This is part of my Summer Reads series where I’ll be sharing book recommendations – a series of “not just cookbooks”.
This summer, I’m excited to join Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge – “The Book Odyssey” and over the course of the summer I will be receiving and reviewing a few books selected by Book Sparks over on Instagram and some of which will find their way here too!
This week, my Summer Reads pick is a short read but totally compelling and a perfect beach or travel read.
From the publisher:
The Perkins family has problems. They’re scattered across the globe. Lee, a glamorous reality-TV star, is struggling with her mental health in the spotlight. Regan, her younger sister, has fallen for a romance scammer. Cord, their charming brother, is one drink away from losing it all. And their mother, Charlotte, still longs for the love she let slip away a decade ago, a lover who sailed off with her heart to a remote island in Greece.
When Regan disappears, Lee flies first-class to Athens to save her family—again. There, against the glittering Mediterranean and the shadow of the Acropolis, Lee contends with emotional nieces, relentless paparazzi, and her own fragile heart. Lee is desperately searching—for her sister, and for the hope and joy she thought was gone forever.
Across continents and crises, each member of the Perkins family must face the same question: is it ever too late to choose love?
Featuring characters from Ward’s bestselling novel The Jetsetters, Arrivals and Departures is brimming with humor, honesty, and hope. It’s the story of a family finding the courage to say the only words that can save us—I love you.
I’ll admit that when I read the blurb for this one, I was concerned that I because I hadn’t read The Jetsetters, this might not make sense but actually it turned out that this works well as a stand-alone read.
This is the story of a broken family, finding their way back to themselves. Though they are/ were quite a glamourous family, Arrivals and Departures shows us the painful side of the “jetsetting life” – Regan, who goes missing at the start of the book, is divorced and living with her two daughters in Athens. Her disappearance is the key point around which all the sub plots revolve. Sister, Lee, who has fallen from grace as a reality TV star is on constant watch for depression – she’s looking for a way to end it all. Brother Cord is battling alcohol addiction and a crumbling relationship. Mother Charlotte is living in a gated community ostensibly living her best life but also watching Lee who is living with her as she recovers from a mental health episode. So yeah, a few trigger warnings, for sure, though the subjects are sensitively handled.
I read this book in a couple of hours on a bus and plane journey and was absolutely engrossed. The chapters are short and compelling and while it’s not a true mystery novel, it’s definitely a page turner as we not only strive to figure out what happened to Regan (spoiler: online romance scamming situation) but as we watch each family member work through difficult situations – both personal and family-related – to eventually realise that what’s the most important thing is right in front of them – family.
A fabulous read – and yes, I’m going back to read The Jetsetters now!
Buy Arrivals and Departures on Amazon (this affiliate link should bring you to the Amazon store in, or closest to, your country).
For free worldwide shipping, find Arrivals and Departures on Blackwell’s.
Support your local Indie bookstore and purchase Arrivals and Departures on Bookshop.org.
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Please note: This post contains affiliate links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post also contains affiliate links for Blackwell’s and Bookshop.org. This means that if you click over and purchase something, I will receive a very small percentage of the purchase price (at no extra cost to you). Thank you in advance!
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Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not receiving any compensation for reviewing the book. Neither the author nor the publisher reviewed this post prior to publication. All opinions are my own.
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