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Skipping a Beat
Julia and Michael meet in high school in their small, poverty-stricken West Virginia hometown. Both products of difficult childhoods -- Julia’s father is a compulsive gambler and Michael’s mother abandoned his family when he was a young boy – they find a sense of safety and mutual understanding in each other. Shortly after graduation they flee West Virginia to start afresh. Now thirty-somethings, they are living a rarified life in their multi-million-dollar,Washington D.C. home. From the outside it all looks perfect – Julia has become a highly sought-after party planner, while Michael has launched a wildly successful flavored water company that he sold for $70 million.
But one day Michael stands up at the head of the table in his company's boardroom -- then silently crashes to the floor. More than four minutes later, a portable defibrillator manages to jump-start his heart. Yet what happened to Michael during those lost minutes forever changes him. Money is meaningless to him now - and he wants to give it all away to charity. A prenuptial agreement that Julia insisted upon back when Michael's company was still struggling means she has no claim to his fortune, and now she must decide: should she walk away from the man she once adored, but who truthfully became a stranger to her long before his near-death experience - or should she give in to her husband's pleas for a second chance and a promise of a poorer but happier life?
But one day Michael stands up at the head of the table in his company's boardroom -- then silently crashes to the floor. More than four minutes later, a portable defibrillator manages to jump-start his heart. Yet what happened to Michael during those lost minutes forever changes him. Money is meaningless to him now - and he wants to give it all away to charity. A prenuptial agreement that Julia insisted upon back when Michael's company was still struggling means she has no claim to his fortune, and now she must decide: should she walk away from the man she once adored, but who truthfully became a stranger to her long before his near-death experience - or should she give in to her husband's pleas for a second chance and a promise of a poorer but happier life?
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
410 people are currently reading
11619 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Pekkanen
32 books7,157 followersI'm a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 15 solo and coauthored books, including HOUSE OF GLASS, which is a Goodreads Choice award nominee and Amazon best book of the year.
My upcoming thriller, THE LOCKED WARD, is being hailed by Lee Child as "psychological suspense at its very best."
I'm also the coauthor of four bestselling thrillers: THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I've also written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."
When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.
I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring!
Please find me on Insta and Facebook for more!
My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com
(Here on Goodreads, my policy is to only review books I really like. If I don't enjoy the book, I won't write about it - it's just my personal policy.)
My upcoming thriller, THE LOCKED WARD, is being hailed by Lee Child as "psychological suspense at its very best."
I'm also the coauthor of four bestselling thrillers: THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I've also written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."
When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.
I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring!
Please find me on Insta and Facebook for more!
My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com
(Here on Goodreads, my policy is to only review books I really like. If I don't enjoy the book, I won't write about it - it's just my personal policy.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 911 reviews
January 13, 2012
I've been reading books that are making me bawl my eyes out lately, and this one did the job exceedingly well. Sarah Pekkanen fleshed out real people in an effortlessly convincing way, and has a fierce heart-tugging story line to go along with them.
Julia and Michael are high school sweethearts from West Virginia. They grew up with dysfunctional families and as soon as they graduate, they move to Washington, DC to begin a new life. Incredibly smart and always antsy, it's Michael who takes them completely away from their shabby upbringing by creating an incredible, yet simple, product that turns them into multi-millionaires when the company goes public on the stock exchange.
As they grow up into this rich life, they also begin to grow apart from each other. They become, to Julia's dismay, like one of the tragic operas she loves - a distant marriage of two people living separate lives. If not for her friend, Isabelle (who has her own heartbreaking story), Julia would be very much alone. Life has become altogether different than what was planned.
No, our marriage was more like spending an afternoon at the beach while the tide receded. You could be lying right there on the soft sand and not even notice the microscopic changes - the waves pulling back, inexorably pulling back - while the sun warmed your back and the happy shouts of children filled your ears. Then you'd look up from the last page in your novel and blink, feeling disoriented, wondering how the ocean had moved so far away and when everything around you had changed. (p. 37)
But it's after her husband suffers cardiac arrest during a meeting, whereupon he is dead for over four minutes, that becomes the strangest of them all. When he comes back, he's ready to change in a completely different way. Julia's astonished as he emphatically states that he valued the wrong things in life, and he's going to give away his millions and spend more time with her. He asks her to give him a few weeks so that he can prove how much they can be the couple they once were. But can Julia really give up the lifestyle that she's become accustomed to?
Skipping a Beat is told from Julia's perspective with the occasional flashback to help round out the story line, and I found her to be compelling and relatable. Now, mind you, she lives in a $9 million home and has hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry, but it didn't matter to me. Julia is very much the girl from her days before money, but she certainly has gotten used to the extravagant luxuries. Because of this, she's realistically conflicted, and the ease of which it's written made it simple to place myself in her shoes. She could be me, or one of my friends.
My first thought was exactly as Julia's: If he wants to fall back in love again, can't they do that and still keep all the money? For her husband to start giving everything away just so he can spend more time with her, to fall back in love with her? Wha?! But, but, I spluttered to myself... what about the ease of life, the convenience of having everything that you want? How can he give all of that away?
I loved, loved this book. With characters I couldn't get enough of, from Julia's best friend Isabelle to the brilliant and quirky kid named Noah, this book was a treat from start to finish. And with it all, Julia's love of opera kept me even more entranced. I had forgotten how much those soaring tragedies can pierce right into you - it's because they so easily represent real life.
And that is how I fell in love with it all. The book, the characters, the vision Michael had to draft a new marriage with Julia. I found myself clutching the book, hunkering down in my couch, turning the pages. My husband asked me if I was going to bed, and I could only weakly wave my hand to him over the back of the couch, as I prayed that he wouldn't walk around to see why I wasn't talking. Yep. I was a blubbering mess.
Sarah Pekkanen has created a new lifelong fan in me. I'll be eagerly awaiting her next book and will get The Opposite of Me to tide me over. And also downloading opera to my computer like there is no tomorrow.
Julia and Michael are high school sweethearts from West Virginia. They grew up with dysfunctional families and as soon as they graduate, they move to Washington, DC to begin a new life. Incredibly smart and always antsy, it's Michael who takes them completely away from their shabby upbringing by creating an incredible, yet simple, product that turns them into multi-millionaires when the company goes public on the stock exchange.
As they grow up into this rich life, they also begin to grow apart from each other. They become, to Julia's dismay, like one of the tragic operas she loves - a distant marriage of two people living separate lives. If not for her friend, Isabelle (who has her own heartbreaking story), Julia would be very much alone. Life has become altogether different than what was planned.
No, our marriage was more like spending an afternoon at the beach while the tide receded. You could be lying right there on the soft sand and not even notice the microscopic changes - the waves pulling back, inexorably pulling back - while the sun warmed your back and the happy shouts of children filled your ears. Then you'd look up from the last page in your novel and blink, feeling disoriented, wondering how the ocean had moved so far away and when everything around you had changed. (p. 37)
But it's after her husband suffers cardiac arrest during a meeting, whereupon he is dead for over four minutes, that becomes the strangest of them all. When he comes back, he's ready to change in a completely different way. Julia's astonished as he emphatically states that he valued the wrong things in life, and he's going to give away his millions and spend more time with her. He asks her to give him a few weeks so that he can prove how much they can be the couple they once were. But can Julia really give up the lifestyle that she's become accustomed to?
Skipping a Beat is told from Julia's perspective with the occasional flashback to help round out the story line, and I found her to be compelling and relatable. Now, mind you, she lives in a $9 million home and has hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry, but it didn't matter to me. Julia is very much the girl from her days before money, but she certainly has gotten used to the extravagant luxuries. Because of this, she's realistically conflicted, and the ease of which it's written made it simple to place myself in her shoes. She could be me, or one of my friends.
