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Comeback Love
What would you do if you had a second chance with the one that got away?
More than thirty-five years ago, Gordon Meyers, an aspiring writer with a low number in the draft lottery, packed his belongings and reluctantly drove away, leaving behind Glenna Rising, the sexy, sharp-witted med student he couldn’t imagine living without.
Now, decades later, Gordon is a former globe-trotting consultant with a grown son, an ex-wife, and an overwhelming desire to see Glenna again. Though she’s stunned when Gordon walks into her Manhattan office, Glenna agrees to accompany him for a drink. As the two head out into the snow-swept city, they rediscover the passion that once drew them together—before it tore them apart. And as the evening unfolds, Gordon will finally reveal the true reason for his return. . . .
Comeback Love is an evocative journey into the hearts of two lovers who came of age in the 1960s, and who never truly let each other go. Plumbing the depths of youth, regret, and desire, Peter Golden deftly illuminates the bonds that mysteriously endure in the face of momentous change.
More than thirty-five years ago, Gordon Meyers, an aspiring writer with a low number in the draft lottery, packed his belongings and reluctantly drove away, leaving behind Glenna Rising, the sexy, sharp-witted med student he couldn’t imagine living without.
Now, decades later, Gordon is a former globe-trotting consultant with a grown son, an ex-wife, and an overwhelming desire to see Glenna again. Though she’s stunned when Gordon walks into her Manhattan office, Glenna agrees to accompany him for a drink. As the two head out into the snow-swept city, they rediscover the passion that once drew them together—before it tore them apart. And as the evening unfolds, Gordon will finally reveal the true reason for his return. . . .
Comeback Love is an evocative journey into the hearts of two lovers who came of age in the 1960s, and who never truly let each other go. Plumbing the depths of youth, regret, and desire, Peter Golden deftly illuminates the bonds that mysteriously endure in the face of momentous change.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2012
28 people are currently reading
1329 people want to read
About the author
Peter Golden
23 books130 followersPeter Golden is an award-winning journalist, historian, and novelist who has written nine books and interviewed Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush (41); Secretaries of State Kissinger, Haig, Shultz, and Eagleburger; Israeli Prime Ministers Rabin, Peres, and Shamir; and Soviet President Gorbachev. His first novel, Comeback Love, was praised by the novelist and reviewer Caroline Leavitt as an “extraordinary debut.” Wherever There Is Light, his second novel, was featured in New York Magazine’s Fall Preview issue, widely reviewed, and selected by the New Jersey Star-Ledger as one of the best books of 2016. His third novel, Nothing Is Forgotten, which explores the connection between the Holocaust and the Cold War, was published on April 10, 2018. New York Times bestselling author Lisa Wingate praised the novel as "the sort of book you won’t soon forget…Cold War Europe, lingering Nazi secrets, and the tragic history faced by millions of families not only bring this tale to life but will keep you turning the pages.”
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June 12, 2020When I was reading some of the press material about this debut literary fiction novel from Atria Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster), I noticed this quotation from Susan Novotny of Staff Picks Press:
“If you are a boomer who fell in love in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, this book is for you.”
Well, I’m not and I didn’t – I wasn’t born until several years later – but I still feel that this book is for me. It opens with the protagonist, Gordon Meyers, looking up his former lover, Glenna. From this point on, the book hints at some big event that led the two of them to separate, despite their love for another another. But what could it be?
Peter Golden does a marvellous job of building up suspense throughout the novel, without over-playing his dramatic hand. Gordon and Glenna don’t have a perfect relationship by any means – there are rows and upheavals, misunderstandings and meddling from other parties – but the tension builds slowly and steadily as you wonder what could possibly arise that would cause decades of separation.
One of the clever aspects of Comeback Love is the way Golden keeps injecting progressively more serious events into the novel so you find yourself asking ‘Will this be what does it?’ or ‘Surely this is the one!’. In this way, despite the steady almost melodic pace of the novel, the suspense is always there to keep you turning the pages. Once you do finally realise how these two have been split and kept apart, the story takes on a very different feel – the suspense gives way to frustration, confusion and sadness. As well as the role of the characters in their own fates, an important aspect of the novel is also the role that events in American society play and how Glenna and Gordon’s responses to these events impact their lives forever. As you begin to conceive of the cost to these two people of the decisions that were made by themselves and others, the book becomes much deeper.
Comeback Love is a beautiful debut from an excellent writer. Peter Golden’s attention to detail brings the characters to life – their quirks, foibles and personalities constantly coming across through banal and seemingly unimportant gestures that Golden has taken the time to capture and which add real substance to his portrayals of Gordon and Glenna in particular. This is a moving and compelling read and a great accomplishment for any writer, let alone a first-time novelist. Technically a 4.5 but in the absence of half scores, a thoroughly well earned 4 is the final verdict!
This review was originally published on Book Bags and Cat Naps. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all opinions are my own.
“If you are a boomer who fell in love in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, this book is for you.”
Well, I’m not and I didn’t – I wasn’t born until several years later – but I still feel that this book is for me. It opens with the protagonist, Gordon Meyers, looking up his former lover, Glenna. From this point on, the book hints at some big event that led the two of them to separate, despite their love for another another. But what could it be?
Peter Golden does a marvellous job of building up suspense throughout the novel, without over-playing his dramatic hand. Gordon and Glenna don’t have a perfect relationship by any means – there are rows and upheavals, misunderstandings and meddling from other parties – but the tension builds slowly and steadily as you wonder what could possibly arise that would cause decades of separation.
One of the clever aspects of Comeback Love is the way Golden keeps injecting progressively more serious events into the novel so you find yourself asking ‘Will this be what does it?’ or ‘Surely this is the one!’. In this way, despite the steady almost melodic pace of the novel, the suspense is always there to keep you turning the pages. Once you do finally realise how these two have been split and kept apart, the story takes on a very different feel – the suspense gives way to frustration, confusion and sadness. As well as the role of the characters in their own fates, an important aspect of the novel is also the role that events in American society play and how Glenna and Gordon’s responses to these events impact their lives forever. As you begin to conceive of the cost to these two people of the decisions that were made by themselves and others, the book becomes much deeper.
Comeback Love is a beautiful debut from an excellent writer. Peter Golden’s attention to detail brings the characters to life – their quirks, foibles and personalities constantly coming across through banal and seemingly unimportant gestures that Golden has taken the time to capture and which add real substance to his portrayals of Gordon and Glenna in particular. This is a moving and compelling read and a great accomplishment for any writer, let alone a first-time novelist. Technically a 4.5 but in the absence of half scores, a thoroughly well earned 4 is the final verdict!
This review was originally published on Book Bags and Cat Naps. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all opinions are my own.
September 14, 2011
A beautiful story about a first love -- always engaging, page turning, and tense. Fantastic dialogue and some true laughs. This will appeal to both women and men and even those who have opinions on wars in our society. Recommended RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED!
April 2, 2012
It’s present day and Gordon Meyers visits the graves of his dead father, aunt and uncle. With snow falling, he speaks to their ghosts and silently cries for an uncontrollable future that rests on the precipice . . . and then he gets in his car and drives to Manhattan, a city as full of ghosts as his hometown cemetery.
While in the big city, Gordon cannot help but return to old haunts and visit a woman from his past. A woman, who has never been far from his mind; not even when he married, had a son, divorced and spent his years as a military consultant, flying from one war-torn country to another.
Glenna Rising is more than a little surprised to see her old boyfriend, Gordo, waiting in her doctor’s office. She suspects his visit is less spontaneous than he’s willing to admit, but she’s going to take the time, over a few drinks, to get to the heart of his reappearance in her life after thirty-five years of silence. . .
And then the years melt away and old memories, past loves and faded wounds are remembered. We backtrack through the 1960s, when Gordon and Glenna’s love affair first started, and where it all went wrong. . .
‘Comeback Love’ is a new romance novel from Peter Golden.
Every book is a journey . . . that’s kind of the point. But it’s the best books that leave you a little battered and weary after reading, which pack such an emotional punch that you need to take a moment after reading to appreciate and reflect on the beaten path travelled. ‘Comeback Love’ is one of those books.
