A review by carrolk3
The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard

5.0

I very much enjoyed "Breakdown Lane". Jacquelyn Mitchard is a local author. I first read her columns in the local papers many years ago and then have read several of her novels. She hit the national spotlight as Oprah's first bookclub choice with her first novel, "Deep End of the Ocean". Over time, some of her books have been very good and some only so-so. I thought this one was one of her best. Her main character, Julieanne, is left with 3 children when her middle age lawyer husband decides he needs to "find himself". She soon discovers that not only is she a single mom of 2 teenagers and a toddler, she also has MS. There is plenty of anger to go around with her situation and that of her teenagers but there is also lots of humor. The story is told from her point of view alternating with her 15 year old son's "journal". I think most of the characters are well developed. I'm sure Mitchard drew from her own experiences. Her first husband died of cancer in his 40's leaving her with several children. She struggled as a single mom, has since re-married and had a couple more kids but has seen highs and lows in her life. I thought the book was a bit slow at the start but by the end, I found myself pulling for most of the characters. Not always an easy book to read but there's enough humor - especially dealing with the teenagers and the runaway "husband" to keep it from being depressing.