“The house tells the story.”

Hildy is our narrator in The Good House and gives us her observations of Wendover, a fictional coastal northeastern town. Through her we learn about Peter, Frankie, and Rebecca. In her narration, we see her internal musings alongside her opinionated views of others. Hildy is an alcoholic, with secrets. As she tells her story we know something devastating  has happened. Slowly we learn what it is and we learn about her. Hildy is middle aged and complicated. I love her. 

Ann Leary helps us understand what it is like to be an alcoholic She masterfully delivers a realistic story of denial, loneliness, love, and growth. Her characters are rich and complicated, realistic and relatable. I love her setting descriptions and how she weaves them into the story. She creates a town I’d love to visit and spend some time in. 

In the beginning of my audio experience it took a bit for me to connect with the story. But once I did I couldn’t stop listening. By the end I wanted this book to live on my shelf so I bought a paperback. Being inside Hildy’s head grew my empathy and compassion. Her story is told beautifully with just the right information at just the right time. I’m so glad I read it because it is entertaining while also dealing with very serious issues like mother-daughter relationships and good versus evil. Hildy’s real estate career allows us in to the homes of Hildy’s community. Through Hildy and the side characters we see the many complexities of humans and of relationships. This is a great book, witty and emotional, one I hope many will enjoy.