I loved the book until about the 2/3 mark and then...I hated it. The last 1/3 revolved around a psycho manipulating them. It was so frustrating and it just kept going. I think I could have been won back over if the ending hadn't been so abrupt. After suffering through all the manipulation, I thought the characters deserved a happy, happy ending and maybe even an epilogue showing how they worked out being apart 9 months of the year but we got nothing. Honestly, this is a book that would benefit from a rewrite. That sounds harsh but I mean that since there were parts that were so good, I want to see them salvaged. Basically trim a little from the middle 1/3 of the book, scrap most of the last 1/3. Scrap most, it not all, of the Penelope POV, and then end it with them making some big step forward in their relationship (going public doesn't count bc ending it with the calm before the storm isn't particular happy) I couldn't give a review with one star because I cannot say I didn't like this book, I just wasn't enraptured enough to go through it. Though I liked the premise of the story, everything was kind of meh, average - the writing style, the pace that was too slow, character development... And why would there be any need for that boring actress' inside monologues? Overall, pity for I do believe there was somewhere a great potential for this story - it just got lost in the delivery...
What do You think about Incidental Happenstance (2012)?
Great first novel... Can't wait to read more by her!!
—shortround
