You Only Get Better
by Connie Briscoe, Lolita Files & Anita Bunkley
Published by Kimani Press
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Reviewed by Connie Anderson
This is "chick lit" about the older crowd--if you call late 40s-early 50s the older crowd.
Three bestselling authors tell three separate stories about women nearing 50 and in life-changing situations.
The Perfect Life -- Connie Briscoe (New York Times)
Teacher Maxine Davis has hated her childhood best friend (and cousin) because 25 years ago Tonya stole her fiance. Hateful and unforgiving, the death of Tonya's mother gives Maxine a chance to look back to that fateful time. Maxine's mother cajoles her into going to the funeral. Cousin Tonya apologizes. Can Maxine ever forgive and again be part of Tonya's life? Could you?
Three for the Road -- Lolita Files (Essence and Blackboard)
New Yorker Lilibelle's shocking divorced comes on 9-1-1 when she locates her doctor husband in Arizona at a convention, and demands he come home because she is terrified. On that fateful day, he tells her he is never coming home; he loves someone else. Lili had always been indulged by her parents, and then by him. She is now alone in her empty nest. Travel with her across the country (sort of alone) on her trip to discovery, and a chance meeting with a newly divorced man. Can Lili let go of her need for control--and find love?
This Time Around -- Anita Bunkley (Blackboard)
Danika Redmond's single life came after her divorce--he couldn't handle her independence. Everyone he ever loved abandoned him--so he decided to leave her before she left him. She has worked her way up in a male-dominated corporation. When she is promoted, her first assignment is to go to a newly acquired company and cut the staff by half--run by her controlling ex-husband, now widowed with two teenager. He doesn't handle the fact that she is now "his boss" and could fire him. Will she be successful with this first important assignment? Will they get back together?
Minimally important to the story is the fact that the authors and the women in their stories are all African-Americans. I agree, "These fascinating women discover that life, love and everything else gets better with age!"
Armchair Interviews says: The read was fun and done quickly--in order to find out how each one handled that new life.