What do you think?
Rate this book
Who Loves You Best
A woman drops everything to spend more time with her grandchild, only to discover new truths about herself. A humorous, heartfelt, feel-good novel from the author of Crazy to Leave You.
For Jodi Wexler, a Florida doctor with a flourishing practice, only one thing’s missing: the chance to spend more time getting to know her eight-year-old granddaughter, Macallan.
When Jodi’s restauranteur daughter asks her to watch Macallan in the Berkshires while she takes care of some business out of town, Jodi can’t say yes fast enough. Neither Jodi’s podiatric patients nor her just-fired, suddenly retired husband can keep her away. But when Jodi arrives, she discovers she’s not the only grandma at Lisa’s house. Lisa’s mother-in-law, Di—a hard-nosed real estate agent—has moved into the house. What’s more, there’s Grannie Annie, the twenty-seven-year-old girlfriend of Lisa’s oddball father-in-law. They’re not the only surprises. Lisa’s marriage is faltering even as her new restaurant is taking off.
As the competition for Macallan’s attention among the three “grandmas” increases, Lisa drops a bomb about her life that changes everything. Under pressure, and determined to help her daughter, Jodi must choose her next step. Her decision surprises everyone—Jodi, most of all.
For Jodi Wexler, a Florida doctor with a flourishing practice, only one thing’s missing: the chance to spend more time getting to know her eight-year-old granddaughter, Macallan.
When Jodi’s restauranteur daughter asks her to watch Macallan in the Berkshires while she takes care of some business out of town, Jodi can’t say yes fast enough. Neither Jodi’s podiatric patients nor her just-fired, suddenly retired husband can keep her away. But when Jodi arrives, she discovers she’s not the only grandma at Lisa’s house. Lisa’s mother-in-law, Di—a hard-nosed real estate agent—has moved into the house. What’s more, there’s Grannie Annie, the twenty-seven-year-old girlfriend of Lisa’s oddball father-in-law. They’re not the only surprises. Lisa’s marriage is faltering even as her new restaurant is taking off.
As the competition for Macallan’s attention among the three “grandmas” increases, Lisa drops a bomb about her life that changes everything. Under pressure, and determined to help her daughter, Jodi must choose her next step. Her decision surprises everyone—Jodi, most of all.
267 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2024
496 people are currently reading
5,818 people want to read
About the author
Marilyn Simon Rothstein
4 books878 followersMarilyn Simon Rothstein is the author of Lift and Separate, winner of the Star Award presented by the Women’s Fiction Writers Association for Outstanding Debut. Husbands And Other Sharp Objects is her second novel.
Marilyn grew up in New York City, earned a degree in journalism from New York University, began her writing career at Seventeen magazine, married a man she met in an elevator, and owned an advertising agency for more than twenty-five years. Marilyn received an MA in liberal studies from Wesleyan University and an MA in Judaic studies from the University of Connecticut. She enjoys speaking at book festivals and community events.
Marilyn grew up in New York City, earned a degree in journalism from New York University, began her writing career at Seventeen magazine, married a man she met in an elevator, and owned an advertising agency for more than twenty-five years. Marilyn received an MA in liberal studies from Wesleyan University and an MA in Judaic studies from the University of Connecticut. She enjoys speaking at book festivals and community events.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
September 22, 2024
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
This was such a fun yet serious read, my first by this author. Jodi is asked by her daughter to fly to the Berkshires to look after her 8-year-old granddaughter and Jodi jumps at the chance to play Grandma for a while; except when she gets there two other grandmas are vying for the granddaughter's attention. Over the next few days, Jodi and the other grandmas compete to be the grandma who loves their granddaughter best.
This story has such a unique premise, that was executed wonderfully, showing the many different ways to parent and grandparent a child. The book also asks what is family...It isn't necessarily being related by blood. I also like that Jodi was a doctor and that she decided it was time to put herself first. You know the rules of an aircraft, always put your mask on first before you help anyone else. How can you possibly be a good wife or parent if your own needs aren't met as well? And even though Jodi finally had to do for herself she stayed kind and thoughtful throughout. I was so pleased with the fact that the granddaughter was written so realistically in both behaviour and dialogue.
I just adored the fact that there were older people as main characters in this book and there was even a bit of romance for one of them. If you enjoy books with a lot of heart and humour then this is the book for you, it was very charming and full of family conflict but most of all there was a lot of love between these pages. As I said earlier this is my first by the author but it won't be my last. I want to check out Husbands and Other Sharp Objects for the title alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This was such a fun yet serious read, my first by this author. Jodi is asked by her daughter to fly to the Berkshires to look after her 8-year-old granddaughter and Jodi jumps at the chance to play Grandma for a while; except when she gets there two other grandmas are vying for the granddaughter's attention. Over the next few days, Jodi and the other grandmas compete to be the grandma who loves their granddaughter best.
