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Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite
Coffee Klatch by Lorrie McCabe is a captivating read for fans of drama, women's, and historical fiction. Ella Schmidt is a new neighbor in the rapidly developing Levittown, New York. Living next door, Jane Flynn immediately takes Ella under her wing. Jane invites Ella to coffee with the other three housewives from Strong Lane: Norma Lewis, Betty Carter, and Anna Marino. Ella is glad to meet new friends. Yet she notices a strained relationship between Norma and Betty. Like Ella, Betty is also a foreigner. While Ella worries how others will treat her because of her German origin, Betty is proud of her British heritage. Both women have lost loved ones in the recently ended World War II. Will they get along? Jane is always ready to protect Ella from the nasty remarks of an unfriendly shop proprietor. But can she hold their group together? An old secret finds its way out, and the young women face a challenging situation.
Lorrie McCabe's Coffee Klatch is set in the middle and second half of the twentieth century. The author offers a convincing historical background, touching on the excitement of Apollo 11's moon landing and the horrors of the Vietnam War and its consequences. McCabe uses plain language to create an engaging narrative. The author portrays the characters with just a few confident strokes and lets us form our opinions. McCabe remains neutral while describing the conflict, which is a centerpiece of the story. The author presents it from different points of view that are equally meaningful. The characters are very well-defined. Ella, a stranger who does her best to adapt to the new environment after hard losses, is my favorite. She has a gentle soul, and her backstory is stirring. Jane is full of creative energy. The enigmatic Norma, rational Betty, and good-natured Anna complete this dynamic group of friends. The author explores the themes of friendship, motherhood, belonging, and forgiveness in detail. I highly recommend this psychologically deep, character-driven story.
