The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle

From the author's website

"Are you living the life you imagined? Is there anything you’d have done differently if you could? Those are the questions asked in Kristina Riggle’s unforgettable new novel.

In high school, Cami and Anna were as close as they could be...now, years later, both have returned to their hometown to face the people they had once left behind. Anna must confront her mother, still distraught over the abandonment of her husband, and come to terms with choices she had made years before. While Cami returns home to stay with her alcoholic father, she uncovers a secret he sought to keep which could change her life and salvage her future. They reconnect with their classmate, Amy, who can't understand why achieving the thin body and handsome man of her dreams hasn't given her the happily-ever-after she desired. This is a novel that digs deep and touches the heart of the issues so many women face-the quest for perfection, the hope of love, the value of family and importance of always striving for your dream."

The publishing date for this novel is August 17.

This novel was definitely not what I expected. After looking at the cover and reading the title (I know I shouldn't judge based on just that but still) I thought this would be a light read about teens and friendship. It ended up being MUCH more complicated than that, the story is about two adult friends who happen to wind up back in their home town at the same time for different reasons. Both women have complicated family situations, Cami's mother has died years ago leaving her to be raised by her alcoholic father while Anna's father abandoned her and her mother over twenty years ago. The story follows the two women as they try to recover from their issues in this small town while at the same time dealing with the issues of their families.

The novel explores complex topics such as happiness and contentedness with your life. It explores the idea of settling and not reaching your full potential and just not being satisfied with your life in general or rather not living the life you've imagined. It talks about both not wanting to grow up to be your parents and parents wanting more for their children than they had.

I found I was able to relate to Anna and Cami but at times wondered if they were really acting like women their age would act. At times, I seemed to forget that these were grown women not high schoolers. As for Anna's mother, Maeve I couldn't seem to understand her unwillingness to let go of the past and just move on.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel but it was much more complicated than I originally expected. If you want to forget about your own problems for a bit and get wrapped up in someone else's then this is the novel for you.

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this review. I received a copy of this book as part of an online book discussion.