This story has such a unique premise, that was executed wonderfully, showing the many different ways to parent and grandparent a child. The book also asks what is family...It isn't necessarily being related by blood. I also like that Jodi was a doctor and that she decided it was time to put herself first. You know the rules of an aircraft, always put your mask on first before you help anyone else. How can you possibly be a good wife or parent if your own needs aren't met as well? And even though Jodi finally had to do for herself she stayed kind and thoughtful throughout. I was so pleased with the fact that the granddaughter was written so realistically in both behaviour and dialogue.
I just adored the fact that there were older people as main characters in this book and there was even a bit of romance for one of them. If you enjoy books with a lot of heart and humour then this is the book for you, it was very charming and full of family conflict but most of all there was a lot of love between these pages. As I said earlier this is my first by the author but it won't be my last. I want to check out Husbands and Other Sharp Objects for the title alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
October 13, 2024
Jodi Weixler is a 67 year-old podiatrist with a thriving practice in Florida. Jodi has three adult children, including a daughter, Lisa, who is the mother to her only grandchild, Macallan. Unfortunately, Lisa and her family live far away from Jodi in the Berkshires and Jodi’s relationship with Macallan has been limited to a handful of visits and FaceTime calls. So when Jodi receives a phone call from Lisa asking her to watch Macallan for a week, she naturally jumps at the opportunity to get to know her only grandchild better. Things get dicey, however, when Jodi arrives only to find Macallan’s other (and extremely unpleasant) grandmother, Di, has moved in for the week. Jodi is further surprised to find Macallan’s 27 year-old babysitter, Annie, is affectionately referred to as “Grannie Annie” and spends most of her time at the house as well. Suddenly, Jodi is vying with two other grandmas for Macallan’s affection. Everything comes crashing down when Lisa drops a bomb about her life which forces Jodi to reexamine her priorities as a professional and as a grandmother longing to be closer to her grandmother.
This is an incredibly wholesome, humorous, change-of-pace read from a grandmother’s POV that quite frankly made me tear up a few times. Despite the fact that we all know how special relationships between grandparents and grandchildren are, it’s rare to read a book from a grandparent’s POV versus a grandchild’s POV. Marilyn Simon Rothstein inserts just the right amount of humor and heart in her characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this arc.
This is an incredibly wholesome, humorous, change-of-pace read from a grandmother’s POV that quite frankly made me tear up a few times. Despite the fact that we all know how special relationships between grandparents and grandchildren are, it’s rare to read a book from a grandparent’s POV versus a grandchild’s POV. Marilyn Simon Rothstein inserts just the right amount of humor and heart in her characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this arc.
November 25, 2024
Jodi Wexler is living in Florida with a thriving podiatry practice get the chance to go the Berkshires to help out her daughter with her eight-year-old granddaughter, Macallan. Her husband is retired and she sees this as the perfect opportunity to spend some one-on-one quality time with her.
When she arrives, she realizes her other grandma, Lisa’s mother-in-law is living with them. Lisa’s father has a young girlfriend who is also a grandmother figure to Macallan. Three very different ladies are influencing Lisa and Macallan. Other complicated scenarios add to this story.
Can the ladies come together to help Macallan thrive? Instead of making it a competition. Family, wisdom and a little bit of comedy made this one a lovely novel about life.
When she arrives, she realizes her other grandma, Lisa’s mother-in-law is living with them. Lisa’s father has a young girlfriend who is also a grandmother figure to Macallan. Three very different ladies are influencing Lisa and Macallan. Other complicated scenarios add to this story.
Can the ladies come together to help Macallan thrive? Instead of making it a competition. Family, wisdom and a little bit of comedy made this one a lovely novel about life.
October 25, 2024
This was my first book by Marilyn Simon Rothstein and I thought it was so fun and really enjoyable. I'm happy that I was able to read it. I love finding new authors that I enjoy!
Jodi is a DR and her daughter, Lisa, who owns a restaurant, asks her mom if she could come to the Berkshires and watch her granddaughter, Macallan. She jumps at the opportunity to spend more time with her. When she arrives, Lisa's mother-in-law is there and so is another “Grandma”, Lisa's father-in-law's new GF who is 27. Jodi also learns that her daughter's marriage isn't doing so well.
