Emma Shay and Riley Kerrigan are BFFs in Sonoma since childhood. The Kerrigans are a large, and loving family. After Emma's dad is killed in a car accident by a drunk driver, Emma is alone except for her stepmother, who loathes her and gives all her attention and love to her two daughters. Emma spends most of her spare time with the Kerrigans and becomes close to June, the mother who is always warm and loving and embraces Emma, and, brother, Adam, who is always there. In high school, Emma has a boyfriend, Jock. The three hang out along with Adam. When it is time to think of attending college, Riley and Jock opt for Community College near home. Emma applies and receives a partial scholarship at a college far from home. She loves college. New friends, parties, awesome roommates, pledging a sorority, she is overwhelmed by the social events, and is popular with the male students. She finds a part-time job to help meet the costs, as little is sent from her wicked stepmother. In time she stops calling Riley and Jock as she has little spare time and is secretly seeing several college guys. She asks Riley not to tell Jock. At her Christmas visit, she learns Jock and Riley are seeing each other and Riley is pregnant. A huge fight ensues between the girls. Terrible words said that should not have been said, their friendship is broken. Emma breaks up with Jock and returns to school.

After college Emma moves to New York City. At a party Emma meets mega-rich, handsome Richard Compton, who wines and dines her and steals her heart. They marry and she has everything she ever dreamed about and more but she feels something is missing. Richard is distant, seldom home, and she discovers he has a mistress. He lies when she confronts him about it. Next, she finds out he is being investigated by the FBI for fraud and goes to trial. She attends the trial and is convinced they have the wrong man. Certainly it could not be her Richard. But her Richard is found guilty and sentenced to a long prison term. Unable to accept his fate, he commits suicide. Thinking Emma knows about offshore accounts and hidden money, the Government puts her under surveillance and takes all her possessions including her Vera Wang wedding dress and engagement ring. Time to get out of town, return to her hometown and start over. Can she do that?

Robyn Carr tells a delightful and moving story about women, their friendships, hopes and dreams. She describes the anger and unforgiveness clearly and takes us on an emotional journey. It takes time for them to find their way back to each other, to trust, family and love. A sterling cast of characters, I admired Emma and found her resilient and easy to root for. My favorite is Adam who never let Emma down. He waited for Emma for years and in the end, he won his prize. I found Riley to be ambitious but cold and her treatment of Jock is unforgiving and unrelenting. Jock grew to be a good man, a good father to their daughter, Maddie, and his feeling for Riley, surprising. A warm read that is hard to put down I loved THE LIFE SHE WANTS and look forward to your next.

Book Summary

#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr creates an emotional and uplifting ensemble of characters in this rags-to-riches-to-rags novel about women, friendship and the complex path to happiness

In the aftermath of her financier husband's suicide, Emma Shay Compton's dream life is shattered. Richard Compton stole his clients' life savings to fund a lavish life in New York City and, although she was never involved in the business, Emma bears the burden of her husband's crimes. She is left with nothing.

Only one friend stands by her, a friend she's known since high school, who encourages her to come home to Sonoma County. But starting over isn't easy, and Sonoma is full of unhappy memories, too. And people she'd rather not face, especially Riley Kerrigan.

Riley and Emma were like sisters—until Riley betrayed Emma, ending their friendship. Emma left town, planning to never look back. Now, trying to stand on her own two feet, Emma can't escape her husband's reputation and is forced to turn to the last person she thought she'd ever ask for help—her former best friend. It's an uneasy reunion as both women face the mistakes they've made over the years. Only if they find a way to forgive each other—and themselves—can each of them find the life she wants.