Peter Golden’s book sways between past and present; between New York City shrouded in snow, the setting of two long ago lovers being reacquainted, and then to 1960s Manhattan, where we meet Gordon Meyers. Gordon is in limbo; unsure of whether he wants to be a journalist, fiction writer or join the Vietnam War effort and follow in his father’s military footsteps. He is writing an investigative piece on a group of students, who are advocating for legal abortions, and his research leads him to Glenna Rising, a third-year med student and the prettiest girl Gordon’s ever seen. Glenna and Gordon’s connection is immediate, despite their differences – Gordon is unsettled in his life, while Glenna is determined to become a doctor. As the lovers reminisce in present-day New York, Gordon, the book’s narrator, reflects on the finer details of their past love . . .
My hand roamed along the soft slope of her back, then under the faded denim of her cutoffs, caressing round, taut flesh before moving up again, her skin a rosy copper color in the lantern light. I knew that I should get on with it, but I didn’t want this moment to end, didn’t want to turn it into a different moment, maybe better, but not this exact moment, with its boundless promise, its serenity, its grace. I glanced out the bay window, where the evening sky was purple with a satiny sheen, the dark wisps of clouds like wrinkles in the satin.
I said, “I feel like I've known you my whole life.”
Glenna, more impressed by science than mystery, replied, “You haven’t.”
“But I wanted to.”
Now she had another expression entirely serious, hesitant, vulnerable. “Here I am,” she whispered.
But as Glenna and Gordon update one another on their lives in the present, old hurts begin creeping into the conversation – and Gordon is forced to remember the pitfalls of their past too, and the events leading up to their break-up, which coincided with Gordon being drafted to Vietnam.
Glenna and Gordon’s romance is simply sublime, especially for being so ordinary. These are two people living through extraordinary times, and major historic events are touched upon throughout the book – Glenna’s roommate supports the Black Panther Party, the Vietnam War rages and Woodstock kicks off. These events do affect the character throughout the book, particularly when Glenna’s burgeoning medical career has her taking an extremist route with abortion reform, and Gordon is drafted. But, essentially, Peter Golden is writing an ordinary, everyday love story . . . and for some reason that makes it even more special.
Before Gordon meets up with Glenna again, he reflects that his grown up son, Alex, has been pushing him for years to get back into the dating scene since his divorce. What Alex isn’t aware of though, is that Gordon’s heart never fully recovered from losing Glenna Rising. I thought ‘Comeback Love’ was a lovely examination of the secrets people keep – that we all have these private components of the heart and our history, and we keep old hurts close. It also reminded me of that Jack Kerouac quote from ‘On The Road’: “I realized these were all the snapshots which our children would look at someday with wonder, thinking their parents had lived smooth, well-ordered lives and got up in the morning to walk proudly on the sidewalks of life, never dreaming the raggedy madness and riot of our actual lives, our actual night, the hell of it, the senseless emptiness.” And the Kerouac connection again reiterates that ‘Comeback Love’ feels like a real journey – a road trip of the heart (if you want to get all Hallmark about it).
The novel is set in 1960s New York, and explores Glenna and Gordon’s long-term relationship through to the early 1970s. And the setting of the novel is incredibly important – beyond just the references to Beatles lyrics and a psychedelic trip to Woodstock hitchhiking with a crazy man – because Golden evokes 60s American politics and actually draws comparisons to contemporary debates. And I know that sounds like it would be out of place in a romance novel, to have such a focus on politics (both past and present) and to examine abortion, of all the hot-button topics to include in a romance! But it works, and is actually an interesting investigation into how things change, and how everything stays the same. . . which, again connects back to Gordon and Glenna’s romance.
Maybe it’s because I was reading ‘Comeback Love’ in the wake of a raging debate on women’s health in America, but Peter Golden does a brilliant job of rehashing 1960s American politics and abortion reform, while also (intentionally?) highlighting connections to present day political garble. Glenna is a med student and a part of a group advocating legalized abortions. And, as a med student, she knows the state of illegal abortions in the country – the backroom butchers who took women’s money and left them bloodied and more often than not, dead. Glenna and her fellow students rehash the 1969 legislative debate in which Martin Ginsberg, New York assemblyman and polio victim, proposed abortion exception for foetal abnormalities and set the cause back with moral debate. In recent days the women’s health ‘issue’ has similarly raged in America – from Sandra Fluke apparently being a slut for wanting free contraception to the entire issue regressing into a moral debate about abstinence. What’s funny is that, similar to 1960s abortion reform in America, the current women’s health debate seems to be being debated by men . . . and, as Jon Stewart has brilliantly and satirically argued, men are the best people to be solely speaking out about women’s health and women’s issues.
Gordon and Glenna’s explorations into abortion (the history of, and policies surrounding) are not written ham-fistedly or purely to push Republican buttons. It all leaks back into what led to their break-up, to the triggers that altered their personalities and priorities over the years. And, while it’s not exactly a topic you’d expect in your typical feel-good romance, Peter Golden’s explorations into 1960s ‘women’s issues’ was fascinating nonetheless, and thought provoking . . . and all a part of the journey.
I really loved ‘Comeback Love’. It’s a little ‘The Way We Were’; set around the beautiful saga of an ordinary love story spanning thirty-five years. . . but the novel deepens and explores cross-generational wars and 1960s politics, while highlighting how the changing times are eerily similar to the past. Peter Golden definitely takes readers on a journey with Gordon and Glenna – and trekking through their love, both past and present, is a most worthwhile expedition.
While in the big city, Gordon cannot help but return to old haunts and visit a woman from his past. A woman, who has never been far from his mind; not even when he married, had a son, divorced and spent his years as a military consultant, flying from one war-torn country to another.
Glenna Rising is more than a little surprised to see her old boyfriend, Gordo, waiting in her doctor’s office. She suspects his visit is less spontaneous than he’s willing to admit, but she’s going to take the time, over a few drinks, to get to the heart of his reappearance in her life after thirty-five years of silence. . .
And then the years melt away and old memories, past loves and faded wounds are remembered. We backtrack through the 1960s, when Gordon and Glenna’s love affair first started, and where it all went wrong. . .
‘Comeback Love’ is a new romance novel from Peter Golden.
Every book is a journey . . . that’s kind of the point. But it’s the best books that leave you a little battered and weary after reading, which pack such an emotional punch that you need to take a moment after reading to appreciate and reflect on the beaten path travelled. ‘Comeback Love’ is one of those books.
Peter Golden’s book sways between past and present; between New York City shrouded in snow, the setting of two long ago lovers being reacquainted, and then to 1960s Manhattan, where we meet Gordon Meyers. Gordon is in limbo; unsure of whether he wants to be a journalist, fiction writer or join the Vietnam War effort and follow in his father’s military footsteps. He is writing an investigative piece on a group of students, who are advocating for legal abortions, and his research leads him to Glenna Rising, a third-year med student and the prettiest girl Gordon’s ever seen. Glenna and Gordon’s connection is immediate, despite their differences – Gordon is unsettled in his life, while Glenna is determined to become a doctor. As the lovers reminisce in present-day New York, Gordon, the book’s narrator, reflects on the finer details of their past love . . .
My hand roamed along the soft slope of her back, then under the faded denim of her cutoffs, caressing round, taut flesh before moving up again, her skin a rosy copper color in the lantern light. I knew that I should get on with it, but I didn’t want this moment to end, didn’t want to turn it into a different moment, maybe better, but not this exact moment, with its boundless promise, its serenity, its grace. I glanced out the bay window, where the evening sky was purple with a satiny sheen, the dark wisps of clouds like wrinkles in the satin.
I said, “I feel like I've known you my whole life.”
Glenna, more impressed by science than mystery, replied, “You haven’t.”
“But I wanted to.”
Now she had another expression entirely serious, hesitant, vulnerable. “Here I am,” she whispered.
But as Glenna and Gordon update one another on their lives in the present, old hurts begin creeping into the conversation – and Gordon is forced to remember the pitfalls of their past too, and the events leading up to their break-up, which coincided with Gordon being drafted to Vietnam.
Glenna and Gordon’s romance is simply sublime, especially for being so ordinary. These are two people living through extraordinary times, and major historic events are touched upon throughout the book – Glenna’s roommate supports the Black Panther Party, the Vietnam War rages and Woodstock kicks off. These events do affect the character throughout the book, particularly when Glenna’s burgeoning medical career has her taking an extremist route with abortion reform, and Gordon is drafted. But, essentially, Peter Golden is writing an ordinary, everyday love story . . . and for some reason that makes it even more special.
