REVIEW: Night of a Thousand Darlas by Brooke Abrams

JayneB- Reviews / Book Reviews / C+ Reviewsactors / Contemporary / dysfunctional family / family relationships / mothers and daughters / romantic-elements / Womens-FictionNo Comments

Liza Day’s mother isn’t dead, but leave it to Darla Day to throw herself a funeral anyway. It’s the kind of attention grab Liza left behind to build a quiet life for herself and her rebellious teenage daughter, Avery. But between her students discovering her old daytime TV show—putting her teaching job at risk—and her mother’s unexpected funeral invitation, Liza’s life feels truly like a soap opera.

When Liza returns to her family’s historic Day Ranch for her mother’s premature farewell, she’s not sure what to expect. Darla’s always been known for eccentricities, both on- and off-screen. Thankfully, Liza has her siblings to help navigate Mom’s antics, which include everyone dressing as one of Darla’s many iconic film characters, a harem of white rabbits, and one surprise guest: Liza’s former costar and Avery’s father, Scotty.

The more time Liza and Avery spend on the ranch, the more Liza realizes that it might be time to trade in the scripted life she thought she wanted, for a leading role in the family she’s always needed.

CW/TW – Darla Day has alcoholism and dementia

Dear Ms. Abrams,

I thought I’d be getting a lot of comedy and a little drama – and absolutely there is some of both – but I wasn’t expecting quite as much of the dysfunctional family. There are also lots of serious issues being handled here and a group of imperfect people sometimes muddling through as best they can.

Liza was pushed into growing up too soon for a variety of different reasons and is determined that her own sixteen year old daughter will be able to just be a normal teen. They’ve now officially reached the stage when Avery is trying to separate herself from mom and maybe even try her hand at acting – something Liza tried and her Oscar winning mother Darla excelled at. But first they need to attempt to finally understand each other.

The Day siblings are stunned at what they think is another stunt by their famous mother. A funeral with a lavish Hollywood party at the ranch where they grew up after their parents’ marriage dissolved (twice)? What is Darla thinking and where did all these angora rabbits come from? Each sibling is having personal issues with Miles’ marriage breaking up and Kat thinking she wants a baby to go with Liza and Avery’s confrontations. What they discover is actually behind the party is another emotional blow they’ll need to come to terms with. When Scotty, Liza’s baby daddy – the man she once starred in a cheesy evening soap with – appears, the drama goes into overdrive but maybe they’ll finally get to have the family that Reasons denied them.

Despite Scotty lurking in the background, I’d call this more a women’s fiction book. Everyone makes mistakes, has moments of imperfection that can cause frustration or pain to another. Most of the action centers on (first person POV) Liza and near the end of the story, her daughter Avery says something profound about how Liza always sees everything as it relates and affects her. I didn’t always enjoy being in Liza’s head as she can make some bizarre choices and do weird things but then she didn’t have a “normal” childhood or serene family life. The strange life of a teen actor gets a lot of page time but I wanted more of Darla and that was something that only occurs sporadically and when it does, it’s often how Darla’s actions affect Liza. Of course.

I also wanted a bit more background on why Liza and Scotty’s relationship tanked sixteen years ago. Just the pressures of a new baby on teen parents? Then why does it appear that Scotty is having second thoughts about walking away? The one year epilogue wraps a lot of neat bows for everyone that are perhaps just a bit too neat and easy and not quite explained enough. This is a nice multi-generational drama that I read quickly but which I probably won’t remember much of. B-/C+

~Jayne

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