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The Theory of Opposites
What happens when you think you have it all, and then suddenly it's taken away?
Willa Chandler-Golden's father changed the world with his self-help bestseller, Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control. Millions of devoted fans now find solace in his notion that everything happens for a reason. Though Willa isn't entirely convinced of her father's theories, she readily admits that the universe has delivered her a solid life: a reliable husband, a fast-paced career. Sure there are hiccups - negative pregnancy tests, embattled siblings - but this is what the universe has brought, and life, if she doesn't think about it too much, is wonderful.
Then her (evidently not-so-reliable) husband proposes this: a two-month break. Two months to see if they can't live their lives without each other. And before Willa can sort out destiny and fate and what it all means, she's axed from her job, her 12 year-old nephew Nicky moves in, her ex-boyfriend finds her on Facebook, and her best friend Vanessa lands a gig writing for Dare You!, the hottest new reality TV show. And then Vanessa lures Willa into dares of her own - dares that run counter to her father's theories of fate, dares that might change everything...but only if Willa is brave enough to stop listening to the universe and instead aim for the stars
Willa Chandler-Golden's father changed the world with his self-help bestseller, Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control. Millions of devoted fans now find solace in his notion that everything happens for a reason. Though Willa isn't entirely convinced of her father's theories, she readily admits that the universe has delivered her a solid life: a reliable husband, a fast-paced career. Sure there are hiccups - negative pregnancy tests, embattled siblings - but this is what the universe has brought, and life, if she doesn't think about it too much, is wonderful.
Then her (evidently not-so-reliable) husband proposes this: a two-month break. Two months to see if they can't live their lives without each other. And before Willa can sort out destiny and fate and what it all means, she's axed from her job, her 12 year-old nephew Nicky moves in, her ex-boyfriend finds her on Facebook, and her best friend Vanessa lands a gig writing for Dare You!, the hottest new reality TV show. And then Vanessa lures Willa into dares of her own - dares that run counter to her father's theories of fate, dares that might change everything...but only if Willa is brave enough to stop listening to the universe and instead aim for the stars
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2013
277 people are currently reading
4069 people want to read
About the author
Allison Winn Scotch
13 books1,962 followersI'm the bestselling author of eight novels including, CLEO MCDOUGAL REGRETS NOTHING, IN TWENTY YEARS and TIME OF MY LIFE, currently in development at Sony. My latest book, THE REWIND, will be released in Nov 2022 by Berkley Books.
As an author, I know how brutal reviews can be, so I'll only post about books I've enjoyed. (Just in case you're wondering why all of my reviews are positive!)
As an author, I know how brutal reviews can be, so I'll only post about books I've enjoyed. (Just in case you're wondering why all of my reviews are positive!)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
November 15, 2013
First, a word about the author and the process. Winn Scotch self-published this, and one of the reasons she did so was to be able to set her own price to make it affordable for readers. It is tempting to see this as disingenuous, because another benefit to self-publishing is that she doesn't have to pay much overhead to anyone, and that, too, might be true. However, I've been friendly with AWS for a few years now, and have read her blogs/Q&As/seen her interact with people on Twitter and elsewhere and the price decision just . . . fits her. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more gracious person in terms of giving back to her readers and to the writing community. She's generous with advice to new writers, is incredibly down-to-earth and just . . . she's nice. That sticks with me, both as a reader and a person, and as a result, I'll always be rooting for her.
All that being said, this book was a quick, enjoyable read, which was exactly what I wanted. I enjoyed it and read it in record time, which usually means I'm having fun. I can see, quite easily, how the film rights got picked up so easily -- you can practically see Ginnifer Goodwin in her adorable little pixie playing Willa and some bland, likable dude playing Shawn and shit, I'm imagining that guy from Something Borrowed, and no, you can't just steal the cast of that movie, Jonna. I did get frustrated with Willa at times -- her apathy was just SO IRRITATING. I mean, sometimes she didn't do ANYTHING, which is, I imagine, the point. It's who she is, and how she got there, but oh my God, sometimes I wanted to jump in the book, take her by her hair and just say listen, lady. Open your MOUTH. (Again, that's the ... point, so I think it was done well.) I wished for a little more background on Theo/Willa to make their relationship a little more dimensional to counterpoint the detail we got about Shilla, if only to make the ending a little more satisfying.
The brightest spot, for me, was Willa's family -- her father, mother, brother and sister are a set to rival Marian Keyes' Walsh sisters (and their parents) and frankly, I am hoping for a spinoff on each of them, for the potential is pretty rich. They're a hoot, all of them, truly, and even if the rest of the book sucked (and it didn't), it would be worth it for them alone.
So there you have it. A good book written by someone who strikes me as a genuinely good person. Win.
*Also, it's $2.99 on Amazon. $3. Pretty sure I have that in quarters in my couch cushions right now.
All that being said, this book was a quick, enjoyable read, which was exactly what I wanted. I enjoyed it and read it in record time, which usually means I'm having fun. I can see, quite easily, how the film rights got picked up so easily -- you can practically see Ginnifer Goodwin in her adorable little pixie playing Willa and some bland, likable dude playing Shawn and shit, I'm imagining that guy from Something Borrowed, and no, you can't just steal the cast of that movie, Jonna. I did get frustrated with Willa at times -- her apathy was just SO IRRITATING. I mean, sometimes she didn't do ANYTHING, which is, I imagine, the point. It's who she is, and how she got there, but oh my God, sometimes I wanted to jump in the book, take her by her hair and just say listen, lady. Open your MOUTH. (Again, that's the ... point, so I think it was done well.) I wished for a little more background on Theo/Willa to make their relationship a little more dimensional to counterpoint the detail we got about Shilla, if only to make the ending a little more satisfying.