So we get to see these grandma's vying for the attention of Macallan. I loved seeing the POV of the grandma's. It's not often you read books about grandmothers and grandchildren. It's a heartfelt, cozy read with some humor but there is also family drama and arguments. The characters were well developed and the plot felt realistic. I'll definitely check out more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, Suzy approved book tours and the author for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Jodi is a DR and her daughter, Lisa, who owns a restaurant, asks her mom if she could come to the Berkshires and watch her granddaughter, Macallan. She jumps at the opportunity to spend more time with her. When she arrives, Lisa's mother-in-law is there and so is another “Grandma”, Lisa's father-in-law's new GF who is 27. Jodi also learns that her daughter's marriage isn't doing so well.
So we get to see these grandma's vying for the attention of Macallan. I loved seeing the POV of the grandma's. It's not often you read books about grandmothers and grandchildren. It's a heartfelt, cozy read with some humor but there is also family drama and arguments. The characters were well developed and the plot felt realistic. I'll definitely check out more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, Suzy approved book tours and the author for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 11, 2024
I adore the author's compelling novels about family dynamics when life gets hard, written with her trademark humor, warmth and insight. WHO LOVES YOU BEST is her best yet, a perfect read for lovers of women's fiction. Highly recommended!
October 16, 2024
Throughly enjoyed reading this witty and heartfelt story exploring the greater dynamics of family relations both blood and formed, my first of Marilyn Simon Rothstein.
To begin, I was skeptical of the unique, single POV of older female protagonist but Marilyn has done a spectacular job of developing Jodi’s character as she grapples with familial, personal and professional challenges. The drama and humor balanced with poignant moments make this narrative truly engaging and the characters extremely relatable.
An utterly delightful quick read with profound life lessons woven through engaging characters and entertaining family drama!
Thanking Lake Union Publishing for gifting me this ARC through NetGalley for my honest review.
To begin, I was skeptical of the unique, single POV of older female protagonist but Marilyn has done a spectacular job of developing Jodi’s character as she grapples with familial, personal and professional challenges. The drama and humor balanced with poignant moments make this narrative truly engaging and the characters extremely relatable.
An utterly delightful quick read with profound life lessons woven through engaging characters and entertaining family drama!
Thanking Lake Union Publishing for gifting me this ARC through NetGalley for my honest review.
October 15, 2024
FULL REVIEW WILL BE ON OCTOBER 15.
A lovely, change-of-pace read with life lessons, a few heartbreaking scenes, and Ms. Rothstein's signature enjoyable read.
You meet three "grannies" who at first don't get along, but in the end realize what's important in life...your family and more importantly YOUR own happiness.
Enjoy when you read WHO LOVES YOU BEST.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own
A lovely, change-of-pace read with life lessons, a few heartbreaking scenes, and Ms. Rothstein's signature enjoyable read.
You meet three "grannies" who at first don't get along, but in the end realize what's important in life...your family and more importantly YOUR own happiness.
Enjoy when you read WHO LOVES YOU BEST.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own
October 11, 2024
Jodi Wexler is a successful podiatrist living in Boca Raton, Florida. At sixty-seven, she is happily married to her college sweetheart Jake. While life is good, Jodi wishes she was able to spend more time with her young granddaughter, who lives in the Berkshires. When her daughter Lisa asks her to visit and babysit, Jodi jumps at the opportunity for some one-on-one time with eight-year-old Camden. But once she arrives, she finds that her bonding time will be shared with Lisa’s mother-in-law, Di, who is also temporarily staying at Lisa and husband Brian's house. Plus, a young woman dubbed "Grannie Annie" seems to be there all the time. Jodi is clearly the outsider and all she wants is some quality time with Camden. But things are about to get even more tangled.
Grab a cozy blanket and snuggle up with Marilyn Simon Rothstein's Who Loves You Best. This delightful book will make you laugh, smile and shed some tears. The characters are complicated, and things get pretty messy for all of them. But count on a steady flow of great zingers from Rothstein to keep things on the lighter side.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the advance.
Rated 4.5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Grab a cozy blanket and snuggle up with Marilyn Simon Rothstein's Who Loves You Best. This delightful book will make you laugh, smile and shed some tears. The characters are complicated, and things get pretty messy for all of them. But count on a steady flow of great zingers from Rothstein to keep things on the lighter side.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the advance.
