Hello from the Gillespies

A very cool story that reminds us that a family does not need to be perfect for it to be appreciated.

Une histoire très chouette qui nous rappelle qu'une famille n'a pas besoin d'être parfaite pour qu'on l'apprécie.

Hello From the Gillespies had an interesting premise but the exposition fell short of expectations. We've all received those glowing holiday letters from friends or family, filled with envy-producing tidbits of complete happiness and success. How many of us have wondered how much was real and how much was fabricated? In this case, Angela Gillespie, who has sent out cheery little holiday letters for 35 years, pours out her unhappiness and frustration in a draft that she never means to share - but her well-meaning but clueless husband Nick thinks that he is doing a favor by hitting the “send” button to all.

I was expecting the family, which includes three grown daughters and a young son, to struggle together to get past the discomfort of knowing that their dirty laundry has been aired to all of their family and friends, and at first that is the novel's focus. But then the plot takes a weird, admittedly unpredictable detour and the resolution becomes less engaging but more melodramatic (really can't say anything more without including spoilers).

I liked the fact that Nick Gillespie is portrayed as a man who sees a therapist to deal with the depression he experienced when his sheep station ranch failed. Of course he doesn't want to tell Angela that he's in therapy, but it's nice to see a male character who seeks mental health care still be portrayed as a strong, desirable guy.

The subplots for the Gillespies' four children are entertaining but rushed, and the attempt to give each daughter a professional and romantic crisis makes their subplots even more superficial.

All in all, Hello From the Gillespies was decent but not memorable Women's Fiction.