The Half of It

A Novel

De: Juliette Fay

Narrado por: Jane Oppenheimer

"Witty, tender, beautifully written, I loved being immersed in this powerful story of loss and forgiveness."—Emily Giffin, #1 New York Times bestselling author

One perfect night. Forty years of buried hurt. One chance to make it right. Can the past ever be fixed? With humor, heart, and grace, USA Today bestselling author Juliette Fay delivers a poignant, propulsive novel about settling the past, rekindling lost friendships, and discovering love when you least expect it.

“I’m wondering if we can be friends again.”

When 58-year-old Helen Spencer reviews her life, what she sees are the mistakes. Over the years, things seemed to go sideways incrementally, one little wrong decision at a time. She can even pinpoint where it all started to go awry: a wonderous, romantic night in the woods her senior year of high school with a boy named Cal Crosby. A night she would soon work hard to forget.

Forty years, one marriage, three children, and one grandbaby later, suddenly there he is—Cal Crosby!—right in front of her with grandchildren of his own in tow. The chance to finally get some answers and sort out what happened is within reach. But Helen would much prefer to keep that night and all the fury, hurt, and sorrow that followed tightly locked away where she doesn’t have to face it.

Cal Crosby, however, is ready to talk. He has no idea of the can of worms he’s about to open. In fact, he doesn’t know the half of it.

©2023 Juliette Fay (P) 2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Relatable and heartwarming story. Recommend!

This story had me hooked from the first chapter. It’s a very heartwarming tale of friendship, regret, and second chances. This is the first book I’ve read that describes the Covid experience, and I thought that was very interesting to read about its impact on the characters and their families. It was a great selection for book club to discuss everyone’s opinions about the characters’ life choices and the moments in our lives when we each have questioned our own judgment. And that scene in the truck was sooooo good! Excellent narration. Recommend!

Enjoyable Listen

I really enjoyed listening to this story. I love when the main characters are a little bit more mature in age (it’s much more relatable for someone like me who is of that same age) I felt like I got to know all of the characters so well. The narration was really good. After getting so vested in these characters lives and rooting for them the entire time, I was a little disappointed with the ending and hoping it wouldn’t go the way it did.

What a great story

I thought this book was charming, heartfelt and real. It brought to life the beauty and heartbreak of relationships and desire of humans to move forward even with life’s disappointments. I would recommend. The narrartor was great and perfect as the voice of Helen.

A little longer than it needed to be

Good story….a lot of talking and talking and talking, though. The secondary characters- Francie and Barb especially- felt realer to me than Helen. My rating, however, is mostly based on the very ending, which felt unfair. But no spoilers.

Beautiful and Touching

I loved - and I am so grateful - to get to know Helen and Cal! I already miss them! Beautiful story about honesty and being honest to you true self and life. Thankyou Juliette Fay! And also thankyou for the smooth performance! This was a valuable reminder of friendship, trust, respect ant the continuity of Life.

Beautiful and touching

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Juliette Fay creates such lovely characters and such—sometimes heartbreaking—but always gorgeous and truthful stories. A stunning portrayal of the beauty and challenges of life. And Jane Oppenheimer brought it all to life flawlessly—a fantastic narration! I’m so grateful to them both.