Before Gordon meets up with Glenna again, he reflects that his grown up son, Alex, has been pushing him for years to get back into the dating scene since his divorce. What Alex isn’t aware of though, is that Gordon’s heart never fully recovered from losing Glenna Rising. I thought ‘Comeback Love’ was a lovely examination of the secrets people keep – that we all have these private components of the heart and our history, and we keep old hurts close. It also reminded me of that Jack Kerouac quote from ‘On The Road’: “I realized these were all the snapshots which our children would look at someday with wonder, thinking their parents had lived smooth, well-ordered lives and got up in the morning to walk proudly on the sidewalks of life, never dreaming the raggedy madness and riot of our actual lives, our actual night, the hell of it, the senseless emptiness.” And the Kerouac connection again reiterates that ‘Comeback Love’ feels like a real journey – a road trip of the heart (if you want to get all Hallmark about it).
The novel is set in 1960s New York, and explores Glenna and Gordon’s long-term relationship through to the early 1970s. And the setting of the novel is incredibly important – beyond just the references to Beatles lyrics and a psychedelic trip to Woodstock hitchhiking with a crazy man – because Golden evokes 60s American politics and actually draws comparisons to contemporary debates. And I know that sounds like it would be out of place in a romance novel, to have such a focus on politics (both past and present) and to examine abortion, of all the hot-button topics to include in a romance! But it works, and is actually an interesting investigation into how things change, and how everything stays the same. . . which, again connects back to Gordon and Glenna’s romance.
Maybe it’s because I was reading ‘Comeback Love’ in the wake of a raging debate on women’s health in America, but Peter Golden does a brilliant job of rehashing 1960s American politics and abortion reform, while also (intentionally?) highlighting connections to present day political garble. Glenna is a med student and a part of a group advocating legalized abortions. And, as a med student, she knows the state of illegal abortions in the country – the backroom butchers who took women’s money and left them bloodied and more often than not, dead. Glenna and her fellow students rehash the 1969 legislative debate in which Martin Ginsberg, New York assemblyman and polio victim, proposed abortion exception for foetal abnormalities and set the cause back with moral debate. In recent days the women’s health ‘issue’ has similarly raged in America – from Sandra Fluke apparently being a slut for wanting free contraception to the entire issue regressing into a moral debate about abstinence. What’s funny is that, similar to 1960s abortion reform in America, the current women’s health debate seems to be being debated by men . . . and, as Jon Stewart has brilliantly and satirically argued, men are the best people to be solely speaking out about women’s health and women’s issues.
Gordon and Glenna’s explorations into abortion (the history of, and policies surrounding) are not written ham-fistedly or purely to push Republican buttons. It all leaks back into what led to their break-up, to the triggers that altered their personalities and priorities over the years. And, while it’s not exactly a topic you’d expect in your typical feel-good romance, Peter Golden’s explorations into 1960s ‘women’s issues’ was fascinating nonetheless, and thought provoking . . . and all a part of the journey.
I really loved ‘Comeback Love’. It’s a little ‘The Way We Were’; set around the beautiful saga of an ordinary love story spanning thirty-five years. . . but the novel deepens and explores cross-generational wars and 1960s politics, while highlighting how the changing times are eerily similar to the past. Peter Golden definitely takes readers on a journey with Gordon and Glenna – and trekking through their love, both past and present, is a most worthwhile expedition.
March 21, 2012
Summary:
Thirty-five years ago, aspiring writer Gordon Meyers and med student Glenna Rising fell in love. However, the events that were happening in the country and around the world significantly affected their relationship. Gordon is drafted to Vietnam, while Glenna is an activist for a highly controversial cause. These circumstances impact their relationship and they decide to break-up.
Now, Gordon is a father, divorced, and a government consultant. He's also never gotten over Glenna. While on his way to visit his sister, he decides to make a stop along the way to see Glenna. Glenna is surprised to see Gordon walk in to her office, but agrees to have a drink. She's curious to see what has brought him back into her life. As the two stroll down memory lane, old wounds are healed and feelings are reignited.
Then, Gordon reveals his true motivation for coming to see her. Glenna shows her support for Gordon and the couple finds that they may be able to have a future together.
My Take:
This book appealed to me because, I like stories about second chances. I also enjoy reading romances from a male perspective from time to time. However, be prepared that this book is not a hearts and flowers kind of book. There are some pretty serious issues that they had to deal with.
I can't really say that I connected with either character personally. I liked Glenna, but have very different view points. I admired her dedication to her career and I appreciate how difficult it would have been as a woman to truly succeed in a male dominated field at that time. I felt that there was more depth to her character than Gordon's. As for Gordon, I liked older Gordon better than younger Gordon. However, I felt his sadness and could completely relate to his undying affection for Glenna. There truly are significant relationships that alter your life permanently.
Overall, I did like the book. Even though the reason that he went to Glenna was troubling, I liked that it was an unexpected twist to the plot. I really didn't see it coming. While I was reading it, I kept thinking this is a story that my parents or the "baby boom" generation would be able to relate to more than me. I'm a product of the seventies, so I wasn't completely lost, but it will have more meaning to an older generation. The story was well written and had a easy flow.
Thirty-five years ago, aspiring writer Gordon Meyers and med student Glenna Rising fell in love. However, the events that were happening in the country and around the world significantly affected their relationship. Gordon is drafted to Vietnam, while Glenna is an activist for a highly controversial cause. These circumstances impact their relationship and they decide to break-up.
Now, Gordon is a father, divorced, and a government consultant. He's also never gotten over Glenna. While on his way to visit his sister, he decides to make a stop along the way to see Glenna. Glenna is surprised to see Gordon walk in to her office, but agrees to have a drink. She's curious to see what has brought him back into her life. As the two stroll down memory lane, old wounds are healed and feelings are reignited.
Then, Gordon reveals his true motivation for coming to see her. Glenna shows her support for Gordon and the couple finds that they may be able to have a future together.
My Take:
This book appealed to me because, I like stories about second chances. I also enjoy reading romances from a male perspective from time to time. However, be prepared that this book is not a hearts and flowers kind of book. There are some pretty serious issues that they had to deal with.
I can't really say that I connected with either character personally. I liked Glenna, but have very different view points. I admired her dedication to her career and I appreciate how difficult it would have been as a woman to truly succeed in a male dominated field at that time. I felt that there was more depth to her character than Gordon's. As for Gordon, I liked older Gordon better than younger Gordon. However, I felt his sadness and could completely relate to his undying affection for Glenna. There truly are significant relationships that alter your life permanently.
Overall, I did like the book. Even though the reason that he went to Glenna was troubling, I liked that it was an unexpected twist to the plot. I really didn't see it coming. While I was reading it, I kept thinking this is a story that my parents or the "baby boom" generation would be able to relate to more than me. I'm a product of the seventies, so I wasn't completely lost, but it will have more meaning to an older generation. The story was well written and had a easy flow.
April 21, 2012
I really loved this book and the way the narrative was constructed. So many stories that move between past and present have difficulty keeping the reader from feeling this sense of bouncing back and forth. This story unfolds in such a way that the reader is left with a smooth evolving tail of the characters, gaining more and more insight about Gordon, Glenna and their sphere of family and friends as the critical moments of their story come to light.
So many of the stories of romance that are out there are just sappy - probably because they tend to focus on more superficial aspects of relationships. This one dives far more into social and family issues/expectations of the time and how all of that contribute to to making the characters what they are and who they will become.
So many of the stories of romance that are out there are just sappy - probably because they tend to focus on more superficial aspects of relationships. This one dives far more into social and family issues/expectations of the time and how all of that contribute to to making the characters what they are and who they will become.
April 21, 2012
Finally, I stumble upon a love story that is riveting with such delight, force, full of romance and so truly becoming that I fell completely and deeply mad in love with this book. I literally fell head over heels in love with these characters/couple, as they did with each other. This 'debut fiction novel' by Peter Golden surpasses a 5-star rating in this reader's opinion! This is a love story that is absolutely radiant, one you will not soon forget, as it will leave an imprint on your own heart. This book can truly answer the age old question of 'can love really last forever'? This story is a love story that is beautifully and romantically written, yet very realistic at the same time.
