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    Blueprints: A Novel
    Blueprints: A Novel
    Blueprints: A Novel
    Audiobook13 hours

    Blueprints: A Novel

    Written by Barbara Delinsky

    Narrated by Amy Rubinate

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Some women are born with an instinct for knowing how things work
    -and what to do when they break.

    Blueprints, the New York Times bestselling novel from Barbara Delinsky, is the story of two strong women, Caroline MacAfee, a skilled carpenter, and her daughter Jamie, a talented architect. Together they are the faces of Gut It!, a home renovation series on local public television. Caroline takes pride in her work, and in the way she connects with the show's audience. But when she is told the network wants her daughter to replace her as host-the day after Caroline's fifty-sixth birthday-she is devastated. The fallout couldn't come at a worse time.

    For Jamie, life changes overnight when, soon after learning of the host shift, her father and his new wife die in a car accident that orphans their two-year-old son. Accustomed to organization and planning, she is now grappling with a toddler who misses his parents, a fiancé who doesn't want the child, a staggering new attraction, and a work challenge that, if botched, could undermine the future of both MacAfee Homes and Gut It!

    For Caroline, hosting Gut It! is part of her identity. Facing its loss, she feels betrayed by her daughter and old in the eyes of the world. Her ex-husband's death thrusts her into the role of caregiver to his aging father. And then there's Dean, a long-time friend, whose efforts to seduce her awaken desires that have been dormant for so long that she feels foreign to herself.

    Who am I? Both women ask, as the blueprints they've built their lives around suddenly need revising. While loyalties shift, decisions hover, and new relationships tempt, their challenge comes not only in remaking themselves, but in rebuilding their relationship with each other.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateJun 9, 2015
    ISBN9781427261601
    Blueprints: A Novel
    Author

    Barbara Delinsky

    Barbara Delinsky grew up in suburban Boston, US. A master of emotional intensity, she touches the minds and hearts of her readers with intricately woven stories of domestic drama and relationships. Her books regularly appear on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today Bestseller Lists.

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    Reviews for Blueprints

    4/5

    68 ratings13 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Caroline MacAfee is a divorced carpenter; one who has kept her last name because she is still part of the well-known MacAfee family, which owns MacAfee Homes, a popular business in their town. Caroline is also host of the popular TV show "Gut It" (think something on DIY or HGTV) - that is until she's told she's too old to host the show the day after her 56th birthday. The network wants a new host: Caroline's 29-year-old daughter, Jamie MacAfee, an architect with the family company. Pushing for the change is Caroline's ex-husband, Roy, and her ex-father-in-law, Theo. The news rattles Caroline and upsets the foundation of her happy mother/daughter relationship with Jamie.

      But everyone's life is further upended when Roy and his new wife die suddenly on a stormy night, leaving MacAfee Homes without its charismatic marketing lead and Jamie to deal with sudden guardianship of her toddler half-brother, Tad. Quickly, she must navigate life as a new mom; deal with the impact of motherhood on her relationship with her fiance; juggle the impact on her work, especially with her father no longer with the company; and try to heal her fractured relationship with Caroline.

      If it sounds like there is a lot going on in this novel, there is. Yet, it seemed like it got off to a slow start. I almost put the book aside for some others on my "to-read" list until I got to the accident and things picked up. After that, even if parts of the plot and the characters' actions irked me, the book itself breezed by, and I found myself wanting to finish it quickly.

      One of my biggest pet peeves with this novel was all of the talk of sex. I am no prude and have no issues with sex being in a novel, when appropriate. In this book, it seemed like it was inserted just because. Delinsky made several veiled references to "50 Shades of Grey" (the characters were reading it, for instance) and it almost seemed as if, because of that, it felt necessary to insert dialogue about sex, sex scenes, and more. Caroline and Jamie's discussions of sex, Caroline's discussions of sex with her friend, Annie - they were all painful and came across as extremely stilted. In fact, several times, it seemed like the characters were having various conversations to make sure we really, really knew how they felt about certain things, when, truly, if Delinksy would have just let the plot unfold naturally, it would have all come out on its own. It was a little unnatural and forced.

      Speaking of said plot, it is a Delinsky novel, so be prepared that it will all seem a little fantastical at times. I would have liked to have been reading this novel on the beach - it's the perfect beach read where you can just suspend real life for a little while and get caught up in a slightly unrealistic plot.

      That being said, Caroline and Jamie are fairly likable characters. They grow on you. I found myself empathizing with Jamie and her struggles with working motherhood, for instance. If you go in expecting a fun, silly book, you won't be disappointed.

