Category Archives: Sherri Wood Emmons

Review: The Weight of Small Things by Sherri Wood Emmons

Title: The Weight of Small Things by Sherri Wood Emmons
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the acclaimed author of Prayers and Lies and The Sometimes Daughter comes an emotional, compelling, and ultimately uplifting novel that explores the fragility and resilience of love—and the decisions, large and small, that determine not just who we are, but who we want to be.

Corrie Philips has an enviable life—even if it’s not quite the one she wanted. She enjoys working at her university alumni magazine, her house is beautiful, and her husband, Mark, is attentive, handsome, and wealthy. But after years of frustration and failed attempts, Corrie is desperate for a child—and haunted by the choices in her past.

A decade ago, just after college, Corrie’s boyfriend Daniel left town, intent on saving the world even if it meant breaking Corrie’s heart. Now he’s returned, and despite her misgivings, Corrie feels drawn to him again. But the emotions that overwhelm her may put her marriage and her secure, stable life at risk. Faced with an unexpected choice, Corrie must unravel illusion from reality at last and weigh what she most needs against what her heart has always wanted.

The Review:

Decisions. We make them every day. Some big. Some small. But all are life changing in some way. In Sherri Wood Emmons’ The Weight of Small Things, lead protagonist, Corrie Philips must face the unintended consequences that result from several small, yet significant, decisions.

All of the characters in The Weight of Small Things are at a crossroads in their lives. Corrie’s good friend Bryn must decide if her longtime boyfriend is capable of changing into the man she needs him to be. Their close friend, Bob, is at a pivotal point in his floundering marriage. The three friends provide one another with advice, unconditional love and support as they find solutions to the various problems facing them.

The main focus of The Weight of Small Things is Corrie and the repercussions of the choices she makes. Corrie is happily married to Mark yet she is unable to reconcile events from her previous relationship with Daniel. His return stirs unwanted emotions and memories, and Corrie makes a fateful decision that will alter the course of several lives. Once the chain of events is set in motion, Corrie finally finds some much needed clarity, but it is too late to reclaim what she has lost. It is at this point that Corrie takes control of her life, makes peace with her past and forges a new life for herself.

A realistic portrait of love and marriage that is quite compelling, The Weight of Small Things is a beautifully written and thought provoking novel. The characters are richly developed with all too human flaws. I liked the characters and while I hated some of their choices, I could understand what motivated them. Some of the novel’s outcome is predictable, but Sherri Wood Emmons throws in a few unexpected twists and turns that will keep readers guessing exactly how this fascinating story is going to end.

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Filed under Contemporary, Fiction, Kensington Books, Rated B, Review, Sherri Wood Emmons, The Weight of Small Things