The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D., Nichole Bernier
The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D., Nichole Bernier
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The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.
A Novel

Author: Nichole Bernier

Narrator: Angela Brazil

Unabridged: 11 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/01/2012

Synopsis

Summer vacation on the island was supposed to be a restorative time for Kate, who'd lost her close friend Elizabeth in a sudden accident. But when she inherits a trunk of Elizabeth's journals, they reveal a woman far different than the cheerful wife and mother Kate had known. The complicated portrait of Elizabeth—her upbringing, her marriage, and journey to motherhood—makes Kate question not just their friendship, but her most fundamental beliefs about loyalty and deception at a time when she is uncertain in her own marriage. When an unfamiliar man's name appears in the pages, Kate realizes the extent of what she didn't know about her friend—including where she was really going when she died. Set in the anxious post–September 11th summer of 2002, this story of two women—their friendship, their marriages, private ambitions, and fearsconsiders the aspects of ourselves we show and those we conceal, and the repercussions of our choices.

About Nichole Bernier

Nichole Bernier is a writer for such magazines as Elle, Self, Health, Men’s Journal, and Boston Magazine, and she is a fourteen-year contributing editor with Conde Nast Traveler, where she was previously on staff as the golf and ski editor and columnist. She is a founder of the literary website BeyondTheMargins.com and lives outside of Boston with her husband and five children.

About Angela Brazil

Angela Brazil is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator and a professional actor who is proud to be a long-standing member of the Resident Acting Company at Trinity Repertory Company. She also teaches at the Brown/Trinity Conservatory.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Melissa on August 20, 2012

I admit it: I am a journal junkie. Any time notes or diaries appear in novels, I’m hooked. They offer a depth of characterization – a window into the private parts of the soul – that just makes for good reading. So, yes, I enjoyed the epistolary aspects of this novel (journals are essentially letter......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on June 01, 2012

This is a amazing novel of two women, Kate and Elizabeth. We are introduced to the character of Elizabeth only after her death in a tragic accident. Kate, who was a good friend of Elizabeth, inherits an old truck of journals that have all been written by Elizabeth before her death. These journals co......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on December 22, 2015

Every so often a book is written that strikes a cord and resonates deeply and on many levels. This is definitely one of them. The two reviews I struggle with the most are of the books that move me and the books I really hated. The latter is difficult because I struggle to write something that negates......more

Goodreads review by Ann on March 19, 2012

This may be *the* book club book of 2012. Well-written, with so many layers. Can't wait to talk about this book with my closest girlfriends.......more

Goodreads review by Angela on June 03, 2012

Sometimes I just want a light beach read, something I can escape into without having to think too much about it. Other times, I want something that I think about when I'm not reading it. This is one of those books. The story is about best friends Kate and Elizabeth. Elizabeth died in a plane crash la......more

Quotes

“I loved this bittersweet novel, which manages to be both a compelling mystery and a wise meditation on friendship, marriage, and motherhood in an age of great anxiety. Bernier will have you thinking about her characters long after you’ve turned the final page.” J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times bestselling author

“A smart, poignant novel about the bittersweet choices women make and the secrets they keep. This is one of those rare novels that’s so real you forget it’s written; I literally carried it around with me, and I missed the characters when I was done.” Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author

“An absorbing, bittersweet novel that examines the vast grey area between protecting and deceiving the ones we love.” Vanessa Diffenbaugh, New York Times bestselling author

“Bernier’s excellent storytelling skills will keep you pondering long after the final page.” Washington Post

“Bernier masterfully eases open the doors that guard our deepest fears and, against a backdrop of a New England beach vacation, sweeps in fresh air and hope.” Parade

“Thanks to incredibly realistic characters, this smart, bittersweet tale brilliantly captures what it means to be a mom, wife, and friend.” Family Circle

“Moments of beauty and depth of spirit will appeal to readers interested in secrets revealed.” Publishers Weekly

“Debut novelist Bernier’s thoughtful observations on friendship, identity, motherhood, work, and marriage wrap around the mystery of Elizabeth, whose journal writing enlivens the book and gives readers much to think about. This literary novel should be a favorite of book groups and have broad appeal beyond.” Library Journal

“Bernier successfully explores how women manage to balance so much in their everyday life and the complicated emotions (guilt, frustration, fear) that go along with being a working mother...The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. is an important read for anyone who dares to ask just how well we really know our friends and neighbors, and what those discoveries mean about us.” BookPage

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