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Pretending to Dance

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Pretending to Dance

By: Diane Chamberlain
Narrated by: Susan Bennett
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When the pretending ends, the lying begins . . . Molly Arnette is good at keeping secrets. As she and her husband try to adopt a baby, she worries that the truth she's kept hidden about her North Carolina childhood will rise to the surface and destroy not only her chance at adoption, but her marriage as well. Molly ran away from her family twenty years ago after a shocking event left her devastated and distrustful of those she loved. Now, as she tries to find a way to make peace with her past and embrace a healthy future, she discovers that even she doesn't know the truth of what happened in her family of pretenders.

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain, the bestselling author of The Silent Sister, is a fascinating and deftly-woven novel, that reveals the devastating power of secrets.

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction
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Critic reviews

A gripping story of a girl's relationship with her father
Twisty and smart
Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged by this cleverly crafted family drama
Tightly written with a great plot, this book will keep you hooked
All stars
Most relevant
It’s just a book about lives and most will probably be able to relate to parts of it. I don’t know what genre it is but it’s not my usual choice.

As I said, just an easy listen. What we all need while the world around us is crazy.

I’m going to listen to a murder and mayhem book next because this, if it is possible, has made me miss my family even more. Christmas 2020!

Just an easy listen

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I liked the way Diane Chamberlain, told the story of the young Molly and the older Molly. The tape would appeal to women of any age. I gave the story line 4, I enjoyed the plot but it could have been condensed, but worthy of four stars.

Family secrets

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This is not one of my favourites I considered Molly's actions to be self-indulgent causing years of estrangement and pain Narrated well

Can't deny living Diane Chamberlain

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This American family drama has it all: family secrets, teenage rebellion and its outcome, and terminal illness. It deals with some very difficult subject matter and still delivers a satisfying story with a good ending. Ultimately a heartwarming story which is well told. I enjoyed it very much.

A new take on coming of age teenage angst. A good story, well told

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I have mixed feelings about this book, primarily because of the lack of clarity on various points throughout the book and also because I wasn’t really crazy about the main character, Molly.

I too have MS and can totally relate to where the father and therefore the story is coming from. Also been there, done it and got a few of those T-shirts when it comes to the question of wanting to stop the merry go round and get off. However, it was unclear how exactly “everybody” got in on the act of assisting with the father’s exit. I don’t know if it was me and I just didn’t “get it” or there were other loose ends throughout the book which didn’t really tie up.

Aside from the lack of clarity on the family’s involvement en masse in the fathers exit, the story was also vague on the father’s relationship with Almalia and how it resulted in a child.

Also I found the young Mollie to be totally self absorbed and quite frankly immature. Her obsession with Chris was irritating. As for the older Mollie, as she aged and grew out of her teenage tantrums, she continued to display the same degree of self absorption in that she couldn’t understand and appreciate her fathers need to leave his miserable life.

All in all, it was a fairly good book but perhaps not the best.

Another good read but perhaps not the best

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