The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward is a modern family drama centering around four grown siblings and their matriarch, Charlotte Perkins. Since their father Charlie left the family years ago, the four adult Perkins siblings have gone their own ways, allowing their interactions to become increasingly distant and their grip on family ties to slip. As the siblings tackle their own personal problems, they feel the inexorable pull to reunite, prompted by Charlotte’s sudden announcement that she is selling the family’s beloved beach house in North Carolina.
The novel follows each of the siblings as they reluctantly come together for the summer and are forced to reexamine their choices and relationships. At the center of the story is eldest daughter Liv, a woman who has achieved impressive career success but is struggling to manage her role as surrogate mother to her two teenage stepchildren and prioritizing her own yearning for true love. For the first time in years, Liv takes a vacation, exchanging her high-powered job for a simple summer with her family.
Liv’s brother, racing enthusiast Ned, arrives at the beach accompanied by his wealthy girl with a hidden agenda. Middle sister Violet brings her boyfriend, an ambitious young politician with a knack for showmanship. As the summer progresses and personal tensions rise, Violet discovers that she’s pregnant and fights to keep her secret while avoiding her family’s confusion and advice.
The youngest of the siblings is Jonathan, a struggling actor who entertains everyone with his humor and knack for storytelling. As the family deals with Charlotte's health issues, Jonathan faces his own personal struggles and questions what’s really important in life. With a host of family secrets hidden beneath the veil of the reunion, the Perkins family slowly reconnects with each other and discovers the importance of family togetherness.
Amanda Eyre Ward’s The Jetsetters celebrates stirring themes of family bonds, determination, and self-discovery. Through powerful characters, Ward explores how one generation of a family deals with the complexities of modern life and finds the strength to mend their broken relationships. She takes the reader on a deeply moving journey as the Perkins family comes together for the first time in years and confronts their issues head on. Through this heartfelt story, Ward brings to life the struggles of attempting to rebuild a broken family and pay homage to the bond of family love and support.
