Love Walked In
De los Santos, Marisa.
New York: Plume, [2006], c2005.
This story is told from the alternating perspectives (chapters) of Cornelia and Clare. We're introduced to Cornelia, who's dating a man that looks like Cary Grant. This is important to her as she's all about style and sophistication. (Un)fortunately as she's realizing she also requires substance, Clare walks in.
Clare is Martin's estranged daughter. She's been having a rough time with her bipolar mother, who has vanished into the night. Martin doesn't know what to do with her so turns to Cornelia. Around the same time, her brother-in-law/best friend Teo shows up but doesn't get to tell her why before he finds out about Clare. As a doctor and all around nice guy, he stays to help out since Martin has to leave town on a business trip.
Won't give away more of the story except to say that the relationship between Cornelia and Clare develops. We find out more of the history of Cornelia and an old friend, Mrs. Goldberg. Mrs. Goldberg has died and left her house and its treasures to Cornelia, "the daughter of [her] heart". A love of old things and their stories is revealed and passed on to a new generation.
This is a fantastic book. I loved this book so much I wanted everyone to read it once I had. That impulse doesn't move me very much. There's a lot of fast-paced dialogue and old movie references (Philadelphia Story) which are personal favourites of mine. It was sort of sappy but I loved Cornelia's character so much. Apparentally Sarah Jessica Parker has optioned the move rights and I look forward to seeing this on the big screen.