2.5 stars. I was enjoying this, it was a solid 3 right up until the last third of the book, and then - disaster. Too many coincidences, way too much exposition and neat realisations, and an ending that I absolutely HATED. Really, really hated. But not as much as I hated the Epilogue. It's a real shame, because I liked the characters, I liked that the author didn't run away from them being in some ways unlikable, in some ways behaving badly, and most importantly when it came to Eddie, not redeeming him on his deathbed. That took guts. Oh well, there was enough for me to hope that I'll like others by this author, so I'll be trying again. I can't rate this book and I'm going to hopefully explain why.First of all - I love Adele Parks. I've read all her books, loved some more than others but she is an auto buy for me and will continue to be. I was so looking forward to this- but for the first 40 or so pages I struggled to follow what was happening. IN fact, I had to go back and skin read again to get the names in my head. Good thing I did because they were important.Then follows what in anyone else's hands would have been a typical romance - flighty 35 year old heroine who acts like she's 17. Raw hunk of a hero who attracts women like flies. Dean has a past that's tragic - Jo has had what seems an ideal upbringing. I love the way the two meet, the long discussions, the insight into their characters. The writing is lovely. I couldn't put the book down. It was 5 stars all the way and then - the end. The publisher has asked that readers not spoil it which in itself is rather a giveaway but for me that ending was not needed and ruined the book for me. For that, I'd give it one star - so that's why I'm not grading it. I'd read it again - shows how much I liked most of it - but I can't forgive or forget an ending that was showed nothing. Rant over - I was so upset when I finished it, I wailed to husband. OOh Ms Parks, why did you think that added to the story???????
What do You think about Främlingar (2014)?
Good but could have been better. I found the story in Chicago to drag on.
—eliza
loved it started slowly but the characters were very believable
—Hassanhere
