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readundancies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
When I picked up With Love from Wish & Co., I wanted something light and fluffy, and this story definitely delivered that, but also had another layer of character depth because of how the narrative was told.
We get multiple perspectives and we start with Marnie Fairchild, black sheep of the Fairchild dynasty due to her father’s propensity for gambling with client’s money and then committing suicide once found out, who’s dream is to move her business into a burned down property of her illustrious father’s family. When Marnie hears word through her heartless uncle’s assistant that the property will be put up for sale and that it will be going to auction, she scrambles to get first shot at touring the property before the auction takes place and a mix-up in gifts being couriered out for the day occurs.
The problem, of course, is that the gifts are being sent out on behalf of Brian Charlesworth, her biggest client, with one going to his wife, Suzanne, for their fortieth wedding anniversary where it’s fated to be opened in front of an audience, and the other to his mistress, Leona Quick, who has caused issues in his marriage before when they dabbled with one another in their youth.
Now, the fallout from this mix-up is delved into with detail, and was easily my favourite part of the novel because the secondhand cringe was STRONG. So strong, and I was so uncomfortable because the drama. And the first half where it all occurs was definitely the stronger half, especially because we are introduced to Luke, the prodigal Charlesworth son who finds out the abortion he threw money at when he was sixteen was money (eventually thought to be well) wasted because he has a daughter now named Ivy. We read from Marnie, Luke, Suzanne and Brian throughout, although the female perspectives reigned supreme in terms of length and page time.
What follows after the fallout, is a Charlesworth marriage on the rocks via separation, a romance evolving between Marnie and Luke, and a deal being struck between Brian and Marnie to help Brian win Suzanne back.
Now don’t get me wrong, this sounds like the plot of a made for TV movie, and it kind of is, but it’s also sweet and heartfelt.
Did I wish it was longer and went into way more depth from a characterization standpoint? Very much so. Because the whole relationship that evolves between Luke and Ivy is not nearly as strong as it could’ve been had it been explored more, and Brian and Suzanne’s eventual reconciliation was lacklustre to say the least, and pretty much occurs entirely off page to say more. I didn’t love Brian, but I don’t think you’re supposed to, and the progression of the romance between Marnie and Luke was rushed.
But this was definitely entertaining, not in a rom com kind of way, which this decidedly isn’t, but for a chick lit novel, which is not something I tend to drift towards very often, I was amused. So if soap opera dramatics painted in chick lit tones is something you’re in the mood for, this will likely whet your whistle.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Misogyny and Death of parent
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