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The Sweetheart Deal
The poignant story of what happens when a woman who thinks she's lost everything has the chance to love again.
Leo has long joked that, in the event of his death, he wants his best friend Garrett, a lifelong bachelor, to marry his wife, Audrey. One drunken night, he goes so far as to make Garrett promise to do so. Then, twelve years later, Leo, a veteran firefighter, dies in a skiing accident.
As Audrey navigates her new role as widow and single parent, Garrett quits his job in Boston and buys a one-way ticket out west. Before long, Audrey's feelings for Garrett become more than platonic, and Garrett finds himself falling for Audrey, her boys, and their life together in Portland. When Audrey finds out about the drunken pact from years ago, though, the harmless promise that brought Garrett into her world becomes the obstacle to his remaining in it.
Leo has long joked that, in the event of his death, he wants his best friend Garrett, a lifelong bachelor, to marry his wife, Audrey. One drunken night, he goes so far as to make Garrett promise to do so. Then, twelve years later, Leo, a veteran firefighter, dies in a skiing accident.
As Audrey navigates her new role as widow and single parent, Garrett quits his job in Boston and buys a one-way ticket out west. Before long, Audrey's feelings for Garrett become more than platonic, and Garrett finds himself falling for Audrey, her boys, and their life together in Portland. When Audrey finds out about the drunken pact from years ago, though, the harmless promise that brought Garrett into her world becomes the obstacle to his remaining in it.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2015
26 people are currently reading
1507 people want to read
About the author
Polly Dugan
8 books20 followersFollow Polly on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/PollyDuganAu...
Polly Dugan's writing captures a moment in time and follows it as the afterward unfolds. Her predominantly Irish Catholic characters are challenged by their flaws, faith, morality, mortality and circumstances. Although animals often appear in her stories, she does not write animal stories.
Polly Dugan is a graduate of Dickinson College, and a four-time attendee of the Tin House Writers Workshop where she worked with Steve Almond, Elissa Schappell, Meg Storey and Joy Williams. Her stories have appeared in Line Zero and Narrative and received Honorable Mention recognition in Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers August 2009.
She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two sons, two black Labrador Retrievers and a brown tabby cat. Her collection of ten linked stories, SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, was published by Little, Brown in 2014. In 2015 Little, Brown published her novel, THE SWEETHEART DEAL, in which a confirmed bachelor is forced to honor a drunken pact made twelve years earlier to marry his best friend’s wife if he dies.
About SO MUCH A PART OF YOU:
From the Depression to the present, the emotional and moral burdens of alcoholism, abortion, infidelity, and the losses of friends, parents and children are seamlessly woven together in Dugan's stark and powerful writing. The ten linked stories in So Much a Part of You revolve around Anna Riley and Anne Cavanaugh, two women with a common lover, Peter Herring. While following the lives of Anna and Anne, and revisiting familiar characters, friendships are tested and family secrets are exposed, and the ripple effects of their emotional choices poignantly rise to the surface.
Her new novel, THE HOUSE OF CAVANAUGH, revisits a family who appear in five stories in SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, and will be published by Sibylline Press in October 2025.
In the novel, 50 years after an affair between Joan Cavanaugh and Peter Hutchinson in New York, and 25 years after Joan's death, the paternity of her middle daughter is revealed and two best friends in Portland discover they share a sister.
https://www.facebook.com/PollyDuganAu...
Polly Dugan's writing captures a moment in time and follows it as the afterward unfolds. Her predominantly Irish Catholic characters are challenged by their flaws, faith, morality, mortality and circumstances. Although animals often appear in her stories, she does not write animal stories.
Polly Dugan is a graduate of Dickinson College, and a four-time attendee of the Tin House Writers Workshop where she worked with Steve Almond, Elissa Schappell, Meg Storey and Joy Williams. Her stories have appeared in Line Zero and Narrative and received Honorable Mention recognition in Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers August 2009.
