Landslide

A novel

By: Susan Conley

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman

This beautiful portrait of a family in a fishing village in Maine is "a fresh look at marriage, motherhood, and the wondrous inner lives of teenagers. A truly beautiful and unforgettable love story of a family on the brink” (Lily King, author of Writers & Lovers). A must-read from the critically acclaimed author of Elsey Comes Home.

“I loved Landslide. You are right there with them in a fishing village in Maine, feeling the wind, the sea, the danger. Smart, honest, and funny, this is a story you won't forget.” —Judy Blume, best-selling author of In the Unlikely Event

After a fishing accident leaves her husband hospitalized across the border in Canada, Jill is left to look after her teenage boys—"the wolves"—alone. Nothing comes easy in their remote corner of Maine: money is tight; her son Sam is getting into more trouble by the day; her eldest, Charlie, is preoccupied with a new girlfriend; and Jill begins to suspect her marriage isn't as stable as she once believed. As one disaster gives way to the next, she begins to think that it's not enough to be a caring wife and mother anymore—not enough to show up when needed, to nudge her boys in the right direction, to believe everything will be okay. But how to protect this life she loves, this household, this family?

With remarkable poise and startling beauty, Landslide ushers us into a modern household where, for a family at odds, Instagram posts, sex-positivity talks, and old fishing tales mingle to become a kind of love language. It is a beautiful portrait of a family, as compelling as it is moving, and raises the question of how to remain devoted when the eye of the storm closes in.

Wow. An incredible novel.

Wow. This is a book about a family in crisis. This is a quiet book. I normally don’t like quiet books, but this one worked for me on so many levels.

Throughout the novel, we are in the head of the mother. “Being a mother is nothing like I thought it would be. It’s harder. Better. Most confusing. Shorter. Longer.”

Jill is the mother of two teenage boys. Her husband is hospitalized in another country after a fishing accident. She is trying to navigate being all alone as a mother two two teens who are struggling with things she is unprepared to handle and doesn’t know how to approach. Some unexpected issues arise in her marriage as well.

I knew Jill. I felt Jill. I felt for Jill. I don’t know if it resonated with me so much because I have two young boys myself and am in middle marriage, but this spoke to me so deeply. I loved it so much. I think I will be thinking about these characters for quite a long time.

The audio was spot on— a perfect execution of this story.

Somewhat thought-provoking; enjoyable "scenery"

I appreciated some relatable conversations and first person narration about mid-life, marriage, & parenting teens. I also enjoyed being transported to the coast of Maine. I found the story lacking - like this was a long short story.

Memorable

Great story about teenage boys perception of life and how they think differently than adults.

Wish the story was longer!

Loved the story and listened on Audible. The narrator was fantastic. So enjoyed everything
!so may have of it rings true.

Emotionally welldone

As a mother of 3 sons and 5 grandsons I found some Id with Jill and the teenage years— very different than mine, but very believable. Great picture of Maine and island living and responsibility. Loved the portraying of relationships.