Love After Love is not the type of book that would typically make my reading list. Still, as it was included with January’s A Box of Stories box, I felt compelled to give it a go… however, I was left empty. The back of the book promised a lot that it did not deliver.
“Nancy Jansen is the beating heart of her family.
She is the centre around whom many lives turn.
Mother
Therapist
Daughter
Sister
WifeBut Nancy has a new role:
Lover
Everybody can be happy, Nancy believes, so long as they can be kept apart.
But when these lives start to overlap, collision becomes inevitable, with consequences for all…”
There was a potential promised in that it could have been so much. However, within pages, I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be my cup of tea. By the time I’d reach the 100th page, I was fed up. It almost became a ‘did not read’ but, ever the optimist, I kept going in the vain hope there would be some incredible climax.
I rather disliked Nancy and enjoyed her client’s conversation (patient?), Marie, more. I felt sorry for her husband and children and couldn’t help but feel she was the one who required therapy. She made her oldest daughter’s life hell, snooping through her belongings and yeah. Then there was the situation with her dysfunctional family. Truthfully, I forgot what the story was about and who it was I was supposed to like. Essentially, there was just too much going on.
The only well-developed character was the protagonist, Nancy, whom I didn’t gel with. Everyone else was empty, and they all felt like they didn’t quite belong. However, Alex’s writing style is beautiful. Her descriptive prose is detailed and effectual, it just distracted from the plot and lost me throughout the book.
Overall, while I felt compelled to read to the end, I didn’t really enjoy it. However, the purpose of a story is to be read, so it most definitely fulfilled its purpose. Would I read another book by Alex Hourston? Not out of choice. There are so many books I want to read, any book by her is unlikely to make it to the top of my ‘to read’ pile.
It is hard when what you expect in a story is not what you get, sounds like this was a hard book to read as it was not inspiring but glad you finished it till the end
I always feel better once I get to the end of a book, whether I enjoyed it or not. 🙂
I love to read. There are so many authors and books it can be hard to decide what to read. I find opinions like yours helpful because they help me ;pass up things that sound like they won’t e a good fit for me.
It is so hard these days to choose something. 🙂
I actually really like the sound of this book . It’s not something I would
Normally read but I’ll definitely put it on my wish list
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, especially if it’s not the usual type of book you read.
Its a shame that you feel the book did not deliver especially when it promised to.
It is, but reading is never a waste of time to me.
That sounds a bit disappointing. I’m the same books, I have to finish once I’ve started.
Finishing a book is a must, isn’t it?
That’s such a shame that you didn’t connect with the book, but good on you for holding out until the end just in case x
It’s always worth holding out, I think. Sometimes a book can most definitely surprise you.
I guess not all books are to every ones taste, Thank you for a honest review.
Honesty is important, as is integrity. I would have been lying had I said it was brilliant.
What a shame that the book did not deliver on expectations. I always hate it when that happens with a book I am reading.
I hate it, too… but it’s one of those situations I think. Better to keep going to the end.