Book Review: House on Plunkett Street by Lorena Bathey

House on Plunkett Street by Lorena Bathey is a story about life and love. Phoebe Bertramis has just lived her life in the background. She grew up overshadowed by her brothers and has gotten into the habit of getting by with just enough and without taking risks. She has taken the safe, but boring, road and has ended up with a boring but stable boyfriend, a dull job, and a bland wardrobe. Suddenly her life is up in the air, her apartment and job are at risk. Taking one chance on a new apartment and built in mentors lead Phoebe on a path of self discovery, learning to take risks and really live life rather than plodding along the expected path. Learning to understand and love herself, and her life, might just lead Phoebe to discover love, as well as her own strengths.

House on Plunkett Street is a great book about one woman's path to self discovery. The building that Phoebe moves into has a history, and life of its own. That life is so vibrant that women from its past help Phoebe better herself and her life. I  loved that the three very different women that guide Phoebe are spirits but the book does not have the feel of a paranormal of spiritual book. I also enjoyed that while Phoebe's romance is an important aspect of the book, it does not overpower the true essence of the book, Phoebe's journey in discovering herself and how to live life.

The fact that the women, and Phoebe, are all very different but can be considered equally strong because of their differences rather than despite them. Some of the takes on feminism I did not agree with, but those were the beliefs of individual characters and time-frames in the struggle to discover and hold onto the power of women rather than views that were being pressed upon the reader in order to change minds.

I highly recommend House on Plunkett Street by Lorena Bathey to readers that love to read about women discovering themselves, and finding love. The story is very much about discovery, and while the romance is important, even the romance has a part in Phoebe discovering her own faults and learning how to deal with strong emotion in herself an others. I think most readers can relate to Phoebe's fears and feeling of being trapped by the expectations and lifestyle that we find ourselves in.

This was outside the realm of my normal read, but I am glad that I accepted the author's request to read and review the book. It was as important for me to step out of my comfort zone once and awhile as it is for Phebe throughout the book.