A review by mzdeb
We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
4.0
Possibly 3.5 stars, but rounding up. It depends on what elements of the book I'm pondering. I'm trying to write a straight-up book review, but y'all...the diversity wars here on GR are exhausting.
It is kind of background noise in the grand scheme of things. There's the issue of Quinn's sister, Asher, going kosher for her fiance, Gabe, and Quinn feeling like it's another thing that'll drive them apart (besides Quinn wanting to leave the family business), because Asher didn't share that info with Quinn right away. I suppose Solomon could've chosen a different issue for the "wedge" between sisters.
But I'm going to leave the arguing over Quinn's and Tarek's faith, and whether the book should've delved into it in greater detail, whether it was the right representation, or shouldn't have been mentioned at all, to everyone else who has the time and the stamina.
There are discussions of OCD, depression, and anxiety, FYI--which also factors a lot in the protagonists' actions.
I get Quinn being cynical on love because of all the stuff she sees behind the scenes at weddings (especially signs the marriages won't last), and the fact that her parents never discussed their brief 6-month split a decade before, preferring to gloss over it when Quinn's mom finally moved back home. (But, really, it's indicative of Quinn's parents in general--glossing over people's feelings. They're not out-and-out villains, but still not very likeable in my estimation.)
But, for the sake of the romance plot contrivance--she really goes out of her way to push Tarek away, when he's possibly the one thing in the middle of all this supposed fakery that is real, even if you take issue with his love of grand gestures. She's a self-fulfilling prophecy--pushing someone away so hard, for fear of getting hurt, that she winds up getting hurt when they're gone. Her potential future career--as a different type of harp player and possibly a harp maker--could've been delved into a little bit more. It would've been cool to see her attend a Seattle Rock Orchestra concert (but I guess the tickets weren't cheap).
Still, I really like Solomon's books--"Today Tonight Tomorrow" is still one of my all-time faves.
It is kind of background noise in the grand scheme of things. There's the issue of Quinn's sister, Asher, going kosher for her fiance, Gabe, and Quinn feeling like it's another thing that'll drive them apart (besides Quinn wanting to leave the family business), because Asher didn't share that info with Quinn right away. I suppose Solomon could've chosen a different issue for the "wedge" between sisters.
But I'm going to leave the arguing over Quinn's and Tarek's faith, and whether the book should've delved into it in greater detail, whether it was the right representation, or shouldn't have been mentioned at all, to everyone else who has the time and the stamina.
There are discussions of OCD, depression, and anxiety, FYI--which also factors a lot in the protagonists' actions.
I get Quinn being cynical on love because of all the stuff she sees behind the scenes at weddings (especially signs the marriages won't last), and the fact that her parents never discussed their brief 6-month split a decade before, preferring to gloss over it when Quinn's mom finally moved back home. (But, really, it's indicative of Quinn's parents in general--glossing over people's feelings. They're not out-and-out villains, but still not very likeable in my estimation.)
But, for the sake of the romance plot contrivance--she really goes out of her way to push Tarek away, when he's possibly the one thing in the middle of all this supposed fakery that is real, even if you take issue with his love of grand gestures. She's a self-fulfilling prophecy--pushing someone away so hard, for fear of getting hurt, that she winds up getting hurt when they're gone. Her potential future career--as a different type of harp player and possibly a harp maker--could've been delved into a little bit more. It would've been cool to see her attend a Seattle Rock Orchestra concert (but I guess the tickets weren't cheap).
Still, I really like Solomon's books--"Today Tonight Tomorrow" is still one of my all-time faves.