Nice to Come Home To

I can't even find the words to review this book. Just read it! It was so realistic; I could really identify with Pru, unlike most heroines she seemed down to earth, just as precarious as the rest of us. The story was amazing, sweet and honest at once. I took my time reading it, trying to drag it out even longer because the characters were so endearing, I wanted to stay in their world as long as possible.

I just finished reading this book and fell in love with it! The main character was so realistic and approachable, I just loved her and rooted for her. She is supported by a lovely, quirky bunch of characters - from her loser boyfriend to her might be love interest, gay friends, rootless sister and countless other minor characters who each contribute in their own way. I loved watching the main character drift through her life until her purpose became clear. I felt like she really made some realistic choices and the novel was so fun to read. I would HIGHLY recommend this to someone looking for a good weekend title or a fun beach read.

This book really surpassed my expectations. I had never heard of the author before, so it was a crapshoot. Well, it turned out to be a pleasant mix of Anne Tyler and Katherine Center (author of The Bright Side of Disaster). Although the protagonist, Pru, was not always perfectly likeable, she was well drawn, memorable, and interesting. In other words, like a real person. The romance in the book was also pitch-perfect. Recommended.

Nice To Come Home To was ok - a little formulaic (single woman, biological clock ticking, gay best friend, jerk ex boyfriend, jealous of her sister, meets guy , loses guy, happy ending) but its a reasonable read and the characters were well drawn. I found Pru's overthinking a little tedious at times and never really warmed to her character that much.Still it was ok.

Nice To Come Home To is the story of Prudence Whistler, 36, who has just lost her job and her boyfriend. Now she will have to revaluate her life, what does she really want? She thought she wanted to follow a traditional path with a secure, boring job, husband and kids, but as she begins to asses her options a very different picture appears. As she stumbles her way through rebuilding her life a quirky and loveable cast of characters appear; her younger sister Patsy who impulsively follows her heart and ends up the single mother of a two-year old, their well-meaning mother, John the recently separated cafe owner down the street, and Pru's many loyal friends.
I found this an enjoyable and entertaining read! I liked the theme that pressure show more to create a traditional family sometimes gets women off on the wrong track. Surrounding yourself with people you love and who support you is more important then having a husband and 2.5 kids! Pru's problems and insecurities will resonate with many modern women. I especially loved all the supporting characters. The original, loveable people who make Pru's life messy, complicated, and who ultimately lead her to a career she never would have expected round out the book perfectly.
I listened to the audio version of this book and found it a pleasant, light-hearted diversion.
This is a feel-good read perfect for readers who have enjoyed books by Marisa de los Santos or Joshilyn Jackson. show less

Pru is approaching 40 when she is startled out of her life when she notices a very pregnant woman with 2 children in tow. Where has her life gone? She decides that she must commit to her current boyfriend, though he is not quite what she pictured for herself, only to have him dump her the night she expects him to propose. As Pru tries to get her life and career back on track, she finds herself pulled into her sister's life as she and her two-year-old niece find themselves in their own crisis. With a loving cast of friends as characters, Pru eventually finds a course for her career, though her romantic interest is drawn in another direction. This book was somewhat predictable and formulaic, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Pru and the show more other characters were well-developed and not without flaws. Though it started out a little rough, I soon came to care about the characters and was disappointed when the story came to an end. show less

Nothing seems to be going right for 36-year old Pru Whistler. She loses her job, and then her boyfriend breaks up with her. She adopts her ex-boyfriend's cat when she finds the cat in the animal shelter, but the cat makes her life miserable. Her sister Patsy and niece Annali are making lots of trips from Ohio to the East Coast in order to see Jacob, a doctor whom Patsy met on the subway. Patsy says it's true love, but Pru has her doubts. Then there's John Owen, who owns a cafe near Pru's apartment. He's separated from his wife and seems to be interested in Pru, but is he really over his wife, or could they possibly reconcile? Flowers has written an interesting study of a single woman in Washington, D.C. and keeps us guessing until the show more very last moment as to how it will all work out. My biggest problem with this book is the very misleading jacket cover. It is mentioned several times in the narration that Pru is 36 years old and wears glasses. However, the young woman on the jacket cover is clearly at least 10 years younger and does not wear glasses. Just goes to show there really is something about that old adage -- don't judge a book by its cover. show less