My first thought was exactly as Julia's: If he wants to fall back in love again, can't they do that and still keep all the money? For her husband to start giving everything away just so he can spend more time with her, to fall back in love with her? Wha?! But, but, I spluttered to myself... what about the ease of life, the convenience of having everything that you want? How can he give all of that away?
I loved, loved this book. With characters I couldn't get enough of, from Julia's best friend Isabelle to the brilliant and quirky kid named Noah, this book was a treat from start to finish. And with it all, Julia's love of opera kept me even more entranced. I had forgotten how much those soaring tragedies can pierce right into you - it's because they so easily represent real life.
And that is how I fell in love with it all. The book, the characters, the vision Michael had to draft a new marriage with Julia. I found myself clutching the book, hunkering down in my couch, turning the pages. My husband asked me if I was going to bed, and I could only weakly wave my hand to him over the back of the couch, as I prayed that he wouldn't walk around to see why I wasn't talking. Yep. I was a blubbering mess.
Sarah Pekkanen has created a new lifelong fan in me. I'll be eagerly awaiting her next book and will get The Opposite of Me to tide me over. And also downloading opera to my computer like there is no tomorrow.
February 8, 2013
A couple's not-very-happy marriage gets completely shaken up when the husband has a cardiac arrest and awakens with a resolve to give away all his money and rebuild their relationship. The wife likes the money and is horrified by this idea, and yet... is drawn to it.
Wow, I got suckered into reading some serious chick lit (not that I have anything against GOOD chick lit... Bridget Jones is one of my favorite books). I must have read some biased reviews somewhere, thinking this was a little more substantial. I know I sound like a snob, but this was seriously light reading--like almost young-adult-quality writing.
I finished it and it wasn't really THAT bad. It was entertaining enough for what it was. And it was such a quick read that it didn't take much time at all, so I kept going. Mostly I wanted to see if she could manage to come up with any surprises, but no, the entire plot is completely predictable once you've read the book jacket. Even the final "surprise" on the very last few pages was predictable, and I am a notorious plot idiot so you can get a LOT by me, normally. So you know it's bad if I guessed every little thing.
Wow, I got suckered into reading some serious chick lit (not that I have anything against GOOD chick lit... Bridget Jones is one of my favorite books). I must have read some biased reviews somewhere, thinking this was a little more substantial. I know I sound like a snob, but this was seriously light reading--like almost young-adult-quality writing.
I finished it and it wasn't really THAT bad. It was entertaining enough for what it was. And it was such a quick read that it didn't take much time at all, so I kept going. Mostly I wanted to see if she could manage to come up with any surprises, but no, the entire plot is completely predictable once you've read the book jacket. Even the final "surprise" on the very last few pages was predictable, and I am a notorious plot idiot so you can get a LOT by me, normally. So you know it's bad if I guessed every little thing.
April 26, 2011
High-school sweethearts Julie & Michael have left behind their small town and are in pursuit of living a life better than their modest upbringings and achieving the American dream. When Michael decides to start a sports drink company, neither of them could ever expect how quickly his business would takeoff or what it would be like to be millionaires. As money is introduced into their life, their marriage begins to crumble as Michael is increasingly unavailable due to the success of his company and the separation that exists as a couple begins to grow apart.
The book opens as Michael has a near-death experience and Julie, a successful party planner, is called to the hospital to be with her husband. Michael begins acting strangely and tells Julia that he has made the decision to give all of his money and company away. Julie is stunned, as she has begun the process of filing for a divorce from her husband, and will lose half of the estate and money if he gives everything away. Michael pleads for Julie to give him just one chance.
This book then delves into the complex relationship that they share and how their marriage began to fail as they began to rediscover one another again once their fortune is taken out of the equation.
I went into it expecting a simple piece of chick lit, and it developed into one beautiful story! Perhaps it is not life-altering, but sometimes a girl just needs a good love story that renews her feelings about love and what is important in life. It offered everything I love in a book: great characters, a beautiful love story, a fabulous friendship between two women, and great humor interjected throughout the story. It really was so much more than I could have hoped for!
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The book opens as Michael has a near-death experience and Julie, a successful party planner, is called to the hospital to be with her husband. Michael begins acting strangely and tells Julia that he has made the decision to give all of his money and company away. Julie is stunned, as she has begun the process of filing for a divorce from her husband, and will lose half of the estate and money if he gives everything away. Michael pleads for Julie to give him just one chance.
This book then delves into the complex relationship that they share and how their marriage began to fail as they began to rediscover one another again once their fortune is taken out of the equation.
I went into it expecting a simple piece of chick lit, and it developed into one beautiful story! Perhaps it is not life-altering, but sometimes a girl just needs a good love story that renews her feelings about love and what is important in life. It offered everything I love in a book: great characters, a beautiful love story, a fabulous friendship between two women, and great humor interjected throughout the story. It really was so much more than I could have hoped for!
Visit Momadvice.com for more great book reviews!
July 27, 2012
WOW...my immediate thought is just WOW! Sarah Pekkanen became one of my favorite authors after I read The Opposite of Me. She's become increasingly more so over the years as I've followed her on Facebook and read the short stories she has released. I don't know why it took me so long to read Skipping a Beat especially since I pre-ordered it so I've had it in my possession since the day it hit the market!
I had no idea what an awesome story I was missing by this wonderful author!
Julia and Michael are high school sweethearts who marry and begin building their lives and careers together. Both coming from tough familial situations, they have shared as well as individual demons they are trying to conquer, each in his/her own way.
From Julia's insistence on a pre-nup to Michael's workaholic personality, they are both running from who they don't want to be - who they are scared they'll become - who their parents were. In the process they lose a little bit of themselves and their relationship. However, what happens when Michael has a near-death experience changes everything and Julia's not sure she's on board for the changes Michael proposes.
Throughout the story Julia and Michael examine their relationship with each other while also looking inside themselves as well. I haven't become this emotionally involved in a novel or its characters in a very long time, but I was right there with Julia and Michael. I BAWLED for at least the last three or four chapters. I cried sad tears and happy tears.
Pekkanen once again has reinforced my love of her work - she is amazing! Her story is filled with loss, renewal, forgiveness, redemption, faith and change along with so much more. This novel will pull readers in captivating them for the duration of the novel.
*Now - onto These Girls, recently released by Sarah Pekkannen!!
I had no idea what an awesome story I was missing by this wonderful author!
Julia and Michael are high school sweethearts who marry and begin building their lives and careers together. Both coming from tough familial situations, they have shared as well as individual demons they are trying to conquer, each in his/her own way.
From Julia's insistence on a pre-nup to Michael's workaholic personality, they are both running from who they don't want to be - who they are scared they'll become - who their parents were. In the process they lose a little bit of themselves and their relationship. However, what happens when Michael has a near-death experience changes everything and Julia's not sure she's on board for the changes Michael proposes.
Throughout the story Julia and Michael examine their relationship with each other while also looking inside themselves as well. I haven't become this emotionally involved in a novel or its characters in a very long time, but I was right there with Julia and Michael. I BAWLED for at least the last three or four chapters. I cried sad tears and happy tears.
Pekkanen once again has reinforced my love of her work - she is amazing! Her story is filled with loss, renewal, forgiveness, redemption, faith and change along with so much more. This novel will pull readers in captivating them for the duration of the novel.
*Now - onto These Girls, recently released by Sarah Pekkannen!!
June 1, 2017
Não foi um dos melhores livros que li este ano, no entanto, aborda um tema que considero de extrema importância: as prioridades na vida! O que é mais importante: trabalhar horas a fio e ganhar muito dinheiro, ou estar presente para aqueles que amamos? O amor ganha, mas alguns só se dão conta disso tarde de mais...
