Review: A Place for Us
Michael and Brook Bostock live a life that other’s only dream of. Brook’s from a moneyed family but, along with her partner, has built a thriving event planning business. Michael has a business of his own selling his highly sought after handcrafted furniture. They have two children and after 9/11 decided to return to Michael’s hometown of Barnsbury, Massachusetts to raise them.
Things don’t go quite as well in Barnsbury as they anticipated and Brook and the kids struggle to fit in. When their son, Liam, gets in a little bit of trouble, Brook and Michael decide to send him to the prep school the males from Brook’s family have attended for years. Liam is due home for Christmas break but Michael and Brook have to go out of town for the night, so they hire a sitter to stay with their daughter, Tilly, until Liam and his friends arrive.
When the boys get there, they’ve already been drinking and using drugs and encourage the sitter to drink with them. Things get out of hand, and one of the boys attacks the sitter. Not only is Liam in trouble, the Bostocks are as well, because of the Social Host Liability law. Old grudges come into play and it seems the Bostocks idyllic life may be shattered.
A Place for Us, by Liza Gyllenhaal, takes readers for quite a ride! Full of tension and drama, it’s a thought provoking book that will leave readers (especially those with teens) with a lot to ponder. The Bostock family is threatened because of lies, misunderstandings, anger, and lack of communication. I wanted to shake almost all of them and tell them to get their act together. I was invested in their story, though, and needed to know how things would turn out. I really enjoyed this book – my only complaint with it is that things tied up a little too neatly at the end.
I think A Place for Us would make a great book club choice because it’s the kind of book readers will want to talk about. It’s full of relevant social issues that are sure to spark debate. There are discussion questions included in the back of the book.
Boy, a gathering of trouble when everything seems fine. I never have heard of that law. I like the cover of the book too.
See, it is because of books like this that always make me afraid when things are going too well! Still, reads like this are compulsively readable. Been hearing good things about this one.
Haven’t heard of this one, but it sounds good and I love the cover as well.
I *love* books that tie things up at the end! :–) Sounds good to me!
Sounds good! I just added it to my wish list.
I wasn’t sure about this one, but now I’m curious.
Love books like this! Can’t wait to read it.
O it does sound like it would be fun to discuss in a book club. Great review. I like the cover.
Wow, the cover gives off a different vibe of what the novel is about! I just finished Dare Me by Megan Abbott and those characters gave me fits, so I’d have to wait a bit to read this one.
This one would probably make for a really lively discussion at book club, and I can only imagine the reaction it would get, as most of the members have teenagers. It sounds like a fascinating story, and one that I would probably become enmeshed in very easily. I need to find this book!
Wow, what a situation for parents and their kids to find themselves in! Would not have gotten an idea of the story by looking at that book cover, though.
This does sound like a good choice for book clubs. Excellent review, Kathy!
Sounds really interesting-will put on my TBR list-thanks!
This does sound like a good one for book clubs. I love it when a book gives you lots to think about!
I don’t know if I could read a book where I want to shake the characters, and tell them to get their act together, too much of that in my own life, and I can’t shake anybody. But, thanks for the great review.
Haven’t heard of this one before but it does sound thought provoking, especially for parents of teenagers.
Awesome review..I love books like this one!
The name sounds familliar..must google
Life is definitely difficult for parents all around the world. This book deals with issues that most of us have to face at sometime or the other. Interesting reading.
This definitely has book club potential! I am really curious now about how this book will end.
I haven’t heard of this book before, but it does sound like there is a great deal going on.
This one does sound great…would it give me gray hair??? I have a teen
This one sounds good, I have not heard much about it. I do have a teenager so hope it doesn’t hit too close to home!
Sounds suspenseful. Ahhh teenagers !
This sounds like a book I would enjoy. Because of your review, it is going on my wishlist. Thank you for sharing.
Scary what parents are held responsible for, both good and bad.
Wish I belonged to a book club! This sounds like a great read (and a lovely cover, to boot!). And, I’m very glad I’m past the teenage-stage of parenting.