      (Note: I received an ARC of this book via the Goodreads First Reads program in return for an unbiased review.)
    • 4/5
      Life is unfair. Caroline MacAfee’s marriage to Roy failed. The reason? He likes them young. So even though Caroline is only in her fifties, Roy sees her as old. She has been the host of a home remodeling TV show, Gut It!. The show is based on real-life situations of MacAfee Homes. She loves her job. Every day she gets to work alongside her daughter, Jamie, as she walks the audience through the latest remodeling process. Her background had been in carpentry and her daughter is an architect. Then, just when things are going so well, the second shoe is about to drop as Roy decides to make Jamie the host of the show for the upcoming season. Jamie doesn’t want the job and argues with her dad, but to no avail. He simply must reach a younger audience. Finally, rather than have Claire, the show’s producer, with all her bluntness, inform her mom of their decision, Jamie decides to tell her instead. It doesn’t go well. Caroline blames Jamie. Then, Roy and his new young wife die in a car accident. Suddenly, everyone’s lives shift. What was once in harmony and balance is now a chaotic jumble.I loved the flow of this novel and the emotional aspect of the story. It paints a sincere picture of the characters and of human nature. It tends to remind us that nothing stays the same. Occasionally, I watch HGTV; as I was reading, I could envision the ‘behind the scenes’ narrative that must take place with most shows on that channel. Not sure I fell in love with the ‘love interest’ portion of the story. The title, Blueprints, becomes very fitting for the show, Gut It!. Blueprints are the design from which houses are created and later built, but the analogy here is to the blueprints of our lives. What built us into the people we become? From whom do we get our strength? What decides our values? Rating: 4 out of 5.
    • 3/5
      Blueprints opens with the taping of the women's house renovation show "Gut It!"hosted by carpenter Caroline, with support from her architect daughter, Jamie.The intriguing plot struggles as repeated angst about their job conflict, mothering, and phone calling sequences dominate. Second guessing and cliches like "...a hand to her mouth" interfere and lessen any reader connection to the female characters.While main males, Dean and Chip, at first seem promising, they eventually get channeled into shirtless paradigms of masculinity who always say and do the right thingfor the helpless females they are somehow still attracted to.Still, Chip holding up his hand to stop interfering gossip at the playground is a lingering great image.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky is a very charming novel about a mother and daughter whose close relationship becomes strained due to a job conflict. Their professional issues are further complicated by unexpected changes in their personal lives which puts even more distance between them. Although a bit of a slow starter, this compelling story quickly gains momentum and thunders its way to a delightfully unconventional conclusion.

      Caroline MacAfee and her daughter Jamie are more than mother and daughter, they are also best friends. Both work for the family owned company, MacAfee Homes, and they also star in a popular reality show, Gut It!. Not long the current season draws to a close, Jamie learns that the show's producer wants her to replace her mom as the show's host when filming resumes in the fall. Jamie delays telling her about the switch and when Caroline learns the news from someone else, not only is she devastated but she also feels betrayed by her daughter. Before the pair can repair the rift between them, Jamie's father and stepmom are killed in an accident and she becomes the guardian of her 2 year half-brother, Tad. While Jamie is struggling to cope with her new role, Caroline begins taking over more duties at MacAfee Homes and the gulf between them widens when the two begin keeping secrets about their personal lives.

      Caroline's marriage was doomed almost from the beginning but her divorce still did a lot of damage to her self-esteem. It was not until she took over hosting duties on Gut It! that she finally began to believe in herself and finding out that she is being replaced by Jamie really shakes her self-confidence. After her ex-husband's death, Caroline finds herself turning to her old friend Dean Brannick for comfort and when he reveals he would like more from her than just friendship, her long dormant libido comes roaring back to life. While Caroline is willing to give in to her newfound desire, she is in no hurry to give up her independence when Dean admits he would like to make their relationship permanent.

      Jamie is way out of her element when she becomes Tad's guardian and she quickly discovers her fiancé Brad is unhappy with this unanticipated change in her life. Feeling like she cannot turn to Caroline for advice, Jamie gets helpful advice from single dad, Charlie Kobik. This new friendship forces Jamie to confront some unpleasant truths about her engagement and she impulsively makes a few decisions that shock everyone she knows.

