Annie, Sondra and Jo grew up as best friends in a small, midwestern town.  Now, in middle age, they have grown apart.  They will soon be back together for their reunion.  Annie is a pastor's wife.  With four sons and constant church duties, Annie's life has quickly become overwhelming.  She has lost herself and come to rely on antidepressants until the day she takes one too many and collapses.  Sondra is married to a rich, older man in LA.   Sondra loves James, but they have not been intimate in a while.  Sondra is manipulated by someone who sees her weakness and is blackmailed. Jo is a recovering alcoholic who is contemplating divorce because of her own failings.  When Sondra and Jo hear of Annie's troubles, they race back into town and plan to steal her away on an epic camping adventure like they did when they were young.  Hoping to invigorate their souls and remind Annie of the good days, the fearsome threesome may solve more than they intended.  


Campfire Confessions is a heartwarming story of friendship and overcoming obstacles.  Each of the women has a unique, yet timeless story of believing that they are not enough for those around them.  Annie is overwhelmed, completely exhausted by her day to day life of giving herself away and becoming a martyr to what she believes her duties are all while her husband and kids continue to expect and ask more of her.  I'm surprised she didn't collapse sooner.  Sondra is a strong woman who is asking her husband for exactly what she wants and is still able to be manipulated by her own insecurities.  Jo is fighting her demons and still believes she is not good enough for her husband.  The camping trip was fun, comical and life changing.  I loved that they were able to work through some things within the safety and comfort of one another. These women's stories are a reminder that nobody is perfect, everybody needs help sometimes and communication is key in relationships.   While none of their problems were fully solved in the end, the women were able to tackle the mental load and embrace their issues in order to begin moving on.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The town of Wattsville, NY along the Otis River is a relic of the industrial age, part of the rust belt.  The people of Wattsville are mostly stuck in dead-end jobs, poverty and drugs.  Carol is a single mom who works in the dining hall of the local college that her daughter, Garnet attends.  Garnet is dating Ethan, one of the town's wealthy residents.  When Garnet and Ethan get into a fight, Garnet is the victim of an unjust system and sent to prison with a two-year sentence.  With her daughter in prison, Carol leans on her friend Sam and new coworker Ronaldo.  When Garnet begins to get hassled in prison, Carol and Sam try to help Garnet and end up starting a chain of events that will affect the whole town.  

Just River snapshot of a small town in the 1990's.  The story flowed through the connected action of the characters with each chapter narrated by a switching point of view between Garnet, Carol and Sam.  The diverse range of characters shows a range of viewpoints, motivations and emotions as everyone deals with what life has dealt them.  Sam was an intriguing character as a gay man who dressed as a woman but did not identify as transgender.  It was interesting to see his motivations for staying in a small town and how he goes through everyday life.  Carol's outlook changes several times throughout the story as regret, depression and acceptance work their way through her life.  Garnet's point of view was fun to read as she figured out some important lessons in prison.  Just River offers a steady plot with a mix of comedy and tragedy that reflects the real world. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.