Kindred Spirits
Written by Sarah Strohmeyer
Narrated by Barbara McCulloh
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
Sarah Strohmeyer
Sarah Strohmeyer is a bestselling and award-winning novelist whose books include The Secrets of Lily Graves, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True, Smart Girls Get What They Want, The Cinderella Pact (which became the Lifetime Original Movie Lying to Be Perfect), The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives, Sweet Love, and the Bubbles mystery series. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Boston Globe. She lives with her family outside Montpelier, Vermont.
More audiobooks from Sarah Strohmeyer
Do I Know You?: A Novel of Suspense Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Penny Pinchers Club Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Kindred Spirits
51 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kindred Spirits is a story of mutuality--the title is perfect! Both characters have experencied considerable testing and come together with lots of baggage, but also with much to offer one another. This is a lovely story. I recommend it!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Okay, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a great ending...and that's what Strohmeyer delivers.
The beginning and middle hummed along with enough to keep me interested, but the last third of the book packed a punch that tipped my rating from three to four stars.
If you're looking for a cross between The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and a quite love-conquers-all story, then Kindred Spirits is the perfect book for you. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Read this book because I liked the idea of friends who stick by each other through thick and thin. Strohmeyer does not disappoint. The friendship thread is strong throughout the book. Starts out a bit sad. Moves into roadtrip storyline. Since I have already read some books in the author's "Bubbles" series, I knew she was going to pepper the story with humor. The characters were all likable and all different. What I liked about these ladies' friendships is that there is no cattiness between them. Very light and pleasant read. Left me happy and wishing I had a group of friends in my life like the "Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis". I will say that I did not care for the ending scene. That one, I thought was a bit far fetched tied-up-neat-into-a-bow precious. As a warning, if you are bothered by alcohol use, you may not find the book to your liking.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5rabck from dvg; After the death of Lynne due to cancer, the 3 remaining women reconvene on a road trip to fulfill Lynne's last wish - to find the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was 18yo, a fact that none of her friends knew about. And the friends have some issues to wrestle with on their own. What about Beth's marriage? Should Mary Kay stay with and marry the younger man? And should Carol continue in her post-divorce direction? Or is there hope to rekindle her romance with her ex?
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5I decided to try this author out because she was a reviewer of Liane Moriarty's books, which I happen to greatly enjoy. I figured they would be similar, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Strohmeyer's characters who she, at one point, noted how different they were from each other, could have been the same person, just wearing different clothes. I didn't like any of them, nor did I dislike any of them. The plot was dull and predictable. I literally found myself rolling my eyes and shaking my head at one part of the story. I believe the sentence was something along the lines of "and it [referring to a martini] needs to be strong. Because we're strong". Sorry to sound so juvenile, but gag me. I'm done with Strohmeyer.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Typical Chick Lit. Pleasant, easy read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I thought Strohmeyer did a great job in this multi-character story without being to sappy about the one that passed away. The remaining members of the Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis are called upon to finish Lynne's final request. This sends them not only on a physical road trip but also on personal ones. The changes in the three friends are sometimes subtle, but seem very real for women close to fifty who are re-evaluating where they want to be in life.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5With many things in common it’s understandable how “The Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis” came to be for Lynne, Mary Kay, Beth and Carol when on a fateful PTA meeting night they became friends and eventually confidantes. It’s with a heavy heart that Lynne celebrates her last Martini as she finishes the letters that will take her friends on a journey of discovery.Mary Kay, Beth and Carol find it hard to complete Lynne’s last wish as they reel from her death. But the reeling isn’t done, in fact it’s just beginning. Lynne’s been keeping a secret one that will leave the remaining friends not only scratching their heads, but also running for the drink shaker. As they start on their trip of revelation they will not only learn more about Lynne but about themselves as well and not all of it’s good because Lynne isn’t the only one keeping secrets.Sarah Strohmeyer is a new author to me and I found her storyline well thought out and presented and her dialogue easy to understand and flowing. I think what surprised me the most was that even though I found myself not liking two of the main characters I still couldn’t put the book down. It came to me then that, this is the mark of a good writer, one where even though you want to strangle the character you’re still driven to find out where the story leads you. And as we evolve as readers this is an important lesson to learn. So let’s talk about the characters, Ms. Strohmeyer does a great job of cultivating these women so that her audience feels they know them personally and I did as well and even though there were some choices that I had trouble with, isn’t that the way of life. She also paints a great picture of the co-stars so that by the end of the story I felt that I knew everyone very well.So is this a love story, yes, but not as a romance. It’s a love of friends, of children and in the end a love of yourself, there is romantic love as well but it’s peripheral. It’s a great way to start the summer, it’s a Lucy and Ethel, a Golden Girls only younger, it’s a Thelma and Louise times two only not fatal friendship tale. It’s a lesson in life, a lesson in love and a lesson in the grace of absolution. So if you love any of these descriptions you will love this book and even if you don’t you’ll find it hard to put this away before it ends and you’ll find yourself going back to it again and again.Thank you Ms. Strohmeyer for an enlightening read and I look forward to more of your work in the future.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5its nice to step into the warm circle of friendship that books like this offer unabashedly to their readers. It's nice....especially if you have no immediate group of intimate friends at your disposal. (I mean in person....you my virtual friends are another story altogether. ^_^) The bonds of friendship (both good and bad) create a work of living art to be cherished by all parties (and envied by others)...and so it is here in this stunning tale of resilience laid bare before us by true friends in every sense of the word. Lynne was their strength, their mother figure and giver of sage wisdom though she definitely knew how to let her hair down and go with the flow. Beth was their kindness, always seeing the good in people and situations and trying to bring it out of them ten fold. Mary Ann was their drive, pushing everyone behind the scenes or forcibly if necessary to reach their goals. Carol was their determination, making sure everyone followed through in the end to create the best version of themselves to show the world. Separately they lived amazing lives and were better for the time spent finding themselves, but together they formed a group of women that could have a good time and were there for each other come what may. A story of life, love, and the amazing connections we forge along the way with those we surround ourselves with, author Sarah Strohmeyer allows us to become honorary members of the Ladies Society for the Conservation of Marshfield...or as they newly dub themselves, Martini's....and just kick back with the girls. It's not an easy task set before those left behind, and certainly not one with a purely selfish result in mind, but it will uncover more than one truth, more than one revelation along the way. After all, we may know ourselves, or rather think we do, but our friends, those truly close to our hearts, can shed a light on the darkest corners and show us things for better or worse we never would have known. The tone in which the story is told, especially the heart breaking sadness mixed with a sense of triumph in the beginning chapters is very moving. As it turns out, the characters experience to some degree reflected a bit of the author's real life acquaintances as they too struggled with a life-threatening illness. Though in real life, the ending was not their choice (may they rest in peace), the quiet resolve and determined nature to see things set right is authentic to this readers eyes and heart. Her friends are true blue and their dedication to her memory knows no bounds. I especially liked how they chose to remember her as well as mark her day of passing in another way later on in the text proving that while life does go on, our memories stay with us forever.In summary, it's a wonderful novel filled with all the ups and downs life can throw your way, and a great reminder to choose carefully when considering who to travel that roller coaster ride with. You'll learn a thing or two about martinis, both the making and their various useful occasions, but you'll you'll leave thankful for the connections you've made in your life so far and those yet to join you on your journey. If that wan't enough, I have to give credit to the author for the character's reading choices. I mean honestly, how can you not put salt in (or on the rim...hehe) a story that refers to The Help (of which I've been meaning to read) and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt? That's taste right there for certain.