Innocence
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Book Overview
From New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Tessaro comes a poignant, funny, and unforgettable story of real life, real love, and fantasy--and the changes they put you through.
1986. Starry-eyed and ready to take the world by storm, Evie Garlick leaves her small town of Eden, Ohio, to study drama in London, intent on becoming a star of the classical stage. But when she arrives in England, it quickly becomes clear she's way out of her element--and completely unprepared for what fate has in store for her.
Luckily, her new flatmate, the larger-than-life Robbie, immediately takes the bewildered Evie under her wing. Glamorous and bohemian, Robbie's unorthodox Greenwich Village upbringing and reckless lust for life both dazzle and astonish Evie. Soon the drama offstage in their small student flat is more exciting than any Broadway play. And when Evie meets Jake, a defiantly self-assured young musician bent on two things--success and her--she finds herself suddenly in far too deep, painfully in love, out of control, and yet thrillingly alive, questioning everything about herself--and her dreams.
2001. Robbie has been dead for five years, and Evie, now a single mother, is still living in London. Resigned to earning a living by teaching drama to night students, her life bears little resemblance to the one she'd imagined for herself fifteen years ago. Her carefully ordered routine and beloved son help to keep the memories and regrets at bay--most of the time. But when the past pays Evie a visit, she's forced to confront the ambitious young woman she used to be and re-examine the choices she made...and those she couldn't--in order to claim a new future.
Customer Reviews
Rated 5 starsLoved it
I loved the way this book flashed betweeen the past and present day. It left you wondering how things turned out the way they did, keeping the mystery alive until the last few pages of the book. I loved the two main characters, Evie and Jake. My only criticism would be that there were so many supporting characters, it was difficult to keep track of who they were. This is the first of Tessaro's books that I've read and...
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Rated 5 starsI Liked It
It seems unfortunate that Kathleen Tessaro's Innocence has been labeled as "chick lit." The book goes far deeper than most of the novels in that genre: Evie Garlick is not a girl who shops and diets while she waits for Mr. Right, but a single mother who's taken some wrong turns and made bad choices and who's now, in her thirties, living a life much smaller than the one her talents deserve. Her flamboyant friend comes back...
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Rated 5 starsterrific character study
When Evie Garlick left Eden, Ohio for London she dreamed of becoming the toast of the town as a stage actress. However, she never achieves her aspirations settling for teaching as she rationalizes that she gave up ambition to raise her son as a single mom. Lately she dreams of her late dearest friend Robbie, who came from New York when she did. He lived life to the fullest until he died in a car accident. In her dreams...
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Rated 5 starsExcellent - MORE PLEASE
This book received rave reviews in the UK (where I live) and I am shocked at the US reviews. As an English Woman I think the author has captured completely the life of a foreigner in our shores. I devoured this book over Christmas and can't wait for the next one. If you think this isn't good I would love to know what you are reading!
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Rated 5 starsA must read for anyone who has ever gone chasing a dream
As the title implies, Innocence is about three young women in London, learning about themselves as they leave home for the first time and attend acting school. Fourteen years later, as Evie faces a turning point in her life, she flashbacks to the days of "innocence" that lead her to where she is today. When she is on the mark, Kathleen Tessaro writes prose you want to roll your tongue around and savour like fine wine. It...
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