March 13, 2025
Julia and Michael were childhood sweethearts. Both came from dysfunctional families. They each filled in the empty spaces for each other. They eloped after high school and moved away from their families. Michael eventually invented a product and they became fabulously wealthy, but their marriage suffered. Julia was also a successful event planner in her own right. One day Michael suffers a heart attack at work and dies, but comes back to life a changed man. He now wants to give everything away and focus on the relationship, but Julia is afraid to leave their opulent lifestyle more than she fears losing Michael. She doesn’t understand how and why Michael has changed. Michael begs her to give him three weeks to prove himself to her, and she agrees to stay that long. During those three weeks they work towards getting back to being totally honest with each other, and accept whatever fallout ensues.
Both Michael and Julia are complex characters and wonderfully portrayed. The story is told from Julia‘s point of view, but we learn a lot about Michael as he confides in her more and more. There are times your heart just breaks for both of them. There is so much pain in their individual pasts as well as in their relationship. There is so much miscommunication and letting ambition take over their lives, especially for Michael . His near death experience shows him what really matters in life and how he needs to become a better man. The question is: is this is it too late for Julia to trust him again and start over with him?
There are some twists of the story that are pivotal, but not in the way you might think at the time.
This is a well written story that will grab you and not let go
A definite recommend.
Both Michael and Julia are complex characters and wonderfully portrayed. The story is told from Julia‘s point of view, but we learn a lot about Michael as he confides in her more and more. There are times your heart just breaks for both of them. There is so much pain in their individual pasts as well as in their relationship. There is so much miscommunication and letting ambition take over their lives, especially for Michael . His near death experience shows him what really matters in life and how he needs to become a better man. The question is: is this is it too late for Julia to trust him again and start over with him?
There are some twists of the story that are pivotal, but not in the way you might think at the time.
This is a well written story that will grab you and not let go
A definite recommend.
Read
March 1, 2011I have a secret. I was not a fan of Ms. Pekkanen's first novel. It wasn't that it was a horrible novel; I just felt that it was lighter, simplistic chick lit that is perfectly fine and is acceptable but not my typical fare. Yet, when Jen from Devourer of Books insisted I would love her newest novel, that she cried for the last 25 pages, and that I would love it, I had to trust her judgment and give Skipping a Beat a chance.
It was with a huge amount of skepticism and doubt I approached the first few pages. Julia is a demanding character, as she is completely unsympathetic and extremely selfish in the beginning. This challenges the reader to understand her reactions. Yet, there is something about her struggles that is compelling. As she reminisces about her past with Michael, the reader begins to understand why Julia stresses so much about Michael's life-changing decision. As she grows, she becomes more sympathetic, and as she does, the story takes on new life. While the plot is somewhat predictable, there are many hints and foreshadowing that makes one consider the idea that the predictability is deliberate. Thankfully, this predictability does not detract from the overall plot. Instead, it builds a layer of foreboding among the hope that Julia's struggle creates.
Ms. Pekkanen's writing is simple but beautiful. She explores Michael's and Julia's past deftly, using each word efficiently and precisely to evoke the right amount emotion and mental stimulation. Her descriptions are concise but quite effective, evoking more than just a mental picture but also hinting at so much more. Without this exacting writing, this story could have quickly devolved into nothing but schmaltz. Instead, Ms. Pekkanen pulls it off with aplomb.
I will be the first one to admit that I was so very wrong - wrong to doubt Jen, wrong to doubt Ms. Pekkanen and wrong about my original skepticism. Skipping a Beat is an amazing novel. Yes, I cried. More importantly, I cried at the beach surrounded by friends. If I didn't have an audience who kept checking to see if I would break down, I might even have sobbed. It is an amazing story of love past, present and future and the challenges couples face in the ongoing work/life balance struggle and well worth the accolades it is already beginning to earn among book bloggers. It is definitely not one to be missed.
It was with a huge amount of skepticism and doubt I approached the first few pages. Julia is a demanding character, as she is completely unsympathetic and extremely selfish in the beginning. This challenges the reader to understand her reactions. Yet, there is something about her struggles that is compelling. As she reminisces about her past with Michael, the reader begins to understand why Julia stresses so much about Michael's life-changing decision. As she grows, she becomes more sympathetic, and as she does, the story takes on new life. While the plot is somewhat predictable, there are many hints and foreshadowing that makes one consider the idea that the predictability is deliberate. Thankfully, this predictability does not detract from the overall plot. Instead, it builds a layer of foreboding among the hope that Julia's struggle creates.
Ms. Pekkanen's writing is simple but beautiful. She explores Michael's and Julia's past deftly, using each word efficiently and precisely to evoke the right amount emotion and mental stimulation. Her descriptions are concise but quite effective, evoking more than just a mental picture but also hinting at so much more. Without this exacting writing, this story could have quickly devolved into nothing but schmaltz. Instead, Ms. Pekkanen pulls it off with aplomb.
I will be the first one to admit that I was so very wrong - wrong to doubt Jen, wrong to doubt Ms. Pekkanen and wrong about my original skepticism. Skipping a Beat is an amazing novel. Yes, I cried. More importantly, I cried at the beach surrounded by friends. If I didn't have an audience who kept checking to see if I would break down, I might even have sobbed. It is an amazing story of love past, present and future and the challenges couples face in the ongoing work/life balance struggle and well worth the accolades it is already beginning to earn among book bloggers. It is definitely not one to be missed.
December 3, 2012
Maybe I am just too much of a Type A personality for some books that others might actually enjoy.
The premise of this book sounded like it could have been fascinating. A young couple who has fought their way out of low income dysfunctional families to huge success are now challenged by the husband's heart attack and near death experience. His values change, and he decides to give away their money. Sounds like a great basis for a story that looks deeply into values on many levels, and even questions regarding death and spirituality. NOT.
The characters were stereotypical and shallow. The plot was predictable. The book was written from the wife's point of view, and I swear she wouldn't have been happy with other people if she had a damn Prozac salt lick in her living room. The story plodded along with long descriptions of their wealth until I wanted to scream, "get on with it already!" More than 50% of the way through the book, she was still taking full pages to describe their mansion. Enough! Ok? I get it, you're rich! The constant "name dropping" of designer this and that, and expensive brand names was beyond annoying. Again, I get it! I'd bet the farm Oprah never even read this book, or she wouldn't have been so quick to recommend it!
This was an exercise in whining, with a plot so fluffy it might be suitable for sixth grade girls with a taste for "mature" novels. "Skip" it.
The premise of this book sounded like it could have been fascinating. A young couple who has fought their way out of low income dysfunctional families to huge success are now challenged by the husband's heart attack and near death experience. His values change, and he decides to give away their money. Sounds like a great basis for a story that looks deeply into values on many levels, and even questions regarding death and spirituality. NOT.
The characters were stereotypical and shallow. The plot was predictable. The book was written from the wife's point of view, and I swear she wouldn't have been happy with other people if she had a damn Prozac salt lick in her living room. The story plodded along with long descriptions of their wealth until I wanted to scream, "get on with it already!" More than 50% of the way through the book, she was still taking full pages to describe their mansion. Enough! Ok? I get it, you're rich! The constant "name dropping" of designer this and that, and expensive brand names was beyond annoying. Again, I get it! I'd bet the farm Oprah never even read this book, or she wouldn't have been so quick to recommend it!
This was an exercise in whining, with a plot so fluffy it might be suitable for sixth grade girls with a taste for "mature" novels. "Skip" it.
July 16, 2011
Self-absorbed and shallow characters - had to give it up one-quarter of the way through so that I could stop wishing them dead.
February 18, 2011
The publisher's summary of Skipping a Beat doesn't begin to tell the depth and passion that this story unfolds and wraps the reader in. The first line in the book begins"When my husband Michael died for the first time,".....a reader should know this is going to be a great journey. Julia and Michael have been married for many years, and they are successful and wealthy to most people looking into their lives, but a brush with death, a sudden heart attack changes everything. Their relationship is anything but simple.
