This is a different kind of story. Matt King, descendant of Hawaiian royalty and landholder extradinaire, is forced to come to terms with his wife's death after she has been lying in a coma. Adding to the problem, he's also discovered that his wife has been unfaithful and he's trying to dispose of his family landholdings and re-establish a connection with his two daughters all at once. As Matt sets out with his two daughters (and his daughter's "boyfriend" Sid) on a quest to inform his wife's lover of her imminent death, so that even he can say his goodbyes...readers get to watch as Matt addresses the shortcomings of his marriage, grows to love and appreciate his daughters in fits and starts, and finally make the "right" decision about what to do with the last remaing land in Hawaii still owned by people of Hawaiian descent.

A really interesting book. Matt and his kids are wildly unlovable but Hemmings brings them into focus and makes you care about them. Sid is a fantastic character - at once not belonging in this family driven story and also serving to cut through all the family's bull$hit even if he can't seem to cut through his own. Watching Matt turn from this very self-centered character into someone who wants desperately to give his daughters the love they have been missing, do "right" by his wife's lover and by his responsibility to his descendants in deciding what to do with his land holdings, and even helping Sid to work out the problems in his life is a great experience. An entertaining book with very real damaged (but not heartbreakingly so) characters and a rewarding finish.

An excellent debut!

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Sent to cheesygiraffe, winner of the Book Obsessed sweeps! Hope this is something you will like!

Thanks Megan! This looks very interesting. :)