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Book Review of Looking Back

Looking Back
Looking Back
Author: Belva Plain
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
reviewed on + 552 more book reviews


From Our Editors
In Looking Back, Belva Plain explores the vagaries of the heart, the intricacies of love, and the fragile bonds of friendship, as three women who become fast friends in school find their relationship torn apart by a snowballing series of scandals. They call themselves the Three Musketeers: Cecile, whose poise, wealth, and grace seem to guarantee an easy life until an unexpected tragedy strikes; Amanda, a striking beauty who will sacrifice anything -- even her heart -- to secure the sort of financial security and social status she desires; and Norma, smart, attractive, and successful despite a powerful lack of confidence regarding one aspect of her life. They always imagined they would be friends for life, but when one of them makes the decision to follow her hearts desire, it will have a devastating impact on all three of them, leaving their friendship in tatters and their lives forever changed.

From the Publisher
New York Times bestselling author Belva Plain goes to the heart of what it means to be a woman, a wife, and a friend, in her powerful new novela story of love and betrayal that measures the limits of loyalty, friendship, and forgiveness.

They met at school and have been inseparable ever since: Cecile, confident, elegant daughter of privilege; Norma, extraordinarily gifted and sadly troubled; and beautiful, ambitious Amanda, determined to rise above her humble southern beginnings. Two are married. One despairs of ever finding love. Three women. Leading their busy adult lives. Yet first and always: friends.

Then something unexpected happens that forever alters their long, complicated friendship. A pivotal event, a shattering act of betrayal shifts the balance of power between husbands and wives, parents and children, sisters and brothers. And in the months that follow, each of them will look at their families, their livesand one anotherdifferently.

And none of them will ever be the same.