I am becoming a big fan of Kristina Riggle’s writing.  I was delighted to find her Real Life and Liars for only $2.99 for Kindle this weekend.  A few months ago, I read The Life You’ve Imagined by Riggle as well.  She really weaves family dramas in a very realistic way.  I look forward to reading all of her books.

photos courtesy of kristinariggle.com

photo courtesy of kristinariggle.com

Real Life and Liars is centered around the 35th anniversary party of Mira and Max.  Their three children are home to host the party, all with drama of their own. Mira has newly diagnosed breast cancer and has her own ideas of how to handle it- none of which concur with her doctor.   Mira is this wonderful professor who dresses like a hippy and smokes pot (which her grandsons find!)   Mira’s daughters could not be more different- Katya is the ultimate suburban corporate wife and mother while the youngest, Irina,  comes home with a surprise groom and a secret.  Mira’s son, Ivan, is an unfulfilled teacher who wants to sell his original songs.

A few quotes from Real Life and Liars:

Mira thinks, “By omorrow night, they will all be here, with spouses, children, suitcases, plus the usual petty arguments and festering resentments.”

Of Kit, Katya’s daughter, Katya thinks her current path is a “..current trajectory on the apprentice-bimbo track.”

“Not that fury needs permission.  Fury comes when it chooses, and it can stay long past its welcome.”

Ivan says to younger sister Irina, “Why do you treat yourself like you’re disposable?”

And the best line of the book- “There is no perfect.  Only real life and liars.”

The Life You’ve Imagined is also a gem.  It is the story of two childhood friends who return home for different reasons.  Anna loses a mentor and comes home to help her mother run her convenience store. Cami is dealing with a gambling addiction and an alcoholic father.

Photo courtesy of kristinariggle.com

Quotes I Enjoyed From The Life You’ve Imagined

Of taking blood pressure, “the cuff tightens up like the fist of an angry man.  There should be a way to sneak someone’s blood pressure reading, so they can’t be anxious about it and have high blood pressure.”

“Goodness, it’s so much work, protecting a man’s ego.”

What are you reading and where are you going?