Rated 4.5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
June 17, 2024
Thanks to net galley for this arc! I truly disliked everyone in this book except the 27 year old grandma and the child. Everyone else was a horrible person who did horrible things. This book meandered, had no resolution and wanted us to care about characters that were barely sketched. Woof.
September 30, 2024
4.5/5 stars
Who Loves You Best is my first book by this author. I would classify it as a combination between women's fiction and a humorous family drama.
The main character is 67 year old Jodi Wexler. She is a podiatrist living in Florida. She drops everything to go to the Berkshires (in Massachusetts) to take care of her 8 year old granddaughter.
This book looks at real life situations but in such a funny way. I could not put this book down. It was a quick but interesting and thought-provoking read.
There is something happening with Jodi's daughter Lisa. She owns a restaurant in the Berkshires, but needs to go to Boston. But she is very vague. When Jodi arrives there are two other grandmothers at the house. Di, a real estate agent (Lisa’s mother-in-law) and Grannie Annie (the 27 year old girlfriend of Lisa's father-in-law).
At first I could not understand why Lisa was being so secretive. And I disliked Di and Annie being around so much. There was a lot of fighting and disagreeing. However I really enjoyed all of the family drama. And I have no idea how the author did this, but by the end of the book I was completely obsessed with the granny trio (Di/Annie/Jodi).
I really liked the Jewish rep. And I liked seeing characters of all ages, including an older narrator. This book was serious yet also funny. I would definitely recommend it!
Thanks to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this book.
Who Loves You Best is my first book by this author. I would classify it as a combination between women's fiction and a humorous family drama.
The main character is 67 year old Jodi Wexler. She is a podiatrist living in Florida. She drops everything to go to the Berkshires (in Massachusetts) to take care of her 8 year old granddaughter.
This book looks at real life situations but in such a funny way. I could not put this book down. It was a quick but interesting and thought-provoking read.
There is something happening with Jodi's daughter Lisa. She owns a restaurant in the Berkshires, but needs to go to Boston. But she is very vague. When Jodi arrives there are two other grandmothers at the house. Di, a real estate agent (Lisa’s mother-in-law) and Grannie Annie (the 27 year old girlfriend of Lisa's father-in-law).
At first I could not understand why Lisa was being so secretive. And I disliked Di and Annie being around so much. There was a lot of fighting and disagreeing. However I really enjoyed all of the family drama. And I have no idea how the author did this, but by the end of the book I was completely obsessed with the granny trio (Di/Annie/Jodi).
I really liked the Jewish rep. And I liked seeing characters of all ages, including an older narrator. This book was serious yet also funny. I would definitely recommend it!
Thanks to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this book.
October 15, 2024
There is no author I know who more perfectly writes books that make me laugh out loud but also make me cry, than Marilyn Simon Rothstein. In Who Loves You Best, we meet Jodi—a 67-year-old wife, mother, podiatrist, and grandmother. She loves her granddaughter, but they live far apart, and she’s thrilled to be asked to come stay with her for a week. Jodi was extremely relatable, as she deals with about a million mixed-up feelings regarding her life, her future, her home, her family, and especially the other grandmas that show up unexpectedly! There is so much to unpack here, the laughter and the tears layered with so many emotions, giving the reader a lot to think about through the course of this book. The relationships are complicated and one hundred percent authentic—we all know people who are like Jodi, Jake, Lisa, and the other complicated characters. This entertaining, thought-provoking book is perfect for book clubs, because there will be so much to talk about! Thank you to the author for providing an advance reader copy of this book.
August 5, 2024
Jodi is a podiatrist from Florida. Her daughter Lisa calls her from the Berkshires to babysit. Jodi jumps at the chance to spend time with her granddaughter Macallan. Unfortunately Jodi doesn't get that one on one time with her granddaughter. She is soon to meet Grannie Annie , and energetic 27 year old girlfriend of Macallan's grandpa and Di (grandma) a real estate agent. Di was supposed to be out of town but things didn't work out. Di moves into Lisa's house with Jodi and Macallan. All of the grandmothers have to learn to work together which makes this story laugh out loud funny. I really enjoyed this very real feeling family tale. I however hate the character of Lisa. She has no redeeming qualities that I can see which I guess is also very real life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2024
2.5/5
this was promising at first, then it completely fell apart.
i was drawn to this book because you rarely ever follow older protagonists, but also because my mom has a similar relationship with my sister's mother in law in regards to my nephew, so i was interested to see how it would play out. then, everything got messy as the book progressed, and it lost my interest and attention. wasn't a fan of the diet talk shoved in there, either. i know it's a different generation with different beliefs, but yuck yuck yuck
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free arc of this book in exchange for my honest review
this was promising at first, then it completely fell apart.
