Mother

In the latest from Renschler, a grief-afflicted woman finally puts five years of mourning to use, starting a tender journey of self-discovery with a similarly afflicted soul. Mary Sullivan is a woman who has lost herself in the process of caring for her husband and two sons, while grief over her own dead mother quietly consumes her. A chance encounter at a luncheonette introduces Mary to Cathy, a chatty, free-spirited college student. When Cathy's mother dies suddenly, the two women forge a bond based on mutual grief. As Cathy attempts to contact her deceased mother via a psychic, Mary embarks on her own, divergent path to recovery; along the way, they help each other find peace and understanding. Though unsurprising, Reuetschler's book is a quick and effortless indulgence, the lit-fic equivalent of a coffee break: while it might lack the resonance of more layered fiction, this novel will provide comfort and encouragement for anyone who has struggled with grief.