When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald Review
Book Description
Tales of love, loss, and betrayal are at the heart of When It Happens to You, the debut story collection from actress and author Molly Ringwald.
A Hollywood icon, Ringwald defined the teenage experience in the eighties in such classic films as Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles. Now the star of ABC Family’s hit series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and author of the bestselling memoir Getting the Pretty Back, Ringwald brings that same compelling candor she displayed in her film roles to the unforgettable characters she has created in this series of linked stories about the particular challenges, joys, and disappointments of adult relationships.
Here are stories that grapple with infertility and infidelity, fame and familial discord, in a magnificent collection that will resonate broadly with readers—from fans of Melissa Banks to Meg Wolitzer to Lorrie Moore. Told through a series of stories surrounding a Los Angeles family and their neighborhood, When It Happens to You is a compassionate look into the imperfections and complexities that pervade modern relationships. Ringwald’s voice will strike a chord with anyone who has struggled with the universalities of loss, love, and the search for connection.
My Book Review
Molly Ringwald started writing the book as a collection of short stories with the general theme of betrayal, but once she actually started writing the book, the stories became longer. She also realized that she was interested in the characters and wanted to know more about them, so she started connecting them. She set out to write a collection of stories, and then it “became” the novel through the writing. When I read the book the series of stories flowed together so naturally. I have felt the pain and heartache of betrayal in different roles in my life, so reading the description of the betrayal in the book was like she was saying things I have felt before.