She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two sons, two black Labrador Retrievers and a brown tabby cat. Her collection of ten linked stories, SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, was published by Little, Brown in 2014. In 2015 Little, Brown published her novel, THE SWEETHEART DEAL, in which a confirmed bachelor is forced to honor a drunken pact made twelve years earlier to marry his best friend’s wife if he dies.
About SO MUCH A PART OF YOU:
From the Depression to the present, the emotional and moral burdens of alcoholism, abortion, infidelity, and the losses of friends, parents and children are seamlessly woven together in Dugan's stark and powerful writing. The ten linked stories in So Much a Part of You revolve around Anna Riley and Anne Cavanaugh, two women with a common lover, Peter Herring. While following the lives of Anna and Anne, and revisiting familiar characters, friendships are tested and family secrets are exposed, and the ripple effects of their emotional choices poignantly rise to the surface.
Her new novel, THE HOUSE OF CAVANAUGH, revisits a family who appear in five stories in SO MUCH A PART OF YOU, and will be published by Sibylline Press in October 2025.
In the novel, 50 years after an affair between Joan Cavanaugh and Peter Hutchinson in New York, and 25 years after Joan's death, the paternity of her middle daughter is revealed and two best friends in Portland discover they share a sister.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
June 29, 2015
Don’t be misled by the cozy domestic photo on the cover, or by the plot – firefighter husband dies in an accident and best friend moves in to help widow, who is unaware that husband once made best friend sign an agreement that he would take care of widow if anything ever happened to husband – which both suggest conventional women’s fiction with a predictable ending. That’s not really what The Sweetheart Deal is.
Dugan’s writing is spare and matter-of fact. The Sweetheart Deal is told from multiple perspectives – wife Audrey, best friend Garrett, and Audrey’s three sons, switching off each chapter. I liked her attention to detail and the very realistic way that she described how the characters felt and related to each other. I felt like I was in the room with them, watching familiar scenes unfold in ways that made perfect sense. Dugan’s depiction of grief was pretty powerful, especially from Audrey’s perspective. There is a scene that really stuck with me, where Audrey is so incapable of functioning that she can’t even pull an outfit together to leave the house. Her interactions with her sons also seemed very accurate to me.
Of course the main focus of the book is the relationship between Garrett and Audrey. That was the weaker link in the story. I didn’t doubt that the two developed feelings for each other, but I wanted to know why. In order to root for them as a couple and believe that they were right for each other outside of Garrett’s promise to his best friend, I needed to see stronger evidence of their independent connection. Garrett knew Audrey for many years before he flew to Portland to help her through her grief. What did he think of her then, and how did his feelings change, or emerge, when he got to Portland? These questions nagged at me a little while I was reading the book. I just wanted more.
Overall, though, The Sweetheart Deal is readable, engrossing and moving. It’s a small story in scope, with only a handful of characters, but it takes on big, universal issues with understanding and empathy. It wasn’t a perfect read, but it was definitely worth the time. I hope Dugan has more novels in her.
Dugan’s writing is spare and matter-of fact. The Sweetheart Deal is told from multiple perspectives – wife Audrey, best friend Garrett, and Audrey’s three sons, switching off each chapter. I liked her attention to detail and the very realistic way that she described how the characters felt and related to each other. I felt like I was in the room with them, watching familiar scenes unfold in ways that made perfect sense. Dugan’s depiction of grief was pretty powerful, especially from Audrey’s perspective. There is a scene that really stuck with me, where Audrey is so incapable of functioning that she can’t even pull an outfit together to leave the house. Her interactions with her sons also seemed very accurate to me.
Of course the main focus of the book is the relationship between Garrett and Audrey. That was the weaker link in the story. I didn’t doubt that the two developed feelings for each other, but I wanted to know why. In order to root for them as a couple and believe that they were right for each other outside of Garrett’s promise to his best friend, I needed to see stronger evidence of their independent connection. Garrett knew Audrey for many years before he flew to Portland to help her through her grief. What did he think of her then, and how did his feelings change, or emerge, when he got to Portland? These questions nagged at me a little while I was reading the book. I just wanted more.
