Megan Taylor is an artist full of so much spirit, seems to be the centerpiece of an intimate group of friends, and has a teenage daughter with whom she has a true empathic connection. But, her cozy world starts to unravel when she learns that her cancer is no longer in remission. Longtime secrets begin to haunt her and her best friend, Holly. Secrets that could destroy their close-knit foursome of friends. And as Megan deteriorates, her daughter, Olivia, begins to act out her frustrations.

Melissa Foster's novel is a lovely debut. She explores the mother-daughter bond in such an intense manner. It's the kind of relationship, I think that all daughters want with their mothers. And the circle of friends! They are such a loving and supportive bunch. Foster has given us a set of very realistic characters that are regular people. Also, she presents ideas of spirituality in a way that's not obnoxious but is unapologetic. Everything is set against a picturesque Cape Cod. This makes even the toughest moments in the book a little more palatable than had they occurred anywhere else. It adds to the warm and fuzzy feeling that much of the book presents. At its core, I would say that this is a story that depicts love transcending everything.

I really appreciate the author's simple language and real characters. All the imagery was wonderful without being weighty. And including a scene that brought a level of discomfort was very smart. Megan's Way is a great read and a solid debut for Melissa Foster.