The brightest spot, for me, was Willa's family -- her father, mother, brother and sister are a set to rival Marian Keyes' Walsh sisters (and their parents) and frankly, I am hoping for a spinoff on each of them, for the potential is pretty rich. They're a hoot, all of them, truly, and even if the rest of the book sucked (and it didn't), it would be worth it for them alone.
So there you have it. A good book written by someone who strikes me as a genuinely good person. Win.
*Also, it's $2.99 on Amazon. $3. Pretty sure I have that in quarters in my couch cushions right now.
September 8, 2013
As usual, Scotch has written an excellent and smart adult coming-of-age novel.
Willa (short for "William") has lived her entire life under the umbrella of her father’s bestseller, "Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control,” and following this theory has resulted in a fairly secure life with a good marriage and a fast-track job. But when her husband recommends they take a “two-month break,” her life goes out of control, but with a little help from her friend (and an old flame that shows up), Willa starts to look deep inside and think that maybe taking a few risks might not be such a bad thing.
Scotch’s new adult coming-of-age novel about hidden inner strength and the courage to change your life will strike a chord in many readers. As usual, I am impressed with Scotch’s astute knowledge of our emotions and how we think. She also creates smart and witty dialogue and has developed a cast of appealing characters (trust me--you’ll want Nicky as your own kid).
I recommend all of Allison Winn Scotch’s books to readers who like Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, and Sophie Kinsella. Scotch has been compared to Sarah Dessen, and even though Sarah writes for teens, I see similarities. In fact, Scotch’s books could appeal to older teens.
Don't read if you don't want to hear personal stuff:
Now for a confession as to why this book struck a chord with me and while at times it was a little painful. As I was reading I would think about my life which seems--no, has been rather staid (41 years with the same husband, 40 years at the same job, 35 years in the same house), and I sometimes wonder if my life might have been better had I gotten a library degree, if I had had children, if we had taken the risk to move to a more expensive house. But after reading this book, I realized that the big risk I took at age 18 to leave college and go out on my own was pretty courageous and resulted in where I am now, and I am in a very good place. So thanks, Allison, for making me realize that indeed, life is good.
Willa (short for "William") has lived her entire life under the umbrella of her father’s bestseller, "Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control,” and following this theory has resulted in a fairly secure life with a good marriage and a fast-track job. But when her husband recommends they take a “two-month break,” her life goes out of control, but with a little help from her friend (and an old flame that shows up), Willa starts to look deep inside and think that maybe taking a few risks might not be such a bad thing.
Scotch’s new adult coming-of-age novel about hidden inner strength and the courage to change your life will strike a chord in many readers. As usual, I am impressed with Scotch’s astute knowledge of our emotions and how we think. She also creates smart and witty dialogue and has developed a cast of appealing characters (trust me--you’ll want Nicky as your own kid).
I recommend all of Allison Winn Scotch’s books to readers who like Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, and Sophie Kinsella. Scotch has been compared to Sarah Dessen, and even though Sarah writes for teens, I see similarities. In fact, Scotch’s books could appeal to older teens.
Don't read if you don't want to hear personal stuff:
Now for a confession as to why this book struck a chord with me and while at times it was a little painful. As I was reading I would think about my life which seems--no, has been rather staid (41 years with the same husband, 40 years at the same job, 35 years in the same house), and I sometimes wonder if my life might have been better had I gotten a library degree, if I had had children, if we had taken the risk to move to a more expensive house. But after reading this book, I realized that the big risk I took at age 18 to leave college and go out on my own was pretty courageous and resulted in where I am now, and I am in a very good place. So thanks, Allison, for making me realize that indeed, life is good.
December 6, 2013
Is it me who's changing, or is it chick-lit that's changing?
I loved Allison Winn Scotch's first novel, THE DEPARTMENT OF LOST AND FOUND. This novel, THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES? Not so much. Ms. Scotch, whom I adore via Social Media, might prefer to call this Women's Fiction, but it didn't seem to have the gravitas to lift it above Chick Lit, in my opinion. Willa, the protagonist, had a sense of humor, but, like the protagonist in Catherine McKenzie's FORGOTTEN, her inner thoughts came off as whiny, woe-is-me insecurity. I can't take three or four hundred pages of that anymore.
This is the story of Willa, daughter of a famous theorist, wife of a tech-demi-god, friend of a daredevil … But Willa seemed too weak throughout the story to be the "heroine." For example, when she decides to take charge of her life—an important move for a protagonist—even that idea was her friend's, not Willa's. Isn't that Cardinal Rule #1 in fiction? The hero must be the hero?
Anyway, this is a light and ultimately happy story, but perhaps more of a beach read than I was hoping for.
Three Stars
I loved Allison Winn Scotch's first novel, THE DEPARTMENT OF LOST AND FOUND. This novel, THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES? Not so much. Ms. Scotch, whom I adore via Social Media, might prefer to call this Women's Fiction, but it didn't seem to have the gravitas to lift it above Chick Lit, in my opinion. Willa, the protagonist, had a sense of humor, but, like the protagonist in Catherine McKenzie's FORGOTTEN, her inner thoughts came off as whiny, woe-is-me insecurity. I can't take three or four hundred pages of that anymore.