These two people meet in their college years and become a couple, Gordon and Glenna, and fall deeply in love during the 1960's, a trying and turbulent time, when the entire world was in unrest. Not only was the world at unrest, so were these two people which made for a riveting story. Each character needed to grow, one more so than the other. Cautious and trepidacaous with both of their hearts, they both try to guard them from one another, yet no matter how hard they try, their love would not allow them to. Something kept them together, until Gordon could tell something was happening with Glenna and her attitude once she started her Residency and also got involved in something illegal at the time. Shortly after noticing this change in Glenna, they had their first huge break-up in which Glenna would do something so severe to Gordon, that she was so angry at herself for doing it, she blames Gordon and makes him leave. Right then. Right there. NOW. It broke Gordon's heart. He was doubled over in pain.
Gordon is drafted and off he goes to Vietnam, but he still writes to Glenna. That love they have/had is still there. Every now and then, time willing when Gordon was in Glenna's neighborhood, the two of them would get back together. It must be because they were together for so many years that they still had that spark. I know this is what I felt about their visits. Some visits came to fruition, most did not.
Will true love win out in the long run of life?
I truly fell as deeply in love with these characters as they did with each other. This is a love story that is so beautifully and romantically written, it will stay in your heart forever. I was glued to this book and I carried it with me wherever I went in the house, or even outside and while riding in the car. I just could not put this book down.
Peter Golden's style of writing is very captivating and engaging. It is very descriptive and full of emotion. He knows what and how to tell a love story so touching and heartfelt, you simply cannot stop reading it. The length this relationship lasted, until the time they broke up and reunited, until the book ends, was timed to perfection. His writing is absolutely beautiful.
This book flip-flops between the past and the present. For instance, it starts off in the present during the Christmas holidays, with Gordon being stranded in New York city because of a blizzard. The airport is shut down, and there are no hopes of it opening soon. He takes a room at the Hyatt, and while stranded there, thirty-five years after their break-up, he decides to call upon Glenna again, after all this time has passed.
Gordon goes to Glenna's office to see if she might happen to be in, pondering this because of the time of day. She's in! They meet, and walk together arm in arm, to get a drink and reminisce their past relationship. Gordon is still very attracted to her. The snow is still falling, the roads are almost empty, so they decide to walk to the restaurant. It turns out to be a romantic setting, through the streets of New York during the holidays, through the new fallen snow
The past: Gordon is a freelance writer who earns very little money with his writing as the stories he sells to different publications do not pay much money. Glenna was a pre-med student who is now in her first year of internship at a local hospital. This immediately causes a little friction between the two, as Glenna is the bread winner of the two. She shares a large apartment with a friend, whereas Gordon is still living back home with his parents. Not an ideal situation for Gordon. Remember that during the 60's, with the Women's Movement, women were just starting to become very self dependent. Gordon somewhat felt a little 'less than' as compared to Glenna with his income.
This relationship is not without it's struggles and/or difficulties, but along with it's wonderful moments, those do outnumber any negatives. That is, until eventually something huge happens that is so large, circumstances and words make hurts that cannot be mended whatsoever, and the relationship ends completely.
Each go their separate ways, but through the years, do get back in contact with the other, and they meet up every so often. Sometimes when they meet, Gordon finds out Glenna has completely changed more times than not. Growing pains, but I think Glenna had more of them than Gordon did. That is for you to read about and decide.
Back to the present, yet this is where the book begins, and as I began to tell you a little about Gordon and Glenna's relationship. Stranded, Gordon goes to Glenna's office to see if she's there or not. It's a toss-up he thinks. She is or isn't, but worth the chance. Yes! She's there! She is on her way out the door, as it is closing time. Gordon asks Glenna if she would like to go out for a drink, which is where my review has started.
As I said above, again, this book shows that love does still stand the test of time. The great part of it is finding out how and enjoying the ride.
I would LOVE to tell you more, but I cannot. This is the type of book that you will be glued to, and is a very personal experience of love, different for every person who reads this book. When you do start reading it, you are going to want to devour everything and find out just exactly how and where their relationship takes them as you escape into this fabulous love story. I HIGHLY recommended this book! Put it on your TBR lists now! You are going to find a NEW author, Peter Golden, who you are going to love!
My favorite line from the book "Comeback Love" by Peter Golden:
"Not every conviction is impervious to the lessons and corrosion of time, and I could feel the past and present gathering together to become, if I was lucky, the future I desired."
This is one of my FAVORITE books of the year so far! It is going on my "Favorites List of 2012".
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
*I received this book for FREE from Washington Square Books, a Division of Simon and Schuster, AND through Crazy Book Tours through their Book Reviewers Program in exchange to read this book and write a review about it. It is NOT required for the review to be either positive or negative, but, of my own opinion. Free means I was provided with NO MONIES to read this book or write a review, but to enjoy the book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
These two people meet in their college years and become a couple, Gordon and Glenna, and fall deeply in love during the 1960's, a trying and turbulent time, when the entire world was in unrest. Not only was the world at unrest, so were these two people which made for a riveting story. Each character needed to grow, one more so than the other. Cautious and trepidacaous with both of their hearts, they both try to guard them from one another, yet no matter how hard they try, their love would not allow them to. Something kept them together, until Gordon could tell something was happening with Glenna and her attitude once she started her Residency and also got involved in something illegal at the time. Shortly after noticing this change in Glenna, they had their first huge break-up in which Glenna would do something so severe to Gordon, that she was so angry at herself for doing it, she blames Gordon and makes him leave. Right then. Right there. NOW. It broke Gordon's heart. He was doubled over in pain.
Gordon is drafted and off he goes to Vietnam, but he still writes to Glenna. That love they have/had is still there. Every now and then, time willing when Gordon was in Glenna's neighborhood, the two of them would get back together. It must be because they were together for so many years that they still had that spark. I know this is what I felt about their visits. Some visits came to fruition, most did not.
Will true love win out in the long run of life?
I truly fell as deeply in love with these characters as they did with each other. This is a love story that is so beautifully and romantically written, it will stay in your heart forever. I was glued to this book and I carried it with me wherever I went in the house, or even outside and while riding in the car. I just could not put this book down.
Peter Golden's style of writing is very captivating and engaging. It is very descriptive and full of emotion. He knows what and how to tell a love story so touching and heartfelt, you simply cannot stop reading it. The length this relationship lasted, until the time they broke up and reunited, until the book ends, was timed to perfection. His writing is absolutely beautiful.
This book flip-flops between the past and the present. For instance, it starts off in the present during the Christmas holidays, with Gordon being stranded in New York city because of a blizzard. The airport is shut down, and there are no hopes of it opening soon. He takes a room at the Hyatt, and while stranded there, thirty-five years after their break-up, he decides to call upon Glenna again, after all this time has passed.
Gordon goes to Glenna's office to see if she might happen to be in, pondering this because of the time of day. She's in! They meet, and walk together arm in arm, to get a drink and reminisce their past relationship. Gordon is still very attracted to her. The snow is still falling, the roads are almost empty, so they decide to walk to the restaurant. It turns out to be a romantic setting, through the streets of New York during the holidays, through the new fallen snow
The past: Gordon is a freelance writer who earns very little money with his writing as the stories he sells to different publications do not pay much money. Glenna was a pre-med student who is now in her first year of internship at a local hospital. This immediately causes a little friction between the two, as Glenna is the bread winner of the two. She shares a large apartment with a friend, whereas Gordon is still living back home with his parents. Not an ideal situation for Gordon. Remember that during the 60's, with the Women's Movement, women were just starting to become very self dependent. Gordon somewhat felt a little 'less than' as compared to Glenna with his income.
This relationship is not without it's struggles and/or difficulties, but along with it's wonderful moments, those do outnumber any negatives. That is, until eventually something huge happens that is so large, circumstances and words make hurts that cannot be mended whatsoever, and the relationship ends completely.
Each go their separate ways, but through the years, do get back in contact with the other, and they meet up every so often. Sometimes when they meet, Gordon finds out Glenna has completely changed more times than not. Growing pains, but I think Glenna had more of them than Gordon did. That is for you to read about and decide.
Back to the present, yet this is where the book begins, and as I began to tell you a little about Gordon and Glenna's relationship. Stranded, Gordon goes to Glenna's office to see if she's there or not. It's a toss-up he thinks. She is or isn't, but worth the chance. Yes! She's there! She is on her way out the door, as it is closing time. Gordon asks Glenna if she would like to go out for a drink, which is where my review has started.
As I said above, again, this book shows that love does still stand the test of time. The great part of it is finding out how and enjoying the ride.
