Mimi Malloy at Last!
Mimi Malloy was born into an Irish-Catholic brood of seven, and she has done her best to raise six daughters of her own. Now they're grown, and Mimi cherishes the comforts of her new life: Frank Sinatra on her stereo, walks with her super, Duffy, and spare time that is finally hers to spend. Sure, her eldest worries about her memory lapses, and Mimi's surviving sisters, who love to gossip, question her indifference to the past. As far as Mimi is concerned, she's entitled to enjoy the present―and that includes the occasional Manhattan.
But when she stumbles upon a long-lost pendant of her mother's, recollections of a shocking and painful childhood begin to surface. With the help of her siblings and her daughters, Mimi must find the courage to confront her troubled history―and discover that the stories that refuse to be forgotten are the ones she ought to treasure most.
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“MacDonnell truly shines in creating a cast of unforgettable characters who struggle to forgive each other, spinning a story that recalls The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, though with a bit more of an edge. Mimi Malloy, at Last! will ensnare readers with its human drama and fascinating references to Irish folklore—even as the vulnerable and brassy Mimi Malloy steals their hearts.”
— Megan Fishmann, BookPage
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“I gulped down Julia MacDonnell’s juicy novel of revealed memories and startling characters beguiled by Mimi Malloy, one of “those glorious Sheehan girls” now facing the conundrums of later life. With the wiseass wisdom that comes to a woman who has faced forward all her years but now is forced to look back, and with the help of her sisters, her daughters, her handyman Duffy, and even her failing gray matter, Mimi proves that some revelations take living long enough to have. Mimi Malloy, At Last! marks the extraordinary later life debut of novelist MacDonnell, too — and we can glory in the full gift of her humor and rare family savvy.”
— Molly Peacock, author of The Paper Garden: Mrs. Delaney Begins Her Life’s Work at 72
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“A later-in-life, coming-of-age novel about the nature of memory…MacDonnell’s multifaceted novel unspools via flashbacks. Mimi’s no-nonsense narrative voice and a cast of well-drawn characters take readers on a humbling journey that explores the past and present; the bonds between parents, children and sisters; the power of secrets; and heroic acts of love.”
“At times a very whimsical, funny book, but yet there’s still a lot of gut and meaning to it. It’s got that meat on the bones. I think it’s a great spring/summer read.”
— Susan Gregg Gilmore, book club selection (book + wine pairing)