This is the story of Willa, daughter of a famous theorist, wife of a tech-demi-god, friend of a daredevil … But Willa seemed too weak throughout the story to be the "heroine." For example, when she decides to take charge of her life—an important move for a protagonist—even that idea was her friend's, not Willa's. Isn't that Cardinal Rule #1 in fiction? The hero must be the hero?
Anyway, this is a light and ultimately happy story, but perhaps more of a beach read than I was hoping for.
Three Stars
December 10, 2013
It's probably not fair for me to review this since I got half way through and then skipped towards the end. I absolutely hated this book. I hate how blasé the author is about marriage. All her books are like that - unhappy? Just go dig up your long lost love! Ugh. It's insulting to anyone who actually works for their relationships. I seem to be the only one who feels this way, but IMO I think I'm over the author.
April 16, 2017
This was one of those rare books that, although I didn’t particularly hate anything about it, I just could not force myself to continue. I could not connect with any of the characters in any way, and none of them were interesting, except one fringe character, a 13 year old boy who exploits his father’s death in the 9/11 attack with a sort of cynical pragmatism. Even the plot was uninteresting, because who cares about developments in relationships between boring characters?
DNF at 40%. Audiobook, purchased via Audible, based on a recommendation from Books on the Nightstand, who seem to be hit and miss for me. Christina Traister does try to infuse some liveliness in the characters.
DNF at 40%. Audiobook, purchased via Audible, based on a recommendation from Books on the Nightstand, who seem to be hit and miss for me. Christina Traister does try to infuse some liveliness in the characters.
November 6, 2013
Truly Allison Winn Scotch's best work yet. It grabbed me on the first page and never let go. Her confidence in her ability to tell this story really shines through. She knows these characters and their story and tells it seamlessly. So fun and compelling, and I just loved Willa and Vanessa's friendship. Sure to spark great book club conversations!
November 9, 2018
Her name is William because her father wanted a boy. That name was shortened to Willa later in life. Willa's PhD father wrote a very popular book that touts everything in life happens for a reason and there is no such thing as free will. When Willa finds herself with a husband who wants a two month break away from marriage, a 12 year old nephew who moves in, an ex-boyfriend finds her on Facebook and she loses her job, there's no where to go but "up"...or is there? The story of Willa finding herself is one hysterical read but there's truth inbetween the pages.
December 6, 2014
I looked forward to this one and really wanted to like it but it was just *ok* for me. There is nothing terribly wrong here - mostly likeable characters, tongue in cheek writing, easy to read plot. But where it fell short for me was in seeming to promise more than it delivered.
First, the theme of bucking (and poking fun at) conventional self help by creating your own map and breaking out of your comfort zone rather than living passively, while repeated over and over, never made sense to me and felt very contrived. While there is a lot to make fun of in some self help books, most seem to reconcile both "everything happens for a reason" with living your best life and having control over your actions, pursuit of your dreams, risk taking, etc. Secondly, I knew the tone was meant to be very humorous but unlike "Where'd You Go Bernadette?", it never quite made it to smart/clever for me.
Lastly, plot-wise, it was just all too convenient maybe? Your husband wants a break but don't worry, your perfect ex-boyfriend whom of course you sort of left and not vice versa is calling so it's not even that upsetting. And your best friend wants you to co-write a book based on a reality TV show. And you are taking care of your nephew by marriage whose father died in 9/11 (and who distractedly talks like a sailor despite being 12). And then of course the ending.
Still I probably would have given this three stars had I not read the last couple of chapters right after seeing the movie Gravity. Without giving anything away, the dare that Willa takes on at the end read as more dramatic/stressful than Sandra Bullock being lost in space and I just couldn't get past it.
That all said, I have the sense that most people would rightly find this to be a fun, enjoyable read. I am not sure why so many aspects seemed to prevent me from doing that.
First, the theme of bucking (and poking fun at) conventional self help by creating your own map and breaking out of your comfort zone rather than living passively, while repeated over and over, never made sense to me and felt very contrived. While there is a lot to make fun of in some self help books, most seem to reconcile both "everything happens for a reason" with living your best life and having control over your actions, pursuit of your dreams, risk taking, etc. Secondly, I knew the tone was meant to be very humorous but unlike "Where'd You Go Bernadette?", it never quite made it to smart/clever for me.
Lastly, plot-wise, it was just all too convenient maybe? Your husband wants a break but don't worry, your perfect ex-boyfriend whom of course you sort of left and not vice versa is calling so it's not even that upsetting. And your best friend wants you to co-write a book based on a reality TV show. And you are taking care of your nephew by marriage whose father died in 9/11 (and who distractedly talks like a sailor despite being 12). And then of course the ending.
Still I probably would have given this three stars had I not read the last couple of chapters right after seeing the movie Gravity. Without giving anything away, the dare that Willa takes on at the end read as more dramatic/stressful than Sandra Bullock being lost in space and I just couldn't get past it.
That all said, I have the sense that most people would rightly find this to be a fun, enjoyable read. I am not sure why so many aspects seemed to prevent me from doing that.
December 13, 2013
Allison Winn Scotch is one of the authors I love and will automatically read all that she's written. While that probably isn't going to change, I do have to say I haven't been as happy with her last couple of books as I was with her first ones. Willa is one of the most indecisive characters I've ever read about, and a complete lack of decisiveness/completely passive approach to life is just one of those dealbreaker traits that I can't really stand in friends, family or romantic partners. And then, in essence, to blame it all on your dad....just didn't work for me. The right guy won in the end, but even then, not necessarily because Willa/William really developed as a person, but because events forced her hand. It was light and easy reading, and I liked the other characters as secondary characters, but the development of the romantic relationships was just not very satisfying to me.
