A great philosophical argument to make is whether or not people can change. In the world of fiction, authors weigh different theories with their character arcs. With recurring characters, that arc is more stretched out with room to show the characters growing and regressing.
Author Gail Ward Olmsted is giving one of her recurring characters, Lennon Gallagher, the room to grow, change, and even to unearth her former self at times in the sequel to her spinoff of the Miranda Quinn series, Class Reunion: Keep Your FRIENDS Closer, part of her Raise the Bar series. Below is my review of the book followed by an interview with returning author Olmsted.
Class Reunion plot summary
Class Reunion takes place five years after the previous novel, Class Action, ends. Lennon is about to marry her long-time boyfriend, Nick Russo, she’s making a name for herself in the legal world representing victims of domestic violence, and she’s patching up her lifelong rocky relationship with her now sober mother while also keeping up her relationship with Randi Quinn and her extended family as well as forging a bond with her soon-to-be-in-laws.
Then, one day, right before a cake tasting appointment as part of her wedding plans, Lennon gets a call out of the blue from her former friend and classmate, Erin Cooper. Erin has just been arrested for domestic violence, and she begs for Lennon’s help in getting her out and the charges dropped. Despite her reservations, she agrees, and this sets off a chain of events that entangles her in an even bigger case, this time as a witness to a murder which leads her to unwillingly reunite with an old enemy.
The story
Class Reunion holds its own against its predecessors with no sophomore slump detected in terms of how it holds up to Class Action and the Miranda Quinn series. It’s packed full of interconnected stories, twists and turns, and both personal and professional conflicts that keep the pages turning and the surprises coming.
Now that Lennon is a fully fledged attorney, we get to see how she puts her skills and natural abilities to use. Her past has made her street smart and suspicious, but her support system has made her soft and vulnerable to being taken advantage of, despite her instincts.
Returning characters from Lennon’s previous adventure, both friends and enemies, make their comeback in a big, bold way, but the story is ultimately Lennon’s. Her first-person point of view makes her the eyes and ears of the story, and the reader is along for the ride as she bounces from one unexpected and shocking event to the next.
The characters
As I mentioned before, Lennon is a much different person from the young girl we were introduced to in Miranda Fights. She has come to gain the reader’s trust through Quinn’s mentorship and her personal history explored and overcome. I love the life she has built for herself and how she has grown the confidence to not only appreciate it but also feel like she deserves it.
I love that Lennon’s mom, Charlene, has found her own happy ending. The scars of their past are still there, but they are long scabbed over, and the mother and daughter seem to have found their footing and are finally able to pull ahead and appreciate each other for who they are and what they’ve been through.
Miranda and her extended family take even more of a backseat in this story, but they’re still there as a support system and a welcome distraction from the story’s conflicts. Olmsted is seamlessly able to weave in Nick’s family as a secondary support system, creating this little village for Lennon who previously had none in the years when it was most crucial.
Our returning villains from the previous novel, Erin and Roger, are just as unsettling and untrustworthy as ever. They are also more cunning, and they tip Lennon’s world upside down at a time when it should finally be steady and sturdy. Erin is particularly manipulative to the point where she’s even convincing to Lennon at times.
The message
The fact that we’ve seen Lennon change and evolve so much gives the reader pause to consider giving Erin the benefit of the doubt as well. The story then keeps the reader guessing as to how much they can trust Erin.
Being the protagonist and first-person narrator of this series, the reader is able to get inside Lennon’s head to know exactly where she stands. She’s softened a lot on the exterior, but that hard shell still exists inside, and she’s still able to pull it out of her like a secret weapon to let others know that she’s not to be messed with. It’s that balance that makes her such a rich and complex character, while still being a classic hero.
I’m continually impressed by how Olmsted is able to maintain such high quality work from book to book in her two series. Every situation she comes with is compelling. Every ending is satisfying. And every chapter makes you want to keep reading on. I can’t wait for the next installment in either series.
My rating
Enter the giveaway!
An interview with Gail Ward Olmsted
Lennon has come a long way since her introduction in the Miranda Quinn series. What were some of the challenges of evolving this character while remaining the Lennon readers have come to know?
When I first introduced Lennon in Miranda Fights, the 3rd book of the Miranda Quinn Legal Twist series, she was an angry teenager who grew up primarily in foster homes as her mother flitted in and out of jail and rehab. I wanted Lennon to grow and mature into a happy and successful woman, but I knew it couldn’t be accomplished without a few missteps.
The manner in which she broke up with Seth and the way she second-guessed her choices of whom to trust were examples. And now, her inability to thumb her nose at a frenemy who clearly can’t be trusted is another sign of her ‘perfect imperfectness’.
Like the other books in the series, this one is packed with subplots. Do you have a favorite?
I loved the relationship between Lennon and her mother Charlene. As an Adult Child of an Alcoholic myself, I know how strained things can get. But Charlene found life after addiction to be full of love and new opportunities.
At one point, Lennon decides ‘Maybe I could give up the scrutiny, the careful watch I always kept focused on her. Maybe I could just be a daughter who enjoyed time with her mother.’ That makes me smile!
If you could jump into the story and play a small role, what scene would you want to be in, and how would you like to interact with the characters?
I would love the opportunity to stand next to creepy psychopath Roger and push him off of a subway platform or a jagged mountain cliff. If you’re asking ‘why don’t you just kill him off?’ my answer is ‘in due time!’
In the past, you said that you’ve worked real life situations into your novels. Are there any in this book that you can share?
Lennon has so much going for her; a successful career, a generous and wealthy man who loves her, friendships and stability. But she also suffers from Imposter Syndrome – who am I to deserve all of this? That’s as real as it gets!
The title of this book is very telling. What was it like to revisit some old characters introduced in Class Action? Do you like writing villains and untrustworthy characters? Without giving spoilers, did they surprise you in any way?
I knew we hadn’t seen the last of manipulative Erin or psycho Roger and yes, they are super fun to write, especially Erin. Villains come in all sizes, shapes and shades of gray. I wanted to create a very flawed individual who, I believe, deep down wanted to be Lennon’s friend. Erin still surprises me!
What advice do you have for authors who want to create a spinoff series like you did?
The character who is being spun off needs to be multi-dimensional and capable of change, ideally growth. I felt that way about Lennon and I hoped to show how much she could evolve and thrive with a mentor like Miranda.
Lennon seems to expertly balance her relationships with her blood relatives, her found family, and her soon-to-be in-laws. Do you see this balance teetering in the future, or will her relationships always be her main source of stability and the people in them happy with the roles that they play in her life?
Lennon seeks balance and stability in order to smooth over the after-effects of a chaotic childhood, but sometimes life has other plans. Watching her adapt to changes and curveballs is an integral part of the Raising the Bar series. There will be loads more teetering of the balance Lennon seeks to create in Working Class.
Is Book 3 of Lennon’s story in the works? Any plans for a Miranda Quinn sequel as well?
Great questions. Yes and Yes!
Working Class is the third book in the Raising the Bar series. Further details coming soon. And the next Miranda book is in the works as well. I’m actually collaborating with another author who writes an action suspense series.
Miranda will need to work with search and rescue veteran Tyler Zahn when her best friend goes missing in the Colorado Rockies. Watch for Miranda Heights in September, 2027!
Thank you Laura and readers. You quite literally make my day!
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