May 21, 2012 / Leslie

Review: Whole Latte Life by Joanne DeMaio

Whole Latte Life
by Joanne DeMaio

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publish Date: March 2012
Format: Paperback | 336 pages

What would you do if your best friend, with whom you were enjoying a 40th birthday celebration, excused herself for a bathroom break, walked out of the restaurant and never returned? In Whole Latte Life, that’s what Sara Beth did to her best friend Rachel. She left a note with the waiter and vanished. This was supposed to be a special weekend in Manhattan and now it was turning into a disaster.

The note begins: “Please don’t tell Tom about this. I really need some time alone, Rachel, to sort things out.” Rachel is now in an impossible situation. Honor her friend’s wishes or contact her husband, Tom, back in Connecticut.

The story alternates between the point of view of the two friends. Rachel, with the help of a police officer, tries to find Sara Beth and make some sense out of what happened. Meanwhile Sara Beth is out on the streets of New York running away from her life. Triggered by her mother’s sudden death, Sara Beth has plunged into a mid-life crisis, second-guessing a lifetime of choices.

When we first meet Sara Beth she is not a very likeable or even sympathetic character. She doesn’t see how her behavior is hurting her friends and family, the people who care about her the most. At times I wanted to knock some sense into her, but gradually I realized her behavior was stemming from unresolved grief and the unconscious need to stay connected to her mother. In contrast, Rachel has also experienced a loss with the recent death of her husband, but handles her grief in an entirely different manner.

This is an emotional story about the importance of good friends, understanding and forgiveness, personal growth and discovery. Often the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and what we want may already be in our own backyard. Sometimes we just have to go on a journey to find it.

Overall an easy, enjoyable read for fans of women’s fiction.

About the Author

Joanne DeMaio is an author of contemporary women’s fiction, blending family, coffee and friendship on the page. Her novel Whole Latte Life is an Amazon best seller in Women’s Fiction-Friendship as well as a Kirkus Reviews Critics’ Pick. In addition, her music essays have appeared in literary journals, celebrating her passion for song, in print. Joanne lives with her family in Connecticut, where the coffee and stories are always brewing.

Connect with Joanne on Twitter, Facebook or goodreads.