REVIEW: REDESIGNING ROSE, BY LYDIA LACEBY

 

 

 

When Rose unexpectedly stumbles upon a big lie told by her husband Frank, she begins searching for clues. What else might he be hiding?

And when she discovers the extent of his deception, she is sick with fear about how she has missed the signs all these years.

Packed up and fleeing the house, she has no plan. Where is she going? How will she manage on her own?

It was easy to connect with Rose’s panic and to worry a little about how she would fare. So when she serendipitously meets up with a friend from her gardening club, who offers her a place to stay until she figures things out, I felt relieved. Betsy has some issues left over from her marriage, too, and as we learn more, it is evident that both women are struggling to make better choices.

It took sheer guts for Rose to make this bold move…and because her “Frank habit” was long-standing, she was tempted to go back. More than once. Thinking she could change him…or he would change. The struggle to change was realistic, since nobody can learn new behaviors without a few stumbles.

In the aftermath, Rose’s journey to building a new life felt real and like something that could actually happen. Her friends and her mother were supportive, and she slowly begins making better choices for her life. As she flounders in a new relationship, it was encouraging to see how she spotted the red flags sooner. Like in real life, stumbling, falling, and then changing.

Redesigning Rose was an engaging read, recommended for those who enjoy books about relationships and issues. 4.0 stars.