The Good House by Ann Leary

 

Synopsis(via Goodreads):

Ann Leary's The Good House tells the story of Hildy Good, who lives in a small town on Boston’s North Shore. Hildy is a successful real-estate broker, good neighbor, mother, and grandmother. She’s also a raging alcoholic. Hildy’s family held an intervention for her about a year before this story takes place—“if they invite you over for dinner, and it’s not a major holiday,” she advises “run for your life”—and now she feels lonely and unjustly persecuted. She has also fooled herself into thinking that moderation is the key to her drinking problem.

As if battling her demons wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Hildy soon finds herself embroiled in the underbelly of her New England town, a craggy little place that harbors secrets. There’s a scandal, some mysticism, babies, old houses, drinking, and desire—and a love story between two craggy sixty-somethings that's as real and sexy as you get. An exceptional novel that is at turns hilarious and sobering, The Good House asks the question: What will it take to keep Hildy Good from drinking? For good.

 This insomniac's opinion:

I very much enjoyed this novel. However, I think this is likely one of those polarizing reads- either the reader will love it or hate it. Hildy is not a likeable character at all. Every time I felt that I was beginning to become endeared to her, she would do something selfish or cruel. The novel was a long downward spiral of an alcoholic that is in deep denial and will sacrifice her entire life to keep drinking. I felt it was a brutally honest portrayal of alcoholism.

Worth staying up all night to read?

I do think this novel is worth reading. However, the slow pace of the novel is likely not conducive to late night reading.

Rating: 4 stars