About the Book
Jessica and Emily Burnstein have very different ideas of how this college tour should go.
For Emily, it’s a preview of freedom, exploring the possibility of her new and more exciting future. Not that she’s sure she even wants to go to college, but let’s ignore that for now. And maybe the other kids on the tour will like her more than the ones at school. . . . They have to, right?
For Jessica, it’s a chance to bond with the daughter she seems to have lost. They used to be so close, but then Goldfish crackers and Play-Doh were no longer enough of a draw. She isn’t even sure if Emily likes her anymore. To be honest, Jessica isn’t sure she likes herself.
Together with a dozen strangers–and two familiar enemies–Jessica and Emily travel the East Coast, meeting up with family and old friends along the way. Surprises and secrets threaten their relationship and, in the end, change it forever.
My Review
I was interested in reading this one because I love stories about the mother/daughter relationship – I’m also a big Gilmore Girls fan – and I did have a good time understanding the dynamic between Emily and her mother Jessica. I remember my own experience of visiting colleges with my mom, and the excitement and fear I felt around that time, and realizing that my mom was probably feeling the same way. While the plot does revolve around Emily choosing a college and her evolving relationship with Jessica, there were other topics I thought were timely and well-written. The early scenes from Jessica’s law office and the decisions to promote men over women made me seethe, and the admissions scandal added further depth to an otherwise easy-going read. There were a few areas were the reading felt a little slow and settled, causing me to disengage briefly, but overall it’s a sweet mother-daughter book that I would recommend!
4 stars
