★★★★★ 5
Revisiting Childhood Story
Format: Hardcover
When you look back on your childhood, are there unresolved feelings? What happens when you look back on your life to reflect?
Daphne Fuller is our main character in this new novel by Ann Patchett. Jonathan, her husband, is very observant and can’t help but notice an older man following them on a visit to the Met. Imagine Daphne’s surprise when she discovers that the older man is her former stepfather, who was married to her mother for only a short time when Daphne was nine. Eddie Triplett was a favorite, though, and she adored him. It was also during this time that she experienced a very pivotal point in her young life.
Now in her early 50s, Daphne and Eddie get reacquainted and remember how much they enjoyed each other’s company. It’s natural to wonder what her life would have been like had Eddie stayed involved. Daphne finally learns the truth about why Eddie and her mother divorced.
Ann Patchett is one of those writers who make storytelling seem effortless, and I enjoy her books and the characters she creates. As Daphne reflects on her life, her husband heads back to his childhood home to clean it out after the death of his mother. Both are grappling with childhood memories and family dynamics.
There is a pivotal story about a horse called Whistler, but this is not a ranching story. This book is filled with characters and families who love, make mistakes, reconcile, grapple with loss, and live richer lives.
Thank you to Harper for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2026