i was drawn to this book because you rarely ever follow older protagonists, but also because my mom has a similar relationship with my sister's mother in law in regards to my nephew, so i was interested to see how it would play out. then, everything got messy as the book progressed, and it lost my interest and attention. wasn't a fan of the diet talk shoved in there, either. i know it's a different generation with different beliefs, but yuck yuck yuck
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free arc of this book in exchange for my honest review
June 11, 2024
What a funny, sweet novel! The narrator is 67 year old Jodi, and I really enjoyed her humor and wisdom. This is a quick read with a lot of heart. I plan to read this author’s previous titles because I liked this one so much! It was also my first ever Net Galley title; thank you for the advance copy!
July 20, 2024
Rothstein has a singular gift for portraying the family conflicts we’ve all encountered with heart, wisdom, and comic touches sure to have you laughing out loud. Prepare to be charmed by the cast of wonderfully flawed characters as three “grandmothers” compete for the affections of their shared granddaughter and, in doing so, reveal the true meaning of family.
December 7, 2024
Bo-ring. I’m all for a quiet novel with depth, a silly superficial romance that moves, a book with a slow start that takes off… but this never really materializes into any of that. The characters are two dimensional at best, the jokes fall flat, and the big reveals aren’t that big or that revealing. The main character’s internal monologues are pretty flat and her self discovery is nice but not revelatory. Granny Annie is the most fun and interesting character with some growth but overall is a kind of ridiculous caricature.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Some people might enjoy this, but it wasn’t for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Some people might enjoy this, but it wasn’t for me.
September 30, 2024
Another Marilyn Rothstein winner!
October 12, 2024
What happens when 3 Grandmas are all under the same roof?
👵🏼 It’s the Clash of Nanas.
👵🏼 The Grudge of Grandmas.
👵🏼 The Battle of the Bubbes.
I dare you to read one of Marilyn Simon Rothstein’s books without laughing like a lunatic. Her witty words and charismatic characters always blend into the perfect mix of heart, humor, and snarktastic banter.
Who Loves You Best is the perfect read of friendship and family that is riotously relatable, with hilariously genuine perspectives on aging, motherhood, and charting your own course. Chock full of wisdom and delightfully messy misadventures, this book is a refreshing celebration of all the different kinds of women in one’s life, and it made me miss my grandma in the best kind of way… and also thoroughly appreciate a really good foot joke.👣
👵🏼 It’s the Clash of Nanas.
👵🏼 The Grudge of Grandmas.
👵🏼 The Battle of the Bubbes.
I dare you to read one of Marilyn Simon Rothstein’s books without laughing like a lunatic. Her witty words and charismatic characters always blend into the perfect mix of heart, humor, and snarktastic banter.
Who Loves You Best is the perfect read of friendship and family that is riotously relatable, with hilariously genuine perspectives on aging, motherhood, and charting your own course. Chock full of wisdom and delightfully messy misadventures, this book is a refreshing celebration of all the different kinds of women in one’s life, and it made me miss my grandma in the best kind of way… and also thoroughly appreciate a really good foot joke.👣
June 19, 2024
I’ll be honest, this book was off putting from the start. It managed to double down on insulting formula feeding within the first few pages, and that served no real purpose other than to make this mom feel like the book was judging her about a very normal way to feed a baby.
Overall, the writing was clunky and felt forced. It meanders to the point where the purpose is lost- they spend a full page talking about where to get dinner only for the grandma who has already established she can only cook by microwaving prepackaged food to announce that she can cook dinner.
An example of bizarre writing from the book: “I was a foot doctor. I chose podiatry because I loved feet. I fell for my husband when I saw his big toe. The sexiest.” Then goes off to something else completely different.
The fighting between the grandmas becomes a bit tiresome and, again, just feels forced.
This book has the cute idea of a grandma being able to spend time with her grandchild, but it doesn’t actually end up giving me the heartwarming feeling I was looking for. None of the characters feel genuine or realistic. I would not recommend this book. I only finished it to be able to give it a rating, but I would have stopped reading if I hadn’t been reading the book to give a review.
Overall, the writing was clunky and felt forced. It meanders to the point where the purpose is lost- they spend a full page talking about where to get dinner only for the grandma who has already established she can only cook by microwaving prepackaged food to announce that she can cook dinner.
An example of bizarre writing from the book: “I was a foot doctor. I chose podiatry because I loved feet. I fell for my husband when I saw his big toe. The sexiest.” Then goes off to something else completely different.
