Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins

Emma London never thought she had anything in common with her grandmother Genevieve London. The regal old woman came from wealthy New England stock, but that didn't protect her from life's cruelest blows: the disappearance of her young son, followed by the premature death of her husband.  But Genevieve rose from those ashes and built a fashion empire respected the world over, burying her grief in her work, even when it meant neglecting her other son.

When Emma's own mother died, her father abandoned her on his mother's doorstep. Genevieve took Emma in and reluctantly raised her -- until Emma got pregnant her senior year of high school. Genevieve kicked her out with nothing but the clothes on her back ... but Emma took with her the most important London possession: the strength not just to survive but to thrive.  And indeed, Emma has built a wonderful life for herself and her teenage daughter, Riley. 

So what is Emma to do when Genevieve does the one thing Emma never expected of her and, after not speaking to her for nearly two decades, calls and asks for help?

REVIEW:
From the flap copy, I was a bit worried that this novel would read like stereotypical chick lit and be all fluff with no substance ... I'm so glad to have been so wrong! I loved this book. Told from different perspectives, the story came alive through well-crafted, distinct character voices. Higgins did a masterful job capturing the frustrations, neuroses, and niggling inner voices of real people -- I laughed out loud in multiple places, and felt my own anger and frustration mounting in others. Though a few plot 'twists' were a bit predictable, I was so engaged in the story that I didn't mind at all. Definitely a great summer read -- 4 stars.