The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
on March 28, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / General, Fiction / Friendship, Fiction / Women
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
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This was such a good humoured book and just what I needed right now. This has characters you can get to know and love. It is light and funny. The pacing is pretty quick. We read this for book club, so I hope most people like this one.

This one starts out with 84 year old Louise, who is a bit of a firecracker for her age. She has recently broken her hip and is in need of a live-in caretaker. Tanner is a 21 year old who had it all figured out, until she had an accident that made her unable to fullfill her scholarship of playing soccer at Northwestern. She feels miserable about life and decides to sit around her parents house all day playing video games, until her parents force her out. She is “talked into” taking care of Louise. Little does she know, that might be a two way street.

They end up on a road trip of sorts and grow closer as they get closer to their destination. The funny back and forth had me laughing. I hope some day I am as quirky as Louise is. They are both a bit secretive so when things get brought out into the open, it’s usually in a surprising way. Which just adds to the hilarity of the story.

All the while they are on their Thelma and Louise style “road trip,” Louise’s kids are having text discussions about their mother. Those are also very funny. They report her missing and one thing leads to another, and the FBI are involved. Is Louise a jewel theif from the 70’s? Is she just some crazy old lady? Either way, Tanner has made a decision and she stuck with it, which I admire.

This was such a light and hilarious adventure. I definately got Thelma and Louise vibes. Oakely created these great characters, one who was an Octogenarian for a main character that was my definately favorite. I was invested in finding out the full story. The parts of the story that the kids has some dialoge was also entertaining. I think this would make a great movie and I kept visualizing the actors that would play each character. I pictured Helen Mirren or Jane Fonda to play Louise. (Of course they would have to be made to look a little older) This book is for anyone looking for a light, funny read.