🎵"...Cause all I'm tryin' to do
is be the best at loving you
Loving you, loving you, yeah
All I'm tryin' to do is
be the best at loving you
Loving you, loving you
So, don't worry, don't worry,
don't worry about whatever comes along..."🎵
~Best at Loving You by Michael Franti and Spearhead

3.5 rounded to 4⭐️

Tell me true – did you ever judge a book (or a person) by their cover and get a totally different result once you dug a little deeper? I think MSR's latest novel, Who Loves You Best, begs us to do so.

There's a lot to unpack in this novel, from mothering, grandparenting, and familial relationships, to body dysmorphia, and work/life balance, and some of it doesn't even seem realistic or true - could it even happen? I struggled with all the simplicities and complexities of the story, from the characters to their situations and backgrounds -I found myself thinking how could all of this happen – all in the same book, but then, we have had more 100 year storms in the last couple of years, so even Mother Nature is proving anything is possible.

As a mom to three grown-&-flown (and me of the age to be a grand myself), I jumped into the novel thinking I would readily identify with something or someone. NGL, I struggled identifying with any of the characters… until I got to know them a little more in the story.

Rothstein does a very good job of threading some humor into hard situations, and I loved finding her ‘Easter Eggs’ (or better yet, Apocrypha) hidden throughout. I believe Rothstein ultimately asks the reader to question what s/he truly values, what s/he truly wants in life, and what family truly means, regardless of your traditions.

QoTD- Do you agree with this: “‘No one on their deathbed has ever said ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office.’” ~ Jodi, Who Loves You Best

As a grandmother who packed up and moved a few years ago to help care for a grandchild, I found a lot to relate to in this story. It is so true that everyone has a different grandparenting style. I enjoyed witnessing the grandmothers' evolution from competing with each other to eventually working together for their granddaughter's benefit. The author combined both humor and serious reflection about family dynamics. I look forward to reading all of her previous books. Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for a copy to read and review.

Marilyn Simon Rothstein’s novels are always such a hoot!
Humorous and fun, with enough family drama that everyone can relate to.
I loved all the characters in the novel, but agree with one reviewer who mentioned she did not like the character of Lisa, the protagonists daughter.
I found her annoying and shallow. I do think she could have been better developed, but perhaps it was intentional to highlight the frustration her mother feels toward her.
Would highly recommend as a fun and warm romp through the ups and downs of evaluating your life and choices and family relationships as you get older.

Jodi is so excited when her daughter Lisa asks her to come and take care of her granddaughter, Macallan, for a while. Once arrived, she realizes that her daughter has not been forthcoming with everything going on in their lives. With the other grandma and a grandma-like figure there, she is a little unsure of her place and feels she needs to assert herself.
There are so many things I loved about this book, but most important are the themes of family and female friendships, however unlikely they may seem. The relationship Jodi has with Maclallan is so beautiful and I loved reading it from the grandmother's perspective. This book is a nice reminder that self-discovery can happen at any age and karma is real...Hello Milton.
Definitely read if you like some humor with your heartfelt books!

"Who Loves You Best" by Marilyn Simon Rothstein is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and the intricacies of family dynamics. Jodi travels from Florida to the Berkshires to stay with her granddaughter Macallan, while her daughter Lisa travels out of town. Come to find out, Jodi learns she must compete with two other grandmas for Macallan’s affection. Jodi is left wondering what it is she really wants to do with her golden years. The grandmas are a bit over the top yet relatable, and their journey of love, loss, and sisterly rivalry keeps you hooked. The writing is witty and makes the emotional moments even more impactful. While some plot points felt familiar, the humor and the depth of the relationships made this a thoroughly enjoyable, feel-good read. Highly recommend for fans of heartfelt, funny family drama! Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars - I always enjoy the writing of Rothstein and find that I read her work very fast every time. This was no exception. I liked the premise with the three grandmas and the adorable granddaughter, Callie. I liked the development of Jodi, the personality of Di, and the energy of Annie. The writing was solid and the read was compulsive. I liked the development of Di the most and the back story/current timeline with Jodi. I liked the focus on marriage (or lack thereof) between the characters as well. But I did not like the mom, Lisa, in this story at all, and found her parenting (and personality) to be frustrating. I really do not like it when I don't like a mom in a book and that is reflected in my rating on this one. I received an advanced copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading WHO LOVES YOU BEST written by Marilyn Simon Rothstein. The story kept me engaged throughout and now that I’m finished, I’m already thinking that a sequel needs to be in the works. I want to see how things unfold going forward for ALL the characters. In my opinion, this would even make a good multi-book series.
I found the characters relatable and the story was one that had me both smiling and laughing.
The setting of the story also played a part in how much I enjoyed the book. With the exception of Boca Raton, the towns mentioned in CT and those in Berkshires were places I’m familiar with. Rothstein even mentioned by name the newspaper I grew up reading and currently have a digital subscription to.
When I was halfway through the story, I had already recommended it to a dozen friends. I will definitely be recommending it to others and hope to purchase a copy to share in my Little Free Library.
I hadn’t read anything by Rothstein before. Now I look forward to reading more by her and will be eagerly awaiting new releases. Maybe one day, I’ll get that chance to read more about the characters in WHO LOVES YOU BEST.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ebook version of WHO LOVES YOU BEST and the chance to provide my honest review for others.
.

