Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center

Shop Indie Bookstores

When Lanie Coates moves from Houston to Cambridge, Mass., with her musician husband, Peter, she loses her support system and quickly becomes overwhelmed by her three small boys and a self-image that's sagging both literally and figuratively. In this agreeable mom-lit entry from the author of The Bright Side of Disaster, Lanie, a former painter, finds beauty in everyone but herself, and especially adores Peter, even though the two of them seem to be drifting apart. The early chapters nearly sink beneath the weight of routine housekeeping details and scenes describing the children's bodily functions and fascination with their body parts, matters most parents have experienced, but which don't necessarily make for great fiction. However, as Lanie begins to find herself through a new found passion for photography, the story gains traction, and the tension grows as her photography teacher turns out to be a smitten kitten. (From Amazon)

Lanie has just moved from the comfort of her home in Houston to Cambridge, MA with her husband and three boys (all under the age of 3) so her husband can pursue his dream of being a professional musician. Away from her family and without any friends Lanie struggles to adjust to her new surroundings. She has become so lost in taking care of her husband and children that she's lost herself. Desperate to find the person she used to be, she starts making time for herself. She starts going to the gym and when her mother sends her some of her old cameras, signs up for a photography class. It quickly become clear to her that she has a passion and talent for taking pictures. But could this rediscovery of herself cost her something she isn't ready to let go of? I was hooked on this book right from the beginning with Lanie and her 3 rambunctious boys at the park (I'm sure you can imagine it!) to the scene where her son steals her towel while she's in the shower. The relationships are both authentic and imperfect ~ making it easy for the reader to relate. A wonderful tale of love, laughter & motherhood. A story that will teach you, as it taught Lanie, that everyone genuinely is beautiful.