Lessons in Laughing Out Loud

by Rowan Coleman Narrated by Juanita McMahon

Overview

Willow and Holly are identical twins. They're alike in every way, except one - Willow is afraid on the inside. For a long time Willow has felt separated from Holly by one terrible moment in time - a moment that meant Willow's life was never the same again. And when the past catches up with her, Willow realises it's finally time for her to face her fears, and learn to laugh again.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Magical shoes inspire a total life makeover in Coleman’s sixth novel (after The Home for Broken Hearts). Though her friends count her as “always up for a good night out,” Willow Briars actually finds little in life worth laughing about these days. She’s jumped from job to job, pursued unattainable men, and fought the low self-esteem that comes with her full figure (her thin, successful, happily married identical twin sister isn’t helping). While running an errand for her overbearing boss one day, Willow discovers a pair of vintage pumps in a mysterious back-alley shop that slim her instantly but turn her life upside down. Later that night, her 15-year-old ex-stepdaughter, Chloe, shows up, pregnant and terrified. As Willow searches for ways to help, she confronts her own failed marriage and finds inspiration to begin making positive changes. Repairing her psyche, however, will also mean confronting a traumatic past and exposing that old chestnut: a long-held family secret. After sidelining an initially intriguing premise, Coleman’s tone veers wildly from romantic comedy to gritty drama, making her heroine hard to pin down. Whether seeking humor or pathos, readers will likely be disappointed on either front. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (Mar.)

Kirkus Reviews

An unhappy and overweight single Londoner finds her world transformed after donning a very special pair of shoes. As the reliable and trusted underling to gleefully ruthless talent agent Victoria Kincade, Willow Briar is used to fading into the background, especially when surrounded by Victoria's celebrity clients. Attractive but heavy, she has seen numerous opportunities—and men—pass her by. A bit of a recluse outside of work, she remains close with her twin sister Holly, a slim, sweet mother of 4-year-old girls who lives in the suburbs. Holly is a living reminder of everything Willow could have been. So when Victoria insists Willow hide waifish starlet India Torrance in her dingy flat after an on-set romance goes bad, she knows she doesn't really have a choice. After reluctantly agreeing, she walks into a vintage shop on a random block and walks out wearing a fabulous pair of sexy pumps. Almost instantly Willow feels better about herself, and begins to get positive attention from friends and strangers alike. And then Chloe, the pregnant teenage daughter of her ex-husband Sam, shows up on her doorstep. It was Sam, a ruggedly handsome wine merchant, who called off their marriage, but Willow blames herself. Losing Chloe in the process was extremely painful for both of them. Still smarting from Willow's perceived abandonment, Chloe has attitude to spare, and insists Willow make it up to her by allowing her to crash at her place as well. With Chloe and the young movie star holed up and bonding, Willow tries out her new shoe-inspired confidence on her longtime best friend Daniel, a photographer with a thing for models. Willow meets up with Sam again, too, as they try to figure out what is best for Chloe. But when Willow sabotages a chance for new love, she realizes that unresolved issues from her past have kept her from a fulfilling life. Eager to change that, she takes a brave trip back to her hometown to confront an ugly family secret—before it's too late. Coleman (The Home for Broken Hearts, 2010, etc.) seems to be trying to do too much in this novel, and the shift from comedy to drama is a bit jarring. But Willow manages to be quite a sympathetic creation. One woman's attempt to take charge of her destiny—with a side of magic realism.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171655181
Publisher:	W. F. Howes Ltd
Publication date:	01/01/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged

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