      There are numerous story arcs in Blueprints but all of the threads tie neatly together in the end. The change in dynamics between mother and daughter is necessary for them to grow in both their personal and professional lives. The romance aspect of the storyline is very sweet and although a bit rushed, the relationships are believable. Barbara Delinsky closes the novel with a lovely epilogue that is very heartwarming. All in all, an enjoyable, thought-provoking story that I highly recommend to anyone who reads contemporary women's fiction.
    • 4/5
      The story centers around a mother and daughter that are co-hosts of a reality TV show about renovating homes. Throughout the course of the book several events threaten to pull them apart - but love and courage conquer all. I definitely got wrapped up in all the family drama involved in this book -- as well as the romances. I was glad to see everyone end up with who they should have ended up, and come to a much better place for their work and life balance. I even talked about what was going on with Jamie and Caroline with friends and family so the characters were definitely read to me. I'd definitely recommend this for anyone looking for an engaging novel to listen to, with realistic characters and a dramatic story line that will pull you out of everyday life.
    • 4/5
      I really liked this story but had a huge issue with the narrator. I listened to this book on audible and had it not been for the fact that I really wanted to hear the story out, and that I had paid for it, I would have quit after the first 5 minutes of the audio book. The narrator sounded like an automated computer voice that droned on and on. It was a total turn off. I had to remind myself of how much I like the author to just get myself through the awful audio. Aside from that, the story was amazing. It struck home several times as I am very close to my daughter and saw how I could have done some of the same things that happened. I would recommend this book very highly, but would adamantly suggest not to listen on audible. It's so not an experience I would want anyone else to have to endure.
    • 4/5
      I was ready to try another Barbara Delinsky and true to form, Blueprints was very chick-lit---women accomplishing more than anyone can imagine amid seemingly impossible circumstances-----but of course they come out shining, as expected.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book. Another great story by this author.
    • 4/5
      Knowing Barbara Delinsky to be an excellent author, I could hardly wait to read her new novel. Blueprints is the story of the MacAfee family and the challenges they face before and after a car accident takes the lives of key members of the family. The story of the family business and the trials and tribulations faced by the key players keeps the reader devouring this book. I highly recommend Blueprints.
    • 4/5
      Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky is a lovely contemporary romance novel. Caroline MacAfee is the host of Gut It! and a master carpenter for the show and MacAfee Homes. Her daughter, Jamie MacAfee is also on the show and works for MacAfee Homes. MacAfee Homes is a family business headed by Theo MacAfee. Roy MacAfee is Theo’s son, Caroline’s ex-husband, and Jamie’s father. He is the marketing expert for MacAfee Homes. Roy is currently on his third wife. Each time he marries, he goes ten years younger. The current wife, Jess is just a little older than Jamie (who is 29). Gut It! is something that Caroline’s loves hosting, but the show (with help from Roy) has decided to change the hosting to Jamie. Jamie agrees to tell her mother, but then she waits. Unfortunately, she waits a little too long and Caroline hears it from someone else. Jamie and Caroline had always had a great relationship until this incident. Caroline feels Jamie knew what was going to happen and should have done something or told her.Before Caroline and Jamie can resolve the situation, Roy and Jess are killed in a car accident. Their two year old son, Tad is left is Jamie’s care. Jamie’s finance, Brad (a lawyer with MacAfee homes) is less than helpful. Instead of Caroline and Jamie helping each other, they turn to other people. Caroline becomes closer to Dean Brannick. Dean and Caroline have worked together for years and are friends. Dean now wants to take their relationship to a new level. Jamie is a mother with no experience. Charlie Kobik is a single dad with a four year old son. Jamie and Charlie meet at the park and Charlie provides valuable help and advice. What is going to happen to Gut It!? Can Jamie and Caroline work out their issues? What will happen between Caroline and Dean? Will Brad shape up or ship out? Will Jamie be able to handle her job and a two year old?Read Blueprints to find out! Blueprints was a very enjoyable novel. I give Blueprints 4.5 out of 5 stars. Blueprints has a lovely ending that ties up all the storylines in the book. If you are looking for a good book to read this summer, than you should pick up Blueprints. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      Blueprints by Barbara DelinskyWanted to read this book because it's about architecture and building-something I admire others doing and enjoy the outcomes: I enjoy seeing things from a different angle than some.Also the author's previous works speak for themselves and I know I will get a great read from this book.Book starts out with Jamie MacAfee and she's just wrapped up the Gut It! show that she's involved in with her family business.She is the designer/architect of the redone houses, her mom is the carpenter and the host and her father runs the business as his father will be retiring and her soon to be husband is the company lawyer.Problem is her father has just told her the GM wants her to be the host for the next season which would mean they don't want her mother around. Her parents are divorced and she tries to please them both. The building competition is also at her heels, the Barth Brothers.Tragedy happens and now she has more on her plate than before...Love the fact that many generations of the family are followed in this book and real up to date problemsand the discussions with the older crowd. Love how strong both Caroline and Jamie really are in how they handle details in their lives.Love picking up a book and learning, career of the women, words I've never heard that I do look up myself, what bands on the rings mean as I have a necklace made out of the same three.It's all the little things and the big things together that when they combine forces can achieve so much more. Love bonds of mother/daughter as their situations change through the book. Hot steamy sex scenes.I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