Sarah Pekkanen draws such a deal and emotional journey as they struggle to recall why they fell in love and if they can continue to be together.
I love how the main characters saved each other as teens and gave each other the love and trust they were missing from home, and how things in some marriages change, and come full circle.
I struggled giving this 5 stars, because I don't want to hand out that rating too easily, but I could honestly think of nothing I didn't like, except that I was so in love with these characters I didn't want it to end.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary womens literature.
Sarah Pekkanen draws such a deal and emotional journey as they struggle to recall why they fell in love and if they can continue to be together.
I love how the main characters saved each other as teens and gave each other the love and trust they were missing from home, and how things in some marriages change, and come full circle.
I struggled giving this 5 stars, because I don't want to hand out that rating too easily, but I could honestly think of nothing I didn't like, except that I was so in love with these characters I didn't want it to end.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary womens literature.
February 20, 2011
What happens when life gives you an opportunity to fall in love all over again with your first love? Do you take it? Or do years of resentment and distance make it too painful to go back? These are the exact questions Julia faces when her multi-million dollar husband suddenly dies in the middle of a board meeting. After regaining consciousness Michael is completely changed, wanting to leave his life of success behind and focus on what he's rediscovered. His love for Julia. Will it be enough? Only time will tell if money is more important than love.
Having not read Sarah Pekkanen's first novel, The Opposite of Me, I am now quickly rushing to my local bookstore to pick it up. Pekkanen has easily proved that she is here to stay in the literary world with her follow-up novel, Skipping A Beat. The writing was so incredibly impressive. What I enjoyed most about it was perhaps the weaving of the past and the present to create an entire picture without feeling lost in between. Somehow, without feeling like a "flashback" you would be suddenly transported to another time and place; often it was one that had been visited earlier in the story, but with a new perspective and more details. In addition to the storytelling there were also layers of meaning and purpose that each of the characters shared that made this story more than a simple love story. In the end it boiled down to love, but it was so much more than that and I adored it.
With incredible writing and wonderful characters it was nice to also have an original story. Who doesn't think about what it would be like to have millions of dollars? To no longer have to worry about the "bottom dropping out"? For Julia that was even more of a reality than ever with a father who had a habitual gambling problem. To know what it's like to have absolutely nothing then suddenly have more than you could ever imagine and later to have it questionably taken away. It definitely makes you question what you value in life and it was interesting to see how Julia came to that conclusion as well. As her story progressed she revealed layer after layer of herself, slowly challenging herself to take a leap on the most difficult thing ever. Michael's side was a much quieter unraveling, but intriguing nonetheless. Could you give up a life of wealth and nearly endless riches just because of a near death experience? It's an unbelievable situation, but perfect for the story.
Not only was the primary storyline extremely thought provoking, but the secondary line with Julia's best friend Isabelle was also refreshing. It's not often you have an honest and intelligent wealthy single woman in a story. I get tired of constantly reading and watching stereotypical wealthy women who are obsessed with things and looks. Isabelle was, but not to the extent that she lost who she truly was at her core. Of course I'm pretty sure that had a lot to do with who she was in her younger years, but I don't want to spoil the story. I just have to say I adored Isabelle and wish every woman had a friend who was equally caring and understanding.
Perhaps what I appreciated the most about Skipping A Beat was how easy it was to connect with Julia's character. Not only for myself, but I feel like nearly anyone reading this story could relate at some level. Because Julia and Michael's story truly began when they initially met in high school and carried forward into their adulthood you could almost drop yourself into whatever set of circumstances matched up with your own. Granted, I don't anticipate many multi-millionaires reading and relating to it, but you never know! For me though, a wife and mother with a husband struggling to make a way in the beginnings of life, it was easy to relate to that initial stage, the anticipatory one. The stage where you know you have so much ahead of you and so much hope for the future. What Julia & Michael's story does though, is make you think...is it really the success that matters? Is it really the money? For me, it's definitely not. Yes, it would be nice to have the fancy things, the nice home & new cars, but that's not what truly matters. And I love that this book got to the heart of that. That it made me think. It helped me to remember to value the things most important, my family and the love we have for each other.
Discover what it means to be wealthy, in all the best ways...in friends, in family, in trust & honesty, and in love. Sarah Pekkanen's follow-up novel to The Opposite of Me is nothing short of a stand out novel. Skipping A Beat gets to the heart of what it means to be successful by stripping away, layer by layer, those walls we put up to guard ourselves against the pain. Make sure you have tissues on hand and possibly even a tub of Breyers chocolate ice cream to make the reading of this incredible story all that more enjoyable. An absolutely brilliant novel about what matters most in life...love.
Having not read Sarah Pekkanen's first novel, The Opposite of Me, I am now quickly rushing to my local bookstore to pick it up. Pekkanen has easily proved that she is here to stay in the literary world with her follow-up novel, Skipping A Beat. The writing was so incredibly impressive. What I enjoyed most about it was perhaps the weaving of the past and the present to create an entire picture without feeling lost in between. Somehow, without feeling like a "flashback" you would be suddenly transported to another time and place; often it was one that had been visited earlier in the story, but with a new perspective and more details. In addition to the storytelling there were also layers of meaning and purpose that each of the characters shared that made this story more than a simple love story. In the end it boiled down to love, but it was so much more than that and I adored it.
With incredible writing and wonderful characters it was nice to also have an original story. Who doesn't think about what it would be like to have millions of dollars? To no longer have to worry about the "bottom dropping out"? For Julia that was even more of a reality than ever with a father who had a habitual gambling problem. To know what it's like to have absolutely nothing then suddenly have more than you could ever imagine and later to have it questionably taken away. It definitely makes you question what you value in life and it was interesting to see how Julia came to that conclusion as well. As her story progressed she revealed layer after layer of herself, slowly challenging herself to take a leap on the most difficult thing ever. Michael's side was a much quieter unraveling, but intriguing nonetheless. Could you give up a life of wealth and nearly endless riches just because of a near death experience? It's an unbelievable situation, but perfect for the story.
Not only was the primary storyline extremely thought provoking, but the secondary line with Julia's best friend Isabelle was also refreshing. It's not often you have an honest and intelligent wealthy single woman in a story. I get tired of constantly reading and watching stereotypical wealthy women who are obsessed with things and looks. Isabelle was, but not to the extent that she lost who she truly was at her core. Of course I'm pretty sure that had a lot to do with who she was in her younger years, but I don't want to spoil the story. I just have to say I adored Isabelle and wish every woman had a friend who was equally caring and understanding.
Perhaps what I appreciated the most about Skipping A Beat was how easy it was to connect with Julia's character. Not only for myself, but I feel like nearly anyone reading this story could relate at some level. Because Julia and Michael's story truly began when they initially met in high school and carried forward into their adulthood you could almost drop yourself into whatever set of circumstances matched up with your own. Granted, I don't anticipate many multi-millionaires reading and relating to it, but you never know! For me though, a wife and mother with a husband struggling to make a way in the beginnings of life, it was easy to relate to that initial stage, the anticipatory one. The stage where you know you have so much ahead of you and so much hope for the future. What Julia & Michael's story does though, is make you think...is it really the success that matters? Is it really the money? For me, it's definitely not. Yes, it would be nice to have the fancy things, the nice home & new cars, but that's not what truly matters. And I love that this book got to the heart of that. That it made me think. It helped me to remember to value the things most important, my family and the love we have for each other.