The fighting between the grandmas becomes a bit tiresome and, again, just feels forced.
This book has the cute idea of a grandma being able to spend time with her grandchild, but it doesn’t actually end up giving me the heartwarming feeling I was looking for. None of the characters feel genuine or realistic. I would not recommend this book. I only finished it to be able to give it a rating, but I would have stopped reading if I hadn’t been reading the book to give a review.
October 12, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Who Loves You Best is a lovely, humorous, delightfully heart-warming story full of quirky characters and a thoroughly modern family full of women struggling with life, love, and navigating the often-outdated societal expectations that plague us all. I definitely recommend it.
Sara Sheckells did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.
Thank you Marilyn Simon Rothstein, Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
Who Loves You Best is a lovely, humorous, delightfully heart-warming story full of quirky characters and a thoroughly modern family full of women struggling with life, love, and navigating the often-outdated societal expectations that plague us all. I definitely recommend it.
Sara Sheckells did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.
Thank you Marilyn Simon Rothstein, Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read
October 17, 2024This book was a gem to read. So different from the books I've been reading. It was a light, happy, read. One that I didn't want to put down. A book that many grandmothers may be able to connect with in ways. It was funny, serious, adorable, family orientated. A truly lovely story.
When Lisa calls her mother Dr Jodi Wexler and asked if she can drop everything to come stay with her granddaughter Macallan, Jodi jumps at the chance. She hasn't seen her daughter or granddaughter in a while and looks forward to spending some time with them. Dr Jodi Wexler is a foot dr. She has a thriving business and moved to Florida for her husband. Now he is newly retired.
You will get to know three grandmas in this story. Grandma Jo, Grannie Annie and Di. Grannie Annie is a twenty seven year old who lives with Di's first ex. The father of her boys. Di is Lisa's mother in law and a very successful realtor. Her face is on billboards and grocery carts. When these three are together things don't go to smoothly. Di is a domineering woman who can't accept that she is elderly. She refuses to let her granddaughter, Mac call her anything but Di. Grannie Annie is funny but has a lot going on. She's living with a man old enough to be her father. Or grandfather. And he's not the nicest of men. She has no one else besides Lisa, Brian and Mac, who all love her dearly.
These three women have to learn to get along. To be the kind of women that Mac can lean on or learn from. They are each dealing with things. Things that the others don't know about. When Lisa drops a bombshell on her mother Jo things go a bit awry. But them being who they are they will figure out a way to deal. If the three grandmas can learn to get along. To be friends. To treat each other nice and stop all the petty things.
I truly enjoyed this book. It was so well written and held my attention all the way through. I loved how things played out. The ending was perfect. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnionPublishing, for this ARC.
Five big stars.
When Lisa calls her mother Dr Jodi Wexler and asked if she can drop everything to come stay with her granddaughter Macallan, Jodi jumps at the chance. She hasn't seen her daughter or granddaughter in a while and looks forward to spending some time with them. Dr Jodi Wexler is a foot dr. She has a thriving business and moved to Florida for her husband. Now he is newly retired.
You will get to know three grandmas in this story. Grandma Jo, Grannie Annie and Di. Grannie Annie is a twenty seven year old who lives with Di's first ex. The father of her boys. Di is Lisa's mother in law and a very successful realtor. Her face is on billboards and grocery carts. When these three are together things don't go to smoothly. Di is a domineering woman who can't accept that she is elderly. She refuses to let her granddaughter, Mac call her anything but Di. Grannie Annie is funny but has a lot going on. She's living with a man old enough to be her father. Or grandfather. And he's not the nicest of men. She has no one else besides Lisa, Brian and Mac, who all love her dearly.
These three women have to learn to get along. To be the kind of women that Mac can lean on or learn from. They are each dealing with things. Things that the others don't know about. When Lisa drops a bombshell on her mother Jo things go a bit awry. But them being who they are they will figure out a way to deal. If the three grandmas can learn to get along. To be friends. To treat each other nice and stop all the petty things.
I truly enjoyed this book. It was so well written and held my attention all the way through. I loved how things played out. The ending was perfect. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnionPublishing, for this ARC.
Five big stars.
January 7, 2025
Not going to lie, I chose this one simply after seeing the adorable cover and I'm happy to announce the contents are just as precious! It's filled with warmth, wit, and life lessons. I absolutely recommend!
