A Mother Like Mine

The third volume in Hewitt's "Hartley-by-the-Sea" series (after Rainy Day Sisters and Now and Then Friends), this novel focuses on relationships between mothers and daughters. Abby Rhodes has returned to the small village in England's Lake District where she grew up, and to her grandmother, who raised her. She's brought along her young son, and her plan is to help her grandmother run their family café. But into this seemingly perfect setup comes Laura, Abby's estranged mother, who now plans to stay in Hartley-by-the-Sea permanently. Laura is seeking a reconciliation, and after many ups and downs, including death and disasters, this family finds some common ground to stand on to look toward the future. Hewitt is prolific, with over 40 novels published, and it shows in her ability to construct a solid story and maintain related characters across books. While somewhat predictable, the plot here is eventful, and the conclusion is emotionally satisfying.