User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn
Thirty eight year old Hadley is finally doing what needs to be done to get herself and her daughter, Mattie, away from her abusive husband. Twenty eight year old Grace is pushed to her limits by the same man, when he cheats her out of the commission she needs to be able to support herself and her baby. Grace's husband has once again gambled off every last cent that they had and Grace knows she can't stay in such a marriage.
This story is full of coincidences and unlikely scenarios, making serious subjects also a bit lighthearted and implausible but I enjoyed the characters and the way the story was told. I thought I wouldn't like Hadley and Grace, with Hadley being so submissive to her abusive husband and Grace left hard edged and untrusting due to being thrown into the foster system after losing her grandmother. But the author shows a depth to both women and shows that they aren't just black and white caricatures. Throughout this journey both women change, become a team, not willing to leave the other to an uncertain future.
There is also sullen, angry teenage Mattie who changes, too. And Skipper, IQ of 75, the sweetest, smartest (in his own very intelligent way) kid, a kid that is based on a real life Skipper. Not to be forgotten are two FBI agents. We get to know Mark and what makes him tick and we get to know Fritz. We see how both men know each other so well, giving us another sense of life having been lived before we meet these two partners. Even though the story is farfetched in many ways, it endears me to so many of the characters while being funny and hopeful, during what seems to be a hopeless situation.
This is a retelling of Thelma and Louise, a story I've never read or watched because I know how it ends and I'm not into those kinds of endings. But I wanted to give this story a go since I enjoyed Redfearn's In an Instant, so much. The first part of the story seems to be a long buildup but it's worth the time it takes for me. I think that's why I was able to want these women and those around them, to succeed. I'm very happy with how the story ended and couldn't have imagined such a satisfying conclusion to all that happened before the final chapter.
Publication date: February 1st 2021
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Rating: really liked it
This is a Contemporary/women's fiction that is a take on Thelma and Louise. I love the characters Hadley and Grace. They both have their own problems they are running from, but I feel the characters and their story is well written. I really love the Skipper character, and his character just touched my heart so much. I feel each character came to life which made this book so much fun to read. The storyline had you praying, crying, and sitting on the edge of your seat during reading this book. This book is fun at times, but it is very suspenseful at times. This is one of the take of books you do not want to put it down because you want to know how it ends, but on the other hand you also do not want the book to end. I cannot say how much I love this book. It had great characters and a great storyline/plot. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Lake Union Publishing) or author (Suzanne Redfearn) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
Rating: really liked it
After reading some dark and disturbing books this was just the novel I needed. This was a great story with lots of heart!
Hadley, her daughter Mattie and nephew Skipper have been living a very constrained life. Hadley’s husband Frank is a controlling man who lashes out at Hadley whenever something displeases him. He is cruel and abusive.
Daughter Mattie is having some struggles of her own, she is 14 and at the age when she is trying to decide who she really is, what she wants out of life and how to get along in this dysfunctional family.
Hadley has been raising Skipper since he was very young because her sister couldn’t handle taking care of him. He is a special needs child, age 8, but has some incredible insights into life and ways of dealing with his own inner stresses. Finally Hadley has made a plan to escape this life and her husband. It should have all gone fine.
Grace is a young mother of a colicky 4 month old. Her husband Jimmy is a great guy, except for his gambling habit. He is currently away and serving in the Army. Once again Grace finds herself almost penniless and decides she needs to flee this marriage and this apartment. Her boss, Frank, has just cheated her out of money that she had been counting on. She wants to get the money that was promised to her. Her plan should have worked.
One night at Frank’s office, both women meet and have the same idea. Though from completely different backgrounds, they have one thing in common, they feel that Frank “owes” them.
What ensues is at first a comedy of errors as the two women and three kids begin their escape together, not really having a solid plan except to get as far away from Frank as possible.
There are so many ups and downs in this book, it was a terrific ride!! I enjoyed watching these two women learn to appreciate each other for who they really are. The relationship between the three children changes into something resembling a family.
“Coincidence is not something Grace believes in and the chances of what happened that night are too infinitesimally small for her to simply write off as happenstance. No, it seems to her that some hidden connectivity existed in that moment that profoundly influenced their lives, intertwining their fates and bringing them to this remarkable place and time.”