I would LOVE to tell you more, but I cannot. This is the type of book that you will be glued to, and is a very personal experience of love, different for every person who reads this book. When you do start reading it, you are going to want to devour everything and find out just exactly how and where their relationship takes them as you escape into this fabulous love story. I HIGHLY recommended this book! Put it on your TBR lists now! You are going to find a NEW author, Peter Golden, who you are going to love!
My favorite line from the book "Comeback Love" by Peter Golden:
"Not every conviction is impervious to the lessons and corrosion of time, and I could feel the past and present gathering together to become, if I was lucky, the future I desired."
This is one of my FAVORITE books of the year so far! It is going on my "Favorites List of 2012".
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
*I received this book for FREE from Washington Square Books, a Division of Simon and Schuster, AND through Crazy Book Tours through their Book Reviewers Program in exchange to read this book and write a review about it. It is NOT required for the review to be either positive or negative, but, of my own opinion. Free means I was provided with NO MONIES to read this book or write a review, but to enjoy the book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
April 11, 2012
Originally posted on my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
“G: Never fear. 10 yrs from now, when you're looking at this picture, I'm going to be looking at it with you.
I love you,
G.”
4.5 stars!
Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. I never imagined a romance could ever be so good...so perfect. That is the one word I can use to describe Comeback Love.
The premise of this novel is truly unique: Gordon Meyers is a fifty-something man who lost the love of his life about thirty years go. He has never truly been able to let her go so he goes in search of his lost love for a mystery reason. When he visits her office in Manhattan, they are overwhelmed and decide to go for a drink to catch up. With this opening, Mr. Golden unfolds a deep, tender tale about two people who share a soul-crushing love - one that spans decades. Since the book revolves around the two reminiscing about their past, the author did well to alternate between the past and present through the story. After every few chapters about the past, he brings us back with a conversation about the part of the past that was just explained and more prodding oh Glenda's part to find out why Gordon has returned after so many years.
I guess the main reason this book really pops in comparison to some of the YA romances I've endured is that it has very convincing characters. Both Gordon and Glenda are deep, beautiful, virtuous characters, yet not perfect. They are not made out to be some sort of angels or flawless human beings, and it is their faults that makes them both so infuriating and lovable. Gordon is funny and caring, yet he is a man; he gets easily jealous and he is visibly attracted to other women. Glenda is beautiful, intelligent and a to-be-doctor, but she is always late and she is often insensitive. Together, they make the perfect couple whom I was rooting for the entire novel (well, except a certain part where I was furious with Gordon and another certain part where I was furious with Glenda). Their ups and downs are meaningful and heartbreaking, not thrown in without thought. Their names I thought were quite unfortunate, although I suspect that was intentional. Gordon? Glenda? Tell me those names were awful on purpose, Peter!
Without a great narrator, even a superb plot can fall flat and Peter does not hesitate to exhibit his genius storytelling skills. The suspense of the reason for the separation and the reason for Gordon's return is quietly emphasized throughout the novel, building suspense without going overboard. The narration made me want to characterize it as a classic - the book handles love, loss and women's issues all with a lyrical prose and 'stark reality' description. The attention to detail was very engaging. Whether talking about the setting or the multi-faceted personalities, you were shows every single fascinating moment. Beware though: this is no typical rainbows-and-unicorns love story. It handles complex issues about the relationship between men and women, sex and abortion, and even war.
Cover/Title: I adore the simple but meaningful picture of the man and the woman walking in snow on the cover. It simply creates the mood for the love story but demonstrates that there is so much more to it through their appearing tiny in comparison to the tall buildings around them and the cold inhospitable air.
“G: Never fear. 10 yrs from now, when you're looking at this picture, I'm going to be looking at it with you.
I love you,
G.”
4.5 stars!
Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. I never imagined a romance could ever be so good...so perfect. That is the one word I can use to describe Comeback Love.
The premise of this novel is truly unique: Gordon Meyers is a fifty-something man who lost the love of his life about thirty years go. He has never truly been able to let her go so he goes in search of his lost love for a mystery reason. When he visits her office in Manhattan, they are overwhelmed and decide to go for a drink to catch up. With this opening, Mr. Golden unfolds a deep, tender tale about two people who share a soul-crushing love - one that spans decades. Since the book revolves around the two reminiscing about their past, the author did well to alternate between the past and present through the story. After every few chapters about the past, he brings us back with a conversation about the part of the past that was just explained and more prodding oh Glenda's part to find out why Gordon has returned after so many years.
I guess the main reason this book really pops in comparison to some of the YA romances I've endured is that it has very convincing characters. Both Gordon and Glenda are deep, beautiful, virtuous characters, yet not perfect. They are not made out to be some sort of angels or flawless human beings, and it is their faults that makes them both so infuriating and lovable. Gordon is funny and caring, yet he is a man; he gets easily jealous and he is visibly attracted to other women. Glenda is beautiful, intelligent and a to-be-doctor, but she is always late and she is often insensitive. Together, they make the perfect couple whom I was rooting for the entire novel (well, except a certain part where I was furious with Gordon and another certain part where I was furious with Glenda). Their ups and downs are meaningful and heartbreaking, not thrown in without thought. Their names I thought were quite unfortunate, although I suspect that was intentional. Gordon? Glenda? Tell me those names were awful on purpose, Peter!
Without a great narrator, even a superb plot can fall flat and Peter does not hesitate to exhibit his genius storytelling skills. The suspense of the reason for the separation and the reason for Gordon's return is quietly emphasized throughout the novel, building suspense without going overboard. The narration made me want to characterize it as a classic - the book handles love, loss and women's issues all with a lyrical prose and 'stark reality' description. The attention to detail was very engaging. Whether talking about the setting or the multi-faceted personalities, you were shows every single fascinating moment. Beware though: this is no typical rainbows-and-unicorns love story. It handles complex issues about the relationship between men and women, sex and abortion, and even war.
Cover/Title: I adore the simple but meaningful picture of the man and the woman walking in snow on the cover. It simply creates the mood for the love story but demonstrates that there is so much more to it through their appearing tiny in comparison to the tall buildings around them and the cold inhospitable air.
July 23, 2012
Another book picked because I liked the cover! I was drawn in by the photo of a couple walking in the middle of the street on a gray overcast day,it looks like the aftermath of a snowstorm. The girl in a red wool pea coat and pale pink woolly hat, the guy in a black peacoat and red beanie, both in dark pants,arms around each other, walking; buildings towering over them in the city.
The story is about Gordon Meyers and Glenna Rising. A couple who meet in the 60's, having what is a rollercoaster love affair only to lose each other...We go back and forth between the 60's-reliving the past so to speak- and the present day when Gordon decides to track Glenna down for some mysterious reason, after 30 years! Novels written in this format can sometimes have very jarring transitions but somehow Peter Golden makes it a smooth ride. The two seemed to need each other but they also had this independence about them and maybe this is why things did not work out in the past? Gordon was a free spirit drifting through life, while Glenna was more focused but also quite temperamental. I did not really like all the drug references but then again, this story is set in the 60's so I guess the author was trying to capture the lives of some of the young people of that time. Some of the causes of that period are also in the book, like the Vietnam war, the abortion debate etc. There is abit of history in there too, I learned a few things. The story also captures the family issues and tensions in the lives of the characters. It feels real unlike many romances that are often saccharine sweet and sappy. We follow the arc of their lives until present day and through the ups and downs it is very hopeful. This quote captures that feeling so well:
G: Never fear. 10 yrs from now, when you're looking at this picture, I'm going to be looking at it with you.I love you, G
I rarely read love stories but this one pulled me right in, done in a weekend! Very heartwarming! Loved it!
The story is about Gordon Meyers and Glenna Rising. A couple who meet in the 60's, having what is a rollercoaster love affair only to lose each other...We go back and forth between the 60's-reliving the past so to speak- and the present day when Gordon decides to track Glenna down for some mysterious reason, after 30 years! Novels written in this format can sometimes have very jarring transitions but somehow Peter Golden makes it a smooth ride. The two seemed to need each other but they also had this independence about them and maybe this is why things did not work out in the past? Gordon was a free spirit drifting through life, while Glenna was more focused but also quite temperamental. I did not really like all the drug references but then again, this story is set in the 60's so I guess the author was trying to capture the lives of some of the young people of that time. Some of the causes of that period are also in the book, like the Vietnam war, the abortion debate etc. There is abit of history in there too, I learned a few things. The story also captures the family issues and tensions in the lives of the characters. It feels real unlike many romances that are often saccharine sweet and sappy. We follow the arc of their lives until present day and through the ups and downs it is very hopeful. This quote captures that feeling so well:
G: Never fear. 10 yrs from now, when you're looking at this picture, I'm going to be looking at it with you.I love you, G
I rarely read love stories but this one pulled me right in, done in a weekend! Very heartwarming! Loved it!
