When Your Mother Doesn't: A Novel

(Hardback)

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Description

Nearly three decades of secrets lie between Lola Ashby and the two daughters she reluctantly raised. So when the eldest, Frankie, agrees to visit her ailing mother, who abandoned the girls when they were in high school, Frankie doesn't hold out much hope for a meaningful connection. But when her younger sister Callie announces that she's moving to Los Angeles from the East Coast, Frankie badgers her sister into meeting up for an ill-formed family reunionand to dilute any awkwardness with Lola. It's a recipe for disaster the sisters know all too well. With Lola doing everything she can to keep them at arm's length, any hope for reconciliation may just shrivel up and blow awayunless they can find a way to forgive themselves, and one another. Told from the perspectives of three different womeneach facing her own hope and hardshipthis tender, compelling narrative explores the kind of people we become when those who should love us most let us down, and what, if anything, we can do to heal the wounds of the past.

Reviews

"Deeply moving and profoundly suspenseful, When Your Mother Doesnt is the unforgettable story of two sisters navigating their way through loss and grief in search of love, and what it means to be a family. A very fine novel from an engaging voice." Carla Buckley, author of The Deepest Secret

"I devoured When Your Mother Doesn't in greedy gulps, fully steeped in this gripping story of three broken women who understand each other so little, yet are bonded by so much. Beautifully written and unflinching, this book is a gem." Kristina Riggle, author of Real Life & Liars

"A heart wrenching and poignant story about mothers and daughters and the secrets they keep. With a plot that twists and turns, Kelly masterfully weaves a compelling narrative which explores how abandonment and sacrifice play out against a backdrop of adversity. Told through multiple perspectives, the novel addresses the complex ways in which women are forced to protect themselves and their daughters. An interesting and provocative read that will have you guessing until the very end." Tamar Ossowski, author of Left

"Slowly peeling back the layers of a complicated set of relationships, Jill Kelly takes the reader on a journey of discovery with her compelling and artful new novel. This is a book full of secrets, loss, and moments of beauty. It will linger with you long after you've closed the final page." Alice Kuipers, author of Life on the Refrigerator Door

A vibrant voice, powerful and poignant. Jill Kelly weaves a compelling tale that will stay with you long after the final page. Colleen Faulkner, author of As Close As Sisters and Just Like Other Daughters
"Deeply moving and profoundly suspenseful, When Your Mother Doesnt is the unforgettable story of two sisters navigating their way through loss and grief in search of love, and what it means to be a family. A very fine novel from an engaging voice." Carla Buckley, author of The Deepest Secret

"I devoured When Your Mother Doesn't in greedy gulps, fully steeped in this gripping story of three broken women who understand each other so little, yet are bonded by so much. Beautifully written and unflinching, this book is a gem." Kristina Riggle, author of Real Life & Liars

"A heart wrenching and poignant story about mothers and daughters and the secrets they keep. With a plot that twists and turns, Kelly masterfully weaves a compelling narrative which explores how abandonment and sacrifice play out against a backdrop of adversity. Told through multiple perspectives, the novel addresses the complex ways in which women are forced to protect themselves and their daughters. An interesting and provocative read that will have you guessing until the very end." Tamar Ossowski, author of Left

"Slowly peeling back the layers of a complicated set of relationships, Jill Kelly takes the reader on a journey of discovery with her compelling and artful new novel. This is a book full of secrets, loss, and moments of beauty. It will linger with you long after you've closed the final page." Alice Kuipers, author of Life on the Refrigerator Door

A vibrant voice, powerful and poignant. Jill Kelly weaves a compelling tale that will stay with you long after the final page. Colleen Faulkner, author of As Close As Sisters and Just Like Other Daughters

Author Bio

Jill Kelly is a writer, visual artist, creativity coach, and freelance editor. A long-time college professor of literature, she has been writing and publishing since 2002. Her memoir, Sober Truths: The Making of an Honest Woman, was a finalist for the prestigious Oregon Book Award. She is also the author of Fog of Dead Souls: A Thriller. Jill lives in Portland, Oregon, with her three cats. Connect with her at jillkellyauthor.com.