Review: Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting

Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting

Expected Publication: February 3, 2015

Format: via NetGalley

Publisher: Gallery Books
Challenges: NetGalley/Edelweiss

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

“Tallulah de Longland,” she said slowly, letting all the Ls in my name loll about lazily in her mouth before passing judgment. “That,” she announced, “is a serious glamorgeous name.”From the day Annabelle Andrews sashays into her classroom, Tallulah ‘Lulu’ de Longland is bewitched: by Annabelle, by her family, and by their sprawling, crumbling house tumbling down to the river.

Their unlikely friendship intensifies through a secret language where they share confidences about their unusual mothers, first loves, and growing up in the small coastal town of Juniper Bay. But the euphoria of youth rarely lasts, and the implosion that destroys their friendship leaves lasting scars and a legacy of self-doubt that haunts Lulu into adulthood. Years later, Lulu is presented with a choice: remain the perpetual good girl who misses out, or finally step out from the shadows and do something extraordinary. And possibly unforgivable… It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.

My Thoughts

Oh where to begin…Tallulah and Annabelle became fast friends from the day Annabelle comes into town. The daughter of parents who are larger than life she lives life to the fullest, and Tallulah who takes care of her brothers when her mom goes in and out of depression sees Annabelle as the end all and be all of everything. So when Annabelle steals and runs off with Lulu’s first love she is crushed by the betrayal and never fully recovers. Fast forward a few years and Lulu is still at the same place while Annabelle has traveled the world. Lulu is still trying to find out who she is and what she wants out of life. She still worries and takes care of her mother, she is always thinking of others and not truly living her life but more like just going through the motions.

Until one day when Annabelle and Josh [the ex] come back into town and are going to get married. How does Lulu take all of this in? Well what she does next is to some is unthinkable while others kind of see it coming. Lulu isn’t a bad person at all in my opinion she merely just decides to do something for herself for once. Once she does I think she finally comes into her own. We finally see her living her life for herself. She gets a job that leads her to most important time of her life. It isn’t the job but it’s the relationship she builds with her boss that teaches her the most. Not so much a skill but lessons on life, love and finally forgiveness which leads to ultimate happiness.

I enjoyed this book so much mainly because of the cast of characters, they are funny while others just touch her soul. While the main story line is Annabelle and Lulu I love the other relationships going on. Her mother, her boss, her other life long friends and finally the potential of a new love. Walking on Trampolines shows you that life isn’t fair but while there are bumps in the road life always has a way of working out, even when it doesn’t feel like it will. It’s those hard times that truly make or break you but we must muddle the storm to truly enjoy the sunshine.