Fresh from the Bookshelf: Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden {Book Review}

Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden is one of those books I don’t think I’d ever intentionally grab off a shelf to read. While it is classified as an inspiration fiction novel, it neither has the typical cover I’m attracted to, nor the setting I prefer (historical fiction). Fortunately, having it sent directly to my house for me to review made it possible for me to discover this fabulous book that I would have otherwise missed. Join me as I introduce you to the Talbot sisters…

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About the Book

Becoming the Talbot Sisters is written primarily from two different points of view: Waverly and Charlie Talbot. Waverly and Charlie are twin sisters who couldn’t be more different in personality and life choices. Waverly is a celebrity chef who has built a successful career with her home-entertaining show Simply Perfect. Charlie is
an international aid worker in Budapest, Hungary. Once close, they have fallen out of touch with each other due to their life choices and current living situation. When their beloved aunt who raised them passes away, Waverly and Charlie come together in their grief. Waverly shares that her deepest desire to be a mother continues to be robbed from her with miscarriage after miscarriage and failed infertility treatments, and her husband Andrew is tired of the roller coaster journey it has put them on. Charlie decides to offer them the ultimate gift—the selfless gift of surrogacy.  In a need to be with Charlie during her pregnancy, Waverly shows up unannounced in Budapest—where she also reveals that her show is in trouble. Charlie also is experiencing job changes, so when Waverly suggests they embark on an adventure across central Europe, she agrees. They each have relied on their own strengths since childhood, but a dramatic turn in their journey forces them to stand together in order to save their careers, the baby, and each other as they face their fears, find their courage, and fight for what they love. Together they discover that that life they had planned may not be the life that God has intended for them to live.

My Thoughts on the Book

Writing this novel from two points of view worked perfectly. Waverly and Charlie were nearly polar opposites, so it gave a GREAT flow to the story, especially once they were together for we saw events through two sets of eyes. I don’t know how she did it, but the author built a fabulous back story for each of the sisters. She gave them history together, and history apart. She displayed them as being two halves of the same coin, even though they are always looking in different directions.

Charlie throughout the book deals with all her insecurities—most of which are born from a tragic event in her life as an international aid worker that changed her forever. She is passionate about helping the unfortunate of the world—especially women who live where they are considered lesser or are stolen and sold in the sex trade. She gives no thought to her own life in her service of others.

Waverly, on the other hand, loves the stardom she’s received as a celebrity chef on the Food Network. She glows under the spotlight and loves the accolades she receives—yet even with an amazing husband and life of luxury, she feels like she can never be complete until she is a mother. And that being denied the chance has robbed her of any chance for complete happiness. It becomes a major stressor in her marriage—nearly breaking it apart.

As someone who has a history with infertility, I was able to identify with so many statements by Waverly. The roller coaster of emotions as the pink lines show up, the depths of despair when the cramping begins. It brought back so many memories. Having Andrew's perspective on it thrown in there a few chapters added a great take also. What it was like for a man seeing his wife seemingly obsessed with something like that.

I really like the exploration on the topic of surrogacy since it's something that isn't discussed very often. It added a lot of perspectives seeing it through Charlie's eyes carrying a baby that is 50% hers and knowing she's agreed to give it up.

I also love the emphasis on what it means to be a mother and how you don't have to actually GROW the life to feel the love a mother has for their child.

"Maybe Waverly really was destined to be a mother, just not to a child she carried in her body. She considered the thought. Did it matter to her that she would not carry this child? She shook her head. No, it didn't. She would have been delighted to complete a pregnancy, to cradle a child within her body for all those months and bring him or her into the world. But at the end of the day, the method by which a child arrived in her arms was far less importnant than the baby itself." (pg. 61)

I think the book really excels once Waverly and Charlie are together and in their life-threatening situation that pulls the climax of the book. When they have to dig deep and rise above and show what they are made of. Each of them thinks the other is stronger than themselves, yet discover that they are strongest when together. 

The topic additionally in the book on human trafficking is exceptionally well done and really made me think about how blessed we are to live where we can actually walk on the streets without being in fear. It’s sobering to remember this book is set in the present day and these are issues women and children around the world are dealing with.

“Charlie didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t just offer a blithe assurance, because Kinga was right. Sandra had told her privately that often families blamed the victims of trafficking unjustly, faulthing them for being stpudi enough to be trafficked, ashamed of them if they ever returned. There was no guarantee that Kinga’s family would see her hoecoming as a happy event.” (pg 301)

While this novel was inspirational fiction, I firmly believe that the messages in this book are such that you can enjoy the book even if inspirational fiction isn’t your thing. This book is a message of the power of love through hardship. Courage through trials. And making lemonade with the lemons life throws out you. And accepting that when God closes the door to one thing, He will fling wide the window for you in places you least expect. And that He will guide you to live the life He intended you to live.

I give this story 5 stars because it kept me engaged from beginning to end as well as touching me deeper and causing me to think. The book has stuck with me since I initially read it—a sign of a well-written book. I highly recommend Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden and will consider more of her books in the future.

*****