REVIEW: The Late Blossoming of Frankie Green by Laura Kemp
Frankie Green’s happy ever after is put on hold when her childhood sweetheart husband complains things are boring in bed.
When he asks for some space, she sets out to win him back by getting herself a sex education.
Little does she know that her hilarious, tender and embarrassing journey of enlightenment is going to change everything…
A story full of humour, heartache and happiness, of friendship, coming of age and overcoming insecurity.
Dear Ms. Kemp,
The blurb for “Frankie Green” sounded intriguing. Would it be a marriage in crisis with a happy reunion? Would Frankie find something new and better in her life? Would she overcome her insecurity? What about the promise of friendship? How was that going to be handled? And I just had to find out about the sex ed. That sounded too much fun to miss.
Though the title is all about Frankie, the book is really about Frankie and her two best friends Em and Lotty. Initially they bonded in school over their unusual names but their friendship has lasted for years and no one can imagine not consulting the others about anything and everything. The overriding theme of the book is self esteem issues and each woman has some. Frankie thought she had it all with a yummy husband, a loving marriage and her salon business. Doctor Who loving geek Em has never had much luck at relationships until the one night she thought she’d finally found a soul mate only to have him scamper in the morning due to his own issues. Lotty has filled her emotional wants with uncontrolled shopping, bed hopping and feels unappreciated at work.
After Jason drops the bomb on Frankie, all she can think of is how she deluded herself into thinking their marriage was fine and what she needs to do to get Jason back. In a drink induced brain storm, she and Em’s older brother Floyd come up with the perfect plan. Frankie wants sex ed lessons and Floyd, a man of some sexual experience, offers to give them to her. Cue ick moment until deeper reflection reminds one that they’ve known each other for yonks, fancied each other a bit at 15 and Floyd is a trained counselor so is used to getting people to open up to him. Plus he’s funny and easy going, willing to help Frankie deal with her crushing embarrassment about the whole thing.
This is a lovely, funny, understated story filled with British (well Welsh) humor. The sex ed scenes are also screamingly hilarious while also treating Frankie gently and with respect. I was half dreading scenes of pratfalls and humiliation but there’s none of that. Just Frankie’s growing confidence in herself brought to full bloom by Floyd’s careful nurturing.
But what about Em and Lotty? They are fully rounded people each with her own chapters and each dealing with personal and work issues familiar to many contemporary women today: unplanned pregnancies, workplace sexual harassment, shopping addiction, family issues including absent parents and broken homes. But mainly self confidence.
Each of them learns, in different ways, things about herself. While Frankie – at least – might have started her journey trying to change for someone else, they all discover inner strengths for themselves. Now how are their new insights going to affect their relationships with the people in their lives because, babes, it’s obvious things aren’t going back to the way they were.
As the story draws to a close, lots of things are realized and settled. Some threads are tied up a bit too neatly for the real world but they are none the less satisfying and the way we might wish things really happened. The epilogue reveals that each woman takes some time to think about what has happened over the past few months and pause to be sure she’s doing the best thing. And in the end, Leonardo di Catprio gives his purring approval to Frankie’s choice in life. Now I must Bing a few of the charming little Welsh touches which were sprinkled through the story including how to pronounce cwtch and what glamping is. B
~Jayne
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This may be a spoiler, so feel free to not respond, but it sounds like there is cheating in this story?
I know some people are okay with that depending on context, but for me, that’s a flaming red line with sirens and acid spray, so a warning would be helpful.
@hapax I feel the same way–I haven’t read the book, but from the few reviews and the description, it sounds like the husband has asked for a separation so that the story may frame it as not cheating. I don’t think I’ll be picking it up.
@flchen1: Yes, that is what starts the book out.
OK, I clicked without even waiting for a sale. I already knew what glamping is (it’s how rich folks camp, especially at music festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury), but I have no idea about cwtch (and I’m a bit alarmed by the look of it).
Thx for the review–you’ve been turning out a ton of good ones recently!
I think a cwtch is a snuggly kind of hug? Not Welsh, so take it with a grain of salt! I’m just interested in unusual words.
@Susan: And here I thought maybe glamping was slogging around on long day hikes through the Welsh hills. The glamping you’re talking about is more my style! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the reviews. May and June have been good reading months for me.
@Jill: That makes sense given the context. I wasn’t sure if it was a hug or smooch or what.
Hi
Love the sound of this, if the husband is asking for space rather than making suggestions for ways to spice up life in the bedroom it sets off warning bells for me. What precisely does he need space for? His new girlfriend? So, it doesn’t feel like cheating to me. Also, if he thinks the bedroom has got boring and he isn’t suggesting changes how precisely does he imagine his wife will improve things? Sorry, rant over.
This is a link to a glamping site that my sister used. Electrical power points, a fridge in the tent and a delivery of breakfast in the morning https://www.leeds-castle.com/Accommodation/Knight%26apos%3Bs+Glamping
Cwtch is apparently not easy to translate into English but it means a special cuddle that also conveys a feeling of safety and security, I guess a bit like a cuddle from your Nanna?
Sounds fun and funny, and I’m a sucker for books set in Wales.
Ok, I bought the book and have started reading. I take back what I said about the husband, he tries to change things and Frankie is horrified. Frankie has settled into middle age without enjoying her youth and her husband feels like they got married by default as if it was the next logical step instead of what they really wanted. Frankie on the other hand seems petrified of new experiences, won’t even try anything different (we’re talking chorizo and octopus here not BDSM!).
I’m intrigued because the book seems to be as much about Frankie’s friends Em and Letty as it does about Frankie.
@Alison R: I really is a book about all three friends even though the title wouldn’t make you think that. And Frankie does end up getting braver, growing as a person – and trying octopus, or was it squid? anyway she tries eating something with tentacles and suckers.