Review: The Shortest Way Home by Juliette Fay

By Amy Bromberg

I absolutely loved The Shortest Way Home. I’ve been a fan of Juliette Fay since reading the first few chapters of her debut, Shelter Me. Juliette is one of those writers who has a way of getting inside her characters, with the unique ability of making them come to life on each and every page.

Amazon: Sean has spent twenty years in Third World war zones and natural disaster areas, fully embracing what he’d always felt was his life’s mission. But when burnout sets in, Sean is reluctantly drawn home to Belham, Massachusetts, the setting of Fay’s much-loved Shelter Me. There, he discovers that his steely aunt, overly dramatic sister, and quirky nephew are having a little natural disaster of their own. When he reconnects with a woman from his past, Sean has to wonder if the bonds of love and loyalty might just rewrite his destiny. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Due to Sean's mother passing away from Huntington's disease, there is a 50% probability that Sean might inherit it. This prompts Sean to devote his life to helping and caring for others as a nurse in third world country. After being away from home for a consecutive six years, he decides it’s time to take a break. Upon his return home, Sean ends up finding out his Aunt Vivian, who raised him for most of his life, is starting to experience memory problems. His sister, Deidre, who is quite bitter that Sean left her alone to care for their aunt and their nephew Kevin, is ready to move and start her own life. And then there’s Kevin, who, for all intents and purposes, has been raising himself since his father died. Because Sean thought he was going to die from Huntington’s in his mid-30s, he never planned on having to deal with “family” stuff. Maybe it’s time that Sean’s family needs him more than the rest of the world?

Right from the start, I was drawn to the characters in the story, each of them having shortcomings and traits often found in everyday life. It's tender, filled with humor, stimulating, and just fills your heart with love. The book covers important issues such as family loyalty and responsibility, friendship, love and taking leaps of faith. A thoroughly enjoyable read.