Discover what it means to be wealthy, in all the best ways...in friends, in family, in trust & honesty, and in love. Sarah Pekkanen's follow-up novel to The Opposite of Me is nothing short of a stand out novel. Skipping A Beat gets to the heart of what it means to be successful by stripping away, layer by layer, those walls we put up to guard ourselves against the pain. Make sure you have tissues on hand and possibly even a tub of Breyers chocolate ice cream to make the reading of this incredible story all that more enjoyable. An absolutely brilliant novel about what matters most in life...love.
Read
February 4, 2020I have been having an inauspicious 2020 book start :(
I’m half way in and cannot read another word about these self-absorbed characters. On to better reads!
I’m half way in and cannot read another word about these self-absorbed characters. On to better reads!
July 10, 2018
Julia has learned to live indifferent to her husband, Michael, but not indifferent to his wealthy lifestyle. A life altering event changes him. He vows to lay aside his wealth and woo her all over again. During this time Julia reviews their life together - from childhood sweetheart to the present. Can she forgive him?
Did not expect this book to be so moving. Have we all been in a place of indifference with someone in our life? Once we have all but closed that door, how easy is it to reopen? I loved the progression of this love story, and seeing how old wounds needed to be opened to heal them all over again. I had a good cry with this one - something that I have not had in a while.
Highly recommend for those who love contemporary stories about seemingly real people facing the things we all face.
Note: Reread in 2018. I rarely reread fiction but was in dire need of a fiction read I could count on and I really did not remember much of this story. While I think the premise of the book is good, the main character made me kind of sick to my stomach, as her biggest worry was weather she was going to have to ratchet down her extravagant lifestyle if her husband and she split up. A lot of the other components of the story were solid, but I could not get by the shallowness of this character, could not relate to her at all, even as the climax once again brought some tears. I've reduced my rating based on this.
Did not expect this book to be so moving. Have we all been in a place of indifference with someone in our life? Once we have all but closed that door, how easy is it to reopen? I loved the progression of this love story, and seeing how old wounds needed to be opened to heal them all over again. I had a good cry with this one - something that I have not had in a while.
Highly recommend for those who love contemporary stories about seemingly real people facing the things we all face.
Note: Reread in 2018. I rarely reread fiction but was in dire need of a fiction read I could count on and I really did not remember much of this story. While I think the premise of the book is good, the main character made me kind of sick to my stomach, as her biggest worry was weather she was going to have to ratchet down her extravagant lifestyle if her husband and she split up. A lot of the other components of the story were solid, but I could not get by the shallowness of this character, could not relate to her at all, even as the climax once again brought some tears. I've reduced my rating based on this.
July 20, 2011
Wow, this was quite the book. I wanted to bawl my eyes out at the end, but at the same time I knew the book had to end the way it did. Sigh. Skipping a Beat had me thinking all through my sleep and into the next day. A wonderful read and I'd recommend this to anyone!
March 12, 2011
This is the most emotional book I have read in a long time. I actually had to take breaks while reading this since I was so drawn into the story and how real the whole thing seemed. Within pages, I felt like I had known Julia my whole life. I could feel her fear and how much she loved Michael, yet realize they had grown apart. Like most marriages they had forgotten those moments that create the relationship. The ending was exactly how it had to be, although I never saw it coming. I ended up in tears several times, but any author who can create that kind of connection is something special. This is in my top ten for the year!
I really felt the author made Julia more accessible by taking great pains to detail her relationship with money and her father and how this history makes her responses to Michael quitting his job very realistic. She sees the money as the security she never had as a child and when Michael decides to give everything away without discussing it with her, that trust is broken.
Julia tries to understand Michael and what happened between them and how they have grown apart. She reflects and makes correlations through the music and stories of opera that she has found as an escape. In a way, the story is an opera. Also, Julia meets someone who puts everything in perspective in the body of a boy. She introduces Noah to Michael and that child becomes the catalyst that rebuilds their relationship.
This is probably one of the hardest reviews I have ever written. The story felt like it was ripped from my own life since my husband decided to quit his job on New Years Eve 1999, without much warning. They always say truth is stranger than fiction, but it is pretty hard to imagine someone else capturing my exact thoughts and feelings, but that is exactly what Sarah Pekkanen did. I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I really felt the author made Julia more accessible by taking great pains to detail her relationship with money and her father and how this history makes her responses to Michael quitting his job very realistic. She sees the money as the security she never had as a child and when Michael decides to give everything away without discussing it with her, that trust is broken.
Julia tries to understand Michael and what happened between them and how they have grown apart. She reflects and makes correlations through the music and stories of opera that she has found as an escape. In a way, the story is an opera. Also, Julia meets someone who puts everything in perspective in the body of a boy. She introduces Noah to Michael and that child becomes the catalyst that rebuilds their relationship.
This is probably one of the hardest reviews I have ever written. The story felt like it was ripped from my own life since my husband decided to quit his job on New Years Eve 1999, without much warning. They always say truth is stranger than fiction, but it is pretty hard to imagine someone else capturing my exact thoughts and feelings, but that is exactly what Sarah Pekkanen did. I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2011
This book disappointed me. I really hate to give it only one star, but I couldn't help feeling like the female character was unbelievably whiny...so you're losing all of your money? Puleeaaassee, get over yourself.
June 14, 2011
Loved! But a tear jerker...
October 13, 2015
I don't get all the good reviews. I hate the protagonist and just couldn't sympathize. at. all.
September 20, 2025
I would give this a 3.5 stars, took me a while to get into this one but once the story unfolded more I actually ended up really enjoyed it. I teared up a little bit at the end !
February 24, 2011
There are books that draw us in further and further as we glide through the pages, their messages slowly intertwining themselves with each sentence. There are books that end with a bang, pulling us in with a startling, all-encompassing conclusion. And then there are the books that resonate from the first page, the words jumping out like little sprinkles of magic. Sarah Pekkanen’s Skipping a Beat is one of those. It’s more than that, so much more. It’s wisdom, grace, humor, inspiration, reflection, and emotion all tied into the patchwork of an intricately crafted story.
I read Sarah’s first novel, The Opposite of Me, over the summer and became an instant fan of her writing. There’s something so fluid and natural about it, something that makes you feel like you’re right there in the story itself, instead of just reading from the viewpoint of an observer. Sarah’s words make you think, they make you ponder, and they make you feel. With her second novel, which is released today, she takes it to an entirely new level. Reading it was a unique experience. I was so invested in the characters that part of me wanted to speed through and find out how their story continued to unfold. The other part, though, wanted to savor every word and absorb every gem that sparkled its way through the lines. And when I finished this morning? Honestly, I’m not quite sure how to describe it. I’m an emotional person, but I don’t usually cry because of television shows, movies, or books. There was a point with this novel, though – a few points, actually – when I had to put it down and dry my eyes because the tears were blurring my vision. There’s just this indescribable quality about it, something that’s very, very special. Jennifer Weiner’s blurb mentions an ending that leaves readers breathless. This reader agrees whole-heartedly.
Julia and Michael Dunhill are the couple who seemingly has it all – the multi-million dollar mansion, the vacation home in Aspen, the expensive cars and more money than they can count. They attend galas with congresspeople, hobnob with the rich and powerful, and live a life that they’d once only imagined. On the surface, everything is perfect. There are so many layers, though, and when they’re stripped away, a very different picture is painted. Bonds have faded and the knot of their connection has slowly been unraveling. They’ve traveled a long path from the high school sweethearts they once were, and they’ve both changed since the day when a teenage Mike became a teenage Julie’s unwitting and charming hero. Surrounded by this life that so many people want, Julia’s never felt more alone. And then, in the span of four minutes and eight seconds, everything changes again. Michael goes into cardiac arrest and wakes up a very different man. He’s determined to make things right, to take everything he thought he wanted and cast it all aside in the face of what he now knows is truly most important. He’s holding out faith that Julia will join him on the journey … but can she? Can she face the demons of the past – the ones she’s fought on her own and the ones they’ve fought together – or will she let them shadow over the future? Can she set aside the wealth and prestige that their lives have become in order to find her way back to the man she once loved with all her heart?