September 29, 2019
This book... confuses me. Willa is the daughter of a man famous for writing a book about how nothing you do matters in life and it's all planned out for you. This has, unsurprisingly, fucked her up. Now her husband's feels like he's in a rut, so he takes a job in a different city for the summer. She's lost her job due to her coke-addicted boss and a bad advertising campaign. Her brother's being chased by the FBI for fraud, and her parents are splitting up, and now her mom is a lesbian. (... this has its own list of offensives attached, but I don't really have much to say you can't figure out for yourself. People don't randomly turn gay. Was her mom always a lesbian or is she bi/pan? This book is way too unfocused to answer that.)
Willa is chronically non-confrontational, ridiculously compliant, and totally incapable of thinking for herself. She's adhered to her dominating father's ideal for so long that she just coasts through life, biting back anger, never arguing, never questioning. Obviously, this affects her badly. When Shawn, her husband, leaves her, she falls apart a little. Her best friend Vanessa, writing a book for Dare You!, a reality show, convinces her to co-author and say yes to everything she'd ordinarily say no to. The ideas here have potential. But it's not well done. Partially because of the sitcom vibe of the story--over the top characters, over the top families, high strung drama, ludicrous situations. I don't watch sitcoms anymore, and this is part of the reason: it's just too wacky for me to really find it funny. Characters like Willa's father go from amusingly annoying to aggravating. Willa goes from sympathetic to just pathetic. (Another issue here: the middle of the book is very repetitive. I was getting sick of her at that point). Vanessa, who definitely is pulling strings behind Willa's back so this experiment isn't entirely random, goes from helpful, supportive friend to someone doesn't quite seem to realize what the main problem is.
And that's the crux of it here. I think this book is meant to be entertaining and make you laugh, so the merits of the discussions aren't really that great. It's a very shallow look. Willa needs therapy, and it often felt like Vanessa was dismissive of how much she needed it to me. This whole Dare You! thing felt trivial. Go to Seattle, climb a mountain, manipulate your friend into seeing her ex she might still have feelings for, go to a baseball game, go to a singles party. This didn't feel super helpful to me, since it took way too long for Willa to learn anything. It felt like it should have been something less physical and more emotional. What is climbing a mountain gonna do? Yeah, sure, you're doing something you've been scared of doing forever, but I would argue Willa's main issue here is that her father's philosophies convinced eight-year-old her that her father might think it's just fate when she got lost on the mountain and wouldn't come look for her. That's a HUGE fucking thing for an eight year old to think about. That's awful. And getting back on the mountain has nothing to do with that particular thought process; it was just a catalyst.
Ted and Shawn are props on Willa's journey and also had very little characterization so I'm not sure what any of them saw in each other.
The ending was also pretty lackluster. I don't think it said what it thinks it said. Just like sitcoms, the characters remained static for way too long for it to have much emotional impact.
Willa is chronically non-confrontational, ridiculously compliant, and totally incapable of thinking for herself. She's adhered to her dominating father's ideal for so long that she just coasts through life, biting back anger, never arguing, never questioning. Obviously, this affects her badly. When Shawn, her husband, leaves her, she falls apart a little. Her best friend Vanessa, writing a book for Dare You!, a reality show, convinces her to co-author and say yes to everything she'd ordinarily say no to. The ideas here have potential. But it's not well done. Partially because of the sitcom vibe of the story--over the top characters, over the top families, high strung drama, ludicrous situations. I don't watch sitcoms anymore, and this is part of the reason: it's just too wacky for me to really find it funny. Characters like Willa's father go from amusingly annoying to aggravating. Willa goes from sympathetic to just pathetic. (Another issue here: the middle of the book is very repetitive. I was getting sick of her at that point). Vanessa, who definitely is pulling strings behind Willa's back so this experiment isn't entirely random, goes from helpful, supportive friend to someone doesn't quite seem to realize what the main problem is.
And that's the crux of it here. I think this book is meant to be entertaining and make you laugh, so the merits of the discussions aren't really that great. It's a very shallow look. Willa needs therapy, and it often felt like Vanessa was dismissive of how much she needed it to me. This whole Dare You! thing felt trivial. Go to Seattle, climb a mountain, manipulate your friend into seeing her ex she might still have feelings for, go to a baseball game, go to a singles party. This didn't feel super helpful to me, since it took way too long for Willa to learn anything. It felt like it should have been something less physical and more emotional. What is climbing a mountain gonna do? Yeah, sure, you're doing something you've been scared of doing forever, but I would argue Willa's main issue here is that her father's philosophies convinced eight-year-old her that her father might think it's just fate when she got lost on the mountain and wouldn't come look for her. That's a HUGE fucking thing for an eight year old to think about. That's awful. And getting back on the mountain has nothing to do with that particular thought process; it was just a catalyst.
Ted and Shawn are props on Willa's journey and also had very little characterization so I'm not sure what any of them saw in each other.
The ending was also pretty lackluster. I don't think it said what it thinks it said. Just like sitcoms, the characters remained static for way too long for it to have much emotional impact.
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May 20, 2018Ok. I wish I could rewrite my life and make a new map. But nothing is as easy as it always is in books.
