Young Widows Club

Once again, I should note that I read a proof copy of this book, not the final version.

I'm going to be honest, I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book. A younger Red Hat Ladies book, perhaps? A group of young (which I would have probably defined as 20s to early 30s) widows finding solace in one another, friendship, etc., and being able to move on with their lives with the bonds of friendship. Something like that, probably.

The protagonist is 17. She is a widow at 17.

She dropped out of school to follow her musician boyfriend who already graduated, got married, and moved into a house in his parents' backyard when one day, his heart just... stopped.

6 months later, she gets caught trespassing. The court mandates that she return to school and attend a Young Widows Club, which Tamsen, our protagonist, quickly realizes is a bit of a misnomer. The members aren't "young," at least by her standards. They're young to be widowed. She quickly dubs it the Mostly Middle-Aged Widows Club.

There is only one man in the group, and he's the next youngest member. Colin, who's in his 20s, quickly judges Tamsen as putting on a show and not properly grieving, and he is not shy about letting her know. An altercation during their anger-themed grief group leaves Colin with a bloodied nose, and afterwords they being communicating better. While they both work on coming to terms with their partner's deaths, they also begin to see each other romantically.

The relationship is tentative and believable. They are both going through so much, and keep pushing each other away. They both still love their dead spouse, and feel guilt about the budding relationship. They push each other to build new lives, to find a direction. Ultimately, they are good for each other.

Of course, my favorite part of the book is Tamsen's growth. The Young Widows Club and Colin are a big part of that, but so is her childhood best friend, Lula. Lula is still hurt about being ditched as soon as Tamsen and Noah, her now-deceased husband, started dating. Lula shows Tamsen what real friendship looks like, how to embrace yourself, and how to keep a life balance when you're in a relationship.

One of Tamsen's teachers also has a huge hand in helping her figure out what is next for her. She finds Tam's talent, and gives her an opportunity. Tamsen must choose to pursue it or not herself.

While Tamsen's situation is vastly different from my own, there is a lot to relate to, no matter who you are. The loss of a loved one. Feeling directionless. Being afraid of one's own emotions. Friendship. Family- the one you're born with and the one you find along the way.

I'm interested to read more of Alexandra Coutts's work. Her previous title, Tumble & Fall, is also set in Martha's Vineyard, referred to as "the island" in Young Widows Club. The setting really becomes a part of the story in Young Widows Club. The setting influences the characters and the plot in ways that another setting couldn't. I would love to see how the same setting could influence a whole new set of characters.