Life Is Too Short

Irene Vartanoff

Sep 2020 · Irene Vartanoff

About this ebook

Lifelong friends facing the future after cancer, Kathy, Eileen, and Charlotte are each dealing with complex family relationships and emotional issues. Kathy’s husband is a serial cheater. Eileen’s mother keeps telling her she’s not wonderful like her sister. Charlotte still aches from losses of years ago. This is their second chance, the moment when they can make important life changes before it’s too late.  

As they take up the challenge of finding hidden treasures at a family beach house in Cape May and back home in the affluent Washington, DC, suburb of Bethesda, Maryland, these best friends discover shocking family secrets as well as new strengths in themselves. Their story entwines with those of Steve, an old friend with a mystery he’s trying to solve, and much younger Brian, whose army career has been his whole focus until he faces a life-changing dilemma.

What must each of them do to take the next bold step to happiness?

Ratings and reviews

Ms. Vartanoff never fails to deliver a well-written story with depth, humour, and interesting characters. Having cancer and lived to tell the tale, three friends support one another through the highs and lows of their lives. Each one is facing her own issues and attending the funeral of an old school teacher is the catalyst for change in their lives. Chemo quickly sorts out what is and is not important in one's life. As adults, we often believe the broken images of our youth - the bullying at school, opinions of adults, and unkind words. Coming face-to-face with the past puts things in perspective for both Kathy and Eileen, bringing them welcome relief and a determination to enjoy the moment. Charlotte's ex-husband's bequest leaves her reeling, but the encounter with Brian turns her life upside down. The spectre of cancer hangs over the lives of the three best friends but through it all they laugh, they cry and they cheer each other on. The story comes to a beautiful close as Kathy achieves her goal, bringing a perfect moment into all of their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written novel, a copy of which I received as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.