May 12, 2012
I am conflicted about this book. I really, really wanted to love it because I love stories that involve second chances and taking risks. But as much as I love those, I was discouraged because I felt as if Comeback Love flirted with the potential for a really good story and just fell a little bit short.
That's not to say it wasn't good story, because it was. It was just hugely ambitious and all of the back and forth, historic events, life-changing events and roller-coaster emotions made me feel as if I was caught in a churning washing machine and put through the ringer by the end of the story.
For me, the best part of the story was the beginning - when the promise was so strong and kept my attention, when the anticipation began to build. The opening scenes had me almost trembling with anticipation (I'm a book nerd like that) so I think I may have built my expectations up just too high. That said, the premise was an ambitious one, and I think if it had just been a little less grandiose it would have worked.
Still, I'd recommend this book just because there were moments that it did work, and work well. It's a great picture of a real relationship, in all its flaws and glory.
That's not to say it wasn't good story, because it was. It was just hugely ambitious and all of the back and forth, historic events, life-changing events and roller-coaster emotions made me feel as if I was caught in a churning washing machine and put through the ringer by the end of the story.
For me, the best part of the story was the beginning - when the promise was so strong and kept my attention, when the anticipation began to build. The opening scenes had me almost trembling with anticipation (I'm a book nerd like that) so I think I may have built my expectations up just too high. That said, the premise was an ambitious one, and I think if it had just been a little less grandiose it would have worked.
Still, I'd recommend this book just because there were moments that it did work, and work well. It's a great picture of a real relationship, in all its flaws and glory.
February 20, 2012
one line summary: A debut novel about a man and his romantic quest to find the woman he loved and lost years before.
Comeback Love is a sweet story, without being syrupy sweet. The time frame alternates between 1968-69 and today, with a few years in between.
I especially enjoyed reading about the 1968 year ... this is the year the United States politcal and social made a huge shift. That is the same year when the characters Glenna and Gordon meet each other, fall in love and move in together. They come of age. Eventually, though, Gordon leaves.
Decades later, Gordon surprises Glenna in her office. After dinner, she asks him why he came. He evades answering, this causes us to wonder too. Why? What happened in the years in between?
That was why I kept on reading ... the ending was quite satisfying.
Comeback Love is a sweet story, without being syrupy sweet. The time frame alternates between 1968-69 and today, with a few years in between.
I especially enjoyed reading about the 1968 year ... this is the year the United States politcal and social made a huge shift. That is the same year when the characters Glenna and Gordon meet each other, fall in love and move in together. They come of age. Eventually, though, Gordon leaves.
Decades later, Gordon surprises Glenna in her office. After dinner, she asks him why he came. He evades answering, this causes us to wonder too. Why? What happened in the years in between?
That was why I kept on reading ... the ending was quite satisfying.
January 4, 2021
It was the late 1960's and Gordon Meyers, perpetual college student and aspiring writer, was lucky enough to have been spared being drafted to the military. On an assignment to write piece for the local newspaper, Gordon meets medical student, Glenna Rising. They fall in love.
Excellent read.
Excellent read.
April 13, 2012
After decades apart, can two people find love again? Will everything work out? Is the pain of the breakup still there? Have the both of you grown from the experience? What would you do with a second chance? Peter Golden tackles all that in his novel Comeback Love.
The book alternates between the present and the past. In the present, Gordon Meyers is a successful consultant. He has a son he adores and an ex-wife. But now his life is in turmoil and it leads him back to his first love Dr. Glenna Rising. Wanting to know what went wrong, kept me turning the pages. You meet these two likeable people, and wonder what kept them apart?
Thirty-five years in the past, Gordon and Glenna were coming of age amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War. Gordon was trying to the dodge the draft by continuing his studies in college. When Gordon met Glenna he was struggling to make it as a writer, and she was a med student heavily involved in abortion rights. The attraction was mutual, but do they really belong together? I wondered if Gordon fit into her world. They seemed to be polar opposites. She's immersed in her studies and social responsibility. Gordon doesn't care a lot about college, he is simply trying to avoid going off to war. Somehow they make their relationship work. He might not like her friends, but Gordon can be witty and funny around them. She can easily get along with his family.
But something is missing from their relationship. It's the elephant in the room. They love each other, but they always seem to be testing each other. When Gordon betrays Glenna in the worst way, he decides against telling her. She was probably just testing him, so why tell the truth? Is he afraid of losing her or of getting caught? Neither one of them is acknowledging something is missing. What was it? In the present, Gordon and Glenna try to discover what went wrong. They discover that the hurt is still there. Gordon fell in love and married someone else, but he always wondered what a life with Glenna would have been like. Glenna became a successful pediatrician, but her marriage wasn't out of love but for convenience.
The book has themes everyone can relate to. Relationships are never easy, and they're filled with ups and downs. I found myself rooting for Gordon and Glenna. If given a second chance at love, would you take it? Most of us would probably say yes.
Rating: Superb
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Simon & Schuster) in exchange for an honest review.
The book alternates between the present and the past. In the present, Gordon Meyers is a successful consultant. He has a son he adores and an ex-wife. But now his life is in turmoil and it leads him back to his first love Dr. Glenna Rising. Wanting to know what went wrong, kept me turning the pages. You meet these two likeable people, and wonder what kept them apart?
Thirty-five years in the past, Gordon and Glenna were coming of age amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War. Gordon was trying to the dodge the draft by continuing his studies in college. When Gordon met Glenna he was struggling to make it as a writer, and she was a med student heavily involved in abortion rights. The attraction was mutual, but do they really belong together? I wondered if Gordon fit into her world. They seemed to be polar opposites. She's immersed in her studies and social responsibility. Gordon doesn't care a lot about college, he is simply trying to avoid going off to war. Somehow they make their relationship work. He might not like her friends, but Gordon can be witty and funny around them. She can easily get along with his family.
But something is missing from their relationship. It's the elephant in the room. They love each other, but they always seem to be testing each other. When Gordon betrays Glenna in the worst way, he decides against telling her. She was probably just testing him, so why tell the truth? Is he afraid of losing her or of getting caught? Neither one of them is acknowledging something is missing. What was it? In the present, Gordon and Glenna try to discover what went wrong. They discover that the hurt is still there. Gordon fell in love and married someone else, but he always wondered what a life with Glenna would have been like. Glenna became a successful pediatrician, but her marriage wasn't out of love but for convenience.
The book has themes everyone can relate to. Relationships are never easy, and they're filled with ups and downs. I found myself rooting for Gordon and Glenna. If given a second chance at love, would you take it? Most of us would probably say yes.
Rating: Superb
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Simon & Schuster) in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2018
To say I liked this story is an understatement. This novel is for all of us that at one time or another questioned ourselves about our first love, and how come we let it slip through our fingers.
There’s so much to recommend this story that I honestly don’t know where to begin!
This is well written, character driven and very moving story that will grab you from the first page. It will then take you on a journey of love lost and love found, while in the background past and current events will eerily remind you of what our country went through in the 60’s and what it is still going through today.
The hero of this tale is Gordon Meyers; a man who at present needs to connect with the past in order to sort out his deep feelings for a woman that he could never forget, even through all the years of his marriage, consequent divorce and many years of loneliness.
The novel opens a few days after Christmas and Gordon is on his way to see his sister, stopping by his hometown cemetery. As tears are freezing in his eyes while talking to the gravestones, he decides to drive to Manhattan,and soon after he’s checked into Grand Hyatt.
As he sits in his hotel room and ponders his lonely existence, he’s looking over a piece of paper with Glenna Rising’s information on it and wonders if he should call or just surprise her at her office, after all, it has been over thirty years since they’ve seen each other. The first time they see each other, after so many years and life lived apart, that scene was so tender and real, it brought tears to my eyes…
*EXCERPT: “Having imagined seeing Glenna again for so long, I viewed myself as ready for anything-anything, that is, except entering the waiting room and actually seeing her with UPS box in her hands, standing amid the tube-framed chairs and low, laminate-topped tables that made me think that all doctors shopped at the same discount-furniture outlet.
