Book Review: Return to Willow Lake, by Susan Wiggs @susanwiggs

Return to Willow Lake is a warm-hearted love story within a beautiful setting. It's part of the Lakeshore Chronicles series. While I've read other books by Susan Wiggs, I haven't read and Lakeshore Chronicles books, but that isn't necessary to enjoy this installment.

Sonnet no longer lives on Willow Lake. She lives and works in New York. She's highly successful, driven, and has a boyfriend that meets up to her father's standards. You see, her father is running for the U. S. Senate. Sonnet wins a prestigious fellowship that will require her to move overseas. It seems like everything is going her way. Until...her mother, who lives on Willow Lake, gets pregnant. Not only is she pregnant, but she has be diagnosed with breast cancer. So, Sonnet decides to move back to Willow Lake to be with her mother during this time of crisis.

While she is there, she takes a job as a production assistant for the filming of a reality TV series. The filmmaker is none other than her best childhood friend, Zach. But, can they still be friends after a one night stand that Sonnet very much wants to forget?

From the very first pages, it isn't difficult to figure out how this plot will unfold. But that didn't really matter. What is special about Return to Willow Lake is the setting and characters. The beautiful town of Avalon, and Willow Lake in particular, made me want to visit. I think Wiggs does a great job with the supporting characters. The "pop star on probation," Jezebel, was a priceless addition. Sonnet's stepfather, who was so loving and supportive of her mother, was memorable. Even Sonnet's over-achieving boyfriend, Orlando, was an interesting character.

The side stories and details make this somewhat predictable romance one that I really enjoyed. I've not been disappointed by a Susan Wiggs novel yet, and they've all been different. I've read How I Planned Your Wedding and The Goodbye Quilt. Both are books about life events that I've experienced, so I could very easily relate. Return to Willow Lake is my first Susan Wiggs romance, and I plan to seek out more of those in the future.

I think teen girls would really enjoy Return to Willow Lake. I know several at my school who like adult romance stories, and this one is really charming (and very clean.)

Published by Harlequin MIRA, August 28, 2012
eARC obtained from Little Bird Publicity and NetGalley
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

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