Welcome Home by Glenda Poulter

Title: Welcome Home
Author: Glenda Poulter
Publisher: P.D. Publishing
Buy the book: Amazon

Blurb:

Shelby Livingston left home thirty years ago, vowing never to permanently return. But she’s tired of her itinerant lifestyle as a photojournalist and is ready to settle down and stay in one place. When she learns of a position on the staff of a magazine near her hometown of Yancey, SC, she decides to bid on it and returns for an interview just in time for her 30th high school reunion.

Memories of her senior year in high school flood back. She remembers all the pain she felt as the Six – Howie, Carolyn, Melissa, Kara, Naomi, and Shelby – were split apart, first through betrayal and then through departure. Shelby has to face the ghosts and the demons from her past. Will she be able to forgive them, living and dead, so that she can finally settle down in one place?

Review:

This semi-autobiographical story combines themes that many will recognize. It tells of the turning point of a young woman’s life, where the course is dramatically changed and she knows that nothing will ever be the same again. Divided into two parts, the first tells of the main character’s experiences during her senior year of high school, while the second moves to thirty years later as the woman returns to her hometown. This engaging story explores the power of forgiveness, both for those that seek to be forgiven for their actions and those that need to forgive in order to truly move on.

Shelby Livingston grew up in a small town in South Carolina in what appears on the surface to be a perfect life. She has a group of close friends, and together they are known as the Six, inseparable and intensely close to one another. At least until their senior year when Naomi discovers a secret about two of the friends, and as a result abandons them all and betrays their secret to anyone who will listen. The tragic events that follow, as well as a worsening relationship with her mother, cause Shelby to leave home for good right after graduation.

Thirty years later, Shelby has a rewarding career but the events from her senior year still haunt her. The loss of two of the Six over the years and being tired of a bohemian lifestyle due to her job have Shelby considering a move back to her hometown, and the house she grew up in. Attending her thirty year high school reunion stirs up old memories and marks the reemergence of women from her past, one responsible for the heartbreaking betrayal and the other a symbol of Shelby’s hopes and dreams.

Welcome Home is a wonderful book that explores universal themes. Childhood friendships are quite powerful, and mark bonds that are often stronger than familial relationships. Tragic events while growing up can have a drastic impact on a young woman and greatly inform the path the rest of life will take. This easily recognizable theme quickly pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The character of Shelby is well developed throughout and her motivations and obstacles are always clear within the story.

Of the two parts of the story, the first felt a bit stronger. The writing is tight and the story progresses quickly. I was totally engrossed and turned the pages quickly to find out what would happen next. The events are truly heartbreaking, and I felt for each of the characters involved. As the story moves into the second part, the pacing seems to slow down a bit. Though I enjoyed the events of the second half, I wasn’t as invested in the characters as I was in the first half. The second half is of course necessary for a happy ending to occur, and there are many extremely well done emotional moments, I just would have liked the pacing of the story to have maintained what was set near the beginning.

There are striking contrasts presented throughout the book with the different levels of support and love provided by families. Shelby’s parents in particular are set up as almost polar opposites, with her mother unable to understand or accept that Shelby is a lesbian and being cruel and thoughtless as a result, while Shelby’s father may not understand but loves and supports his daughter. Melissa’s parents, Mrs. Ballard and her female friend Sue Ellen, provide a safe haven for all of the Six, a home where they can all be themselves and are accepted no matter what. Each of these have a strong influence on Shelby and the woman she becomes, and following along as she heals old wounds and opens up to new possibilities is a pleasure.

The romance of the story is not a surprise and evolves more or less without too much conflict. With the struggle that Shelby encounters over events from the past, it’s fitting that the relationship she pursues is not overly complicated. The interactions between the women are touching and heartfelt and there are beautiful yet subtle mentions of the intimacy they share.

There are numerous secondary characters that add to the story, and two of my absolute favorites were Melissa and Kara. The depth of these two characters adds so much to the story and had me smiling many times while reading. The one area that I wish had more development within the story is with the character of Carolyn. There are mentions of her life beyond their senior year, but there wasn’t enough closure as was given for all of the other characters.

Overall this is an enjoyable book that centers on the need to forgive past transgressions in order to fully move on, even after thirty years. Poulter has created an excellent cast of characters and a story that pulls you in from the very beginning. I hope there will be another novel from this author in the future!