Not going to lie, I chose this one simply after seeing the adorable cover and I'm happy to announce the contents are just as precious! It's filled with warmth, wit, and life lessons. I absolutely recommend!

Jodi Wexler is a foot doctor living in Florida with her gem of a husband when she gets the call from their daughter that she needs her mother to drop everything and come to the Berkshires immediately to help look after Jodi's granddaughter. She gives little information as to why, but Jodi jumps on this opportunity. She can't wait to have a week to herself with her grand baby considering her other grandma gets to see her all the time.

Soon upon arrival Jodi realizes it's not the week she originally had in mind. Turns out she has competition when it comes to Macallen's affection and she's not only dealing with one other grandma, but two! To make matters worse, something is not sitting well with her when it comes to her daughter and the vague situation she has described.

Follow Jodi as she navigates a week of learning that not every family looks the same and sometimes it's ok to put yourself first while also being the best you can be towards everyone else.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced readers copy!

Normally, I'm all for a book about grandmas. I had such a special relationship with my Nana that I adore heartfelt stories about grandmas. This wasn't it. The writing was clunky, and the story line felt a bit immature. However, I did like the ending (for the most part).

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book

This was a nice read about an elderly woman (grandmother) who has been asked to go down and look after her granddaughter who she hasn't seen much.

We can see in this book a grandmother who feels out of place in her daughters and granddaughters' lives, not knowing where she stands anymore and trying to overcompensate to her granddaughter while she is down there ... everything and everyone feels like an attack (deep down some of it was though because you can see manipulation, gaslighting and the other grandmother who is so self-centred and selfish that she is so self-involved).

This was not an amazing book but I did enjoy seeing a grandmother working through the feelings emerging and dealing with how she feels she has been neglectful of others in her life, it's never easy to confront yourself and ur failings but they do help you realise what's important etc.

I do suggest this for others to read

3.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️

Marilyn Simon Rothstein’s “Who Loves You Best” is a delightful, laugh-out-loud story about love, family, and self-discovery. Jodi Wexler, a podiatrist juggling her flourishing career and a suddenly retired husband, drops everything to spend time with her eight-year-old granddaughter, Macallan, only to find herself in the middle of a “grandma war.”

The cast of characters is as colorful as they are relatable. Jodi, the self-sacrificing and thoughtful protagonist, is impossible not to root for. Her journey of putting herself first—after years of prioritizing everyone else—will resonate with many readers. Di, the no-nonsense real estate agent, brings sharp humor (and occasional frustration), while Grannie Annie, the quirky and immature girlfriend of Macallan’s grandfather, adds a whimsical touch to the chaos.

The dynamics among the three “grandmas” are hilarious, but the story doesn’t shy away from deeper themes like marriage struggles, family obligations, and self-worth. Lisa, Jodi’s daughter, presents a more complicated character—self-centered and sometimes unlikable—but her bombshell revelation pulls the family together in surprising ways.

Rothstein’s sharp wit and keen observations about family life are on full display, making this a book that alternates between heartfelt and laugh-out-loud moments. From the drama of a blended family to the touching realization that it’s never too late to find yourself, this book strikes an emotional chord while keeping things lighthearted.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the complimentary eBook. All opinions are my own.

I am a fan of books with older character and Who Loves You Best hits the mark! The book features diverse age representation among its characters, adding depth and authenticity to the story It offers a realistic portrayal of relationships and situations involving childcare, grandparent relationships, divorce, affairs, and marriage. Jodi prioritizes family connections over all and almost at the expense of her professional life. Her need to be in her grandchild's life comes through clearly on every page. The way she navigates the other people important in Macallan's life drives this story and those extra characters are not one-dimensional - Di and Grannie Annie are well written and play a major role in the story.
This book also presents a refreshing take on a professional woman's journey, where Jodi asserts her career ambitions rather than defaulting to prioritizing her husband's needs. Overall, I liked this story and have recommended to readers of all ages who enjoy a well rounded book of family conflict that is not all about the conflict (humor and love are part of the story). I particularly like this one for older readers who are happy to see people of a similar age as main characters. This was my first book by Marily Rothstein and I look forward to her next one!

