Immediate Family:

by Eileen Goudge

Book Overview

Fifteen years after their Princeton graduation, Jay, Franny, Emerson, and Stevie meet at a college reunion. Life has taken each of them in different directions -- Jay is a married man with a baby on... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743483197
• ISBN13: 9780743483193
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 337 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

BFF

Stevie Light, Jay Gunderson, Frannie, and Emerson Fitzgibbons have been friends since they met in college. Though life has taken them in different roads they are always there for each other. Stevie's mom was a hippie and never told her who her father was, so it came as a surprise that her father was Grant Tobin, a member of a popular band in the 1960's who has been a recluse since a shooting at his house left a woman in a comma for many years. Stevie is a Hollywood reporter, who tries to investigate the shooting while trying to get over her former boyfriend Ryan. Jay Gunderson is a business man who is married to Vivianne, a French model who is pregnant. He and Franni have always been close so when she is thinking about becoming a mother he offers her his services and she becomes pregnant. Since Franni turned 35 she wanted a baby. After becoming pregnant by Jay she meets an author who is writing a book about Grant Tobin. They get serious fast, but after the death of Jay and Viviianne's son and Viviannes long term trip to France Franni sees Jay in a different light and she realizes she may have feelings for Jay that are more than just friendly. Emerson Fitzgibbons is a single mother raising her young daughter while coping with her mother who has cancer. She meets her mothers nurse Reggie, from Nigeria, and starts a relationship with him. Shortly after the relationship though Reggie finds out that he is to be deported and the stress puts a strain on their relationship. What happens with the four friends? Read Immediate Family

WISH THIS BOOK DID HAVE TO END

I just finished reading IMMEDIATE FAMILY, and I didn't want it to end. I am an Eileen Goudge fan. I can't say I have read all of her books, but I have read some, and I have always liked them. At times I felt that the books was only about Emerson, Franny, and Jay. And Stevie was just an after thought and sprinkled in at times, but that's okay it was a great book. I had a hard time finishing it because I didn't want it to end. I was really ready to hate and truly dislike Vivienne, Jays wife, and Margaret, Emerson's mother. But Eileen didn't mean for us to hate them. Maybe not like them all that much, but see that they were flawed, human, and products of their upbringings. Vivienne being a spoiled only child, was not taught that life had consequences, and that in the end life asks you for payment of that consequence. I think she loved Jay and Franny in her own way, but being selfish and self-centered it never occurred to her that they had feelings. Especially Jay. Having to deal with the death of his son alone while she ran off to France. Margaret was also self-centered, selfish, and I assume spoiled. She also wallowed in her pride, especially after her husband's death. It must have been really hard to keep up a stiff upper lip when she found out that maybe she wasn't totally poor, but just having enough money to live and keep her nice apt. But then in her time it wasn't proper for her to go out and get a job, even if she had a college degree.

A closer look at friendship

Four friends, Stevie, Jay, Emerson and Franny, meet at Princeton and continue their friendship long after graduation. This book, although sometimes predictable, tells the story about finding love where you least expect it and how precious friendships can be.

Classic Goudge---Absolutely Riveting!

This is Eileen Goudge at her best! She gives us characters who we really care about and keeps the plot moving in all sorts of unexpected ways. She has insight into so many worlds--from the California hippies to the Park Avenue matrons--insight that gives her books realism and depth. This book cries out for a sequel; I want to know more about what happens to these loveable Princeton friends!

Appealing characters, predictable storylines

Jay, Franny, Stevie, and Emerson became fast friends during their days at Princeton and have remained steadfast. Jay is married to Vivienne. Franny is still single wanting to find true love and have a baby desperately. Stevie has commitment issues since she never knew who her father was as a child. Emerson is a single mother faced with the needs and demands of her young daughter and dying mother. Franny helps Jay recover from a tragedy and Jay helps Franny with her dream. Stevie's mother one day decides to reveal who her father is. Stevie's father never questions it. Emerson discovers love for herself and not what her mother wants for her. The four main characters were genially written as people anyone could relate to. This novel is for you if you are looking for something easy to read with no surprises.