Jodi Wexler is a foot doctor living in Florida with her gem of a husband when she gets the call from their daughter that she needs her mother to drop everything and come to the Berkshires immediately to help look after Jodi's granddaughter. She gives little information as to why, but Jodi jumps on this opportunity. She can't wait to have a week to herself with her grand baby considering her other grandma gets to see her all the time.
Soon upon arrival Jodi realizes it's not the week she originally had in mind. Turns out she has competition when it comes to Macallen's affection and she's not only dealing with one other grandma, but two! To make matters worse, something is not sitting well with her when it comes to her daughter and the vague situation she has described.
Follow Jodi as she navigates a week of learning that not every family looks the same and sometimes it's ok to put yourself first while also being the best you can be towards everyone else.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced readers copy!
Jodi Wexler is a foot doctor living in Florida with her gem of a husband when she gets the call from their daughter that she needs her mother to drop everything and come to the Berkshires immediately to help look after Jodi's granddaughter. She gives little information as to why, but Jodi jumps on this opportunity. She can't wait to have a week to herself with her grand baby considering her other grandma gets to see her all the time.
Soon upon arrival Jodi realizes it's not the week she originally had in mind. Turns out she has competition when it comes to Macallen's affection and she's not only dealing with one other grandma, but two! To make matters worse, something is not sitting well with her when it comes to her daughter and the vague situation she has described.
Follow Jodi as she navigates a week of learning that not every family looks the same and sometimes it's ok to put yourself first while also being the best you can be towards everyone else.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced readers copy!
October 15, 2024
Three Grandmas, one granddaughter, “Who Loves You Best”? Author Marilyn Simon Rothstein came up with such a clever plot for this small town where everyone knows everything about everyone.
Jodi Wexler wants nothing more than to spend time with her granddaughter. When her daughter, Lisa, calls requesting her help she jumps at the chance and the next flight out of town despite her job as a busy podiatrist. To her surprise, it’s not just her at Lisa’s house but two other “grandmas” as well , but one is only 27 years old. How can that be? Rothstein’s brilliant and clever twist in this heartfelt storyline about family, differences and growing pains will have you gripping at what your own decisions might be when given an ultimatum. The dysfunction and witty humor will keep you turning the pages.
I loved this novels perfect timing to incorporate Halloween. The perfect, fun and adventurous novel for this time of year. “Who Loves You Best” questions our own intuitions and instincts leaving you with a “what would you do” situation.
A funny, but realistic and current read. I recommend it for anyone who is looking for a fulfilling story about multi-generational family and choices we make. Thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours @Lakeunionpublishing @netgalley for this eARC
Jodi Wexler wants nothing more than to spend time with her granddaughter. When her daughter, Lisa, calls requesting her help she jumps at the chance and the next flight out of town despite her job as a busy podiatrist. To her surprise, it’s not just her at Lisa’s house but two other “grandmas” as well , but one is only 27 years old. How can that be? Rothstein’s brilliant and clever twist in this heartfelt storyline about family, differences and growing pains will have you gripping at what your own decisions might be when given an ultimatum. The dysfunction and witty humor will keep you turning the pages.
I loved this novels perfect timing to incorporate Halloween. The perfect, fun and adventurous novel for this time of year. “Who Loves You Best” questions our own intuitions and instincts leaving you with a “what would you do” situation.
A funny, but realistic and current read. I recommend it for anyone who is looking for a fulfilling story about multi-generational family and choices we make. Thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours @Lakeunionpublishing @netgalley for this eARC
August 30, 2024
I loved everything about “Who Loves You Best” by Marilyn Simon Rothstein. Kudos to Marilyn Simon Rothstein for this well-written, powerful, memorable, witty, and thought-provoking novel. The author has a gift for both writing and telling her story. I loved the themes surrounding this story. Has anyone received admission to the Exclusive Grandmother Club? The one simple requirement is that you become a Grandmother, biological or not. It starts with a notification that you will be a Grandmother. After the initial shock wears off, it is like hearing trumpets or bells in a big band or orchestra. That is, until the pause and reality sets in. You may not be the only Grandmother in this group. There are also your daughter’s and son’s rules to contend with.
Marilyn Simon Rothstein has that magical way of making me laugh and smile what she writes. The author strongly describes the different types of Grandmas. This almost reminds me of “Battle of the Grandmothers” or “The Wars of the Grandmas”. Of course we don���t forget our grandchildren, and hope that they provide the correct answer when asked “Who Loves You Best”? Marilyn Simon Rothstein vividly describes the scenery of the locations, and the colorful and dramatic characters.
