"Ryn," he cut in. "Tell it to someone who gives a fuck."
OMG!! I CAN'T stop laughing! I know that quote is long but I just had to share it with you. This is what I mean when I say that Adele *Del* Kamryn *Kam* and Nate all had such a lovely bond.
My Thoughts - It's Kamryn Matika's 32nd birthday today and nothing is going to bring her down. Little does she know that a letter is about to head her way, a letter from her ex best friend Adele. The first friend that she trusted and loved since they met and clicked during college, the best friend who slept with her fiancé: Nate. That day she didn't think twice and walked out of both of their lives: she never looked back. She never saw them again. But today she holds a letter that tells her that her best friend is dying, and she wants to see her. Originally anger takes over when thinking of that faithful day, but still, somehow she finds herself taking those steps and visiting her long lost friend. Gone are those gorgeous locks of blond hair, and those startling striking eyes: she is a shadow of her former self.
Adele has one last wish. She wants Kamryn to adopt Tegan: her daughter. Of course Kamryn is terrified. Not only does Tagen hold her fathers intense eyes and nose but she has never wanted children. She loves Tagen and always has despite what happened between her mother and her but she has never been maternal and has no intention of starting now, no matter what the consequences, or so she thinks.
What follows is a struggle: a struggle in choosing between two men that represent her past and present, and reminding herself that she is worthy of Tagens love as well as battling the self esteem issues that have been plaguing her life. Most importantly though, burying the immense guilt that she can't seem to shake off because she never told Adele how much she loved her, and she never let her explain what really happened that night, nor why it happened.
I came across the authors work some years back, and I was pretty much blown away. I don't think there is anyone else out there like Koomson who can tackle relationships not only between lovers but between a adult and child. Goodbye Beautiful is pure proof of that. A book that made me smile every time I saw a mother and son together. My Best Friend's Girl was actually the first book of hers that I read which lead me to become an instant fan. I was blown away by the sheer force and realism of the plot and characters. This book presented a world I wasn't a part of yet, but would be somewhere down the line: when I got that job, that house and found that someone.
I knew I had to read this again to review it, and I'm glad. It seems like I missed quite a few things. Firstly, her low self esteem issues. I mean it's horrible to see this beautiful, strong woman who just can't take a compliment. Who doesn't think she's good enough. Nate was the first man who gave her that, he made her feel beautiful and wanted. And this is where it gets complicated. Nate slowly makes an appearance back into her life. The problem is that she is finally settling down and content with Tegan and Luke in her life, or so she thinks. However, Nate brings back memories of the time when it was just the three of them. Her, Adele and Nate: a time that will never come back. Those moments are described beautifully. The three seem like the kind of best friends that would do anything for each other. Until things fall apart that is. So when she see's Nate a few years later she feels herself growing weak once again when he comes too close, she see's herself risking potentially everything she has with Luke.
For me it was confusing at times. She was obviously attracted to them both, but probably to Nate more if you ask me. And who can blame her? That man from the look of it can make any women knees turn to jelly *sighs*. On the other hand we have Luke: he is the future, their future. And as Tegan becomes more attached to him day by day Kamryn has to think fast and hard. This isn't just your average triangle though because lets not forget this isn't your typical YA and Paranormal situation where the girl can just go running into the chosen guys arm without consequence. One of the reasons I find myself indulging in Adult novels when I take those breaks from YA is because when I want something realistic I can count on books like this to give me just that. And so, in this situation, no matter who Kamryn chooses there will be consequences.
I LOVED the friendship that Kamryn and Adele had. Two women who might be total opposites but are completely honest with each other. Neither can bullshit the other because they know each other so well. I love that. It's just a shame that one spur of the moment thing could cause so much anger and bitterness. On the brighter side though, you have this charming, lovely girl who becomes Kamryns girl. When I say that no one does relationships between lovers and an adult and their child like Koomson, I really mean it.
I think Nate was the one I clicked with from the very beginning. Nate and Kamryn practically fit together like a glove. He knows what makes her glaze over, he knows the signs when she's upset, and he knows exactly what makes her tick. He basically knows her like no one else does. This might not seem like such a big deal but in our MC case it is since she doesn't let many people really get to know the real her. He knocked away that barrier a long time ago though. He seems wonderful, and as much as I knew Luke was good for her and Tegan I wanted it to be Nate. Then again, like I mentioned, this is real life, and things are much more complicated than just that. But Nate: just wow. He seems incredible, but then again, Koomson knows how to write her men: trust me.
One quick thing I noticed. In this novel and another of hers the MC tries to get the man off her back by having a one night stand hoping it will draw him away. In both books instead the men fall for the girl. Hmmm. I don't really get that. Is that something that the author likes to put in, or is it sending a certain message since she's done it twice. Like, you can find love no matter what the situation is? I don't know, but it seems a little fairy-tale-esque if you ask me. I don't think that's likely to happen, but that's just me.
The ending is a happy one and a bit of a shame. I expected things to turn out a certain way, and well, they didn't. And so that ending made me re-evaluate everything I originally thought and made me question where I had gone wrong. On the other hand the author is extremely talented, and although the book is labelled as a Chick Lit it felt like more than that. Either way this is a book that I would recommend all my readers to give a go since I assure you that you will devour it within hours. Not only is is extremely touching but it has a mix of everything since it is bound to have you sighing, tearing up and in a fit of giggles!
If you loved this book then you will also enjoy:
- PS I Love You By & Thanks for the Memories By Cecelia Ahern
- The Chocolate Run & Goodnight Beautiful By Dorothy Koomson
- You don't have to say you love me & Unsticky By Sarra Manning
- Husbands By Adele Parks
Posts