Going on Julia’s journey with her was an inspiring experience. Sarah anchored the story in the present, but through flashbacks and memories, she gave us a glimpse into all the moments that had led the characters to that point in time. She developed them so deeply, delving into the smallest of details that made them seem more like actual people than characters on a page. Even the secondary characters came alive. Julia’s best friend Isabelle was another bright spot, and her personal story resounded with chords of hope and faith. Noah and his dog Bear, Kate (Michael’s assistant), and even Gene (Julia’s assistant, who was mentioned only briefly) all felt so real. From math problems to organizational tricks to a love for Internet Scrabble, Sarah weaves in the minutiae that some might overlook. Her writing is real, true, and so beautifully crafted. The metaphors she uses seem effortless, and the description is so vivid that I felt like I could see every scene flash before my eyes.
This book didn’t just affect me as a reader. It also inspired me as a writer. Authors like Sarah remind me why I continue to persevere in this journey to publication, no matter how many twists and turns that roller coaster takes. Because this novel of hers? It’s easy to see what a work of heart it was for her to write … and what can be a better gift than that?
Originally reviewed over at my blog: http://workofheart09.wordpress.com/20...
I read Sarah’s first novel, The Opposite of Me, over the summer and became an instant fan of her writing. There’s something so fluid and natural about it, something that makes you feel like you’re right there in the story itself, instead of just reading from the viewpoint of an observer. Sarah’s words make you think, they make you ponder, and they make you feel. With her second novel, which is released today, she takes it to an entirely new level. Reading it was a unique experience. I was so invested in the characters that part of me wanted to speed through and find out how their story continued to unfold. The other part, though, wanted to savor every word and absorb every gem that sparkled its way through the lines. And when I finished this morning? Honestly, I’m not quite sure how to describe it. I’m an emotional person, but I don’t usually cry because of television shows, movies, or books. There was a point with this novel, though – a few points, actually – when I had to put it down and dry my eyes because the tears were blurring my vision. There’s just this indescribable quality about it, something that’s very, very special. Jennifer Weiner’s blurb mentions an ending that leaves readers breathless. This reader agrees whole-heartedly.
Julia and Michael Dunhill are the couple who seemingly has it all – the multi-million dollar mansion, the vacation home in Aspen, the expensive cars and more money than they can count. They attend galas with congresspeople, hobnob with the rich and powerful, and live a life that they’d once only imagined. On the surface, everything is perfect. There are so many layers, though, and when they’re stripped away, a very different picture is painted. Bonds have faded and the knot of their connection has slowly been unraveling. They’ve traveled a long path from the high school sweethearts they once were, and they’ve both changed since the day when a teenage Mike became a teenage Julie’s unwitting and charming hero. Surrounded by this life that so many people want, Julia’s never felt more alone. And then, in the span of four minutes and eight seconds, everything changes again. Michael goes into cardiac arrest and wakes up a very different man. He’s determined to make things right, to take everything he thought he wanted and cast it all aside in the face of what he now knows is truly most important. He’s holding out faith that Julia will join him on the journey … but can she? Can she face the demons of the past – the ones she’s fought on her own and the ones they’ve fought together – or will she let them shadow over the future? Can she set aside the wealth and prestige that their lives have become in order to find her way back to the man she once loved with all her heart?
Going on Julia’s journey with her was an inspiring experience. Sarah anchored the story in the present, but through flashbacks and memories, she gave us a glimpse into all the moments that had led the characters to that point in time. She developed them so deeply, delving into the smallest of details that made them seem more like actual people than characters on a page. Even the secondary characters came alive. Julia’s best friend Isabelle was another bright spot, and her personal story resounded with chords of hope and faith. Noah and his dog Bear, Kate (Michael’s assistant), and even Gene (Julia’s assistant, who was mentioned only briefly) all felt so real. From math problems to organizational tricks to a love for Internet Scrabble, Sarah weaves in the minutiae that some might overlook. Her writing is real, true, and so beautifully crafted. The metaphors she uses seem effortless, and the description is so vivid that I felt like I could see every scene flash before my eyes.
This book didn’t just affect me as a reader. It also inspired me as a writer. Authors like Sarah remind me why I continue to persevere in this journey to publication, no matter how many twists and turns that roller coaster takes. Because this novel of hers? It’s easy to see what a work of heart it was for her to write … and what can be a better gift than that?
Originally reviewed over at my blog: http://workofheart09.wordpress.com/20...
September 3, 2011
http://chicklitaholic.blogspot.com
Do you believe that “Project Runway, chocolate and margaritas. And suddenly all is right with the world”? Well I know those sure help and that’s exactly the mantra that Julia and Isabelle follow in Skipping A Beat. That and Breyer’s chocolate ice cream can help ease all problems. In my opinion great words of advice and one of the lighter sides of Sarah Pekkanen’s most recent novel Skipping A Beat. On a more serious note, Sarah Pekkanen asks the not so simple question, what would you do if your husband told you he wanted to give all his money away to charity after dieing for four minutes?
Julia and Michael met in high school, fell in love and now live in a multi million dollar in Washington. Life has not always been so easy for them, however, as they have both had difficult childhoods. With Julia’s father a compulsive gambler and Michael’s mother abandoning him when he was younger. Now from the outset their lives look perfecr. Julia is a successful event planner while Micheal has launched a multi million dollar company. One day their lives change, when Michael stands up during a company meeting and crashes to the floor. Michael died for four minutes before he was revived, yet what happened during those minutes changes him forever. Michael decides that he now wants to give all the money he has to charity. Julia has no claim on the money after signing a pre nuptial agreement before they married. Should she now walk away from the man she once loved but who has turned into a stranger? Or should she go along with her husbands plans and his promise of a poorer but happier life?
I have been hearing so many great things about Skipping A Beat ever since it was released and thought it was about time I got my hands on a copy to find out exactly why everyone was raving about this novel. Let me tell you it defiantly lived up to the hype surrounding it. I fell in love with Skipping A Beat and devoured it in just over a day (fast work for myself). I enjoyed the way the past and the present are weaved together to tell the whole story without forgetting what is happening at the time. I also enjoyed the refreshingly original storyline. There are so many novels which focus around millionaires but they never seem to look at what happens if they were to no longer have the luxuries and life that come with the money. The story made me question many times what I would have done in Julia’s position and what is more important in life, love or money? With this unique storyline came a character in Julia, who you instantly cared about from the beginning of the story right through until long after you have finished the novel. I found it very easy to connect with Julia’s character feeling her emotions along with her. With Julia and Michaels life starting off with them struggling I think many people will be able to relate to this, granted not many of us turn into millionaires but you will still be able to connect with Julia throughout her life, as her character is portrayed as so real. Along with the character of Julia I also fell in love with her supporting cast, especially Isabelle. Isabelle was very relatable also, and even though she is a woman who has been wealthy her whole life she has had troubles in her past, which mean that she appears more real. I particularly enjoyed the many elements of Isabelle and Julia’s friendship which are present in most of out relationships with our closest friends. I also enjoyed the way in which Sarah Pekkanen used the reference to open when talking about Julia’s feelings, this gave deeper understanding to Julia’s emotions and her character as a whole.
The only criticism I have would be that throughout the story I felt that the characters of Julia and Michael were much older than their age. They were written as if they were in their forties or fifties at times, which would have been fine except for we are told that they are in their thirties.
I thoroughly enjoyed Skipping A Beat and would recommend this to just about anyone. I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the novel, taken on ups and downs with moments of humour and moments of pain. I found myself crying at the end of this novel, which is very rare for me, which goes to show just how much this novel gripped me. Have some tissues ready your going to need them!
