Women's fiction is a genre I generally avoid. I feel that sometimes it mirrors reality in a way that is a bit too close for comfort which, strangely enough, is precisely why I chose to read IT STARTED IN JUNE. Being childless mostly by choice, I saw two friends grapple with the choice that Grace Trumbull faces, even though there were no pregnancies; and I am well acquainted with what it means to be perceived as a dreadful mistake by one's parent. Because of my policy of never giving away spoilers, this review might be the most difficult I have ever written because of one crucial element in the latter part of the book. A turning point in Bradley and Grace's relationship, as well as the source of an epic conflict, was mentioned a few times, then never spoken of again. And because it was never brought up again, to me, it made all the difference as to where the relationship was heading. This particular issue not being dealt with clearly -- or overlooked by the author, who simply assumed that the reader had supposed it had been satisfactorily solved, which I never saw as such -- made the ending irrelevant, as far as I'm concerned. With that factor left hanging, the ending made no sense to me; I don't believe in necessarily crossing Ts and dotting Is to the extreme, but some things need to be put in black on white, otherwise how are we to understand that a major problem was resolved.

Although I loathe the expression "all the feels," IT STARTED IN JUNE decidedly has all the feels. I basked in the glamor of the gorgeous Harper's Bazaar world of Grace, with her Connecticut beachfront house, her exciting career. I loved how Bradley -- whom all the girls at the office mooned over -- and Grace interacted. They had undeniable chemistry, until the condom broke, and the "mistake" happened -- to use Grace's mother's word. I love that Susan Kietzman chose to write her novel in the third person. It provides the reader with everyone's points of view regarding Bradley and Grace's relationship, basically: should Grace have a baby, where she had never wanted one before; should Bradley be part of his baby's life, of Grace's life. It was extremely enlightening to see the situation from a variety of angles, from young and old, women and men. IT STARTED IN JUNE should be a major hit with book clubs because it will supply endless fodder for discussions. I also believe that most people should read it, if only to understand if they should or should not choose to have children.

Susan Kietzman has written characters that are living, breathing individuals; we will all recognize people we have known, possibly ourselves. Bradley and Grace are unforgettable characters, deeply flawed, and, if at first, I identified more closely with Grace, my allegiance later on shifted to Bradley because of a conscious decision on Grace's part. However, afterwards it all came down to the issue I mentioned earlier, and I felt that Grace was supremely selfish, especially in refusing to acknowledge her contribution to Bradley's behavior. I'm not sure if there is supposed to be a moral to the story, but it made me realize that I had made the right choice for myself. As for Grace and Bradley, I'm still on the fence. I'm not entirely convinced that the choice they made was the right one. All this said, Susan Kietzman is an extraordinary storyteller, whose superb dialogue made me feel like a fly on the wall. I read IT STARTED IN JUNE in one sitting because I was completely enthralled and riveted by the authenticity of the characters and their story. IT STARTED IN JUNE has left me with food for thought for many years to come.

Book Summary

Susan Kietzman's engrossing and thought-provoking novel explores the choices and revelations that come with life's most unexpected events.

Grace Trumbull's after work drink with Bradley Hanover, a handsome younger colleague, on a warm summer night turns into an impulsive, intimate encounter. After a few weeks of exhilarating secret dates, Grace—forty-two and divorced—realizes she's pregnant.

For Grace, whose estranged mother refers to her own teenage pregnancy as her biggest mistake, the prospect of parenthood is daunting. She's just been made vice president of a media relations company and is childfree by choice. Still, something deeper than her fear makes her want to keep the baby. She knows she can be a better, more capable parent than her mother was to her.

As months pass and seasons change, Grace questions her decision to include Bradley in her plans. But they continue to navigate their complicated relationship, each struggling with what it means to make a commitment to someone. Most importantly, Grace begins trusting her instincts—maternal and otherwise—finding courage that will guide her through an uncertain future ripe with new possibilities…

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