Sweet Life by Mia King

Back Cover: When her husband, Paul, gets a new job, Marissa Price leaves the island of Manhattan for the island of Hawaii. Paradise seems like the perfect place to find herself, save her marriage, and reconnect with her eight-year-old daughter. But once there, Marissa discovers her new life is less about beaches and beautiful sun sets and more about cows and lava flows. Their new "home" is a fixer-upper at best. But what most needs fixing- her marriage- is the first to crumble when her husband annoounces he wants some time apart to find himself. As New York beckons her back and Marissa suspects Paul of having an affair, she begins to seriously question the wisdom of having made the move to Hawaii. Yet the women she takes in as tenants to make ends meet and her daughter's blossoming love of the island begin to hint at a new definition of ohana, or family. Pulled in opposite directions, Marissa is faced with the most important decision of her life- a choice that will define who she is, what she wants, and where her happiness lies.

This was an excellent book. I liked it alot because it's so realistic, and even though I can't really relate because I'm not married and with a kid, I'll eventually be able to relate. And it goes to show how assumptions are not good, even though all the facts and observations seemed to line up for Paul cheating on Marissa, he didn't! and the one girl at the beginning she hated because she was pretty, ended up becoming one of her good friends because her boyfriend got her pregnant and left her. The irony of that one. What we think and assume of people isn't always true, probably most of the time isn't true, but we're such a judgemental country, it's sad really. and it's also sad how Pansy's parent never saw her!! Only for a few minutes. Marissa was actually scared to spend time with her own daughter, now that's def a weird thing. Def something common though, especially in families where the parents are like big time people. But I think it'd be great to visit Hawaii and this time is very good compliment to that.