‘Can I help-‘ Glenna said, For the rest of this review, please visit us at..
http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.co...
Melanie
*This review posted on Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews eZine*
There’s so much to recommend this story that I honestly don’t know where to begin!
This is well written, character driven and very moving story that will grab you from the first page. It will then take you on a journey of love lost and love found, while in the background past and current events will eerily remind you of what our country went through in the 60’s and what it is still going through today.
The hero of this tale is Gordon Meyers; a man who at present needs to connect with the past in order to sort out his deep feelings for a woman that he could never forget, even through all the years of his marriage, consequent divorce and many years of loneliness.
The novel opens a few days after Christmas and Gordon is on his way to see his sister, stopping by his hometown cemetery. As tears are freezing in his eyes while talking to the gravestones, he decides to drive to Manhattan,and soon after he’s checked into Grand Hyatt.
As he sits in his hotel room and ponders his lonely existence, he’s looking over a piece of paper with Glenna Rising’s information on it and wonders if he should call or just surprise her at her office, after all, it has been over thirty years since they’ve seen each other. The first time they see each other, after so many years and life lived apart, that scene was so tender and real, it brought tears to my eyes…
*EXCERPT: “Having imagined seeing Glenna again for so long, I viewed myself as ready for anything-anything, that is, except entering the waiting room and actually seeing her with UPS box in her hands, standing amid the tube-framed chairs and low, laminate-topped tables that made me think that all doctors shopped at the same discount-furniture outlet.
‘Can I help-‘ Glenna said, For the rest of this review, please visit us at..
http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.co...
Melanie
*This review posted on Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews eZine*
April 29, 2012
Gordon was immediately drawn to Glenna when they met. Drawn in by her passion, Gordon had a tumultuous and emotional relationship with Glenna. Things gradually begin to go wrong though, and soon something that seemed very right is very wrong. Thirty-plus years after a horrible end, Gordon is once again seeking Glenna. As the grasp to figure out what went wrong in the past, they also work together to figure out their futures. Can you relive the past?
I found this story very interesting. The book begins in the present, and cuts between the past and present to tell the story of Gordon and Glenna. What happened to them is very relevant to what is happening to them now. They were a pair of passionate people who found support with each other. This attachment and support though is one of the things that helped drive them apart. I really found myself drawn to these characters even though I didn't really relate to them. I didn't really understand why they were doing what they were doing at times, but I couldn't help but like them. They sucked me into their relationship much the same way they drew each other in.
The parallels between what was going on in the past and what is going on now was somewhat astonishing. I really admired Glenna's work in the past and present, but sometimes I found Glenna's personality a bit too tempestuous for my liking. I couldn't really decide what I thought of Gordon. Together though, I think they were a very interesting pair. I found myself wanting desperately to know what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. Luckily I got answers along with a few surprises. I think this is one of those books that can really suck people in, and before they know it they've read a whole book without moving. It holds your attention well and ultimately leaves you feeling good.
Galley provided for review.
I found this story very interesting. The book begins in the present, and cuts between the past and present to tell the story of Gordon and Glenna. What happened to them is very relevant to what is happening to them now. They were a pair of passionate people who found support with each other. This attachment and support though is one of the things that helped drive them apart. I really found myself drawn to these characters even though I didn't really relate to them. I didn't really understand why they were doing what they were doing at times, but I couldn't help but like them. They sucked me into their relationship much the same way they drew each other in.
The parallels between what was going on in the past and what is going on now was somewhat astonishing. I really admired Glenna's work in the past and present, but sometimes I found Glenna's personality a bit too tempestuous for my liking. I couldn't really decide what I thought of Gordon. Together though, I think they were a very interesting pair. I found myself wanting desperately to know what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. Luckily I got answers along with a few surprises. I think this is one of those books that can really suck people in, and before they know it they've read a whole book without moving. It holds your attention well and ultimately leaves you feeling good.
Galley provided for review.
May 13, 2015
This is hands down the best book I've read all year so far. I fell hard for this book from the moment it grabbed me in the first couple of pages. I've waited all year for a book to do that to me and it was such a pleasant journey. I couldn't put it down and finished it during a couple late nights of not sleeping to keep reading.
What I enjoyed most about this story was that you really understand why Gordon goes searching for Glenna after twenty years and Peter Golden was masterful in writing the dialogue between the two. It is so witty, intelligent and real. Within the first few pages of dialogue between the two, you know right away why these two individuals were attracted to each other so many years ago. Their chemistry just oozes off the pages and you can't get but swept up by their young love.
I especially enjoy stories that flashback and it was very well done in Comeback Love. It wasn't too frequent and it didn't give away too much. I love that you follow their journey from the beginning of their relationship to the present time through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Being a child of the 80's, I was intrigued by all the history about the 60's and 70's in this book. It was very enlightening and I learned so much.
The only negative thing with this book was that the abortion stuff made me uncomfortable. Being a pretty conservative Christian, those parts were a little hard to digest.
I just loved this book so much. Read it. NOW! You will not be disappointed by this book. If you are in search of a beautifully-written love story, look no further. Comeback Love will sweep you up and take you on a wonderful journey.
What I enjoyed most about this story was that you really understand why Gordon goes searching for Glenna after twenty years and Peter Golden was masterful in writing the dialogue between the two. It is so witty, intelligent and real. Within the first few pages of dialogue between the two, you know right away why these two individuals were attracted to each other so many years ago. Their chemistry just oozes off the pages and you can't get but swept up by their young love.
I especially enjoy stories that flashback and it was very well done in Comeback Love. It wasn't too frequent and it didn't give away too much. I love that you follow their journey from the beginning of their relationship to the present time through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Being a child of the 80's, I was intrigued by all the history about the 60's and 70's in this book. It was very enlightening and I learned so much.
The only negative thing with this book was that the abortion stuff made me uncomfortable. Being a pretty conservative Christian, those parts were a little hard to digest.
I just loved this book so much. Read it. NOW! You will not be disappointed by this book. If you are in search of a beautifully-written love story, look no further. Comeback Love will sweep you up and take you on a wonderful journey.
July 24, 2013
Comeback Love by Peter Golden
This book is about Gordon Meyers who is a writer and going to college, to keep out of the war.
Glenna Rising is studying to be a doctor and they get wrapped up in the rallies/marches/protests that deal with abortions. She is able to perform abortions where you suction out the cells. She doesn't feel it's a fetus till after 12 weeks.
They start dating and go to the rallies and protest marches in the city.
This love story goes in a different direction and they each move on in their lives. They do meet up later in life and I love how the book just goes to a certain point then goes back in time so you are then able to understand what transpired.
It follows both of their living arrangements and travel and work til they meet again. Their families, husband, children and work.
Love the travels and the work they've each done over the years.
I can recall sitting in front of a TV listening to the lottery for the war with my brother. It's one of the only times I ever saw him cry.
Love the memories of Woodstock and other mentions of musical groups of the times.
Not only did I like the travel but the learning of new things in this book. I had just read a war type book where it mentioned the listening posts so that was familiar to me.
Although this is mostly about the two of them, others pop into their lives but it's not overpowering, keeping the focus on the two main characters. Love touching scene at his sisters'.
Loved the ending also, brought it all together...
To me this is the Love Story of the 70's. This book got a 5 out of 5, excellent read!
This book is about Gordon Meyers who is a writer and going to college, to keep out of the war.
Glenna Rising is studying to be a doctor and they get wrapped up in the rallies/marches/protests that deal with abortions. She is able to perform abortions where you suction out the cells. She doesn't feel it's a fetus till after 12 weeks.
They start dating and go to the rallies and protest marches in the city.
This love story goes in a different direction and they each move on in their lives. They do meet up later in life and I love how the book just goes to a certain point then goes back in time so you are then able to understand what transpired.
It follows both of their living arrangements and travel and work til they meet again. Their families, husband, children and work.
Love the travels and the work they've each done over the years.
I can recall sitting in front of a TV listening to the lottery for the war with my brother. It's one of the only times I ever saw him cry.
Love the memories of Woodstock and other mentions of musical groups of the times.
Not only did I like the travel but the learning of new things in this book. I had just read a war type book where it mentioned the listening posts so that was familiar to me.
Although this is mostly about the two of them, others pop into their lives but it's not overpowering, keeping the focus on the two main characters. Love touching scene at his sisters'.
Loved the ending also, brought it all together...