December 27, 2013
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The Theory of Opposites has the feel of most books in it's same genre, but this one takes it one step more and made me stop and think about what do I think? Do I believe in fate, so it doesn't matter what I do and think the outcome is always going to be the same or do I control my own destiny. I won't bore you with my thoughts about fate, but I will tell you I enjoyed The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch. The protectionist Willa is just such a likable character, she doesn't go out of her way to ruffle feathers (perfectly written middle child--seriously she reminded me of my younger sister!). She has this overly dominating dad who believes what he wrote and insists everyone should as if he is all-knowing. (He kinda drove me nuts). I was actually surprised by the husband and his desire for a two-month break. I was mad for Willa and was like go Vanessa for being such a good friend and pushing Willa to find her own voice.
I believe what I enjoyed most about this novel, is Scotch didn't reinvent a whole new Willa in two months. She moved her, grew her, but in a way that was very believable. Her whole personality and tendencies didn't just change 100%. So in the end I wasn't completely sure how she would handle everything...would she still see fate? Would she go with the flow?
I also really enjoyed the cast of supporting characters! I thought they added just enough to the story, I loved how life was still happening while Willa was working on daring herself. I'm going to have to stop here, because I want to keep blabbing about the book and I don't want to give any spoilers! I really enjoyed The Theory of Opposites and recommend it. I dare you to grab a copy!
The Theory of Opposites has the feel of most books in it's same genre, but this one takes it one step more and made me stop and think about what do I think? Do I believe in fate, so it doesn't matter what I do and think the outcome is always going to be the same or do I control my own destiny. I won't bore you with my thoughts about fate, but I will tell you I enjoyed The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch. The protectionist Willa is just such a likable character, she doesn't go out of her way to ruffle feathers (perfectly written middle child--seriously she reminded me of my younger sister!). She has this overly dominating dad who believes what he wrote and insists everyone should as if he is all-knowing. (He kinda drove me nuts). I was actually surprised by the husband and his desire for a two-month break. I was mad for Willa and was like go Vanessa for being such a good friend and pushing Willa to find her own voice.
I believe what I enjoyed most about this novel, is Scotch didn't reinvent a whole new Willa in two months. She moved her, grew her, but in a way that was very believable. Her whole personality and tendencies didn't just change 100%. So in the end I wasn't completely sure how she would handle everything...would she still see fate? Would she go with the flow?
I also really enjoyed the cast of supporting characters! I thought they added just enough to the story, I loved how life was still happening while Willa was working on daring herself. I'm going to have to stop here, because I want to keep blabbing about the book and I don't want to give any spoilers! I really enjoyed The Theory of Opposites and recommend it. I dare you to grab a copy!
December 23, 2013
Accidentally stayed up all night reading this book, which tells you something, because I really like sleep.
The main character is challenging because she is flawed and a little irritating, which is so important, I think, in contemporary romance. Although I don't even know if I would call this romance, since the romantic storyline is secondary to the woman-goes-looking-for-herself storyline. Is that a genre? Many of the secondary characters are also annoying, but in a way that makes them seem much more real than if they'd been perfect, or even perfectly rotten. I felt very immersed in the world the author created, in a way that made my skin crawl a little at times, but also made me feel the best parts in my gut. Which is what you want.
My one quibble with the book...
The main character is challenging because she is flawed and a little irritating, which is so important, I think, in contemporary romance. Although I don't even know if I would call this romance, since the romantic storyline is secondary to the woman-goes-looking-for-herself storyline. Is that a genre? Many of the secondary characters are also annoying, but in a way that makes them seem much more real than if they'd been perfect, or even perfectly rotten. I felt very immersed in the world the author created, in a way that made my skin crawl a little at times, but also made me feel the best parts in my gut. Which is what you want.
My one quibble with the book...
December 30, 2013
The Theory of Opposites was laugh out loud funny in so many parts, but I also found my eyes leaking a few times, too. Willa handed the first few days of the "break" much, much better than I would have done. I would have definitely lost my shit. A married man wants a "break" and writes out a list of "rules" for the break that includes sleeping with other people? I DON'T THINK SO! I really liked Willa and ultimately I just wanted her to be happy, so I wavered between wanting her to end up with Shawn or Theo. In the end, I was pleased with the way it ended, but it did shock me the way it came about and truly was surprised with her decision. I must also comment on the utter train-wreck that is Willa's family, starting with her parents who were on their own "break" and the way they announced their "break" really gave me the first clue that her family was nuts. And nuts in a way that makes your family look normal. Did I mention that Willa has a yoga guru brother who is indicted because of a pyramid scheme? Nuts I tell you. It is no wonder that Willa clings to the routine of her marriage.
January 6, 2014
I absolutely LOVED this book and it's now my favorite AWS novel.
The story is about Willa, who has traditionally always taken the safe route, which she believes was mapped out for her by the universe. After a series of bad breaks, she decides to tempt fate and draw her own map. The questions about fate and destiny and how much power our choices have over our lives have always intrigued me. Where would I be if I'd done this, instead of that? Would I have eventually met "John," if I hadn't bumped into him on the subway?
Aside from all the thought provoking questions, Willa is a very likable heroine who I wanted to see take chances. I loved the whole "Dare You" concept. She has a very messed up and crazy family, which honestly explained a lot. But they really made me laugh. I loved her friendship with Vanessa and her complicated love life kept me guessing. Her relationship with her nephew Nicky was very sweet, too.
Love, love, love the book and appreciated the message that it's never to late too take chances and reroute your course. I already miss WIlla.
The story is about Willa, who has traditionally always taken the safe route, which she believes was mapped out for her by the universe. After a series of bad breaks, she decides to tempt fate and draw her own map. The questions about fate and destiny and how much power our choices have over our lives have always intrigued me. Where would I be if I'd done this, instead of that? Would I have eventually met "John," if I hadn't bumped into him on the subway?
