Real Life & Liars by Kristina Riggle
Mira is a pot-smoking grandma with perspective. She’s going out her way, and she’s not relinquishing control of her body to the doctors just because she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer or because her family might try to talk her out of her decision.
REAL LIFE is Riggles’ debut novel and it’s a doozy – a wonderfully-crafted family drama with all the trimmings– a rich cast of characters, all on the edge of their lives, culminating in Mira and her husband’s anniversary weekend. We get to know the family, told in alternating points of view. Mira, her social-climbing eldest daughter whose marriage and three children are not the picture-perfect family she’d like the world to believe, her son, a struggling songwriter who is unlucky at love, and the baby of the family, newlywed and newly (but not happily) pregnant. The story unfolds nearly in real-time, as each character learns more about him/herself and how to move forward. REAL LIFE is ultimately about the individual decisions we make for our lives and how they impact those who love us the most. Riggle will be on my must read list from now on.
For: A beautiful read about family dynamics and life’s greatest lessons. Highly recommended. -Malena Lott
Book End Babes is Girls Night Out meets great reads, celebrating books and girlfriends. With real-life chapters around the country, we'll feature 4 Top Picks each month, share book reviews, recipes and prizes to start a reading revolution. The reviewed books are typically supplied by the publisher, though reviews are not guaranteed. BEbabes was founded by author Malena Lott. Our group blog features a dozen book babes. If you'd like to start a BEbabes chapter, click the envelope button below to contact me! 
