Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin

In its basics it is the story of a best friend falling in love with her best friend's fiance. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure in any country, no matter the language spoken, we would all come to the same conclusion. . . THAT AIN'T RIGHT!!

But hold the phone on the quick judgemental reflex for juuuuust a second. . .

I've had this book in my possession for over a month and every time, due to my personal judgements of this book, I looked at it, I'd quickly put it back on my shelf to deferr for another. Bascially, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to connect with the main character and narrator aka the mistress/best friend when this book deals with such a frowned upon act of betryal.

BUT! Oooooh but.

After you begin reading this book it's as if you begin to question what once was solid moral standings. It's not that I can now say that I find it acceptable to "borrow" ones best friend's fiance (certainly not!), but perhaps you have to think about what your fighting or standing for. Is it loyalty of a friend? Is it the sanctity of friendship? Or should it be, perhaps, of a love that you know in your heart could never be mastered again?

I guess the saying is true: love makes you do crazy things!

A twist...

Sooo, here's the thing. I love talking about the books I'm reading, but I'm beginning to wonder whether I should start giving recommendations from books I've read in the past---hmmmm? Let's think on that. . . . OK, thinking is over. I'm doing it.

Ch-ch-ch-check it ouuuut. . .
1. The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver (one word: amazing. No seriously, it is amazing. Ok, that's like 5ish words)

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

I'm beginning to notice a trend here and I'm sure, all of you trusty followers, that you recognize it as well. Not only is this my what? Third, Fourth Jennifer Cruise, but I've managed to contain all of my attention on Romantic Comedies lately.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY ? ? ? ? ?

Maybe it's the sweet summer air and the sun shinning on my face (just enough for my daily dose of Vitamin D) that has heightened my need for a little love. A little romance. A little. . . shall I say, umph? Well, whatever the case may be, believe me when I say I have TRIED to break this cycle. Not just for the sake of variety, but for YOU. Yes, you. My dear, dear followers who I know are beyond devoted to checking my blog every day looking for a book to be their next page turner. So I promise, there's a change comin'. . .

But enough about that. Jennifer Crusie, take your place!

I was fully warned about this book before I turned that first page. But I'm never one to rely on the critiques of others to dictate my next move (especially one who stopped at chapter 8). So when it came to the certain--cough, cough--sexy time in this book that I was cautioned about, I wasn't surprised. However, I certainly would never categorize this as one of those cheesy, small, paperback books with half naked mid-century women on the cover. Oh no, definitely not! It was fundamentally a cute (don't focus too hard the usage of 'cute'--it's a good word) love story that was honestly, a joy to read. There was suspense, comedy, romance, and enough character quirks that truly made this book what it was. A solid-ish read.

But I would say, without a doubt, that to some degree the excessive sexy time deterred from the essence of the story. The two characters, Sophie and Phin, didn't need all that hot and heavy-ness to strengthen their literary relationship. Just wasn't necessary. . . well, I mean. . . not all of it was.

So would I recommend this book? If you are anything like me, it wouldn't matter either way, but if you are looking for a quick, cute read then yeah, go for it!

The Long Walk Home by Will North

If you look up the word "fidelity" in the dictionary, you'll find 6 or 7 various definitions of the word. The fourth, however, is what took me by surprise. It states that fidelity is "an adherence to fact or detail." Now, when you think of this explaination, this is not what you would originally believe this word to mean. We equate being faithful or maintaining relational fidelity as a choice driven by the heart and not some obligation to facts. But after reading The Long Walk Home, it possesed a deeper weight of truth than I could have imagined.

This novel, was first of all, beyond what I had thought it would be--and in a good way! It details the amazing story of two individuals who believed that love--the true and life altering kind--was far beyond their reach or not destined to be apart of their present reality. Of course, the moment they meet, they begin this complex struggle of dealing with the adherence to the facts and details of their mutually exclusive, and yet, increasingly intertwined, lives. Yes, it is, in essence, your basic love story. But the layers of their lives--one dealing with a sudden loss and the other dealing with the realization that their marital spouse is more like a habitual roommate--are bound together by a truly indepth passion for each other. Ask yourself, what would you do when you know you've met the person who was ment for you but had to sit back and allow life to happen, good or bad?

I honestly couldn't give enough praise to Will North's first novel. I was completely touched and enthrolled by this story of loss, love, and how the technicalities of our lives may force what feels right, what looks right, what is right to take a backseat... at least, for a little while.

...by the way, if I haven't mentioned it already, it's utterly romantic...

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Oooooh, I figured out how to add pictures... so savvy!!

It isn't often I come across an author who brings a new spin to the classic Romantic Comedy. And oh, I can asure you, this is not like most Romantic Comedys I have read. Sure, there's the handsome, but secretly damaged, leading man and the confident, yet intrinsically insecure, leading lady, but the weaving of these two characters, their lives AND their baggage is a hilariously delightful book to read. Even though there are series of moments plagued by frustrating dramatic irony, this book doesn't fail to deliver in any way. The relationship is full throughout the story--not just rushed in the end like some books that shall remain nameless--and the writing talent of Ms. Crusie is addicting and worthwhile.

If you're going to the beach this summer and feel the need to bask in someone elses romantic follies and pleasure, then I HIGHLY recommend this book. In fact, take a look at the other works of Jennifer Crusie when you speed straight through this in less than 4 days! I've read two others and of course, I was hooked and delighted by the stories told.

For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews

This book choice came during a state of utter desperation. I was in the midst of doing finals and all I wanted to read was something predictable, fun, and romantic. So I popped open this book and began to dig in. From the very beginning I knew the main characters were going to end up together... sorry, SPOILER ALERT!!... but in general, most romantic comedies (or RomComs as some people like to call them) usually end up this way. So it wasn't the predictability of the text that was annoying, it was the fast way the author wrapped everything up in the end.
Too many times I have read books like this where 3/4 of the book is filled with great detail of scene and character interaction and then BAM! the ending sneaks up on you and you're left staring at the last sentence, saying to yourself, "Whaaaaat just happened?". This book, definitely had one of those moments without a doubt.
All that work that is put into the middle portion of the book is almost thrown away with a quick effort of conclusion. I almost have begun to believe that when books end in this way, that there is a lack of care of the ending and more for what happens before. But who wants to read a book with all this build up of the obvious and then is quickly let down by 1-2 pages of an ending?? NOT ME my friend.
Also, as a writer, I just don't understand how an author could possibly believe that a conclusion filled with love, romance, and familiarity among the two characters could logically transpire when they may have had 2 days worth of dialogue in between the beginning and end and then quickly reunite during the second to last chapter... I MEAN HELLO... buck up a little bit here. Be a little more caring about the ending of the book and stop focusing on the how so much. It's a disservice to the reader who has invested their time in the book and then has to settle for one chapter worth of an ending. Basically, it's not fair.
I wouldn't, however, now conclude that For Better, For Worse was a horrible book to read, but when I can immediatly pick up another book--I'm talking 30 minutes within finishing the last--and contently read along, SOMETHING from the previous book left me, as a reader, unsatisfied. So thus, being unsatisfied, just like when you eat a crappy meal, you look for the next best thing to fill that void.
Read For Better, For Worse... make you're own opinion about it!