Aside from all the thought provoking questions, Willa is a very likable heroine who I wanted to see take chances. I loved the whole "Dare You" concept. She has a very messed up and crazy family, which honestly explained a lot. But they really made me laugh. I loved her friendship with Vanessa and her complicated love life kept me guessing. Her relationship with her nephew Nicky was very sweet, too.
Love, love, love the book and appreciated the message that it's never to late too take chances and reroute your course. I already miss WIlla.
September 6, 2013
I absolutely love Allison Winn Scotch's novels (I've read all but the one before this one, and I hope to get to that one sometime soon) but I think this one is my absolute favorite.
I think we can all relate to the idea of feeling somewhat trapped in our lives, and most of us still don't do anything about it. But with the help of her best friend, Willa's blasting out of her rut. (It's not entirely Willa's idea or desire to do so.)
I love so much about this book---I love Willa so much and her entire family and Theo (the ex-boyfriend who finds her on Facebook) and I really, really love her nephew Nicky. These people felt absolutely real and I miss them very much.
This is one of those books that has the potential to change your life because if this doesn't give you the desire to change your life---quit your job, call that crush, move from the apartment you're starting to hate---nothing ever will.
Highly recommended.
I think we can all relate to the idea of feeling somewhat trapped in our lives, and most of us still don't do anything about it. But with the help of her best friend, Willa's blasting out of her rut. (It's not entirely Willa's idea or desire to do so.)
I love so much about this book---I love Willa so much and her entire family and Theo (the ex-boyfriend who finds her on Facebook) and I really, really love her nephew Nicky. These people felt absolutely real and I miss them very much.
This is one of those books that has the potential to change your life because if this doesn't give you the desire to change your life---quit your job, call that crush, move from the apartment you're starting to hate---nothing ever will.
Highly recommended.
November 13, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of Allison Winn Scotch, and I was crazy curious to read her latest title. Allison recently made the decision to go from traditionally published to self-published, so of course my interest was even higher for her new offering. I was pleased that the same writing and same inspiration from her characters is there. She does a great job at giving readers a meaty story and forcing us to ask ourselves some of the same questions she is asking her characters. I connected with Willa immediately, though I have to say I never really liked her husband Shawn. Her story was interesting and pretty intense, thanks in part to her “break” from marriage, meeting back up with an ex, going on a reality show, and her insane family – seriously, they are crazy! I highly recommend you check this author out if you haven’t yet!
I am a big fan of Allison Winn Scotch, and I was crazy curious to read her latest title. Allison recently made the decision to go from traditionally published to self-published, so of course my interest was even higher for her new offering. I was pleased that the same writing and same inspiration from her characters is there. She does a great job at giving readers a meaty story and forcing us to ask ourselves some of the same questions she is asking her characters. I connected with Willa immediately, though I have to say I never really liked her husband Shawn. Her story was interesting and pretty intense, thanks in part to her “break” from marriage, meeting back up with an ex, going on a reality show, and her insane family – seriously, they are crazy! I highly recommend you check this author out if you haven’t yet!
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September 4, 2013I do love Allison's books. Compulsively readable.
July 16, 2017
I really liked the idea behind this: to do the opposite of what your instincts are telling you to do. It seems like this would definitely break you out of a rut (although possibly cause other issues like not paying your bills).
November 12, 2013
It takes just days for William 'Willa' Chandler-Golden's life to fall apart - first she loses her job, then her husband announces he is relocating to Palto Alto for the summer - without her, her parents announce they plan to experiment with an open marriage and her brother, is arrested by the FBI for his role in a Ponzi scheme in her apartment, which leads to her being evicted. If her father's theory, expounded in his best seller 'Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control.' is correct, Willa's life is unfolding exactly as it has been predestined to, but what if...?
The Theory of Opposites is a lighthearted story about challenging fate, taking risks and making of life what you will. With her life in free-fall, Willa reluctantly allows her best friend, Vanessa, to talk her into taking part in a book project whose premise directly challenges her father's lifelong mantra. Instead of endless procrastination and inertia, Willa is forced to reconsider her life, explore the paths not taken, and face her fears leading her to, amongst other things, reconnect with an old boyfriend, Theo. Scotch allows Willa to struggle with change, the way most of us do, unwilling to let go of familiar comforts and envision something different. Willa is a likeable protagonist though beset by anxiety and low self esteem, it is nice to witness her journey as she finds the courage to change her life.
The main theme of the novel is obviously the question of fate vs free will and what part each plays in our lives. Is what we decide an act of choice or has destiny already decided for us? The question is a little like 'Which came first? The chicken or the egg?' Though the story is seemingly light and humorous, peppered with an eccentric cast and sometimes absurd situations, it is also one that makes you think about where you are now, and where you want to be.
Written with heart and humour, The Theory of Opposites is a quick, entertaining read. Interestingly, despite a track record of publication success, Scotch has chosen to self publish this novel under her own imprint and it has already been picked up by Jennifer Garner’s production company -Vandalia Films. Read it - I dare you!
November 14, 2013
This was such an out there book. Its a whole lotta crazy, but it is really a fun read. Willa (William) is a character that you may grow frustrated with, but you will love anyway. I can't begin to count the times I wanted to reach into the pages to slap her and tell her to grow a pair!
However with the crazy family she has and the book that her father wrote that basically states that you can't do anything to change the way your life will be, you might as well get stuck in a rut...but then things start snowballing..she loses her job, she finds out her husband was at a wine bar when he was supposed to be with the guys....and an ex wants to re-connect.
