From the first page, Collins demonstrates rare acuity and precision in pinning down Larissa’s complex shifting emotions. One standout scene finds a therapist thoughtlessly praising Larissa as “strong,” rousing the protagonist to rage, afterwards, “It really pisses me off. Strong? What are my choices?” That anger is matched by wrenching sorrow, as when Larissa weeps during a yoga class, but also memorable warmth and empathy in the novel’s most singular stretch, the hundred pages or so between Larissa embarking on her trip and arriving in New York. The arid no-place of the airport draws something out of her, and as she faces flight delays Larissa continually makes another kind of connection, discussing grief, loss, and love with strangers.
Collins’s attention to the everyday details of flying and car and cabin rental means at times slows down a story whose most urgent developments are mostly internal. Larissa travels with an attentive eye toward birds and butterflies, which she views as messages from Emma, her late daughter. The book’s final third picks up momentum, though, as the fate of Eric, the errant son, is revealed, and Larissa and he face the truths of their pasts and future.
Takeaway: This detailed, immersive novel of a woman facing grief offers wisdom and surprise connections.
Great for fans of: September Vaudrey’s Colors of Goodbye, Rajia Hassib's In the Language of Miracles.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
"Be still my heart- as it was broken several times in the reading of this book. I laughed, I cried, and I hoped right along side Larissa it seems. Jennifer Collins does such a great job of illustrating the process of grief in her book, Comfort in the Wings. I could tell that there was a lot of work and research that went into this book as overly unidentified processes were brought to light and how cruel they can be to a grieving family. Jennifer Collins did not want to skip any part of Larissa’s mourning and it shows.
I’d give this book a 5/5 from pure emotion alone. Of course, there are other aspects to my rating; character development, plot, and realism are all impeccable- especially for a first time novelist. The key feature, as I mentioned above, is the emotion. This book will make you cry, whether it be in sadness or joy. I would recommend this book to all those who have experienced loss and even those who haven’t as the empathy the book gives you is truly astounding." - Literary Titan
I particularly enjoyed the storyline. It is soft, smooth, and easy-flowing. It is set so that someone who has a personal experience with such loss can relate to it. The conversations in the book are another aspect I like. They are so realistic that one gets the impression that true-life events are being discussed. The minor characters in the book are also well developed. Each of them has a peculiar story. It is nice to see that, in one way or the other, they have all experienced a version of Larissa's struggles.
I would recommend this book to any person who recently lost a loved one. Parents dealing with the loss of a child would significantly benefit from it. One can call it a manual on what to expect when coping with loss.
Jennifer Collins takes her tragedy and pens it into something to which only those who have gone through such pain can relate. There's one minor error, but nothing to make me dislike the book. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. This is a masterpiece well worth the time.
