Review & Giveaway - - Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly

by Marie Bostwick

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: May 30, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Esme Cahill thinks she has failed spectacularly: fired from her New York City publishing job, divorced from her husband, and possessing little more than a broken-down car and a pile of unfinished manuscripts, she drives home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother, Adele, who had begged her, just before she died, to return to the place she grew up.

There she discovers the once-charming lakeside retreat run by her family is sliding toward financial ruin, so with the help of her grandfather, George; estranged mother, Robyn; and a travelling chef Dawes (maker of the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich) they set to work. In the attic, Esme unearths a trove of museum-worthy art quilts, sewn by Adele. Piecing together the inspiration behind them, Esme discovers a forgotten chapter in her family history and her grandmother’s untold story, that of a gifted artist who never received her due.

This is an always-emotional, sometimes humorous, very human novel of what it means to be family—the ties that bind us together and the unintentional hurts that can rend us apart. And, along the way, Esme learns that failure can be the first step toward the life you’re meant to find.

PJ's Thoughts:

Family, connections, following your dreams, starting over, and, sometimes, accepting that the path life leads you to, the one that brings you to true happiness, might not be the one you had planned. That's the premise of this new thought provoking, humorous, quintessentially southern, and deeply satisfying novel by Marie Bostwick. Like a tall glass of sweet tea, a front porch swing, and a sultry summer's day, I couldn't get enough. 

It's the characters who drive this book with a cast assembled by Bostwick that is intriguing, complex, relatable, and authentic. I happily immersed myself into their lives, celebrating their triumphs, mourning their losses, cringing, laughing, and shedding tears in more than a few places. Esme's relationship with her grandmother was lovingly portrayed and easily relatable. I was fascinated with Adele's (the grandmother) story as it emerged, the historical tie-in of which I was previously unaware, and the impact Adele's journey had on Esme's own life journey. George is the kind of grandfather I think we'd all enjoy having and the flashbacks to his love story with Adele were both entertaining and endearing. 

I appreciated the care Bostwick used in creating the characters in this book, the ones mentioned above as well as others who all have some type of role in this story. Even the ones that would appear at first glance to be the villains have complex layers, unseen challenges, and growth that reveal unexpected qualities, eventually leading to understanding, forgiveness, and mended relationships. 

The theme of family is strong in this book: biological family, found family, and chosen family. And, in one particularly poignant scene, Bostwick brings everything full circle, with caramel cake, from 10-year-old Esme and her grandmother to 33-year-old Esme and 4-year-old Hannah. It's a full-heart, tear-inducing, hopeful moment - one more layer of goodness on an already wonderful story.

Add in a backdrop of the soul-stirring, atmospheric beauty of Western North Carolina's mountains, streams, and waterfalls, the richly artistic and quirky vibe of Asheville, and the historical grandeur of the Biltmore Estate and I was well and truly hooked. Give this one a try. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

One note: don't be put off by the title of this book. While Esme does experience failures (many, many failures), this book is about growth, learning from one's experiences, and picking yourself up and starting over when things go wrong. It has good messages and a successful, happy conclusion. 

Have you read Marie Bostwick yet?

Have you ever visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC?

Do you quilt or engage in other artistic endeavors?

Have you ever had caramel cake? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, June 14 will receive a print copy of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18