I received a copy of Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn for an honest review.

I loved this book!

I think this book is about friendship, strength and courage. The character Sheila struggles with her relationship that comes to an abrupt end and her inability to move on was something we could all relate to in some form. I fell in love with Ruth, her elderly neighbour. Oh, what can we learn from listening to the voice of experience is astounding. The characters are so rich it was so easy to be drawn into the emotions that this book evokes.

This book was so heartwrenching at some points, but the ultimate message was no matter how things may seem in your own life – it could always be so much worse. There were parts of this book that I actually sobbed and some parts that totally brought a smile to my face.

Courage, friendship and life and hope. How friendships can enrich a life.
( )

I received a copy of Finding Out by Sheryn MacMunn for an honest review.

I loved this book!

I think this book is about friendship, strength and courage. The character Sheila struggles with her relationship that comes to an abrupt end and her inability to move on was something we could all relate to in some form. I fell in love with Ruth, her elderly neighbour. Oh, what can we learn from listening to the voice of experience is astounding. The characters are so rich it was so easy to be drawn into the emotions that this book evokes.

This book was so heartwrenching at some points, but the ultimate message was no matter how things may seem in your own life – it could always be so much worse. There were parts of this book that I actually sobbed and some parts that totally brought a smile to my face.

Courage, friendship and life and hope. How friendships can enrich a life.
( )

Finding Out is witty, gritty and fun chick lit novel mixed with a compelling and engrossing fiction novel. I can honestly say that I have not read a book of this mix before and I LOVED it. There are so many thing that I loved about it so I am just going to list them.

1. The amazing characters. There is a character to love, one to cheer for, one you want to become friends with and so many more. I just loved Ruth and was so enthralled by her history and resilience I think that anyone that is struggling can learn a lot from her. That no matter how bad it is, it could be SO much worse. She gave Shelia (the protagonist) so much loving and caring advise in such a subtle and knowledgeable way. I just wanted to be in Ruth house eating lunch and talking.

Here is some of Ruth's wonderful wisdom:

"....But I do know if you keep living for other people, you'll never find out. (p. 241, MacMunn). This is Ruth's advise to Sheila regarding the direction Sheila's life should go. For some reason it really stuck a chord with me.

Also:

'The miracle will happen when you start moving toward it. It won't just be laid at your feet, Shelia. You have to work for it one step at a time. And steps don't even have to be perfect. You just have to take the action and learn from it. You do that and one day you'll realize you're in the middle of your miracle," Ruth said. (p. 283, MacMunn) . Isn't she a gem!!!

Well besides Ruth, here are some other noteworthy points about Finding Out....
2. The novel was written amazingly.
3. The novel has a simple yet PERFECT cover.
4. We can hope that MacMunn has more brilliant stories to share with the world.
5. It is a MUST read and a great book club pick.
6. After writing this review I realize I need to change my 4 star review to a 5 star!!!!
7. Read this book! ( )

Thirty-six year old New York sales executive Sheila Davenport gets dumped by Joe, her boyfriend of seven years, for another woman in a very public and humiliating way, on the sidewalk in front of their Manhattan co-op. To add insult to injury, Joe has taken more than half of their assets, leaving her severely in debt and with a hefty mortgage payment. Just when she thinks her life was on track, Sheila's world has crashed down around her, and to make matters even worse, her boss from hell has put her in charge of training an obnoxious, privileged, and unqualified snot named Crystal. Unsure of what to do with her life, an unexpected friend in the form of her elderly eighty-six year old neighbor Ruth Grey reaches out to her, and as their close friendship develops, Ruth provides Sheila wisdom, guidance, and a new perspective on how to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life.

Finding Out is a poignant story of two women who form an unlikely and heartwarming intergenerational friendship based on wisdom, inspiration, strength and courage to learn how to survive and overcome life's challenges, and gain a new perspective on what matters most in life.

In her debut novel, author Sheryn MacMunn weaves a captivating tale written in the third person narrative, with alternating timelines between the present day New York City and flashbacks to 1938 WWII Germany. The seamless intertwining of Sheila and Ruth's lives is a compelling and emotional tale of love, loss, hope, survival and redemption.

The author effortlessly moves the story from the present day struggles that Sheila and Ruth have in their lives, to Ruth's stories sharing her past history and her family's life and death struggle living in Germany during WWII, and back to the present. You can't help but get drawn into these two women's lives, but for me it is Ruth that simply captured my heart with her inspirational telling of her life story. Ruth's survival during WWII and her ability to follow her dreams inspires Sheila and empowers her to rebuild her life. As Ruth says, "miracles are waiting but you have to find them and make them your own." That my friends is simply the most inspirational and empowering message that can lift a person up from despair, give them hope and new perspective on life, and what matters the most.

Finding Out is an inspirational and heartwarming story of two women from different generations in life, who through self-discovery learn what true happiness in life is really all about. This story is a must read, it is an amazing story that is thought provoking, and will resonate with you long after the last words have been read!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/03/finding-out-by-sheryn-macmunn-... ( )