When I started to read this book, I was disconcerted because it didn’t feel like an LJ Shen book. The heroine was depressed and insecure, not like her usual heroines who are feisty. The pace of the book was slow and sad, as befits a depressed person. When Ever meets her boyfriend Dom, he was too perfect, too sweet. Where are my LJ Shen a-holes? Then it slowly picked up speed, it got convoluted, there were hidden layers beneath the story and we finally meet Joe and I was happy, we finally got to the a-hole!
The pace of the story was initially slow, to match Ever’s depression. As it unfolds, it picks up space and gets intriguing. We don’t know what happened to get Ever like this, but it’s frustrating to see a vibrant young woman turn into a walking zombie like this. She’s uncertain and indecisive, and all her decisions are colored by guilt and sadness. I felt like she was letting down everyone and she couldn’t help it, as happens with depressed people. In her fragility, she’s harming Nora, her roommate, who won’t move in with her boyfriend because she doesn’t want to leave Ever alone.
When Joe comes into the story again, things get hectic, full of emotions and conflict and I was in angsty heaven. I was frequently annoyed by Ever’s actions and indecisiveness and on the other hand, desperate for her to grab on to happiness. She doesn’t mean it, but she constantly let people down, including Joe. I was angry at her but also sad for her. Her spirit was really hurting and she didn’t have any self worth.
Even if this a different style from LJ Shen’s usual snappy style, it was a riveting read, full of angst and the small touches of humor so characteristic of this author. It was a fantastic story of love that triumphs in spite of the heroine’s efforts. She was so wrong and so loved that finally she caught on. Lovely read!
Purchase links
About the author
She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.
Connect with L.J. Shen
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OhSvp1
Twitter: http://bit.ly/36ELHZc
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2oMbFsu
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2AIOiTo
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3wDlGa7
Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/36MnmAQ
Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment