I Liked My Life: A Novel

by Abby Fabiaschi Narrated by Susan Bennett, Dan Bittner, Therese Plummer

Overview

“An emotional journey of love, loss, healing, and redemption. I rooted for every character.” -Lisa See, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Snow Flower and The Secret Fan

“I Liked My Life is a treasure of a novel. Warm-hearted and clever, the story will keep you reading until the final delicious revelation.” -Diane Chamberlain, New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author

“Warm and hopeful, this marvelous debut stands next to novels from Catherine McKenzie and Carolyn Parkhurst.” -Booklist (starred)

A story from debut author Abby Fabiaschi that is "as absorbing as it is illuminating, and as witty as it is heartbreaking."

Maddy is a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother, host of excellent parties, giver of thoughtful gifts, and bestower of a searingly perceptive piece of advice or two. She is the cornerstone of her family, a true matriarch...until she commits suicide, leaving her husband Brady and teenage daughter Eve heartbroken and reeling, wondering what happened. How could the exuberant, exacting woman they loved disappear so abruptly, seemingly without reason, from their lives? How they can possibly continue without her? As they sift through details of her last days, trying to understand the woman they thought they knew, Brady and Eve are forced to come to terms with unsettling truths.

Maddy, however, isn't ready to leave her family forever. Watching from beyond, she tries to find the perfect replacement for herself. Along comes Rory: pretty, caring, and spontaneous, with just the right bit of edge...but who also harbors a tragedy of her own. Will the mystery of Maddy ever come to rest? And can her family make peace with their history and begin to heal?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"A heartbreaking and ultimately heartwarming read about life, death, and family." —PopSugar, A Best Winter 2017 Book

“First-time novelist Abby Fabiaschi unwinds a tale wholly compelling, altogether believable and, at times, so heartbreaking it’s hard to believe she isn’t already an established author. ...an impossible-to-put-down and impressive debut.” —Associated Press

“Readers will be enveloped by the emotional impact of Fabiaschi’s writing. Warm and hopeful, this marvelous debut stands next to novels from Catherine McKenzie and Carolyn Parkhurst in taking the reader on the emotional rides that define marriage and family.” —Booklist (starred)

“Debut author Fabiaschi’s even tone and her characters’ bright intelligence inspire empathy... [and] explore the main theme: tragedy often has no reason, and those experiencing it must contend with the reasonlessness as well as the loss.... An earnest effort from a natural storyteller.” —Kirkus

“An absolutely stunning book! I Liked My Life is a layered tale with meaningful things to say about life, death, grief and moving forward after tragedy…remarkable.” —RT Reviews

“Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, this hard-to-put-down, engrossing debut will have readers wondering until the very end. It examines life and death, despair and faith, parenthood and marriage, the choices we make, and, most of all, love—making it a perfect choice for book clubs.” —Library Journal (starred)

"I Liked My Life nonetheless is an affirmation of love and the ability to survive grief and find joy again. Book clubs in particular will take delight in the wealth of emotion to ponder from this talented new voice.” —Shelf Awareness

“Abby Fabiaschi’s irresistible voice drew me in from the start. I Liked My Life is the smart, good-hearted story of a family’s loss and healing that pushed me to think as often as it made me smile.” —Eleanor Brown, New York Times bestselling author of The Weird Sisters

“Abby Fabiaschi’s provocative new novel I Liked My Life has so much of everything that you will ache for and fear for the main character—but never forget her.” —Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean

“I Liked My Life is as absorbing as it is illuminating, and as witty as it is heartbreaking. A truly un-put-down-able read.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of Flight Patterns

“So vivid, gripping, and flat-out spectacular that I actually dreamt about this novel the night after I read it. It’s that good. If you’re looking for a book to fall in love with, a book that will make you think and cry and feel hopeful, please pick up this one.” —Sarah Pekkanen, internationally bestselling author of The Opposite of Me and The Perfect Neighbors

“Once I started, I couldn't stop turning pages. A novel about mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, life and death, guilt and forgiveness all bonded together in love that defies the grave: family. Abby Fabiaschi skillfully balances humor and heartache. An irresistible read.” —Sarah McCoy, New York Times and international bestselling author of The Mapmaker’s Children

“An utterly satisfying, beautifully written, absolutely unforgettable debut novel that will make you laugh, cry, and remember to hug those you love.” —Kristin Harmel, internationally bestselling author of The Sweetness of Forgetting and The Life Intended

“What happens when a woman who seemingly had it all ends her life? A reeling husband and daughter are left to pick up the pieces in this emotion-packed novel that keeps you guessing until the final, satisfying chapter. In her debut, Fabiaschi masterfully avoids overwrought sentimentality, digging to the heart of what matters in life, love and death.” —Colleen Oakley, author of the Indie Next bestseller Before I Go

“Abby Fabiaschi’s debut novel, I Liked My Life, is a rich, multi-layered story about family and the enormous power of love. A compelling read that challenges what we know about ourselves and the people who love us.” —National bestselling author Mia King

“Fans of Liane Moriarty will fall in love with this unpredictable tale!” —Robin O’Bryant, New York Times bestselling author of Ketchup is a Vegetable

MARCH 2017 - AudioFile

Listeners won't want to miss this surprisingly positive yet truthful novel. Teenager Eve and her father, Brady, struggle to understand why seemingly happy mother-and-wife Maddy committed suicide. Susan Bennett's soft, gentle voice is perfect for Maddy's sections, and her self-assured narration highlights the character's practicality as she questions her circumstances and tries to make things right with the family members she left behind. Thérèse Plummer's youthful pitch and varied tone, from trembly to sassy, believably project Eve's roller-coaster emotions and changing perspective on how to live a full life. Dan Bittner's performance teases out Brady's guilt, anger, and insecurities as he reviews his married life and attempts to create a new future. All three performances are strong, creating a seamless listening experience. C.B.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171837549
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	01/31/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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