The Art of Always

Who doesn't love a dual timeline story particularly in the hands of a master writer like Patricia Friedrich who seamlessly weaves together the 1996 story of Darcy, a young mother and academic, desperate to complete her dissertation so she can support her 3-year old daughter and her sacrificing parents, or Ana, the fiery Brazilian Modernist painter in the early 1920's, the great grandmother of Darcy's great friend Archie, who suddenly disappears in the midst of a career triumph and whose letters reveal the secret she kept from the world.

As we follow each women's story through not only their triumphs but their sacrifices, we realize the similarities between the challenges each faces, whether it's in personal relationships with the men in their lives or the ups and downs of being a creative artist, whether through painting or writing, in a male-dominated world.

Come for the romance but stay for the intricate and heartfelt examination of what it means to be a woman no matter what time period you're living through.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.