Do you believe that “Project Runway, chocolate and margaritas. And suddenly all is right with the world”? Well I know those sure help and that’s exactly the mantra that Julia and Isabelle follow in Skipping A Beat. That and Breyer’s chocolate ice cream can help ease all problems. In my opinion great words of advice and one of the lighter sides of Sarah Pekkanen’s most recent novel Skipping A Beat. On a more serious note, Sarah Pekkanen asks the not so simple question, what would you do if your husband told you he wanted to give all his money away to charity after dieing for four minutes?
Julia and Michael met in high school, fell in love and now live in a multi million dollar in Washington. Life has not always been so easy for them, however, as they have both had difficult childhoods. With Julia’s father a compulsive gambler and Michael’s mother abandoning him when he was younger. Now from the outset their lives look perfecr. Julia is a successful event planner while Micheal has launched a multi million dollar company. One day their lives change, when Michael stands up during a company meeting and crashes to the floor. Michael died for four minutes before he was revived, yet what happened during those minutes changes him forever. Michael decides that he now wants to give all the money he has to charity. Julia has no claim on the money after signing a pre nuptial agreement before they married. Should she now walk away from the man she once loved but who has turned into a stranger? Or should she go along with her husbands plans and his promise of a poorer but happier life?
I have been hearing so many great things about Skipping A Beat ever since it was released and thought it was about time I got my hands on a copy to find out exactly why everyone was raving about this novel. Let me tell you it defiantly lived up to the hype surrounding it. I fell in love with Skipping A Beat and devoured it in just over a day (fast work for myself). I enjoyed the way the past and the present are weaved together to tell the whole story without forgetting what is happening at the time. I also enjoyed the refreshingly original storyline. There are so many novels which focus around millionaires but they never seem to look at what happens if they were to no longer have the luxuries and life that come with the money. The story made me question many times what I would have done in Julia’s position and what is more important in life, love or money? With this unique storyline came a character in Julia, who you instantly cared about from the beginning of the story right through until long after you have finished the novel. I found it very easy to connect with Julia’s character feeling her emotions along with her. With Julia and Michaels life starting off with them struggling I think many people will be able to relate to this, granted not many of us turn into millionaires but you will still be able to connect with Julia throughout her life, as her character is portrayed as so real. Along with the character of Julia I also fell in love with her supporting cast, especially Isabelle. Isabelle was very relatable also, and even though she is a woman who has been wealthy her whole life she has had troubles in her past, which mean that she appears more real. I particularly enjoyed the many elements of Isabelle and Julia’s friendship which are present in most of out relationships with our closest friends. I also enjoyed the way in which Sarah Pekkanen used the reference to open when talking about Julia’s feelings, this gave deeper understanding to Julia’s emotions and her character as a whole.
The only criticism I have would be that throughout the story I felt that the characters of Julia and Michael were much older than their age. They were written as if they were in their forties or fifties at times, which would have been fine except for we are told that they are in their thirties.
I thoroughly enjoyed Skipping A Beat and would recommend this to just about anyone. I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the novel, taken on ups and downs with moments of humour and moments of pain. I found myself crying at the end of this novel, which is very rare for me, which goes to show just how much this novel gripped me. Have some tissues ready your going to need them!
January 3, 2011
Reviewed for A Cozy Reader's Corner Reviews [http://acozyreaderscorner.blogspot.com]
On the outside Julia seems to have it all, on the inside Julia is broken; her marriage has seemingly dissolved into a façade though Julia tries to convince herself it will pass. Once married to her best friend, Julia now looks at her husband and sees a stranger. When her world as she knows it changes in an instant, the four minutes and eight seconds following her husband collapse from cardiac arrest solidifies the change in motion. When Michael is revived, he emerges a changed man, eager to right his wrongs and reconnect with the one woman he has always loved. The question is will Julia be able to forgive, heal and trust the new man her husband has suddenly become when he has been a stranger for so long?
Skipping a Beat amazed me. Sarah is a skillfully creative writer. Reading her novel was like sitting down with my best friend as she tearfully recaps a momentous occasion in her life. Her writing pierces the soul as you deeply become connected to Julia. I felt myself on the edge of my seat, patiently waiting as Julia told her story the way she needed to tell it. My emotions hung on every word as the novel twist and turns, exploring the complications of life, marriage, friendship and money. It was truly remarkable with an ending that left me in awe and completely satisfied. Julia’s story is full of love, heartache and confusion as her hearts dilemma is displayed across the pages.
I loved The Opposite of Me, Sarah’s first novel, but Skipping a Beat has stolen my heart and brought about a whole new appreciation of women’s fiction. Sarah simply raises the bar for authors with this simple yet complex look at one woman’s marriage, as it slips away from her and is then given a second chance. It was realistic, emotional and dashed with humor to ease some of the intensity. I simply couldn’t put this book down. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about this novel. I loved the writing style. I enjoyed reading Julia’s story as if she tells it in the aftermath, intermixed with present and past details. It was like she was sharing the story with a future friend or a confidant and I felt as if I was the only one in the room with Julia as she told her story with raw emotion and honesty. It is truly a highly original, emotionally addictive novel that will leave you read for more from Sarah.
Recommendation: Pre-order!
On the outside Julia seems to have it all, on the inside Julia is broken; her marriage has seemingly dissolved into a façade though Julia tries to convince herself it will pass. Once married to her best friend, Julia now looks at her husband and sees a stranger. When her world as she knows it changes in an instant, the four minutes and eight seconds following her husband collapse from cardiac arrest solidifies the change in motion. When Michael is revived, he emerges a changed man, eager to right his wrongs and reconnect with the one woman he has always loved. The question is will Julia be able to forgive, heal and trust the new man her husband has suddenly become when he has been a stranger for so long?
Skipping a Beat amazed me. Sarah is a skillfully creative writer. Reading her novel was like sitting down with my best friend as she tearfully recaps a momentous occasion in her life. Her writing pierces the soul as you deeply become connected to Julia. I felt myself on the edge of my seat, patiently waiting as Julia told her story the way she needed to tell it. My emotions hung on every word as the novel twist and turns, exploring the complications of life, marriage, friendship and money. It was truly remarkable with an ending that left me in awe and completely satisfied. Julia’s story is full of love, heartache and confusion as her hearts dilemma is displayed across the pages.
I loved The Opposite of Me, Sarah’s first novel, but Skipping a Beat has stolen my heart and brought about a whole new appreciation of women’s fiction. Sarah simply raises the bar for authors with this simple yet complex look at one woman’s marriage, as it slips away from her and is then given a second chance. It was realistic, emotional and dashed with humor to ease some of the intensity. I simply couldn’t put this book down. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about this novel. I loved the writing style. I enjoyed reading Julia’s story as if she tells it in the aftermath, intermixed with present and past details. It was like she was sharing the story with a future friend or a confidant and I felt as if I was the only one in the room with Julia as she told her story with raw emotion and honesty. It is truly a highly original, emotionally addictive novel that will leave you read for more from Sarah.
Recommendation: Pre-order!
February 28, 2011
Sarah Pekkanen has done it again. She weaves a tale that pulls you into the very heart of the story so effortlessly that you forget you are reading. “Skipping a Beat” is raw emotional power that will have you hanging on every word. Each chapter is it’s own cliffhanger; each section adds another piece to the puzzle. “Skipping a Beat” pulls the heartstring of anyone who has ever fallen in love or had his or her heart broken. The carefully crafted plot comes full circle with an ending that surprised and thoroughly satisfied.
Everyone has unspoken relationship rules. Who sleeps on the right? Never mention that time in Vegas. But it only took Julia Dunhill’s husband four minutes and eight seconds to change those rules. Four minutes and eight seconds to come back from the white light and remold his entire existence. Except Julia didn’t get a vote. Now that she is being forced to give up the life she had, is it worth trying to rebuild a marriage that has been quietly crumbling for years?