To me this is the Love Story of the 70's. This book got a 5 out of 5, excellent read!
March 12, 2012
Drugs, abortion clinics, Vietnam war and Afghanistan war are the many pressure points that this book highlights within one couple's journey together and apart. Jumping between the past and the present, the reader is taken back into the Vietnam/Woodstock time to find a couple trying to find their way both in their own individuality and within the couple.
Gordon was young man who wasn't quite sure what path he wanted to take, but he did know he wanted Glenna by his side the entire way. Glenna was pursuing the doctor route, but you knew as a reader that she wasn't absolutely sure what her true passions were. Unraveling their story simultaneously in the past and the present was interesting and I enjoyed how the reader was exposed to the secrets and the back story. I absolutely loved the formatting, it was different, but it gave the book character.
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey because it showed that relationships can take some hard hits when both the individuals in it are not quite sure about themselves. You can not be a good partner unless you are fully aware of your own self-worth. Although there was quite a lot of drug use and sexual interactions, the greater story was interesting and the plot had enough to enjoy the story above what may have been happening in the late 60s.
Gordon was young man who wasn't quite sure what path he wanted to take, but he did know he wanted Glenna by his side the entire way. Glenna was pursuing the doctor route, but you knew as a reader that she wasn't absolutely sure what her true passions were. Unraveling their story simultaneously in the past and the present was interesting and I enjoyed how the reader was exposed to the secrets and the back story. I absolutely loved the formatting, it was different, but it gave the book character.
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey because it showed that relationships can take some hard hits when both the individuals in it are not quite sure about themselves. You can not be a good partner unless you are fully aware of your own self-worth. Although there was quite a lot of drug use and sexual interactions, the greater story was interesting and the plot had enough to enjoy the story above what may have been happening in the late 60s.
April 22, 2012
Comeback Love is a debut novel by Peter Golden and is a story of the love affair between Gordon Meyers, a journalist / college student and wannabe novelist and Glenna Rising, med student in the late 60's and present day where Gordon is a consultant and Glenna is a physician.
In the late 60's, in the time of the Vietnam war, peace, love and drugs, Gordon meets Glenna and is immediately taken with her beauty and intelligence. They move in together and because of certain circumstances break up and lose touch with each other. Thirty plus years later, Gordon shows up in Glenna's office wanting to reconnect. Gordon is divorced and has a son and Glenna is a widow and they both have great careers but found that something was missing in each of their lives. Each other, we can never correct the mistakes of the past but we can only hope to try again. That is what Gordon and Glenna eventually do.
This is a very riveting and poignant story that will transport the reader into a bygone time where peace and love is the norm but tensions are high because of war and civil rights for women. I absolutely loved this book and didn't want it to end. This is not just women's fiction, although there were a few spots that had me teary eyed. I highly recommend it.
In the late 60's, in the time of the Vietnam war, peace, love and drugs, Gordon meets Glenna and is immediately taken with her beauty and intelligence. They move in together and because of certain circumstances break up and lose touch with each other. Thirty plus years later, Gordon shows up in Glenna's office wanting to reconnect. Gordon is divorced and has a son and Glenna is a widow and they both have great careers but found that something was missing in each of their lives. Each other, we can never correct the mistakes of the past but we can only hope to try again. That is what Gordon and Glenna eventually do.
This is a very riveting and poignant story that will transport the reader into a bygone time where peace and love is the norm but tensions are high because of war and civil rights for women. I absolutely loved this book and didn't want it to end. This is not just women's fiction, although there were a few spots that had me teary eyed. I highly recommend it.
July 9, 2013
Comeback Love is a nicely written story about timeless love. Told through the voice of Gordon Meyers, this book alternates between past and present. Peter Golden’s choice to swing back and forth between present day and the past allows the reader to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of Gordon and Glenna; their feelings, their thoughts, as well as their inner struggles.
The story spans from the 60’s through present day. As the story progresses you can correlate how the various global and personal events that take place throughout the years impact the character’s lives and their relationship. You begin to understand their struggles with their inner selves, you grasp how they are trying to find out who they are, where they belong, what they want their future to be. Now, 30+ years later, they still seem to have their own struggles, but are now able to define how they want their future and who will stay in it.
Overall, a great book and fast read that doesn’t disappoint.
The story spans from the 60’s through present day. As the story progresses you can correlate how the various global and personal events that take place throughout the years impact the character’s lives and their relationship. You begin to understand their struggles with their inner selves, you grasp how they are trying to find out who they are, where they belong, what they want their future to be. Now, 30+ years later, they still seem to have their own struggles, but are now able to define how they want their future and who will stay in it.
Overall, a great book and fast read that doesn’t disappoint.
July 7, 2013
Peter Golden's debut novel is sharp, clever and compelling with two characters that will burrow into your heart. When they fell in love in the 60's, life was different than it is now. Their differing opinions and beliefs drove them apart, even though they still cared for one another. Now, thirty-five years later, Gordon wants to re-connect with Glenna. Even though they've both had great careers and have both been married, they decide to try again. But what if you can't go back?
With women's rights, politics and war a backdrop against two soul compliments, Comeback Love will keep you riveted. The author does a fantastic job of flipping back and forth between the past and the present, keeping the details of both times realistic. The reader gets glimpses into history as well as the journey these two individuals have taken alone and together, all merging together as one into a remarkable read. Highly recommend!!
With women's rights, politics and war a backdrop against two soul compliments, Comeback Love will keep you riveted. The author does a fantastic job of flipping back and forth between the past and the present, keeping the details of both times realistic. The reader gets glimpses into history as well as the journey these two individuals have taken alone and together, all merging together as one into a remarkable read. Highly recommend!!
January 8, 2018
Who doesn’t love a good story about second chances at relationships with The One That Got Away? With a well-fleshed-out narrator and a great perspective on New York in the 1960s, Comeback Love swept me up right away.
I wish I had believed in the importance of Glenna and Gordon’s romance more, but he was such a jealous jerk in their youthful stage that it was hard for me to think that she’d really want him back later in life. On the other hand, it was his jealousy and ultimately the trajectory of change within his character that made the book interesting, so in the end it worked. I’d say that Comeback Love is One Day with a MUCH better ending!
I wish I had believed in the importance of Glenna and Gordon’s romance more, but he was such a jealous jerk in their youthful stage that it was hard for me to think that she’d really want him back later in life. On the other hand, it was his jealousy and ultimately the trajectory of change within his character that made the book interesting, so in the end it worked. I’d say that Comeback Love is One Day with a MUCH better ending!
April 6, 2012
Loved it! Couldn't put it down. Gordon and Glenna are characters I cared about ... I wanted to know their story. These two characters were so well developed -- particularly Gordon. First love through a man's point of view was very well done and revealing. At times you could feel Gordon burning over on Mars completely flummoxed by his Venus. The other characters -- Robin and "Biff" as well as the families were great foils for the main characters but interesting on their own.
December 14, 2012
Come back Love = Go Back to the Library.
At first I thought - hmm this is really simple sounding. Maybe this is a new, clever way to write. Then I thought, actually, no, this is appallingly bad. Let me check the GR rating - maybe I picked this one up by accident. 3.7???? I must keep on. Then I realized it was only getting worse, remembered that these ratings are sometimes self selecting, and I have only one life to live.
At first I thought - hmm this is really simple sounding. Maybe this is a new, clever way to write. Then I thought, actually, no, this is appallingly bad. Let me check the GR rating - maybe I picked this one up by accident. 3.7???? I must keep on. Then I realized it was only getting worse, remembered that these ratings are sometimes self selecting, and I have only one life to live.
April 12, 2012
Peter is coming to visit our store next week and I best have this one under my belt in advance. Reads like "Love Story" redux. Middle class boy meets rich girl fall wildly in lust boy loses girl in stupid fight 30+ years go by man finds woman sparks fly secrets revealed will they won't they?
September 5, 2011
Written by a local Albany Author, Peter Golden. A nice read. He will be joining us for our book club discussion soon, which I really like.
November 19, 2012
Having come of age at the same time, I really thought I'd relate more to this book. It was a good read, but nothing special.
January 25, 2013
Kinda ok, it's been 3 days since I finished and am struggling to remember it.....
December 28, 2013
Very easy fast read
July 2, 2023
Interesting, a little predictable, definitely from a male perspective, overall I enjoyed the characters and story.
August 5, 2012
This review will be posted August 5th, as part of the book tour hosted by JKS.
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