to author events and meeting the people behind the stories.

A few weeks ago, I met Colleen Oakley at my local bookstore.  She was in conversation with my fav local author, Kimmery Martin, whom I now call friend.  Lucky me!!  Colleen practically met us at the door and I felt like I'd bumped into a friend.  She had her mom and her sister with her, and told us how the Louise of this novel was inspired by her own grandmother.

And there, the sweetness ends.

What a ride!  This was just a delightful read, with twists and turns and assumptions and banter - and another story of a found family.  I love that kind of story!!  Tanner is an angry and uncertain and unlucky 21 year old college dropout (not her fault, she had straight A's and a scholarship!!) who is forced to move home and get a job.  Louise is a highly independent octogenarian who slips on a rug - once - and her daughter insists she find a "nanny."

So Tanner goes to live with Louise.  While their relationship is quite frosty at first, something happens that forces them to trust and depend on each other as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Oakley's descriptions of the anger and confusion of a young adult are spot on, as well as that youngster's own realization that she is angry for no reason and cannot help it. Great insight.  But even better was the mother daughter scene at the end - totally slayed me!!!! I loved the chapter titles, very helpful and quirky, when she used them.

This story did not go in the direction I thought it would.  But it does ask a very pointed question about women's lives these days.  Some great quotes throughout this novel, and winks to women.  This is super fun reading, with depth and some great commentary on the Lives of Women, Then and Now, and how maybe they aren't so different after all.  I loved how it ended (again, not what I thought) and now I want to go back and read more Colleen Oakley (The Invisible Husband of Frick Island was another good one of hers that I have read).  This is a great book for summer vacation reading, or when you need a fast paced semi-light read.  Plus, what a fun cover!!!