It isn’t long before this group is being hunted by everyone from Frank and his henchmen to the FBI and find themselves highlighted on all of the news stations.
I will leave the reader to discover all of the situations that this group finds themselves in. Ride along as they tackle all of the challenges that fate has in store for them.
I can highly recommend this book as a great escape read. You will be rooting for Hadley and Grace but wondering how this could possibly end well? The characters evolve and connect in wonderful ways.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
This novel is set to publish on February 1, 2021
Rating: really liked it
EXCERPT: Five minutes later, they are on their way. (Hadley) glances at Mattie beside her and Skipper behind her, unable to believe it, stunned that it is happening. For fifteen years, she's been searching for a way out, and now, just like that, she is doing it, driving away with the kids. Her heart pounds with adrenaline and a small sense of pride.
'We're not going back?' Mattie says, startling Hadley from her thoughts.
'You packed your mom's apron,' she says to Hadley's surprised expression.
Hadley swallows hard, wondering if her last minute decision to shove the keepsake in her bag will tip Frank off as well. The apron is hand embroidered with daisies and stained in a dozen places; her mother wore it almost every day of Hadley's childhood, and it is one of the few things of her mom's she has left.
'Don't worry,' Mattie says, reading Hadley's fear. 'Dad never goes in the kitchen drawers.' And all the pride Hadley felt the moment before deflates, knowing how much she has failed her daughter all these years.
ABOUT 'HADLEY AND GRACE': Needing to escape her abusive marriage, Hadley flees with her two kids, knowing it might be her only chance. A woman who can’t even kill a spider, Hadley soon finds herself pushed to the limits as she fights to protect her family.
Grace, new mother of baby Miles, desperately wants to put her rough past behind her for good, but she finds it impossible when her path crosses with Hadley’s, and her quest for a new start quickly spirals out of control and turns into a terrifying flight for survival.
Stronger together than apart, the two find their fates inextricably entwined, and as the danger closes in, each must decide how much she is willing to risk for the other.
MY THOUGHTS: I started off by not liking this story or its characters very much: A shallow, beautiful, abused wife and her husband's secretary, a single mum with a criminal record who has left her compulsive gambler husband. What's to like? As it turns out, there's a lot to like about this book. Once Hadley and Grace have robbed Frank and are on the run, we get the real measure of these two women and the children they have in tow.
From a fairly average start, Hadley and Grace explodes into an implausible but thoroughly entertaining romp involving the FBI, a kidnapping or two, occasional gunfire and several car chases. This is a read that will have you holding your breath one minute, then bursting into laughter the next, and reinforces my theory that the best friends are found in the oddest of places.
Hadley and Grace has been compared to Thelma and Louise, but I enjoyed this a whole lot more. A fun read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#HadleyandGrace #NetGalley
#crime #thriller #humour #contemporaryfiction #familydrama
'Today is not forever. It's just today.'
'You brought your baby to a robbery?'
'You wore stilettos to a robbery?' (Abridged)
'The first three letters in diet are a warning.'
THE AUTHOR: Suzanne Redfearn is the award-winning author of four novels: Hush Little Baby, No Ordinary Life, In an Instant, and Hadley & Grace. In addition to being an author, she’s also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Hadley and Grace for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Rating: really liked it
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
HADLEY AND GRACE is “Thelma and Louise” 2.0...with kids and less violence.
Hadley needs to get away from her terrible husband, Frank. With her teenaged daughter and her younger nephew, she has a plan in place to sneak into his work overnight, take his money, and run. What she doesn’t expect is to run into Grace, who works with Frank, also in the office in an attempt to get his money and make her own escape. Grace is escaping her past with her infant son. One thing leads to another, and Hadley and Grace (and the 3 children) end up on the run together when the 💩 hits the fan.
