Esme Cahill believes she has failed-at life, love, friends, and her career. Her grandmother, Adele, calls her to come to Asheville, NC so she can tell her something. But, before she can, Adele dies. Esme finds the lodge resort that her grandparents own is in disrepair. Her grandfather, George, and her mother, Robyn, can't fix it without her. Esme agrees to help for 3 months.
Adele had synesthesia, heightening her sense of colors. Esme starts seeing things, and finds a long lost memory and story about Adele. Adele had helped move art from the National Gallery to the Biltmore for safe storage during WWII. The kindness of Adele and George were a lifeline for Esme.
Esme finds her way in NC, with the help of family and friends.
A sweet story of love, family, redemption. ( )

*sweet, emotional, feel-good book
*makes you ponder the meaning of family and how you live your life
*well-written and easy to read
*strong character development
*highly recommend ( )

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick
Contemporary women’s fiction. Chick lit.
Esme Cahill returns home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother. She feels leaving New York’s publishing industry as a failure of her lifelong goals. She finds the once charming lakeside retreat is run down, sad, and closer to financial ruin. Esme, her mother and grandfather come up with a plan to do the repairs themselves, and renew the retreat for the future. While working on repairs and reorganizing, Esme finds quilts her grandmother made and untold stories of her life. Esme starts putting together a history that needs to be shared.

Family is a large part of this book, both related and made. The residents ban together for a common goal. She finds that she didn’t fail at life at all. It’s simply a different chapter now in life.

Emotional, strengthening, and a reminder that a moment in time is not a whole life. ( )

This book contains a favorite trope of mine – a young woman “fails spectacularly” at something in her current life and returns to the smalltown home she couldn’t wait to leave years ago, where she reunites with her family. In this novel Esme Cahill has been summoned to Ashville, North Carolina by the beloved grandmother who raised her. But she returns home just after her grandmother has died. She discovers her grandmother’s unique and gorgeous handmade quilts stored away in the attic. She reconnects with her mother and they both help her grandfather renovate the once charming lakeside retreat where they all live.

There are many layers to this novel, including her grandmother’s story, the healing of Esme and her mother’s relationship, her grandfather’s failing health, and Esme discovering her life’s purpose: “Home, family, friends, career – it was all right there. Everything I’d always wanted.”

I liked the inclusion of the history of the Vanderbilts’ Biltmore mansion, which I had also read about in another novel, "The Wedding Veil." A visit to The Biltmore is on my bucket list. The description of the grandmother’s quilts was also captivating, as they were strikingly extraordinary.

There were two things that knocked off a star for me: the book’s title and the behavior of one of the characters. The title didn’t suit the story’s style, and seemed to promise that Esme was an impulsive, over-the-top main character. Instead she was intelligent, thoughtful, and someone who tried to do the right thing. The one aspect of odd behavior was of Dawes, the chef and possible romantic interest. Why didn’t he just explain why he had to leave instead of disappearing at a crucial time? (I know that’s vague, but no spoilers).

Despite these complaints, this is a story worth reading. I also recommend one of Bostwick’s earlier novels, "The Restoration of Celia Fairchild" – both are feel-good women’s fiction with levels of meaning and discovery as the character grows into her life.

This is a heartwarming story of family, memories, forgiveness, and the concept that “failure can be the first step toward the life you’re meant to find.” You will be glad you read this one. ( )

I'm giving this book 5 stars because the title itself deserves it! I'm not giving anything away by saying Esme does implode, but it wouldn't be a great story if she didn't then spectacularly pick herself up, along with many others, and try again! I've read a few of Marie Bostwick's books and have three others on my TBR shelf but this one just wouldn't sit and wait it's turn. She is a wonderful writer. ( )