Choosing Change

Every aspect of Lanie Coates’s life has changed, and she’s not sure it’s for the better. She’s the mother of three very young children, her husband is in grad school, and they’ve moved halfway across the country.

An encounter in a local park motivates Lanie to change her life and take time for herself, with far-reaching and unexpected consequences.

I “found” Center through a podcast, and thought that her focus on finding joy was something I could use in my reading. I liked Lanie, and Center does a great job of depicting how 24/7 motherhood is exhausting.

I did not like Lanie’s husband. I thought he was selfish and thought only of himself.

I thought the book was a bit overwritten at times, and I’m not sure the flashbacks to college worked for me–although this could also be a reaction to the audiobook (the reader was great, but I might have reacted differently to these sections if I’d been reading the print book myself).

While I wouldn’t say this was the best book ever, it delivered what I wanted it to: it was nice. I need a little nice in my reading. I’ll read another by Center, because much as I enjoy a good thriller or procedural, I know that it’s best for me to mix it up a bit.