This was an extremely entertaining read. Through moments of humor, suspense, and some sadness, it was lovely to see the friendship grow between the two women from different backgrounds who bond over the insane circumstances they’ve been put in. As the situation gets increasingly out of control, it’s hard not to root for both of them and their children...hoping they find a way out of the mess they’ve created. I felt I needed to suspend a bit of disbelief with the wrap up, but it’s a fun (and slightly emotional) journey getting there!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, author Suzanne Redfearn, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
3.75 rounded up!
The newspaper headline read: “Real Life Thelma and Louise Blaze through Salt Lake City!
The two women and their kids fled in a Chevy Truck with California plates. These women might not be Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, and there might not be a 66 Thunderbird or an Oscar nomination, but there is no doubt of the similarity in these women’s story with the fictional Thelma and Louise!”
Frank was a terrible boss.
And, and even worse husband.
But, he had money, and that is what causes these two women to meet by chance, and become accidental outlaws, on the run, alluding the FBI and capturing the nation’s fancy! 💰💵💰
How they expected to escape is mind boggling!
Their plans...not well thought out.
And, trying to travel with a 4 month old colicky baby, a “special boy” of eight, who will only dress in baseball uniforms and speak in the language of that sport, and a fourteen year old girl with a very distinctive earring-makes hiding out challenging!
Add in some questionable choices from EACH of the women, because, hey-that is what is going to make this road trip entertaining, and we have got ourselves a book that could easily become a remake of “Thelma and Louise” !
Completely different from the very emotional “In An Instant”, this ride was comedic fun!
You can root for them on Feb. 1, 2020!
Thank You to DeAnn for the fun buddy read and discussion!
Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the invitation to read an early digital ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for a candid review!
P.S. Check out the picture of the real life Skipper Carrillo from the biography “Have a Home Run Day” which Author Suzanne Redfearn credits for inspiring the “Skipper” in this story-in her acknowledgements page, along with her love for Thelma and Louise, which believe it or not came out almost 30 years ago!
Rating: really liked it
4 Thelma and Louise Road Trip Stars
Two women skip town with kids in tow – what could possibly go wrong? Hadley is a gorgeous woman married to a scoundrel who is quick with his fists. She has raised her sister’s son with special needs for years but now her sister wants him back. Hadley hits the road with Skipper and her daughter Mattie to meet up with her sister.
Grace has made a new life for herself, but she’s finding it hard to be a single parent to her four-month-old, especially when he’s struggling with colic. Her husband is in Afghanistan, so she’s figuring this out somehow. She’s got a good job, but senses things are about to change when she’s cheated out of her commission on a deal.
By a strange coincidence, the women team up, and all sorts of crazy situations plague them on the road and soon they are fleeing for their lives. They form a strange alliance and friendship, working together to escape their circumstances. Grace is street savvy and knows how to stay one step ahead of the authorities.
This book was a great escape from life, and I enjoyed the trip with Hadley and Grace. It certainly did not end up the way I had predicted, but I’m happy with the ending. I really enjoyed the time they spent in Colorado, Coors Field and baseball player references.
This was a fun buddy read with Jayme!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the copy of the book through NetGalley. Batter up this one is now available!
Rating: really liked it
My best friend and I loved the movie Thelma and Louise SO much that for a short time, one of us was Thelma (her), and one was Louise (me). Hadley and Grace has T&L vibes and is also completely its own story of friendship with mystery and excitement, too.
Hadley is in an abusive marriage. When the time is right, she leaves with her two children. Grace is a new mom with a not-so-pretty past. She meets Hadley, and her past is back in her face, as the two are fighting to survive, together.
Hadley & Grace is the perfect escape read that’s both fun and emotional at the same time. I laughed more than I cried, and I love to laugh and read. And cry and read too. 😆 Also, the ending was a complete surprise in a great way. I loved this edgy road trip amongst new friends!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Rating: really liked it
Well, strap yourself in and brace yourself for a bumpy ride as Suzanne Redfearn takes you on an exciting road trip with some unexpected travelling companions. Hadley Torelli is married to Frank who is frankly (sorry) a rotten excuse of a man and she’s had enough. Grace Herrick works for him but he ruthlessly tricks her and is about to fire her. I shall divulge no more except to say that the two women’s lives become inextricably linked as they race to escape and survive the danger that is closing in.
