Review: Hello From the Gillespies by Monica McInerney

Overview:

For the past thirty-three years, Angela Gillespie has sent to friends and family around the world an end-of-the-year letter titled “Hello from the Gillespies.” It’s always been cheery and full of good news. This year, Angela surprises herself—she tells the truth....

The Gillespies are far from the perfect family that Angela has made them out to be. Her husband is coping badly with retirement. Her thirty-two-year-old twins are having career meltdowns. Her third daughter, badly in debt, can’t stop crying. And her ten-year-old son spends more time talking to his imaginary friend than to real ones.

Without Angela, the family would fall apart. But when a bump on the head leaves Angela with temporary amnesia, the Gillespies pull together—and pull themselves together—in wonderfully surprising ways....

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Review:

 

When we meet the family, each is at a crossroads, and all roads seem to lead back home. With Outback Australia as the backdrop, each Gillespie struggles to find their way, and enter the next chapter in their lives. After a freak accident, mom-Angela- finds she can't quite remember who is she. Her husband and children must band together to set things right, and in doing so, they begin to find themselves.

I found the Gillespies to be an utterly charming bunch, and was quite sad to part with them after nearly 600 pages. At its core Hello From the Gillespies was a story about family. About how dreams change, and the realization that you don't have to be perfect to be happy.