What really makes this book is her family. I know I sound all fangirly, but OMG they are so WEIRD! Her sister is an attorney who doesn't really seem to enjoy her job and her brother is a Yogi-To-The-Stars..like Jen Aniston, Halle Berry and Lady Gaga! He's nuts and he's about to be indicted for running a ponzi scheme with his mentor!
Ah the drama!
And it only gets worse when her bff gets a new job and wants to write a book debunking her father's book. With Willa's help.
That's really when the fun starts and slowly but surely Willa starts to come to life.
Now if I were Willa (whose real name is William) I would have already been in jail for killing one my parents for my first name.
And if I didn't kill someone then...I would've at least gone slightly postal on Shawn. OMG..what an idiot/jerk/asshat! The rules of their 2 month situation would have had any normal woman walking straight to the nearest divorce attorney!
But it is that 2 month separation period that makes up the most fun part of the story...and her ex-Theo..I will go all fangirly here...I loved him.
Oh and because I see Doctor Who..in all things...I had to giggle when the premise of the book Vanessa and Willa were working on was about Turning Left.....which means basically what if you turned left instead of right...if you do the opposite of what you think you should do. Hence The Theory of Opposites.
I also loved how Willa's mother broke away from the fold and found life and love without her crazy husband!
This is definitely a great read for those looking for something a little less ordinary!
However with the crazy family she has and the book that her father wrote that basically states that you can't do anything to change the way your life will be, you might as well get stuck in a rut...but then things start snowballing..she loses her job, she finds out her husband was at a wine bar when he was supposed to be with the guys....and an ex wants to re-connect.
What really makes this book is her family. I know I sound all fangirly, but OMG they are so WEIRD! Her sister is an attorney who doesn't really seem to enjoy her job and her brother is a Yogi-To-The-Stars..like Jen Aniston, Halle Berry and Lady Gaga! He's nuts and he's about to be indicted for running a ponzi scheme with his mentor!
Ah the drama!
And it only gets worse when her bff gets a new job and wants to write a book debunking her father's book. With Willa's help.
That's really when the fun starts and slowly but surely Willa starts to come to life.
Now if I were Willa (whose real name is William) I would have already been in jail for killing one my parents for my first name.
And if I didn't kill someone then...I would've at least gone slightly postal on Shawn. OMG..what an idiot/jerk/asshat! The rules of their 2 month situation would have had any normal woman walking straight to the nearest divorce attorney!
But it is that 2 month separation period that makes up the most fun part of the story...and her ex-Theo..I will go all fangirly here...I loved him.
Oh and because I see Doctor Who..in all things...I had to giggle when the premise of the book Vanessa and Willa were working on was about Turning Left.....which means basically what if you turned left instead of right...if you do the opposite of what you think you should do. Hence The Theory of Opposites.
I also loved how Willa's mother broke away from the fold and found life and love without her crazy husband!
This is definitely a great read for those looking for something a little less ordinary!
December 15, 2013
When it comes to well-written, humorous women's fiction with heart (a smarter/sassier Emily Giffin), you really can't do better than Allison Winn Scotch. In this, her latest (already optioned for film by Jennifer Garner), we have advertising exec Willa Chandler-Golden who is in a rut. Although she is okay with the rut, her husband is not and suggests a "break."
Theory has a great cast of characters, from Willa's famous self-help guru father, to her siblings, to coworkers, best friends, and past love interests. The characters are flawed and hilarious and each has his/her unique voice. The sibling relationship is simply fantastic and one of the best I can recall in any book-ever. Maybe because, like Willa, I have a brother and a sister. Whatever the case, I loved the scenes with Oliver and Raina. In fact I liked Raina just as much as any character in the book, including Willa herself. I completely related to her, minus the pill-popping.
This is a very fast read and there are great messages here. The last chapter, I thought, was very, very clever. As always, the writing throughout is crisp and snappy, even quirky/satirical at times (think Where'd You Go Bernadette). Some parts are "over the top" as some reviewers have noted, but I believe that's intentional (like Bernadette) and totally works for the story.
As a side note, if you’re not familiar with this book's backstory, I recommend googling the author. She’s done a lot of interviews lately, all very insightful. Here’s this New York Times bestselling author who had to ask herself if she still wanted to be a writer at all. How she fixed her own rut is fascinating and inspiring. A great case study about the quickly changing publishing industry.
Theory has a great cast of characters, from Willa's famous self-help guru father, to her siblings, to coworkers, best friends, and past love interests. The characters are flawed and hilarious and each has his/her unique voice. The sibling relationship is simply fantastic and one of the best I can recall in any book-ever. Maybe because, like Willa, I have a brother and a sister. Whatever the case, I loved the scenes with Oliver and Raina. In fact I liked Raina just as much as any character in the book, including Willa herself. I completely related to her, minus the pill-popping.
This is a very fast read and there are great messages here. The last chapter, I thought, was very, very clever. As always, the writing throughout is crisp and snappy, even quirky/satirical at times (think Where'd You Go Bernadette). Some parts are "over the top" as some reviewers have noted, but I believe that's intentional (like Bernadette) and totally works for the story.
As a side note, if you’re not familiar with this book's backstory, I recommend googling the author. She’s done a lot of interviews lately, all very insightful. Here’s this New York Times bestselling author who had to ask herself if she still wanted to be a writer at all. How she fixed her own rut is fascinating and inspiring. A great case study about the quickly changing publishing industry.
