Perhaps those who love this book more than I do can explain the allure. After reading Charlie’s story, I went into Isla’s knowing there’d likely be more sex than plot (something I’m good with, for the most part . . . hellloooo Henry 🥵) . . . But for all the hundreds of pages of —??— it was what I felt was missing — just plain left out or rolled over — that has stuck with me. Not in a good, “I get to fill in the blanks using my own imagination, thus keeping the characters ‘alive,’” way, but in a “why bother incorporating those little details or dead-end plot points at all?” way. **Spoilers marked, below.**
The Isla that features in Charlie’s story is spunky and seemingly fearless; with her flaming hair and emerald green eyes, I could envision her as a fiery Scottish fairy. In her own tale, I anticipated being introduced to other parts, if not all the parts, of her (complex) personality. And I was, I feel, at least in the beginning. However, for me, I’s character somewhat devolved as the chapters flew by. She didn’t read as “badass” to me; there were just too many situations in which she could or should have easily taken the lead or devised the simple solution ultimately/ inevitably suggested by one or more of her men. An issue would arise, she would freak out or become sort of immobile from indecision, T, H, and/or D would make a suggestion, and — poof — all her stress and anxiety would magically disappear. Their support was great, I enjoyed their points-of-view, they’re sexy as hell, but I also believe that more than a little potential was wasted here.
***Spoilers***
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For me, the “greatest” of those points, those details most glaringly missing, included the circumstances surrounding the brothers’ parents’ murder and what exactly happened with Katie (Isla never told the boys that she in fact, quite conveniently, met K, did she?). More space was swallowed up by the Murder Mystery Dinner I and T attended than their actual wedding ceremony (did any of the brothers’ family or friends attend??), not to mention the fun but again space-swallowing asides spent setting up Penelope’s and Lorna’s stories with their respective men. (I’m going to assume that L left the ball with one of her neighbors, who saw the pic I had posted of L in her costume and came a-running.) One final mini-tangent: Had Charlie fallen down some magical rabbit hole before consciously choosing to “forget” to pack I’s birth control? Was she trying to force something on her sister-in-law?? (Or in, pun intended?) The Kindle version I downloaded contained no epilogue — what happens with the brewery, the pub, I’s eventual if not imminent pregnancy?? — which leads me to believe that I’s and her husbands’ story continues in the next installment (dedicated to Penelope).
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I just don’t think P’s story will be for me.