karlayrt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I don't know what to think or say about this book. It wasn't what I expected.
I loved Stephanie and Jamie but sometimes I hated them; well, that's not really fair, I didn't really hated them, I just got mad at them for their decisions.
I really liked Steph's therapy sessions with Jane and how they talked about her life, their relationship therapist-patient was really nice and I think it was well written, how she sometimes cried, but not always, she spent time not going, then came back, Jane rarely told her what was going on and mostly listened and made questions leading her to figure out what she needed to figure out. How she explained the reasons her relationships were how they were, and why she chose as she did; also, Jane's calmness was on point, and really professional.
At times the interactions were a little weird and unnatural, specially in the first interaction between Jamie and Helen, but for most of the book, it was fine.
I don't know what to make of Jamie and Helen's relationship, I believe that Jamie did loved her, but not how he made it sound all the time, and for about half the story it wasn't love, it just wasn't, maybe it was the remnants of his younger self's love for her but not his current one, perhaps it was the comfort of years being together, the feeling of owing loyalty to her for their marriage, for Seb, wanting to give him a family, the guilt of having cheated on her emotionally and sexually, I don't know what he really felt for her or his reason for staying so long, there are to many options and I really wished that the author would have gone deeper into the character, from his childhood traumas to the complexity of his character, we had it with Steph and I think that this helped a lot so that in difficult moments I would be inclined to support and defend her instead of him, despite the fact that they are both protagonists of the story, we don't get a chance to actually know him outside of his love for Steph, and the troubles that love causes in his and his family's life, and feelings, like what about his mother, how is his relationship with her? how does he feel about his dad? on what level has it affected him? even his feeling about Helen and their marriage were surface level.
In conclusion, it was good, it could have been better.
I loved Stephanie and Jamie but sometimes I hated them; well, that's not really fair, I didn't really hated them, I just got mad at them for their decisions.
I really liked Steph's therapy sessions with Jane and how they talked about her life, their relationship therapist-patient was really nice and I think it was well written, how she sometimes cried, but not always, she spent time not going, then came back, Jane rarely told her what was going on and mostly listened and made questions leading her to figure out what she needed to figure out. How she explained the reasons her relationships were how they were, and why she chose as she did; also, Jane's calmness was on point, and really professional.
At times the interactions were a little weird and unnatural, specially in the first interaction between Jamie and Helen, but for most of the book, it was fine.
I don't know what to make of Jamie and Helen's relationship, I believe that Jamie did loved her, but not how he made it sound all the time, and for about half the story it wasn't love, it just wasn't, maybe it was the remnants of his younger self's love for her but not his current one, perhaps it was the comfort of years being together, the feeling of owing loyalty to her for their marriage, for Seb, wanting to give him a family, the guilt of having cheated on her emotionally and sexually, I don't know what he really felt for her or his reason for staying so long, there are to many options and I really wished that the author would have gone deeper into the character, from his childhood traumas to the complexity of his character, we had it with Steph and I think that this helped a lot so that in difficult moments I would be inclined to support and defend her instead of him, despite the fact that they are both protagonists of the story, we don't get a chance to actually know him outside of his love for Steph, and the troubles that love causes in his and his family's life, and feelings, like what about his mother, how is his relationship with her? how does he feel about his dad? on what level has it affected him? even his feeling about Helen and their marriage were surface level.
In conclusion, it was good, it could have been better.
mervereadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I would drop this book at the beginning. I wasn’t really empathizing with the characters and thought most of the time “it’s not that hard!”. But then I kept reading and thinking, and realized that people make bad decisions all the time, for reasons that you can’t understand but makes sense to them. No situation is black and white, and things can get messy because that’s how life is. And this was what the book was mainly for me, and i liked that it made me think about a topic I don’t particularly like but I liked thinking deeper about it because of the book.
So towards the middle of the book I was constantly thinking about what I thought of the situation for the protagonists and what I would do if I were in their shoes. I liked that active thinking so the book got a bit better and I wanted to finish it. I don’t really have a favorite character in the book, however I do think the male protagonist made all the wrong and stupid decisions, which cost the couple many years. So I am not a big fan of him.
My main problem with this book is the ending. I mean WHY? The ending was super cliche and totally predictable because of the not so subtle foreshadowing. I think the ending destroyed what I had decided this book was about for me. I wish the ending was different, better. Overall the book started as a “barely 3 stars” and worked its way to a “solid 3,5 stars” but with that ending dipped to its original “barely 3 stars” rating again.
So towards the middle of the book I was constantly thinking about what I thought of the situation for the protagonists and what I would do if I were in their shoes. I liked that active thinking so the book got a bit better and I wanted to finish it. I don’t really have a favorite character in the book, however I do think the male protagonist made all the wrong and stupid decisions, which cost the couple many years. So I am not a big fan of him.
