So many characters, several of whom are related in some way or about to be.There's Elizabeth whose husband Phil doesn't pay her much mind. At this point, she's thinking about what life might be like without him in the picture. Elizabeth is aunt to the bride, Jennifer. Conner and Patrick, ushers at the wedding, are Elizabeth's adult sons.There's Suzette who believes she's arm candy for her lawyer husband. Everything and everybody to Suzette, has to be top notch in her little world. She wears designer clothing and looks down on folks, quickly judging them by appearance. All is not well in her world. Her husband is the groom's boss. Suzette is convinced her husband is having an affair with his secretary. Meet Mrs. Simpson (Margaret) - Margaret is pleasant, positive and upbeat. She sees trouble in people's lives and prays for them. She is the grandmother of the bride. She's missing her late husband Calvin of almost 60 years. As Suzette and Elizabeth talk, things look bleaker and bleaker. Laura is David's wife. They have an almost 2-month old daughter who keeps her busy. David is brother to the groom-to-be. She's feeling insecure in her marriage right about now. After all there are many lovely looking women at the wedding and her in-laws are so wealthy. She wonders if David is having second thoughts about her. Ingrid, it appears, is the wedding planner for her friend Jenny. Ingrid is the maid-of-honor, Jenny's best friend. She and her fiance, Jason are planning on getting married soon as well. She's having second thoughts, eyeing Patrick.Jeannette -- mother of the bride.Eric -- father of the bride, son of Margaret.Lana -- a bridesmaid and also Jenny's roommate from college. Also eyeing Patrick.Catherine is the groom's super rich mother. She looks down her nose at her daughter-in-law, Laura. Catherine is married to Alex. He seems like a decent rich guy. What appeared to have potential for the first several chapters, is now dragging on with whiny, insecure females, comparing themselves to the other women. Some of them are so sure their guys are or might be, more interested in someone else. I want to hear the guys' side of the story now. The author uses a lot of "my Eric," "my Calvin, "my David..." Quite the emetic. I have to add though that folks do need to be reassured how much we value and appreciate them.
What do You think about On This Day (2006)?
I haven't read this bad of a book in a while. It was super cliched and cheesy and stereotypical, so much so that it bordered on offensive. It was obvious that Carlson knew nothing about some of the subjects she hit on, like how affairs in a marriage actually affect people, and that it doesn't take 2 glasses of wine to make a woman drunk. There was some closure at the end, but not nearly enough when Carlson tried to make the story about, oh, I don't know, eight different women. This was a let down. I was very disappointed.
—Carly Trask-Kuchta
