It is 2014, and in San Diego, CA, Aidan James and Molly Arnette are meeting with their social worker in preparation for being adoptive parents. After losing their birth daughter, Molly had a hysterectomy, and that loss has led to this frightening journey. Molly has many reasons for her fears, since she herself had an adoptive mother and a birth mother, both living in Swannanoa, NC, on a kind of compound called Morrison Ridge.
But Molly’s childhood is a secret to everyone who knows her, including Aidan. The lies have mounted up, however, as her fears grow through the adoptive process. Meeting the birth mother Sienna and worrying about her place in the child’s life, since they plan an “open” adoption, Molly must confront the past.
Pretending to Dance was an emotional journey for this reader. We follow Molly back into her past in alternate chapters, glimpsing her in 1990, as a fourteen year old girl during the “worst year of her life,” while also seeing the relationships she had with her adoptive mother Nora, her birth mother Amalia, and her beloved father Graham.
Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, Graham had reached a point in his disease that required constant assistance. He maintained a therapy practice, however, which he dubbed “pretend therapy,” otherwise known as Cognitive Behavioral Self-Intervention. “If you pretend you’re the sort of person you want to be, you will gradually become that person.”
How did Molly’s “worst summer ever” lead to twenty-four years away from Morrison Ridge and the family she had known and loved? What events caused her to distance herself from the past and build up a wall of secrets and lies? What was the significance of the “family meetings” held regularly during that last summer? How did Molly’s rebellions further sever her familial ties? And now, years later, would Molly finally make peace with the past?
To say that I absolutely loved this book would be an understatement. Glued to the pages, I laughed and wept with the characters who felt so real that I wish I could continue journeying with them. The end brought the kind of serenity I seek in a book, even as I didn’t know until the end how it would all come together. Recommended for fans of the author and for all who love great characters and a wonderful story. 5.0 stars.
***This e-ARC was received from the publisher via NetGalley.
Oh I am so excited for this one now. I have liked her other books but this sounds fantastic – Great review!
LikeLike
It was so good I couldn’t wait to get back to it whenever I had to put it down for some reason. Hope you love it, too, Grace.
LikeLike
I’m planning on trying this one. I wasn’t as pleased with the last book I read by this author, but this storyline appeals to me. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
I hope you love it, Kay…I’ve loved all of her books, but this one is up there with The Midwife’s Confession, IMO. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I have this one and it’s next or close too. I’m really excited as I’ve yet to read anything by Chamberlain. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read it!
LikeLike
I hope you love it, Katherine; other favorites of mine from this author are The Midwife’s Confession and Necessary Lies. Enjoy!
LikeLike
I liked NECESSARY LIES a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great Review.
The end was very emotional. I still can’t say it was a favorite, though. 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog
LikeLike
Thanks, Elizabeth, and I can see how some might not enjoy parts of this book. Glad you could stop by.
LikeLike
I do like Diane Chamberlain and have read a lot of her books. She is very good at seeing “inside” people I think. Thus sounds like one I would enjoy.
LikeLike
I completely agree, Emma…I think that ability so enhances each story she tells. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I am a new Chamberlain fan. Thanks for your great review. I’m going to add this to my ToRead list and recommend it to my bookclub when it is my turn to select a book.
LikeLike
Thanks, Pat, and I think it would be a perfect book club read, as there are so many perspectives that could be discussed.
LikeLike
Sounds like the perfect emotional read Laurel – I will look out for it when I can tuck up in bed for a day and enjoy 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Cleopatra, it is great when read while “tucked up” in bed! Glad you enjoyed the review.
LikeLike
So glad you loved it too … lovely review. This one and The Midwife’s Confession are my faves!
LikeLike
Yes! The Midwife’s Confession was the first I read by this author, and I agree…it was a favorite, along with Pretending to Dance. I also enjoyed Necessary Lies. Actually, I have liked all of her books, some more than others. Thanks for stopping by, Teddyree.
LikeLike