Reviews

Next To You by Sandra Antonelli

poisonivy70's review

2.0

-So many things I love in a romance: I love older, experienced heroes and heroines in my romances. There’s something about people who lived their lives and find love later on that gives a richness to their romance. Add to that some quirky, well drawn characters, and a focus on the story, not the big action-y bits and this is smack dab in the middle of my wheelhouse. I was jamming right along with Will and Caroline’s romance. Ms. Antonelli has a distinct storytelling style that makes for an intriguing story and, barring one unexpected and disappointing twist, along with a wth happened ending, was an interesting read for most of it. Let’s break it down, shall we?

-Albino heroes don’t grow on trees in Romancelandia: and Will isn’t what I expected because, yes, I too have watched many a movie where albinos are evil just because of their looks. I truly appreciated that time and care was spent in explaining his condition and Ms. Antonelli makes Will a very attractive hero that was I was digging alot...and then. Well, more on that later.

-Caroline is a fragile but intriguing heroine: The story, told in third person past tense, starts when Will sees Caroline across a crowded diner. Caroline, who moved back to Chicago after being away for a long while because of people and traumatic events in her past, is being harassed by one of those people. The story continues on and eventually, a version of romance happens. Caroline’s has confidence issues and is a pretty quiet woman who has let others run roughshod over her, but by the end you understand why. She’s trying to grab life by its proverbial balls, and I rooted for her to get there. Will and Caroline certainly don’t dive into a romance, and their reasons are valid, even if I was just begging them to get on with it. And then...

-Twists, some good, some…well: The story begins as a quirky, character driven, funny and lovely friend to lovers tale. I would have been just keen to keep rolling right along with on that track. Also, I am all for good twists that make the reader see things in a different light and Ms. Antonelli sets up the story and these twists in a way that I was intrigued to find out the truth. I think some of those reveals at the end were very good.

-However, there’s one twist in particular: That my romance-loving brain will never quite be on board with. For my spoiler loving friends (others, just look away - you have been warned).

Spoiler

At 66%, Will has sex with his ex-wife. It was before he and Caroline have sex, but after they’ve kissed and clearly have been dancing the dance. I was surprised, and turned off, even if it wasn’t romantic, showed Will how over his ex he was and was just a clinical hookup that wasn’t detailed.

) It slowed down the momentum, and took me right out of the romance. Which is sad, because I was deep into the tale and wasn’t expecting it and for me, was just something that wasn’t necessary, only served to distract me and disconnect me from what was happening.


-That ending: After all that, the story train goes off into Twister-land, and left me right at the corner of what the hell happened? It's definitely a more ambiguous ending and *shakes head* yeah I don’t know. All I do know is it just didn’t work for me.



It was ok. The story’s twists and turns and a rather abrupt ending took what was an enjoyable romance down a road that just didn’t work for me due to my own personal hard limits for heroes and heroines. That said, if you’re into quirky, character-driven tales and don’t have the same kind of hard limits, it may work for you.

**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**

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queenofthegeeks's review

5.0

William is not your typical romantic hero. Albinism is not a top ranking romance hero trait and I am here to tell you that I adore Sandra Antonelli for using it loud and proud. I love authors who are willing to include people who do not necessarily meet the standard romantic or desirable form. I don't want to give any plot away, but William is sweet sexy and funny as a character. The plot is a roller coaster that I could not put down. This books plot twists are unexpected and shocking. The funniest thing is both MC dont want to admit how they feel for the other and go to great lengths to deny they are dating. Food and movies are the excuse they use to 'be friends'...

Spoilers

But a murder confession oddly enough is what it takes for them to admit love and finally have sex /shrugs who knew?