5. An Actual Life by Abigail Thomas

Virginia and Buddy are both college students in 1960. The first time they have sex in Buddy’s dorm room, Virginia becomes pregnant and is subsequently kicked out of college. They marry and have a daughter, Madeline, who is almost a year old when the bulk of the novel takes place. The book is set during the summer of 1960, when the young married couple moves in with Buddy’s Aunt Dot in New Jersey so Buddy can paint houses and take summer college courses. The only problem is that Buddy is never home, and appears to be still be close to his old girlfriend, Irene, who is also married to Buddy’s former best friend, Chick.

Virginia is a totally believable young, naïve, nineteen year old who is trying to raise her daughter while also realizing she really has no idea who her husband is. I absolutely love this book and wish more people knew about it and Abigail Thomas. Since I have been reading a lot of mysteries lately, I felt the need for something different, and found this in my bookcase. I originally read and loved this ten years ago and found myself still liking it again this time around. At times sad and painful, it is also funny and uplifting.

For more memorable family fiction reads check out this booklist:
http://www.tcpl.org/reading/familyfiction.html