Photographer and mom-of-three Ariel Baxter consistently falls short of her own expectations. She is a mediocre housekeeper, she forgets important appointments, and she serves cold cereal for breakfast. She’s a normal mom trying to balance it all — and desperately wishing she could do better.
But when she moves into her dream neighborhood — a master-planned community typical of upscale suburbia in North Carolina — her new next-door neighbor, Justine Miller, offers hope that everything can change. With her immaculate home, matched-set daughters, and home-cooked meals, Justine embodies the flawlessness to which Ariel aspires. She quickly takes Ariel under her wing, offering organizational tips and coaching her through early-morning fitness walks. She even dispenses social advice. Ariel is only too grateful for the help. “Perfection was finally within my grasp, and Justine was helping me find it,” Ariel says.
However, all is not as it appears. Demons lurk under the smooth veneer of Justine’s success — financial troubles, regret for her life choices, and pain because of a lost love. When the veneer finally shatters, Justine makes a decision that derails her life — and forces Ariel to reconsider their friendship, her own values and ethics, and her faith.
In this vibrant, fast-paced read, Whalen takes a look at the fallout of the perfectionism to which many of today’s ultra-accomplished moms aspire. Some women may make it look easy, but ease, like perfection itself, is often just an illusion.
David C. Cook, Publisher. 2011. 320 pages, paperback, $14.99.
In Gorges State Park and other remote areas of our state, swinging suspension bridges — practically woven into the woods around them — transport hikers over rivers, across creeks, and into the past.
North Carolina’s state symbols make up a one-of-a-kind collection that tells our story. They include our native plants, the art we create, the crops we grow, and so much more.
He was smitten with the flavors of her Zimbabwean cooking. She was intrigued by his rural North Carolina upbringing. Together, they created a life in Durham — and a namesake restaurant that was the first of its kind in the entire country.
Calling all North Carolinians! Cast your vote in our monthly match-up.