Overall, though, The Sweetheart Deal is readable, engrossing and moving. It’s a small story in scope, with only a handful of characters, but it takes on big, universal issues with understanding and empathy. It wasn’t a perfect read, but it was definitely worth the time. I hope Dugan has more novels in her.
June 27, 2015
I'm kind of torn here. I liked the book and the way the story was told by the boys, the mom, and "the friend". Each chapter would be a different expressing his or her side of the story or just about how they were feeling. I think all of that part was written well. However, I think that there could have been more said by the other two brothers. You didn't really get to meet them that much.
I also understand why Audrey was pissed at Garrett, but she shouldn't have let him leave. Even with the note, no one gives up their life to help a friends' wife build her house unless he really, really cared. And, she was the one who instigated it. Maybe I've said to much for would be readers or just got their curiosities up? It is a very good book, I just disagree what the character did. However, I was entertained and I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks Little, Brown and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
I also understand why Audrey was pissed at Garrett, but she shouldn't have let him leave. Even with the note, no one gives up their life to help a friends' wife build her house unless he really, really cared. And, she was the one who instigated it. Maybe I've said to much for would be readers or just got their curiosities up? It is a very good book, I just disagree what the character did. However, I was entertained and I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks Little, Brown and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2016
I feel like I've read at least 4 or 5 contemporary novels about young widows in the last few years, and The Sweetheart Deal is the latest -- but by no means the least. It's an emotionally compelling and honest look at the devastation of unexpected loss, as the main character loses her beloved husband in a tragic accident and has to find a way to keep going, for herself and for her sons.
The romance with the husband's best friend feels deserved and well-developed, given the odd backstory and the guilt everyone feels.
The Sweetheart Deal is a quick read, but it hits the sentiment right on the nose and strikes a good balance between grief and hope. Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction focusing on family and marriage.
The romance with the husband's best friend feels deserved and well-developed, given the odd backstory and the guilt everyone feels.
The Sweetheart Deal is a quick read, but it hits the sentiment right on the nose and strikes a good balance between grief and hope. Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction focusing on family and marriage.
January 12, 2016
The first half of the novel was 5 star for me. I was wowed: the opening pages drew me in with an amazing emotional impact. The detail of the experience of Audrey losing her husband Leo in an accident and the ensuing weeks had me in tears 2 times by page 55 -- and I virtually never cry when reading.
Some backstory was given briefly in a prologue by Leo, a firefighter, to set the novel up where we learn of an agreement he persuaded his best Garrett sign promising to take care of Leo's wife and family should he die. From Garrett's perspective we learn of the closeness of their friendship over the last 25+ years from their early teens. The story continues with Audrey, Garrett, or one of Audrey's three sons narrating a chapter from their own perspective. This seemed to be done smoothly.
Some elements I really enjoyed in this in this novel included the depth of emotions experienced in everyday life and the observations of some of dynamics involved in the social and family relationships, for example when Garret -- Leo's friend who embarks on a new romance predictably about every two years -- makes the choice to leave his current relationship to travel across the country to help out Audrey: I love his description of what the woman he left was doing to cause him to lose interest in her and make it easier to uproot and leave. Very plausible.
I loved the comparison Audrey made of the fireman wives' group to a sorority and why she failed at developing acceptance in both.
The details about the funeral early in the novel was extensive, and if it weren't so accurate and emotional, might have seemed too long, but it was very deftly and realistically portrayed along with the experiences in the days after.
The compassion of Audrey's friend who came to help her pick up the pieces and the scenes of helping Audrey cope with everyday life and just being able to get dressed were remarkable. Her friend's act of labeling the closet doors and dresser drawers reminded me of when I came home to my parents as an adult after my brother died and someone had put labels on all the kitchen cabinet doors and drawers. While the kitchen labels were intended more to the benefit of the guests who could therefore help more easily in the kitchen, rather than solely for the grieving resident, it was a very realistic touch in the novel.
There were a number of situations and in the novel that were handled very realistically, such as parent/child interactions, some aspects of the bullying at school, counseling with the church priest, and the home remodeling project to mention a few. This helped the setting and characters become more compelling. The little side plots were also realistic and not overdone so as to distract from the main story, but handled well, in a way that contributed to the story.
