What I like the most about
this book is the earlier few chapters. The reality is gripping, and I feel for
the character. The fear of growing old, getting out of the familiar and comfort
zone, and watching something she has built over decades crumbling down. It's
heartbreaking to see the indifference when someone closest to her slowly
becomes a stranger, especially when she has given him her best younger years.
The almost drama-free
separation also works well, and I can see it happening between two responsible
adults. I'm grateful for it because I had become the shoulder to cry on and
ears for the ugly and childish similar processes in the past. There were
many moments when I wondered how something beautiful turned into an empty shell
of itself, sometimes crushed and withered without a trace. So, I find the
book's first quarter very powerful and realistic.
Regrettably, everything goes
in another direction from there. It feels cringey and meta when every character
the MC meets loves her book. The story turns into a mundane diary entry style
with many fillers, but fair enough, it's a journal, after all. I understand the
nature of slow burn in this kind of story, but nevertheless, I feel a bit lost,
and unfortunately, it never picks up for me again. I sincerely hope these kinds
of stories happen in real life somehow, somewhere, and often, but it gets fairy-tallish, which is
the path many romance stories take as the ending. From the gripping emotional
and realistic character's life, it turns into Melrose place strings of events.
The book sends the message that the character manages to overcome her
fear, insecurities, and the biggest turn in her life, which I applaud.
Unfortunately, it's hard to get the point across when everything comes that
easy, and the MC has everything cut out perfectly for her financially and
romantically with every support imaginable. I get that there are still 'ups and
downs,' but I really think only a tiny percentage of ordinary people can relate
to all those because it turns into a fairy tale that is loved by many daytime
TV viewers and becomes unrealistic. I love being wrong and wish many people had
this kind of life.
Moving past my nitpick, I
think the book is well written, there are many likable characters, and the
dialogues are believable. There are many funny snippets here and there, and I
also like realistic characters like the fireman and the con artist who conducts
the worst writing class ever. It's easy to continue reading, and I actually
finished the last 60% in one sitting.
4 out of 5