I instantly liked Julia. Not every heroine shows us the ugly side of her as well as the good. Both sides made you feel like you were living in her shoes for a moment. From the joy of new love to the pain and anguish of bitter disappointment, you are right there feeling it with her. I saw so much of myself in her.
I also enjoyed the side story of Julia’s best friend, Isabelle. It created just the right amount of drama to balance and thicken Julia’s story. Isabelle is also the perfect sidekick, ready to have your back over a few vodka shots or a margarita.
I usually try to find something I didn’t particularly care for in a book, to balance my reviews. But I can’t think of any for “Skipping a Beat”. I just thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a pleasure to read and immensely gratifying.
Conclusion:
A poignant, yet uplifting tale, “Skipping a Beat” needs to be on your reading list. Sarah Pekkanen’s writing is like music for the eyes. It just flows. I highly recommend it.
Everyone has unspoken relationship rules. Who sleeps on the right? Never mention that time in Vegas. But it only took Julia Dunhill’s husband four minutes and eight seconds to change those rules. Four minutes and eight seconds to come back from the white light and remold his entire existence. Except Julia didn’t get a vote. Now that she is being forced to give up the life she had, is it worth trying to rebuild a marriage that has been quietly crumbling for years?
I instantly liked Julia. Not every heroine shows us the ugly side of her as well as the good. Both sides made you feel like you were living in her shoes for a moment. From the joy of new love to the pain and anguish of bitter disappointment, you are right there feeling it with her. I saw so much of myself in her.
I also enjoyed the side story of Julia’s best friend, Isabelle. It created just the right amount of drama to balance and thicken Julia’s story. Isabelle is also the perfect sidekick, ready to have your back over a few vodka shots or a margarita.
I usually try to find something I didn’t particularly care for in a book, to balance my reviews. But I can’t think of any for “Skipping a Beat”. I just thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a pleasure to read and immensely gratifying.
Conclusion:
A poignant, yet uplifting tale, “Skipping a Beat” needs to be on your reading list. Sarah Pekkanen’s writing is like music for the eyes. It just flows. I highly recommend it.
January 23, 2014
SKIPPING A BEAT was...wow. The blurb sounded intriguing, but I didn't think this book would be the emotional roller coaster ride it was. From the first line, I was engrossed in this tale of betrayal, marriage, loss, and what matters most in life.
Julia and Michael were high school sweethearts from meager beginnings. As newlyweds, they were very much in love, but over time they drifted apart. Michael's successful multi-million dollar company became his love, and Julia was pushed aside. She was hurt by Michael's neglect, but living in the lap of luxury made it easier to take. Then one day everything changes. Michael goes into cardiac arrest and his heart stops for four minutes. Once resuscitated, he's a completely differently person. He sees money as the root of all their problems, and he intends to win back Julia's love if at all possible.
The story is told from Julia's point of view, and at first I wasn't sympathetic towards her at all. She seemed uncaring and greedy, more concerned about losing her shopping privileges in expensive boutiques than losing her husband Michael. As the story progressed, my feelings changed and I saw her in a different way. The story alternates between bits and pieces of the past and present day. The glimpses into Julia's childhood and earlier relationship with Michael put things in a new prospective. Julia had her flaws, but she was also real and honest.
Like I mentioned before, SKIPPING A BEAT was an emotional read for me. The ending left me shaken, but with a feeling of hope too. A bittersweet story with flawed, complex characters makes this a memorable read.
Madeleine Maby gave a wonderful performance as narrator of the audiobook. She was a great choice for telling this story, and she captured the characters' emotions beautifully.
Source: Review copy from publisher.
Julia and Michael were high school sweethearts from meager beginnings. As newlyweds, they were very much in love, but over time they drifted apart. Michael's successful multi-million dollar company became his love, and Julia was pushed aside. She was hurt by Michael's neglect, but living in the lap of luxury made it easier to take. Then one day everything changes. Michael goes into cardiac arrest and his heart stops for four minutes. Once resuscitated, he's a completely differently person. He sees money as the root of all their problems, and he intends to win back Julia's love if at all possible.
The story is told from Julia's point of view, and at first I wasn't sympathetic towards her at all. She seemed uncaring and greedy, more concerned about losing her shopping privileges in expensive boutiques than losing her husband Michael. As the story progressed, my feelings changed and I saw her in a different way. The story alternates between bits and pieces of the past and present day. The glimpses into Julia's childhood and earlier relationship with Michael put things in a new prospective. Julia had her flaws, but she was also real and honest.
Like I mentioned before, SKIPPING A BEAT was an emotional read for me. The ending left me shaken, but with a feeling of hope too. A bittersweet story with flawed, complex characters makes this a memorable read.
Madeleine Maby gave a wonderful performance as narrator of the audiobook. She was a great choice for telling this story, and she captured the characters' emotions beautifully.
Source: Review copy from publisher.
March 8, 2011
I won a copy of SKIPPING A BEAT in a goodreads giveaway. I was thrilled. Having been completely intrigued by Sarah Pekkanen's first novel, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, I was eager to start reading SKIPPING A BEAT, and I have to say, I became involved in the story, which is filtered through the perceptions of the main character, Julia, very quickly. However, as I read this emotional story of a marriage falling apart and coming together, and falling apart, I became frustrated because as much as I liked the premise and loved the way the writer wove in the stories of characters like Isabelle and Noah, I just couldn't fall in love with Julia. I wanted to root for her, but her fears of life after money, while justified, felt hollow to me and even while I enjoyed learning about her interest in the fascinating world of opera, I wasn't won over by her character. That being said,the book tells an interesting story of marriage, it is very emotional (I cried at more than one point in the book), and is a well-written book that reads easily and asks interesting questions about living, dying, about family, and about what it really means to love someone.
July 3, 2011
without giving too much away, this book is partly about a successful business man, michael, who has a near death experience. this experience makes him ponder the simple, yet important question, what matters most? he quickly realizes all the money in the world has not made him happy and that he is ashamed of the man he has become. he makes some big choices to change the course of his life. the other part of this book is about how these choices affect his wife, julia, who has become quite accustomed to wealth and has gotten used to living life around her estranged husband. i won't elaborate anymore on the specifics of the plot. i will, however, say that i really enjoyed this book. not only did i have a good, ugly cry at one part in particular, but it also made me internalize my own life and what matters most to me.
June 24, 2012
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Good chic lit all the way, but more enjoyable than many I've read. First - the storyline was completely different, unexpected and I just loved the premise laid out in the "preview" of the book - what happens when all the rules of a relationship change, when everything you're comfortable with disappears? I'm not married, but could relate to so many relationships in the story - the husband, the parents, single friend Isabelle - and that meant Pekkanen did a nice job with character description. I learned enough about each of these characters to feel an attachment. This book played out in my mind like a movie and I totally could see this! There were enough small twists & turns to keep in interesting.. a lovely story.
May 31, 2011
I spent the first 200 pages being thoroughly annoyed with the protagonist. As soon as she started to show some redeeming qualities, the book wrapped up into a neat pat (too neat, too pat) little package. I was annoyed with Julia, annoyed with Michael, and annoyed with Isabelle. None of the characters seemed to learn much by the end of the book. And Isabelle felt much older than 35 to me. Both Isabelle and Julia did. They were written as old women. On the plus side, the book only took me a day to read, and did make me think about the things that are important to me. So I guess that's a good thing.
May 7, 2015
Started off well up until the guy drops "dead" at his board meeting (not a spoiler, it's part of the back copy). That's when I realized the narrator is kind of a horrible person, despite her motivations for her greed. Also saw the ending coming from a mile away, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at it. This book was just meh.
March 1, 2011
WOW!!!! This book was just amazing! From start to finish!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!
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