October 31, 2013
I was lucky enough to have won an advanced copy of Allison's new novel, "The Theory of Opposites" thanks to good reads, but I'm already a fan of Allison, so I would've read this novel either way. If you're a fan of Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, and Sarah Pekkanen and have never read any of Allison's books before.. well you're missing out! I read this novel in two days, I just could't put it down!
The Theory of Opposites is about a woman named William (yes, you read that correctly) but she goes by "Willa" for short. Willa has lived her entirely life by believing that everything happens for a reason and you have no control over your life.. why? Because her father is a best selling author of "Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control." But when Willa's life is turned upside down when her husband wants to go a on two month break, loses her job, and some other family drama.. with some help from her best friend (whose character I love by the way), Willa starts to think that maybe it's time to take some risks, after all.. what has she got to lose?
I would highly recommend this novel.. Allison does a great way of making you feel the emotions that Willa is feeling. Personally, I started to think that maybe sometimes I need to do the opposite of what my intuition is telling me.. take some risks, you never know what could happen!
The Theory of Opposites is about a woman named William (yes, you read that correctly) but she goes by "Willa" for short. Willa has lived her entirely life by believing that everything happens for a reason and you have no control over your life.. why? Because her father is a best selling author of "Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control." But when Willa's life is turned upside down when her husband wants to go a on two month break, loses her job, and some other family drama.. with some help from her best friend (whose character I love by the way), Willa starts to think that maybe it's time to take some risks, after all.. what has she got to lose?
I would highly recommend this novel.. Allison does a great way of making you feel the emotions that Willa is feeling. Personally, I started to think that maybe sometimes I need to do the opposite of what my intuition is telling me.. take some risks, you never know what could happen!
October 31, 2013
I enjoy reading anything by AWS and was excited to get the opportunity to read an ARC of this.
In TTOO she makes us wonder if it's really living if your just simply existing as you think you are meant to be. This is a great story about letting go of what's familiar and comfortable and seeking out what challenges you and makes you truly happy.
I loved the relationship between Willa and Vanessa. I was shocked and appalled at Shawn's behavior. The way Willa and Nicky interacted with each other was sweet & funny. Theo was a pleasant addition to the story.
Even though I'm a romance addict it was nice to see the focus was on Willa and her growth as a single person relying on support from friends but requiring independence at the same time.
*I received and ARC from Edelweiss on exchange for an honest review
In TTOO she makes us wonder if it's really living if your just simply existing as you think you are meant to be. This is a great story about letting go of what's familiar and comfortable and seeking out what challenges you and makes you truly happy.
I loved the relationship between Willa and Vanessa. I was shocked and appalled at Shawn's behavior. The way Willa and Nicky interacted with each other was sweet & funny. Theo was a pleasant addition to the story.
Even though I'm a romance addict it was nice to see the focus was on Willa and her growth as a single person relying on support from friends but requiring independence at the same time.
*I received and ARC from Edelweiss on exchange for an honest review
March 25, 2014
I don't know what made me respond to a facebook post about her e-book being 1.99 because I had tried her other books and they didn't take. This one caught me and took me right away to a non-chicky-lit place but was still somewhat a romance.
What I liked the most was the philosophy of life in terms of fate and free will and how you think you're life is going. I liked the balance of the theories and the pace of what was going on.
What if your spouse wanted to take a break and what if you rekindle something with an old boyfriend that you should have never said no to?
Throw in the aspect of possible motherhood and facing your parents ideas of life and choice and you got a great read. I highly recommend this book to people who aren't into straight up girly reads but also appreciate something somewhat light but thoughtful.
What I liked the most was the philosophy of life in terms of fate and free will and how you think you're life is going. I liked the balance of the theories and the pace of what was going on.
What if your spouse wanted to take a break and what if you rekindle something with an old boyfriend that you should have never said no to?
Throw in the aspect of possible motherhood and facing your parents ideas of life and choice and you got a great read. I highly recommend this book to people who aren't into straight up girly reads but also appreciate something somewhat light but thoughtful.
November 25, 2013
Author Allison Winn Scotch takes her readers on a topsy-turvy ride of a read with her book, “The Theory of Opposites.” This novel is smart, snappy and a whole lot of sassy. Readers will find themselves rooting for the main character, Willa, to take a chance on love, on life and on herself. Scotch’s characters are so realistic, like someone who lived down the block or across the hall. And the storyline for this book is fast-paced and riveting – the action is always moving forward, advancing towards a very satisfying and surprising ending. Fans of contemporary women’s fiction will absolutely adore this novel.
December 2, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! Willa is an interesting and complicated main character...she seems like someone that I'd be friends with, not just a one-dimensional character from a novel. I think the most enjoyable part for me was the fact that there was no clear cut bad guy; there are difficult situations, with family and with relationships, but, as Willa is trying to prove, what you do next is the most important decision of all.
July 19, 2014
I loved this book so much more than I thought I would. It was so hard to put down and the concept was so well-written. The story flowed so well and I just never wanted the book to end!
It was one of those books that makes me feel so grateful for books, the way they can transport you, and the way they make you feel so strongly and so emotionally connected to fictional characters.
It was one of those books that makes me feel so grateful for books, the way they can transport you, and the way they make you feel so strongly and so emotionally connected to fictional characters.
February 15, 2016
I picked this up thinking it would be more than what it was. Once I realized it was just a flippant, fun, sit com of a book, I accepted that and kept reading for lack of a better book on my nightstand. I think some brain cells died in the process.
August 9, 2015
Great beach read. Light, interesting, not too complex. You can sort of see where it is going early on but it was fun getting to the end. Not one to re-read but enjoyable just the same.
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