Acutely observed, sharp and absorbing – an insightful exploration of the pain and beauty of modern family ties. The page-turning new novel from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe.
With a coveted promotion dangling within reach, the last thing Addy Topic needs to do is waste precious time singing in Rookery Cove’s choir. But when she’s reminded how much music meant to her late mother, she can’t say no. The building pressure raises the ghosts that sent her running from Rookery Cove years earlier – memories she’s spent decades hiding from, silencing them with work, alcohol and sex.
For Stephanie Gallagher, Rookery Cove was meant to be a new beginning in the slow lane. A place where she and her husband, Henry, can embrace community, parenting their son Monty and evenly share the load. But the sea-change is changing everything, especially when Henry’s daughter comes to stay. How much longer can they survive as a family?
Brenda Lambeck is finding her feet after the death of her husband, and her move off their farm into town, when her best friend convinces her to join the choir. Beloved as a grandmother, Brenda is determined to mend the fraught relationship she has with her daughter, Courtney. But is that even possible when she continues to lie?
In the wake of a spectacular betrayal, three women are forced to face the uncompromising truths about the choices that have shaped their relationships with those they love most. The consequences will shatter their lives and all they hold dear. After such a disaster, is rebuilding even possible?
Fiona Lowe excels at delivering great Australian dramas with strong female protagonists – her stories are up there with Rachael Johns and Judy Nunn. Her last two novels were hugely popular at Better Reading. Just an Ordinary Family captivated readers with its depiction of family, friendship, secrets and betrayal in a small Victorian community. A Home Like Ours was a timely novel exploring prejudice and privilege in small town Australia.
With A Family of Strangers, she has once again delivered a beautifully rendered setting with Rookery Cove and filled the town with such compelling characters that you will feel like you’ve said goodbye to friends when you finish this novel. This time, Lowe examines issues around blended families, sexuality and alcohol consumption, weaving them into a moving and utterly enthralling look at family, friendship and life.
A Family of Strangers is a glorious, heart-warming tapestry of a novel that swept me up over a very wet weekend. I highly recommend this and all of Fiona Lowe’s novels.
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