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A review by moodreadermama
The Life That Mattered by Jewel E. Ann
3.0
Book 1 - 3 ⭐️
Book 2 - 1.5⭐️
Ooof. <- I wish that could be it. The whole review.
What went well - Jewel E Ann writes in a way that is very readable, and (when she desires to do so) writes characters that are very likable. I also was intrigued by the "magical realism" aspect of the story.
However, beyond that I don't have many nice things to say about this duet. For me, in any book classed as romance, there is this invisible line that needs to be toed to avoid becoming irredeemable. Lies that shouldn't be told, secrets that shouldn't be kept. Any relationship, real or fictitious can only take so much battering before there is more pain in staying together than apart. It became apparent to me relatively early in the duet that things were going to occur in this story there was no coming back from. Were things as bad as I feared? In someways, no. In other ways things were much worse.
At the end of the day I cannot suspend my disbelief that the events this book culminated in could end in smiles and laughs and I love you. Especially in the span of just like 3% of a story. 97% pain and misery and hurt and betrayal and 3% oh it'll all be okay if you kiss me and say you love me. Forget the body count.
This book did not do it for me. At all.
(x-posting this review with the second in the duet)
Book 2 - 1.5⭐️
Ooof. <- I wish that could be it. The whole review.
What went well - Jewel E Ann writes in a way that is very readable, and (when she desires to do so) writes characters that are very likable. I also was intrigued by the "magical realism" aspect of the story.
However, beyond that I don't have many nice things to say about this duet. For me, in any book classed as romance, there is this invisible line that needs to be toed to avoid becoming irredeemable. Lies that shouldn't be told, secrets that shouldn't be kept. Any relationship, real or fictitious can only take so much battering before there is more pain in staying together than apart. It became apparent to me relatively early in the duet that things were going to occur in this story there was no coming back from. Were things as bad as I feared? In someways, no. In other ways things were much worse.
At the end of the day I cannot suspend my disbelief that the events this book culminated in could end in smiles and laughs and I love you. Especially in the span of just like 3% of a story. 97% pain and misery and hurt and betrayal and 3% oh it'll all be okay if you kiss me and say you love me. Forget the body count.
This book did not do it for me. At all.
(x-posting this review with the second in the duet)