The Peacock Emporium by Jo Jo Moyes
This book is not new but is newly availably in the U.S.
The story starts in the 1960s, when the beautiful, unpredictable, reckless Athene Forster is the talk of the town (London). Then the story jumps forward several years to her grown daughter Suzanne's orbit. Suzanne has always felt like she's living in the shadow of the mother she never knew. (She was raised by her father after her parents split up.) She's unhappy in general and restless in her marriage. Her husband Neil is a perfectly nice guy--who really wants them to have a baby. But she doesn't feel ready for motherhood yet. And Neil is kind of getting on her nerves. Instead, she convinces Neil to go along with her plan to open a fabulous shop called The Peacock Emporium. Business is slow at first until a personable local girl named Jessie shows up and becomes Suzanne's assistant and turns the shop into a popular destination. But for all her positive outlook, Jessie has troubles in her life that soon really begin to concern Suzanne. Then there's the handsome stranger who starts showing up at the shop.
The story kind of bounces around. The first narrator is Vivi, who has been in love with Douglas (Suzanne's father) her whole life, even though he fell for Athene. Then the story jumps to Argentina, where the new narrator is Alejandro, a male midwife, who eventually ends up living in the same small town in England where the Peacock Emporium is located. Then Suzanne starts narrating. At one point, even the guy who owns a neighboring shop narrates for a while. And there are flashbacks. It was a little confusing. Though it was an interesting story, this was not my favorite Jo Jo Moyes book. I much preferred One Plus One, Paris for One, Ship of Brides, and Me Before You.
The story starts in the 1960s, when the beautiful, unpredictable, reckless Athene Forster is the talk of the town (London). Then the story jumps forward several years to her grown daughter Suzanne's orbit. Suzanne has always felt like she's living in the shadow of the mother she never knew. (She was raised by her father after her parents split up.) She's unhappy in general and restless in her marriage. Her husband Neil is a perfectly nice guy--who really wants them to have a baby. But she doesn't feel ready for motherhood yet. And Neil is kind of getting on her nerves. Instead, she convinces Neil to go along with her plan to open a fabulous shop called The Peacock Emporium. Business is slow at first until a personable local girl named Jessie shows up and becomes Suzanne's assistant and turns the shop into a popular destination. But for all her positive outlook, Jessie has troubles in her life that soon really begin to concern Suzanne. Then there's the handsome stranger who starts showing up at the shop.
The story kind of bounces around. The first narrator is Vivi, who has been in love with Douglas (Suzanne's father) her whole life, even though he fell for Athene. Then the story jumps to Argentina, where the new narrator is Alejandro, a male midwife, who eventually ends up living in the same small town in England where the Peacock Emporium is located. Then Suzanne starts narrating. At one point, even the guy who owns a neighboring shop narrates for a while. And there are flashbacks. It was a little confusing. Though it was an interesting story, this was not my favorite Jo Jo Moyes book. I much preferred One Plus One, Paris for One, Ship of Brides, and Me Before You.
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