TLC Book Tours Book Review: Finding Libbie

About Finding Libbie

Paperback: 331 pages

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (September 6, 2016)

Poring over a dusty hatbox of photographs in her grandmother’s closet, Emily Prentice is shocked to discover her father was married to his high school sweetheart before meeting her mother.

In the summer of 1968, Jack and Libbie fall in love under the spell of their small town, untouched by the chaos of the late sixties. Though Libbie’s well-to-do parents disapprove of Jack’s humble family and his aspiration to become a mechanic, she marries Jack a year after they graduate high school. But soon their happiness crumbles as Libbie’s mental state unravels and she is drawn to alcohol and drugs. Despite his efforts to help her, Jack loses the woman he loves and is forced to move on with his life.

Now that Emily’s mother has passed away, Jack is alone again, and Emily grows obsessed with the beautiful woman who had given her father such joy. Determined to find Libbie, Emily pieces together the couple’s fragmented past. But is it too late for happy endings?

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Review: I'm totally obsessed with family stories that involve secrets.The main bulk of the story is set in the decade that I wish I had grown up in, the 60s.

This story is an emotional one, which is another thing that I tend to gravitate to when it comes to books. I like stories that pull me in like that. If a book can make me laugh, feel anxious or cry then I know it is a good read.

Jack and Libbie's relationship will draw you in like that. The were high school sweethearts from different social backgrounds. That is something that causes problems between the two, but there's more to it than that. Libbie's mental health is not good. and soon she gets mired in alcohol and drugs.

I felt terrible for both characters as Libbie's addiction took control of her, especially since no one seemed to really care about her actual health, except for Jack and he was getting no help where it was needed.

By the end of Jack and Libbie's story my heart had broken for both of them. Jack was so idealistic and so in love.

This story seems to remind us that money doesn't make a loving family. If you didn't want to hit every member of Libbie's family than you are totally unfeeling.

The second part of the story is Jack's daughter Emily and her quest to find the woman that her father married before her mother.  It was sad, because these two were meant for each other. It definitely is a storybook romance that went terribly wrong.

I wanted more of Emily's story. Her story was a little too short, wrapping things up quickly.

I liked the Emily wanted to find Libbie for her father. This could have been something that could have gone terribly wrong and brought up old hurts but it works well. It also shows what a good person Emily was. I know I probably wouldn't find someone my father loved before my mother.

I can't recommend this book highly enough, but if you do take the chance and read it, have some Kleenex handy, because you'll need them.

Rating: 5 flowers