I really thought I would love this book. Who Loves You Best focuses on Jodi, a 67-year-old grandmother, who lives with her husband in Florida while her only grandchild lives in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. When her daughter calls her to ask her to come and stay while she goes out of town, Jodi jumps at the chance, even though she’s a podiatrist and has to cancel a number of patients to do so.

My personal experience, while not exactly like hers, is close enough that I figured I could really relate to the character and her story. Sadly this was not the case. I found the main character to be completely unlikeable. Some of the other characters, such as the other grandmother, Di, were equally unlikeable, if not more so. An unlikeable character doesn’t have to be a death knell for a book, if the story is gripping. But this one wasn’t, at least for me. I did not find myself drawn to read further; I more or less had to force myself to keep going, to give it more of a chance. But finally, at 40%, I decided that there were too many other books waiting for my attention and called it quits. From the reviews I’ve seen, I’m apparently in the minority on this one, so you may like it a lot more than I did.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book so much! This was a reflective look at what matters most. Perhaps not trying to take care of everyone and everything, but doing what’s best for yourself and allowing others the freedom to guide their own paths.

Jodi Wexler is a successful Florida podiatric doctor who goes to the Berkshires to temporarily care for her 8 yr old granddaughter Macallan (Mac/Callie - depending on whom 😉). When she arrives, she is surprised that she’s not the only “grandmother” there. Di - her daughter’s mother in law, needs to be there too. She’s the area’s #1 realtor, letting clients stay at her home until their closing date. And then there’s Grannie Annie, the 27 yr old girlfriend of Jodi’s daughter’s father in law. Talk about a quirky, messy family group!

The book was funny, heartwarming, and went into depths of the character’s struggles, doubts and hopes.

Put this on your radar!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎉 Pub date 10/15/2024

Review post Instagram @on_a_sandbar

It’s not every day I read a novel from a grandmother’s point of view, but I had lots of fun doing so. When I read the book description I thought this was going to be a laugh-out-loud comedic read. In many ways it was and I often burst into laughter, but surprisingly it actually also has substance with the MC having nostalgic moments of reflecting on her life since her teenage years, and introspection on considering what’s best for her future. At the heart of the story it’s not only about the love of a grandparent, but also the message that even in your golden years you can still learn new things and make life-altering choices.

Sometimes the dialogue felt a little stunted and there were several abrupt changes in pacing, but overall, Who Loves You Best is a heartwarming, humorous look at old age, as well as how different grandparents hold opposing views of their grandchildren and their commitment to their grandkids. This is a light, wholesome read and one that I devoured once I got started. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

This novel is a smart humorous view of life in all of it's messy glory. Jodi, Di, and Annie are the grandmothers and they have to learn how to share their space and time as they all contribute to babysitting their granddaughter. The story is very relatable and brought a smile to my face many times as challenges and difficult situations arose. I enjoyed the friendships that came about, the surprises in the storyline, and I always love a happy ending.

I found this novel slow and boring. I’m all for a quiet novel with depth, a silly superficial romance that moves, a book with a slow start that takes off… but this never really materializes into any of that. The characters are two dimensional at best, the jokes fall flat, and the big reveals aren’t that big or that revealing. The main character’s internal monologues are pretty flat and her self discovery is nice but not revelatory. Granny Annie is the most fun and interesting character with some growth but overall is a kind of ridiculous caricature.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Some people might enjoy this, but it wasn’t for me.

Taking place in a charming small town in the Berkshires. A story about mothers and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, grandmother rivalry and marriage. This deals with real family issues and was so relatable. I loved the banter between the grandmothers. Certainly every grandmother wants to be the favorite and Jodi won't be playing second fiddle. This has all the feelings and laugh out loud moments you expect from Rothstein. I read it in one sitting. Excellent! I highly recommend.

I really tried to love this book, but it was just not for me. I found it quite boring at some parts and the characters a bit annoying.

I wanted to like this novel and the author can certainly write a good story but sadly I was irritated by the main character through almost the whole book as well as her daughter! Was able to read this thru NetGalley and finished it just to see how it ended.