The characters of Hadley and Grace are tremendous. They’re both at a fork in the road, chance brings them together and they learn they are stronger as one unit. Their differing personalities blend so well that they compliment each other so they resemble halves of a whole. The stand out character for me is Skipper, Hadley’s nephew who lives with them. He is absolutely enchanting, I love the way he looks at the world and the bond between him and Mattie, Hadley’s daughter, is heartwarming. The story is inspired by Thelma and Louise and it’s every bit as exciting as the movie but has been given its own spin. They use their ingenuity, wit and common sense in order to survive the test of several lifetimes. The action takes place in some terrific settings such as Coors Field in Denver. This is a really well written thriller, the plot unfolds effortlessly and the pace is fast. There are some very tense moments of suspense too where you don’t know what’s going to happen next. This has all the other essential ingredients too, such as some humour, moments of joy and some sadness.
Overall, this is another winner from the author. It’s exciting, very entertaining, a heroes versus villains tale which makes you root for the women. There are one of two unexpected heroes too! Highly recommended.
Thank you NetGalley and especially Lake Union for the ARC.
Rating: really liked it
Fasten your seat belt guys, Hadley & Grace are here to take you on a ride!
I haven't watched Thelma & Louise yet, but I wish this book is converted into a movie. I absolutely loved this book. Right from the start, I was hooked on to it. You just cannot take your eyes from even a single sentence. The whole environment, the dialogues, the fluency in the language makes it seem so real as if you are a part of their journey. The end leaves you surprised.
Humour, sadness, anger, you name the emotions, and you have it. They take you on a roller coaster ride as our ladies face their own ups & downs. This book makes you understand the value of friendship and relationships. This book is fast-paced, action-packed, and leaves you spell-bound. This is my first book from the author, and I can't wait to delve into more of her books. I wish this book has a second installment.
Thank You NetGalley, Author Suzanne Redfearn and Publishers Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Rating: really liked it
Hadley needs to leave her abusive marriage to the very controlling Frank Torelli, her family isn't safe and she’s planned her escape. Her teenager daughter Mattie has just started testing her boundaries, this worries Hadley and she also looks after her nephew Skipper and he has special needs. Grace Herrick works for Frank as his assistant, her husband Jimmy’s a soldier, he’s away serving in Afghanistan and they have a four month old baby Miles. Grace is a stressed new mother, Miles has colic and she’s literally running on empty. She’s worked really hard on a deal for months and Frank cheats her out of her commission. This makes her mad, what is she going to do, she's broke, hungry and Miles doesn't stop crying?
Both women find themselves at Frank’s business one Friday night, they bump into each other and they desperately need money and Frank must have some stashed somewhere? Due to a series of unexpected events things quickly escalate, in the tradition of Thelma and Louise we now have Hadley and Grace two women on the run and with three children. They begin a mad dash across America with Frank’s money, they had no idea it was obtained by him illegally and trying to stay one step ahead of the FBI, police and the media.
Hadley, Grace, Mattie, Skipper and little Miles become really close, when it looks like they will be caught, Hadley and Grace do everything they can to protect their new family unit and outsmart everyone. Hadley and Grace is a feel good story, I adored the characters, except Frank of course and I didn’t want them to get caught and I really didn’t want Grace to get into trouble. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, a story full of action and adventure and four stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
Rating: really liked it
This book was a major disappointment for me. I was expecting an on-the-road family drama interspersed with some comedy that ends with the characters finding their true selves. And that was kind of what I got... except that it was badly written, eye-rollingly over the top, and heavily clichéd.
I had some serious problems with this book. First and foremost with the sexualisation of a 14-year-old girl:
"Mattie is curvy like her mom, and the hip-swaying moves suit her; Grace notices several guys’ eyes sliding her way. And while she wants to slap their faces for looking at a fourteen-year-old the way they’re looking at her, she also feels proud."
Umm, no. She shouldn't be proud that adult men are looking creepily at a teenage girl. Being the object of desire for men much older than them is not something to be proud of and not a message we should be spreading.