The Genres for this novel are humor, family and friendship, and women’s fiction. There are three grandmothers with distinctive personalities, and a lovable granddaughter. Jodi Wexler, is a married, successful Podiatrist, who lives in Florida. Jodi’s daughter, Lisa owns a restaurant in the Berkshires, and requests Jodi to come and help with her daughter Macallan. When Jodi arrives she discovers that Lisa’s mother-in-law Di, a top realtor is there, as well as ‘Grannie Annie” the life partner of Jodi’s father in law. Lisa has to go on a business trip, and anticipates that this visit will only last about a week. Of course there is much more to this request.
I appreciate that the author is empathetic, and sensitive to the many issues that arise, and discusses the importance of family, friends, neighbors, community, love and hope. The author also emphasizes honesty, communication, and finding and believing in yourself. I highly recommend this memorable novel! Happy Reading!
Marilyn Simon Rothstein has that magical way of making me laugh and smile what she writes. The author strongly describes the different types of Grandmas. This almost reminds me of “Battle of the Grandmothers” or “The Wars of the Grandmas”. Of course we don���t forget our grandchildren, and hope that they provide the correct answer when asked “Who Loves You Best”? Marilyn Simon Rothstein vividly describes the scenery of the locations, and the colorful and dramatic characters.
The Genres for this novel are humor, family and friendship, and women’s fiction. There are three grandmothers with distinctive personalities, and a lovable granddaughter. Jodi Wexler, is a married, successful Podiatrist, who lives in Florida. Jodi’s daughter, Lisa owns a restaurant in the Berkshires, and requests Jodi to come and help with her daughter Macallan. When Jodi arrives she discovers that Lisa’s mother-in-law Di, a top realtor is there, as well as ‘Grannie Annie” the life partner of Jodi’s father in law. Lisa has to go on a business trip, and anticipates that this visit will only last about a week. Of course there is much more to this request.
I appreciate that the author is empathetic, and sensitive to the many issues that arise, and discusses the importance of family, friends, neighbors, community, love and hope. The author also emphasizes honesty, communication, and finding and believing in yourself. I highly recommend this memorable novel! Happy Reading!
December 29, 2024
I absolutely adored this book and could not stop reading it. The humor throughout caught me laughing out loud. Jodi is the grandma that I hope to be lucky enough to be one day.
This book is a story of families and ultimately acceptance. I loved that Callie has three grannies that she can depend on. It’s also the story of a mother and daughter relationship between Jodi and Lisa.
On a side note, I have enjoyed every book by this author. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this wonderful book.
This book is a story of families and ultimately acceptance. I loved that Callie has three grannies that she can depend on. It’s also the story of a mother and daughter relationship between Jodi and Lisa.
On a side note, I have enjoyed every book by this author. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this wonderful book.
October 14, 2024
Another great, funny and Jewish novel from Marilyn Simon Rothstein! Marilyn’s books always crack me up and even though I’m not a mother (or grandmother) - her books are approachable and enjoyable for readers of all ages!
Thank you to Lake Union for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Lake Union for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2024
Marilyn Simon Rothstein is the Queen of humorous, heartfelt stories and this new one is one of the best!
October 16, 2024
This was my first book by this author, and I am totally in love with her writing. The characters have both vulnerability and strength. The book is full of humor and compassion.
Jodi doesn't live near her granddaughter, so when her daughter asks her to come stay with her, she jumps at the chance. She soon discovers that there are two more "grandmothers" wanting to stay with her also. Through many trials and tribulations, the three women come to terms with each other in order to give Macallan the support she needs from all three. Along the way, they may just discover what they need individually.
What a wonderful book. I loved every page of it! I think it will touch the heart of every grandmother out there.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for this lovely book. All thoughts are my own.
Jodi doesn't live near her granddaughter, so when her daughter asks her to come stay with her, she jumps at the chance. She soon discovers that there are two more "grandmothers" wanting to stay with her also. Through many trials and tribulations, the three women come to terms with each other in order to give Macallan the support she needs from all three. Along the way, they may just discover what they need individually.
What a wonderful book. I loved every page of it! I think it will touch the heart of every grandmother out there.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for this lovely book. All thoughts are my own.
August 6, 2024
This had promise until it didn’t. I really liked the concept of this book but the story itself fell flat for me. The characters weren’t likable and had little to no redeeming qualities. Everyone is selfish and no one is thinking of Callie until like the last two chapters.
and the most frustrating thing for me is that we never find out the backstory to the Pilgrim!
and the most frustrating thing for me is that we never find out the backstory to the Pilgrim!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews