Road to Review – Mrs. Wiggins (Lexington, Alabama #1)

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

OK, SO BOOM!

Maggie continues visiting Randolph because she hasn’t gotten pregnant. As the weeks pass, Randolph’s attachment to Maggie grows, so much so that he requests that Maggie move in with him. The pressure from him and the possibility of not getting pregnant have Maggie anxious more than ever.

Luckily, this is short-lived because Maggie finds out she’s pregnant. In all the excitement, Randolph quickly became someone that Maggie ghosted with little to no thought. Simply put, she thought it would be best to leave without any explanation.

Moving on should be easy, but Maggie’s memories of Randolph are hard to put aside and are impossible to escape. Their son, Claude, has a face that’s a constant reminder of who his father is, which dredges up guilt in Maggie because of how she unexpectedly left Randolph.

After the birth of Claude, the Wiggins household becomes a home of revolving doors. Maggie’s in-laws have been visiting the most. They are overjoyed to have a grandson and frequently at Maggie and Hubert’s house to spend time with him. Consequently, there’s little to no privacy for the Wiggins family. This change tests their double life. As with most life adjustments, they adjust.

Between 1918 and 1920, 2 years after Claude’s birth, the Spanish flu claims many lives, including Maggie’s parents and Hubert’s Uncle Roscoe. The pandemic took a toll on Maggie’s mental health. She chooses to forgo properly grieving and gives her all to her only blood relative, her son. When you see Claude, you see Maggie. They are practically inseparable.

At the end of Chapter 14, there’s a glimpse into Jessie’s marriage. It’s ironic that she was the person who mentioned she wouldn’t have to worry about her husband and other women. They’ve only been married for a couple of years, and she’s on the fast road to doing exactly that. Her husband, Orville, is abusive, manipulative, and has a literally bad heart. If you cannot tell by my tone, let me make it plain, I DO NOT LIKE HIM (lol).

These chapters didn’t have much action, but it was a setup for new and moving characters, life changes, and scenes that added more constitution to the characters we are already familiar with.

If you are following along, how are you feeling about the book so far? Still interested, or not your cup of tea? Share your thoughts!

Look for me in your rear-view mirror. I’ll see you all in the next Road to Review.

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