Both Bert and Kix wanted Franny and her older sister, Caroline, to go to law school. The children spent their Virginia summers exploring without parental supervision. “In Virginia, the six children had shared the two bedrooms and a single cat, picked food from one another’s plates and indiscriminately used the same bath towels, but in California everything was separate. She remained in Los Angeles, and eventually qualified for a job in her ex-husband’s office.Įvery summer the four Cousins children - Cal, Holly, Jeannette and Albie - flew to Virginia to spend the summer with their father, Beverly and Beverly’s daughters, Caroline and Franny. Bert’s wife, Teresa, had her fourth child, Albie (short for Albert) shortly after the christening party. We know that Beverly married Bert and moved to Virginia of their affair prior to marriage we know nothing. In the next chapter, Franny is grown and taking her father to chemotherapy. It is at Franny’s christening party that the action is set in motion when Franny’s mother, the beautiful Beverly, meets deputy district attorney Bert Cousins who “kissed until the spark he had felt in his fingers when he touched her hand in the kitchen ran the entire shivering length of his spine.”

Patchett’s characters, even the less likable ones. Below are my favorites.The novel raises questions of parent-child relationships, the bond between siblings whether related by blood or marriage, role reversals, searches for identity, moments of sadness and joy, and of the nature of growing up, but it does so without judgment and with considerable satirical overtones. It may come as a surprise that I haven’t read them all–I think I’ve been saving the last few (for what, I’m not sure!). Of course, the first place any reader should start is with Patchett’s own books. If you are also a fan of Ann Patchett, I hope this list gives you a few read-alikes for your favorites. However, she always brings her signature literary style–fantastic prose, unforgettable characters, and compelling plots. Patchett isn’t afraid to experiment, which can make it tough to pin down read-alikes. Patchett’s most recent novels have been family dramas–both excellent–but her backlist includes a variety of storylines, themes, and settings, including the Amazon jungle, a home for unwed mothers, and a mansion in South America. It still stands as one of my all-time favorite books. For me, that favorite author is Ann Patchett.Įver since I read (and reread) Bel Canto, she has been a must-read author for me. Who’s the author that immediately comes to mind when someone asks what you like to read? Find books with similar themes, settings, and writing styles–or just pick up your next book by Patchett herself! Wondering what to read next if you love Ann Patchett? Fans of Bel Canto, Run, Commonwealth, The Dutch House, and other Ann Patchett novels will want to check out some of the books on this list.

Commonwealth ann patchett summary