    • 4/5
      A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. "Stunning front cover!"A long-time fan of Barbara Delinsky, once again delivers a winning women's fiction drama with BLUEPRINTS. A realistic contemporary portrayal of the many challenges and complexities, faced by women of ages from 20’s to 60’s; of today’s modern world relationships--from professional, personal, family, and motherhood mixed with humor and some tantalizing sexy distractions. Gut it! A local television production, a home renovation series headlined by women—specifically the women of MacAfee Homes. The show was not touted by high drama nor celebrity antics, just real work by real people with whom an audience of real women identified. However, when the director decides the program needs a facelift to attract a younger demographic, family allegiances are put to the test. Caroline MacAfee is a skilled carpenter, her daughter Jamie, a talented architect and together they have been the faces of Gut It.Jamie MacAfee is twenty-nine and pretty much financially independent. Her parents are divorced and Caroline was not just her mother, but her best friends. Roy, her dad had moved on not once more, but twice. Jamie did not care for his second wife and his third wife, Jessica was close to Jamie’s age with a young son, and she had become a friend. All the family happened to be employed by MacAfee homes (so a lot of input). Caroline age fifty-six had always taken pride in her work and the audience loved her. However, when she is told the network wants her daughter to replace her as host, the day after her birthday, she is devastated. Can you imagine what this does to your ego? The show wants to target a younger demographic, aiming for the twenty-five to forty-year old range. This news places Jamie in an awkward situation, since her mom built the show, and now they think her mom is too old. She was simply being rewarded for her age at the expense of her mother, who was being punished for hers. At age fifty-six she looks great; however, for television, it means over-the-hill. She is allowed to stay on the show, just not in the limelight.The fallout causes a strain between mother and daughter, and soon after comes the accident of Roy MacAfee, CEO of MacAfee Homes, and his young wife (father and ex-husband). Now Jamie is confronted with the role as guardian of her two year old half-brother, Tad and her fiancé, Brad is less than thrilled with the news. So there is drama all the way around for these two women with much more . . .As Caroline is four years away from age sixty (been there, not a pretty thought);however, not everyone thinks she is over-the-hill, and may be time for "Stella to get her groove back". :) Carolina has always felt passion for work and her daughter, but a man, like Dean—could be the worst or possibly the best! Loved this part...I really enjoyed the story, from the stunning front cover, which grabbed me, as well as the design concept, and the older woman--a fantastic topic as many of us baby boomers are facing this today with our careers, as opportunities do not come along for the over 55-65 age range as often as in our younger years. Long gone are the days, we could get any job we wanted. The sad thing, if you are singe and still need to work to support ourselves in our sixties, and overlooked for the young generation. Unfortunately social security alone, does not cut it when realistically thinking of early retirement. Working from hom, or in a consulting role is an attractive viable solution, so as not to have to be interact with Generation X on a daily basis.Women need to embrace their age and sometimes this is difficult, when not in the traditional role of wife, mother, with grown children, a career singe divorced woman still - Not the typical grandma stay at home, cook and get fat type. We are active adults with a lot of living yet to do.Fans of highly-charged women’s topics, women’s fiction, family dynamics, romance, chick-lit and lovers of HGTV, home remodeling, architecture, design, Wendy Wax’s Ten Beach Road home renovation series, and Mary Kay Andrews’ books will enjoy Barbara’s storytelling with her in depth research into the architecture and design business. An engaging and fun beach read of love, life, competition, loyalty, motherhood and reinvention.
    • 4/5
      What caught my attention about Blueprints was the premise of the story: a mother and daughter who are stars of a home improvement TV show named Gut It. Okay, I admit I’m a HGTV, DIY, This Old House fan, and I think there are more of us out there that would find this story interesting too just from that angle, but there is more to it as I found out. The mother, Caroline is a master carpenter and the host of Gut It, her daughter Jamie is a talented architect whom the network wants to have host the show full time, and they let her know they want a more youthful face to represent the program. As much as Jamie wants this for her future, she doesn’t feel ready, and doesn’t want to hurt her mom. Caroline is not old, still attractive and has a huge fan base, but the implication that she’s beyond her prime is devastating, and because Jamie knows about it, but didn’t talk to her sets up a division between them. They have always been a team in the families’ construction business, which is the backbone of the show, and Jamie’s grandfather and father run the business. Jamie’s parents have been divorced for ages, and her dad has a new wife and baby son. As Caroline, who never remarried, and Jamie try to repair their relationship a tragedy happens and their lives are change forever. Just like a house being remodeled, it’s never about surface changes, there is always something hidden that you uncover that needs attention before the house can be rebuilt; and this is what happens to this family. I liked this book, the characters were very real, and the author is a skillful storyteller. One warning, there is some sexual content in the middle of the book. I personally found the one thing I would have liked to have changed was the ending: it felt rushed and even though it had an epilogue to tie up loose ends it could have been another chapter longer. 4 stars.