The Godmother [Paperback]

Carrie Adams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2008

Nothing scares Tessa King more than the thought she will never have children. It doesn't matter how good her life is, and it is, it never feels good enough. She has four godchildren and dozens of friends, yet love eludes her. She knows how good a mother she could be, if only she had the chance. And then one terrible day she does, and Tessa learns firsthand that life on the other side of that white picket fence is more complicated than she ever could have imagined.

Heartwarming, funny, and genuine, The Godmother speaks to anyone who has wondered about the next step and reminds us that happily-ever-after is just the beginning of the story.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While 30-something Londoner Tessa King questions her no-strings-attached lifestyle, she also witnesses her friends' difficulties in marriage and parenthood while playing godmother to their broods. Nick and Francesca battle to keep their sullen teenager out of serious trouble; Billy, a single mom, can't break ties to her now remarried ex-; Helen and Neil, fairy tale parents to twin boys, are hiding something; successful Claudia and Al struggle to conceive; and Ben and Sasha have no plans to have children. But Ben also happens to be Tessa's best friend, and perhaps the love of her life. When tragedy eventually strikes the group, bonds are tested, and Tessa is forced to re-examine what she thinks will really make her happy. A painful look into the fears, doubts and desires that make and break marriages, this debut novel from Londoner Adams is notches up from the usual chick and mom lit fare. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Book groups and Anglophiles, take note: Adams has written a fast-paced, witty, and charming novel that will surprise readers with its depth and honesty. Tessa—zany, curly-haired, yoga-fit—is a highly successful attorney who has been forced by unfair circumstances to leave work. Unburdened for the first time in 20 years, she takes on a busy social schedule, complete with a racy sex life (descriptions are steamy). But what she excels at are her absorbing dedication to friends and her role as godmother—to Caspar, a brooding, smoking teen; Cora, a single friend's (often-sick) daughter; and recent additions, twins Bobby and Tommy. She is ready to help at each summon, but the more she gets caught up in the lives of others, the more she realizes that something is missing in her own life. Just when she feels out of sorts, her friends all hit crisis mode, and what starts as a light, relatively chipper read takes a turn to the bitingly realistic. Topped off with a made-for-movie ending, The Godmother is unpredictable and absorbing. Cook, Emily --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061232610
• ISBN-13: 978-0061232619
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark and absorbing, November 3, 2007

By 

Bearette24 (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Godmother (Hardcover)

The Godmother is a bit different from the usual chick lit fare. It starts off typically, with Tessa King returning from a yoga retreat to her happy circle of friends in London. But all is not what it seems. Tessa has job troubles (indeed, she left her job), Billy is a struggling single mom with an oft-sick daughter and neglectful ex, Francesca has a pothead teenager, Helen is trapped in an unhappy marriage to a controlling man, and the love of Tessa's life (Ben) is married to Sasha. Claudia and Al have been trying to have a kid for years, but IVF is not working out for them.

Thus the stage is set for all kinds of interesting conflict and the occasional heartbreaking event. Some of the book was a little graphic and disturbing for my taste. And also, Tessa is an ambiguous protagonist. Sometimes you think she's really helpful and giving and sometimes she comes across as a meddlesome pain in the neck. She was, however, smart and often entertaining.

But it's apparent that the author put a lot of thought into the book, as the plot developments are unexpected, but not unearned. Most of the characters are fully developed, nuanced and compelling. I liked Tessa's friends enough, and usually Tessa herself, to plan on reading the sequel when it comes to the United States.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put it down... A MUST READ!, September 19, 2007

By 

K. Kahn "avid reader" (CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Godmother (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful novel. I couldn't put it down. Even after I finished it the story and characters lingered in my mind for weeks. Any one of the characters in the book could be someone you know. The story of their lives is gripping, thought provoking, enlightening, painful, sensual, and real. A MUST READ! You won't regret it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best books i've read... ever, September 19, 2007

By 

Tara Cook "tdactyl" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Godmother (Hardcover)

easily one of the best books i've read this year, if not ever. carrie adams manages to create characters that are relatable and fallible...utterly endearing. once i started reading, i literally could not put it down. gutwreching and honest, a must read for anyone.

and don't forget the kleenex!