Where’d you go, Bernadette

Funny and relatable, Where’d you go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is a tale of a socially anxious mom who was once a glorified architect, her amazingly intelligent 13-year-old daughter, Bee, and her workaholic husband who is an executive at Microsoft. To be frank, it was a little cringey to hear the email trails of gossipy moms from Bee’s prep school, but it definitely felt like it could be real. Kind of like a real housewives vibe. I listened to it on Audible, and all the email exchanges drove me a little crazy at first, giving what felt like a slow start for the book, but it got progressively better and more interesting toward the end with Bernadette’s disappearance. 

Through Bernadette’s family, the book gave insight into mother-daughter and father-daughter relationships, the young teenage mind, and the struggle of a mother to care for a sick child and maintain her own identity at the same time. Semple also shows how all families have their struggles – whether it be mental illness, divorce, or addiction, everyone is going through something. I thought it was a good reminder to be kind to all, because you never know what may be hidden behind someone’s exterior. This would definitely be a fun read for a mother and daughter as the relationship between Bernadette and Bee is endearing, or for anyone looking for a giggle!

• Readability 10/10
• Emotional connection 9/10