Table For Five

by Susan Wiggs

As this book begins, we are introduced to Lily, a schoolteacher about to have a tough parent-teacher conference with her best friend, Crystal,and Crystal's ex-husband, Derek. In this brief introduction we discover that Lily is a very dedicated teacher, but still tries to keep the line that keeps her from becoming too involved in her students lives. The meeting doesn't go very well, and the fighting couple leave without any resolution. After leaving the meeting, Crystal and Derek meet a tragic end, and suddenly there are three children left without parents.

Enter Uncle Sean. Sean is a single bachelor golf-player who is living the single life to the fullest. Sean becomes single dad overnight, and resigns to put his career as a PGA golfer on hold for his nieces and nephew.

Lily has been in these children's lives since they were born, and decides to help Sean in whatever way possible, despite having doubts in his parenting ability. As this motley group of people move along in the grieving process, we begin to see hope and life after tragedy begin to unfold. The story concludes in predictable fashion, but shows that even amidst death, love can triumph.

As a Mom, this story was heart wrenching. The grief of the children at losing two parents was very well-done and realistic. I found myself full of tears at more than one occasion, and often found it difficult to continue reading. Continue I did, and I was rewarded for my efforts. While this book was overwhelmingly predictable, the characters were very well done and I found myself engrossed in their intertwined lives. This book accurately portrayed the grieving process, and it was engaging to see how each character dealt with it in a different way.

I definitely recommend this novel if you're in the mood for a good cry. I was moved to tears several times throughout the book and couldn't put it down until it was finished. Definitely read with a box of tissue nearby, but overall it was a very satisfying read, and I would love to see another book that furthers the story of this little family.