It's the Bookclub book for August from sherry Roark
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Didn't finish

de los Santos is such a master at developing complex families with layers of connection and dysfunction, but who ultimately "win" through love. Like Anne Tyler but without the ambiguity. This is the story of Eustacia (Taisy) Cleary and her relationship (or lack there of) with her father Wilson, who is a first class jack-ass and abandoned the family when she and her twin brother Marcus were 17. He immediately re-married and had a daughter Willow who is his "do-over." A brilliant, but pompous man, Wilson and his artist wife Caro have raised Willow like a little robot of perfectionism, home-schooling her and exposing her to only the most wholesome things, which does not include his ex-family. When Wilson has a heart attack and is incapacitated, both Willow and Taisy's lives change dramatically. Willow at age 16 emters school, and Taisy, who ghost-writes for a living, is invited to write Wilson's biography. Taisy lives in the pool house and has a good vantage point to see the flaws in his new family. Willow struggles to make her way in modern teendom, and ends up getting involved with a teacher, though she is equally attracted to Luka, the only classmate to be friendly toward her. Taisy confronts her past, including a lost love, Ben and ultimately develops a relationship with Willow, saving her from a few scrapes made by her own bad judgment. Wilson never softens and remains the villain throughout, but even he is humanized while everyone else becomes part of the love fest. Sweet, feel-good story that is the perfect vacation read. ( )

Beautiful story. Loved that it was told from the POV of each sister, Taysy, the abandoned daughter, and Willow, the precious one. Taisy is the older sister and it's remarkable how she's able to get through her hurt and anger with her father, and reach out to the younger sister, who without Taisy would probably not have surivived. Willow has all the worldly things anyone would want but not the warmth and love of family. This is the one thing their father cannot give either one. Together they form an unbreakable bond. ( )

3.5 stars ( )