Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Graded: A+

I'm sitting here with tears running down my face having just finished this book. I know I should probably let my emotions settle before reviewing but I want to get all the feelings down...

Firstly I want to say that the cover does not do this book justice. It gives the impression of a bland and fluffy read when in reality this is a heartbreaking story, with subject matter that may be difficult for a lot of readers.

The characters begin as likeable, yet maddeningly realistic in all their egocentricities and self-absorptions. As their fears and insights are exposed, they develop in strength and purpose to reveal rich individuals who are all irrevocably changed through the events which unfold. I enjoyed the first person POV, and the odd change in character thrown in stirred the narrative nicely for me. I would have liked to have had at least a chapter from Will's perspective, but can understand how challenging that may have been for the author. Glad for the final letter, though!

I commend the author for producing a book which I found extremely readable; the language was straight forward, no purple prose or a whole bunch of medical jargon. The plot is relatively simple yet not uncomplicated; for all that it raises some controversial or ethical questions. How can you read this and not ask yourself what you might do in similar circumstances, how you would feel if it was your friend? Could you be what they needed, and the moral impact of that. The writing is seems smooth and effortless and yet the result is a story which is invested with so much emotion. I'm left feeling so mad, sad and even, oddly, happily resigned about the ending. I can't remember when I last finished a story that had tied me up in so many emotional knots and still left me completely satisfied with having read it.

I'll be chasing down more of Ms Moyes' works.

Review: Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Title: Chasing Fire
Author: Nora Roberts
Graded: A

I'm a fan of Roberts' stand-alones and this one didn't disappoint.
One thing you can definitely say about Ms Roberts is that her subject matter is usually very well-researched. I was fascinated to learn about a setting and career I would normally never have researched. Some readers may find the detail over-the-top, but I didn't mind it at all and appreciated how it helped cement the characters to me. There was no doubt in my mind that the heroine had to be strong to be as good as she was at her job. You get a very real sense from the book that firejumpers don't do the job, they live the job while it's happening.

This story was made all the more believable by the slow sizzle of the romance. There is primarily a physical relationship and respect between the H/h, but no angsty coming-together dramas - very refreshing for a romance reader! The dialogue was fantastic (another strength of Roberts' writing), the banter between the two showcasing Rowan's strength and Gull's masculine self-confidence. He's not intimidated to take orders from her, and is trying to charm her without belittling her, which makes him all the more tempting to Rowan and sigh-worthy to the reader.

The plot was well-paced and the suspense/ mystery was satisfying, but hardly taxing. In fact, there were only two things that bothered me about this story: I felt the protagonists were a little too perfect, and a lot of the jargon wasn't explained within the story.

If you were reading this as a straight out mystery or suspense, I think you would be disappointed. If you were reading this for the romance, you might possibly get impatient with a lot of the added detail. But for lovers of romantic suspense, I think this is a fine example.

Review: And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper

Title: And One Last Thing...
Author: Molly Harper
Graded: B+

What a fantastic read! This was my first from Molly Harper and I look forward to reading more of her brand of humour.
I've never minded first-person POV and in this book thought it was vital to my enjoyment of the story. This is Lacey's story first and foremost, after all.

The humour is an integral part of her personality and how she sees the world. It is through this the reader gets to experience her circumstances vicariously. Lacey's character is easy to identify with. I'm sure I know at least three versions of Lacey in Real Life. She's had family that love her, a mother that coddles her, a brother that supports her with his own brand of crazy humour and a husband that has provided for her very well. Add to this that she has always felt sick when people are angry or disappointed in her and it's easy to see why she's always taken the easy way. It's easier not to argue. It's easier to go along. Sure. Until she discovers her husband's affair with his secretary. Cue shenanigans.

The consequences of her reaction, the newsletter and the move to the cabin for isolation were very well written. You can sympathise with Lacey, hate the husband and his secretary for what and how they've treated her and all the while be laughing at Lacey's quirky observations and Harper's funny descriptions.



*** SPOILER ALERT ***

As a sort of therapy (and to help the legal case against her) Lacey begins writing her thoughts on her marriage and it's conclusion. She is approached by an entrepreneurial fan who wants to hire her to write more "woman scorned" newsletters for women in similar situations. Lacey is interested and tempted, and initially it is only thoughts of how it could further damage her reputation and annoy her lawyer that stop her from taking it up. When she sparks up a friendship with the sexy author next door, Monroe, she tries her hand at writing fiction.

It is through the writing of her novel, and the interactions with Monroe, that Lacey really grows. The romance, though funny and hot, seemed to me to be secondary to the plot, but symbiotic to Lacey's journey. Monroe helps her writing, gives her pointers but more importantly a new direction. They develop a comfortable friends-with-benefits relationship, and he listens to her when she lets him know what she wants sexually, a first for her.

*** END SPOILER ***



I respected and understood Lacey's reticence to jump into a new "relationship" and her need to stand on her own two feet. The temptation of the easy money that would also allow her to perpetuate her revenge on cheating husbands everywhere was likewise understandable. My problem with this story, even while realising it may have been intentional for the humour factor, was how two dimensional the secondary characters felt. Emmet is the gay brother with fantastic fashion sense who also gives great haircuts. Her husband is the selfish, remorseless cheater. The mum is the consumate nurterer who expresses love through food and her father is the stoic older gentleman whose reaction to his children's disappointments is to ignore them.

The humour and dialogue offer laugh-out-loud moments. And the subplots of Lacey's novel offer an extra dimension to the story. But ultimately Lacey's growth, her journey, (though rushed at the end) was believable and entertaining.