The Violets of March - Sarah Jio

It was the cover of The Violets of March that first drew me to the book. But it was Sarah Jio's writing that kept me turning pages until the very last one.

Emily Wilson wrote a bestselling book in her twenties, married the man of her dreams and thought she had found her happy ever after....until her husband left her for another woman.

"I was making scrambled eggs smothered in Tabasco, his favorite, when he told me about Stephanie. The way she made him laugh. The way she understood him. The way they connected. I pictured the image of two Lego pieces fusing together, and I shuddered."

Emotionally and mentally exhausted, she decides to return to a childhood haunt - Bainbridge Island and her Aunt Bee.

"Bee was unconventional, indeed. But there was also something a little off  about her. The way she talked too much. Or talked too little. The way she was simultaneously welcoming and petulant, giving and selfish. And then there were her secrets. I loved her for having them."

Aunt Bee settles Emily into a little used bedroom. It is in the drawer of the nightstand that she finds a diary from the 1940's written by someone named Esther. As she reads, Emily finds that she may have a personal connection to the writer. But Bee is not forthcoming with answers. Emily is further confused by the feelings she develops for two men on the island - Greg, from her own past and Jack, who seems to have a connection to her Aunt Bee's past.

As Aunt Bee says..."...fate has a way of bringing you back when it's time to come back."

Jio's description of the island had me longing to roll up my pants and walk in the surf. And I would love to stroll the island and meet the people. Jio does a wonderful job drawing her characters. I could picture Aunt Bee and her friends perfectly. The scenes from the diary sprang to life. Indeed, I was willing Emily to read faster. I desperately wanted to know what happened next. But at the same time, I was enjoying Emily's reawakening. A seamless blending of two stories - and a wee bit magical.

The Violets of March is absolutely the perfect read to tuck in your bag this summer. Love, mystery, comfort and finding yourself all rolled into one perfectly delicious read. An impressive debut! Fans of Jodi Picoult would love this book - she provides a cover blurb for The Violets of March.

You can find Sarah on Facebook and on Twitter. Book clubs - there is a reading group guide already made for you.