In one life-altering law school class, four women of different backgrounds and beliefs were christened Bradwells, and afterwards became friends for years. Though life has taken each of them down different paths, of success and of failure, Mia, Betts, Laney, and Ginger have remained loyal to one another and to their friendship since that day. Now, with Betts about to be appointed to the Supreme Court, investigators have dug up the memories of one summer where a man committed suicide. All four women flee from the truth and end up on the island where it happened, where Ginger’s family lived in the summers, to try and face the facts of their past and work out how to grow from here as women and as friends.
The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton was released to favorable reviews nearly everywhere, so even though I hadn’t managed to read that one yet, I still jumped to get my hands on The Four Ms. Bradwells. I wasn’t quite sure what I expected from it when I started, but what I got was a tale about four strong women who have to face demons from their past – demons that many women face in their own private lives without the spotlight placed on these four. As such, it was a compelling and meaningful read with a lot of relevance for women’s lives.
The story is told mainly through flashbacks. All of the friends are together on the island trying to face what they’ve kept from the world for so long. As they experience the familiar scenery, they are reminded of the past and forced to reflect upon their lives. I liked how the novel touched deeply on the nature of female friendships, relationships, and family, how the women can love one another yet cause each other to suffer. We’re only given the past through these flashbacks, so at the beginning I had no idea what had happened. The actual events weren’t earth-shattering but were certainly moving and I felt for these characters and the pain they’d endured over the years.
There were things I didn’t like about the book as well, unfortunately. For one thing, I found it really hard to distinguish the women’s separate voices. I never take note of chapter headings and I more than once experienced the phenomenon of confusion as it turned out the perspective had switched and I hadn’t noticed. Ginger’s poetry and Laney’s Latin helped with this some but also got old as the novel wore on. I’d find someone who quoted Latin phrases or any poetry endlessly to be annoying in real life, too, so no surprise that happened here. And, finally, I understood that the said event was a terrible event for these women and their families, but I didn’t really see it as ‘dirt’ that would interest anyone about Betts’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Is it really that bad if you’re simply at a weekend party where a suicide happens? I know I wouldn’t have thought anything of it.
Overall, though, I did enjoy The Four Ms. Bradwells and it’s certainly a worthy read for other women. I also still intend to read The Wednesday Sisters as I have for at least a year now – soon I hope!
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I received this book for free for review.
I’ll have to try to remember to pay particular attention to the changing narrator when I read this book.
I have the same struggles at times when there are more than two or three narrators. Sounds like an intriguing book, though, so I’ll have to check it out!
Coffee and a Book Chick´s last post …VlogIm Going to BEA Shelf Awareness Reviewing And More
I just won this book and am excited about reading it. Though you had some problems with it, it sounds like it was a somewhat entertaining read. Great review!
zibilee´s last post …Arms Wide Open- A Midwife’s Journey by Patsy Harman — 324 pgs
I am in total agreement with your review. It sounds awful but I’m glad you mentioned your issues because I felt as if I were the only one that had that problem!
Julie P.´s last post …Review- Faith
I have Wednesday Sisters here in audio (I think in audio) and haven’t gotten around to it. Although I haven’t read The Four Ms Bradwells, I agree with your assessment of the “dirt” — how is this horrible for someone’s political career?
This book has been on my to-be-read list for a while, but reading your thoughts on the book makes me think that I won’t miss much by not reading it. I think I would likewise get annoyed at characters always quoting poetry/Latin. Its a pet peeve of mine too.
Nari @ The Novel World´s last post …Noteworthy Links 19
It’s interesting to me how many books are written about life-long female friends. Definitely a recurring theme. And it must say something (maybe about my selective memory) that the books I can recall about male friends are mostly about them getting into trouble or doing something criminal together.
I haven’t read the book, but that doesn’t really sound like much in the way of dirt. Unless they were somehow involved in the suicide, I can’t see what effect it would have.
I really liked this book but I can totally see your disagreements with it. I think, at first, the voices held much more for me and then they all seemed to blend together.
Pam (@iwriteinbooks)´s last post …BTT- Age Appropriate
I got this one from the library, but had to return it unread. I’m not sure i”ll try to get it again — sounds like it’s good, but not amazing?
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