My main problem with this book is the ending. I mean WHY? The ending was super cliche and totally predictable because of the not so subtle foreshadowing. I think the ending destroyed what I had decided this book was about for me. I wish the ending was different, better. Overall the book started as a “barely 3 stars” and worked its way to a “solid 3,5 stars” but with that ending dipped to its original “barely 3 stars” rating again.
kathis_bookart's review against another edition
3.0
Ich hatte nach dem Klappentext eher geringe Erwartungen an die Story. Deswegen fand ich sie (besonders in der zweiten Hälfte) überraschend tiefgründig und überlegt. Einen Stern Abzug gibt es für die fehlende Diversität, durchgängige Herteronormativität, veraltete Rollenklischees und (meiner Meinung nach) romantisierte Elternschaft. Einen weiteren für die schwächere erste Hälfte des Buches.
(Als Hörbuch gehört)
(Als Hörbuch gehört)
miniibooks's review against another edition
3.0
This isn’t a usual genre I really pick up tbh, this was just a book I picked for easy listening while doing things around the house but this book was so heart felt that I couldn’t help but be charmed by it.
They way the author tells the story between Jaime and Stephanie isn’t your cookie cutter typical romance, there’s struggle, pain and hardship between them. We watch their relationship develop for over a decade. The author makes their relationship and bond seem so much more realistic and relatable. They’re each married/engaged when they meet but can’t help that they want, no need to have each other in one another’s lives. While being apart from each other they’re each trying to navigate what they want, what they believe is right & what they’ll settle for.
By the end of this book it had me in tears and just feeling for the characters. If you need something that you don’t really need to think hard about but will still make you feel this’ll do it. Taking you through the lives of two people who were just meant to be together
They way the author tells the story between Jaime and Stephanie isn’t your cookie cutter typical romance, there’s struggle, pain and hardship between them. We watch their relationship develop for over a decade. The author makes their relationship and bond seem so much more realistic and relatable. They’re each married/engaged when they meet but can’t help that they want, no need to have each other in one another’s lives. While being apart from each other they’re each trying to navigate what they want, what they believe is right & what they’ll settle for.
By the end of this book it had me in tears and just feeling for the characters. If you need something that you don’t really need to think hard about but will still make you feel this’ll do it. Taking you through the lives of two people who were just meant to be together
thewoollygeek's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t like this at all, possibly because I don’t see anything romantic about two people having an affair. The writing was ok, but I didn’t like the characters or find them relatable. They were self involved. Not a book for me.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
bkmorales's review against another edition
2.0
Spoiler alert
I was really disappointed with this book. I was looking for something light and uplifting. The description of the book seemed to fit that. About 1/3 of the way through, I was getting annoyed with the characters, but I persevered. I understand that marriage is difficult at times but cheating rarely solves that problem. I found that aspect bothersome. It was also a little too tidy to have Stephanie’s husband turn out to be sabotaging her family’s business. It made him too one-dimensional and so easy to get rid of.
Another point of contention: how this novel portrays being happy, which is find the right man and all will be well. Even Stephanie’s therapist said that happiness would come with the right person. She and Stephanie’s father both said she had changed and become a happier person because of Jamie. Seriously?? Each of us can make the delicious to change ourselves and to be happy. It does not depend on having the “right“ partner.
I’m not even going to discuss the ending. I mean, WTF?
Finally, I listened to the audiobook. The narrators were quite good, but the accent used for Jane seemed fake for some reason. I’m not British, so maybe it was a good accent, it just grated on my nerves.
I was really disappointed with this book. I was looking for something light and uplifting. The description of the book seemed to fit that. About 1/3 of the way through, I was getting annoyed with the characters, but I persevered. I understand that marriage is difficult at times but cheating rarely solves that problem. I found that aspect bothersome. It was also a little too tidy to have Stephanie’s husband turn out to be sabotaging her family’s business. It made him too one-dimensional and so easy to get rid of.
Another point of contention: how this novel portrays being happy, which is find the right man and all will be well. Even Stephanie’s therapist said that happiness would come with the right person. She and Stephanie’s father both said she had changed and become a happier person because of Jamie. Seriously?? Each of us can make the delicious to change ourselves and to be happy. It does not depend on having the “right“ partner.
I’m not even going to discuss the ending. I mean, WTF?
Finally, I listened to the audiobook. The narrators were quite good, but the accent used for Jane seemed fake for some reason. I’m not British, so maybe it was a good accent, it just grated on my nerves.
wintermote's review against another edition
3.0
Really? Really. I thought a book about infidelity was going to be appealing?