Thursdays at Eight by Debbie Macomber

My summer reading selections tend to be lighter fare, ranging from old favorites to romance to mysteries.  Thursdays at Eight, my choice for the July summer book review, is ideal summer reading fare. 

Thursdays at Eight author Debbie Macomber writes in the romance genre, but her novels have a twist – the characters tend to stay in their lives, complete with the messes of family, marriage, and career, and work out their problems.  This is a contrast to the traditional romance novel where the heroine typically finds a new love and starts her life over.  I enjoy seeing how Macomber’s characters face and work through issues in their lives.

The book’s title, Thursdays at Eight, is based on the fact that the main characters, four women in different stages of life, meet each Thursday at 8 a.m. for breakfast.  The main characters, Karen, Claire, Julie, and Liz face challenges ranging from divorce, widowhood, terminal illness, child-rearing, and careers.  The heroines’ stories are revealed in journal entries, told in the first-person voice by each of the main characters, and in their conversations with each other each Thursday morning. 

Although readers can gain insight into each character through her words in the journal entries, they also see how the characters relate to each other through the friendship established and maintained by a weekly connection.  I believe this will ring true to Macomber’s audience, as it clearly demonstrates the author’s belief in the value and strength of women’s friendships.  Women today face time pressure from families, career, and more, and maintaining strong friendships can be a challenge. 

If you are seeking summer reading material in the romance genre, but want to avoid the “happily-ever-after” model where the hero and heroine depart in the sunset, Thursdays at Eight or any of Debbie Macomber’s other novels are a good choice.

Patti Tornquist has lived in Mason City for the past 12 years with her husband and two sons.  She is a technical writer at Iowa Mold Tooling in Garner.  She enjoys reading lighter fare in the summer to relax.  We thank her for her review.