There was also so much American military propaganda. The two 'good' men in the book have served in the military, and at one point one of them starts indoctrinating Skipper, the 9-year-old boy, while Hadley watches adoringly thinking this:
"there’s something about a man in uniform that makes you believe they are good, even if they’ve done nothing to prove it. It’s like he is cloaked in truth, justice, and the American way, and it makes her want to stand up and salute, or applaud, or knit socks—a swelling of gratitude for his courage, service, and selflessness."
It wouldn't have bothered me if this was the only mention of it, but the military is brought up again and again throughout the second half of the book. Was it really necessary? It seemed needlessly patriotic and political and was off-putting for a non-American like me.
My biggest problem with the book, however, lies in its dullness. I can forgive a book a lot of things as long as it's entertaining. That was not the case here. I found myself trudging through, determined to get to the end because I have a slightly obsessive need to finish every book I start. When I was finally done I let out a sigh of relief.
I would've given this book two stars if the idea had been at least original. But seeing as it isn't, it's one from me. Do yourselves a favour and just watch Thelma and Louise instead.
Rating: really liked it
4.5 stars
Hadley wants to flee her abusive husband, but she’s going to need money to do it. She takes her fourteen-year-old daughter and the eight-year-old son that is her sister’s special needs child that Hadley has raised since he was a baby. She knows her husband must have some money at his office; she just needs to find where. This is when she meets up with Grace, her husband’s employee. Grace is smarter than her rough upbringing might lead people to believe. She also is desperate for money since her husband, who is fighting in Afghanistan, has a gambling problem and she’s about to get fired—for doing her job too well.
These woman, with their children in tow, find themselves in a lot more trouble than they could have imagined, not just by the abusive husband Frank and his entourage, but by the FBI. What follows is a fun story of two women with completely opposing talents in life that complement each other. I rooted for them the whole time, hoping they’d figure some happy way out of this mess.
Rating: really liked it
"Hadley has the worst voice Grace has ever heard. The woman is completely tone deaf, with a kazoo implanted in her larynx" - This made me laugh out loud!
This book was such a delight! Hadley and Grace both find the courage to leave their current situations. What they don't expect is that this decision will bring the two woman together. A very unlikely duo.
I loved this modern day take on Thelma & Louise. The addition of the three children made it even more thrilling as it ultimately changed these mother's actions and decisions.
Well written and thought-provoking! If you're looking for a great escape read I recommend this book.
Ps. I love the fact Skipper is based on a real person. Skipper Carrillo!
Rating: really liked it
Favorite Quotes:
Handing him over to Vanessa feels a little like handing a live grenade to a known sufferer of seizures.
“You don’t need to gloat about it,” Grace says. “I’m not gloating.” “You are. You’re gloating all over the place. You’re completely covered in gloat.”
The media storm around this is going to blow up. He can already see a Lifetime Original Movie being made. Hell, the motel clerk, that scrawny kid at the desk who went white as the walls around him when Mark showed his badge, probably has six marriage proposals by now and a dozen benefactors willing to give him a new smile. Every damn person in the article is going to be a celebrity and a hero, while the FBI is being painted as the Big Bad Wolf hunting Little Red Riding Hood and taking money from little old ladies and young men who need dental work.
She looks like a Greek goddess—empowered, bold, and fearless— like she should be chiseled of marble and holding up a temple.
… rumors have been floating around about a movie being made. Grace cringes at the idea, certain someone like Angelina Jolie will be cast to play Hadley, while some actress who looks like Nanny McPhee will play her.
My Review:
I was riveted and on edge while reading this cunningly crafted book and was holding my breath that the two protagonists would survive, and it didn’t look likely. The storylines were intriguing, tragic, highly emotive, and perfectly pitched to maintain an undercurrent of tension while also balancing out the emotions with more lighthearted and amusing observations and memories of two women who by happenstance and a series of poor choices became bonded and accidental fugitives on a cross-country run from the FBI with their children in tow.
The pacing and storytelling were nothing short of brilliant and evoked a steady stream of heart clenches and keen visuals. I ached for the woman working as hard as she could to keep her head above water and wearing worn-out shoes with superglued soles while contending with a screaming inconsolable baby. Suzanne Redfearn has mad skills and a rabid new fangirl.