I liked the contrast between different characters dealing with objects they were hiding in different ways that had personal significance to them.
Some things I found weak:
I didn't get to know the pre-widowed version of Audrey very well. I wanted a more fleshed out baseline to compare the grief-ridden version of Audrey to. As a result she did not seem very likable and I couldn't see what a highly eligible man would see in her.
The developing romance that was unconvincing and more tell, not show: I couldn't "buy into it." I appreciated that the author didn't get extremely and unnecessarily graphic with sex scenes, however, beyond the sex: what was going on inside the characters to convince me they were in falling love was missing.
The main premise for the conflict of the novel: not plausible enough for me. Just too predictable, as in a cheesy horror movie when you see it coming, you want to say "No-o-o-o-!" to the Dumb Thing a character does. Especially exasperating when that character is a very smart person. If there was an emotional reason and not a logistical one for the Dumb Thing, it isn't explored. .
Audrey's reaction to the Dumb Thing and the ensuing results in her and Garrett’s relationship: inexplicably "over the top" and created two problems which dampened the realism and development of the character: while at first it served as plus when it peaked my curiosity as to why she would react to the extent she did, that curiosity was ultimately not completely satisfied, leaving a loose thread; secondly, the resolution of the conflict was weak, it was rushed and it grayed out the setting and the characters of the novel and lowered the believability and realism toward the end.
Unnecessary swearing: it especially bugs me when it’s religious references, and too extreme for the context of the characters’ typical conversations, which was the case here.
Some potential that I would like to see further developed:
Symbolism unexplored: I would have loved to see some greater use of elements in the setting used to deepen the message and impact of the main point of the storyline, such as: the room addition being built, hiding or storing things in closets and drawers, Mt. Hood, the weather, the firefighting career and firehouse culture.
The first third or so of the novel lays a great foundation of a personal challenge from which to portray a character(s) potential rise up on journey of growing hope. This path didn’t emerge as clear or compelling as I wished in the remainder of the book, but overall, I thought it was a really promising beginning for a first published novel by a new author.
Some backstory was given briefly in a prologue by Leo, a firefighter, to set the novel up where we learn of an agreement he persuaded his best Garrett sign promising to take care of Leo's wife and family should he die. From Garrett's perspective we learn of the closeness of their friendship over the last 25+ years from their early teens. The story continues with Audrey, Garrett, or one of Audrey's three sons narrating a chapter from their own perspective. This seemed to be done smoothly.
Some elements I really enjoyed in this in this novel included the depth of emotions experienced in everyday life and the observations of some of dynamics involved in the social and family relationships, for example when Garret -- Leo's friend who embarks on a new romance predictably about every two years -- makes the choice to leave his current relationship to travel across the country to help out Audrey: I love his description of what the woman he left was doing to cause him to lose interest in her and make it easier to uproot and leave. Very plausible.
I loved the comparison Audrey made of the fireman wives' group to a sorority and why she failed at developing acceptance in both.
The details about the funeral early in the novel was extensive, and if it weren't so accurate and emotional, might have seemed too long, but it was very deftly and realistically portrayed along with the experiences in the days after.
The compassion of Audrey's friend who came to help her pick up the pieces and the scenes of helping Audrey cope with everyday life and just being able to get dressed were remarkable. Her friend's act of labeling the closet doors and dresser drawers reminded me of when I came home to my parents as an adult after my brother died and someone had put labels on all the kitchen cabinet doors and drawers. While the kitchen labels were intended more to the benefit of the guests who could therefore help more easily in the kitchen, rather than solely for the grieving resident, it was a very realistic touch in the novel.
There were a number of situations and in the novel that were handled very realistically, such as parent/child interactions, some aspects of the bullying at school, counseling with the church priest, and the home remodeling project to mention a few. This helped the setting and characters become more compelling. The little side plots were also realistic and not overdone so as to distract from the main story, but handled well, in a way that contributed to the story.
I liked the contrast between different characters dealing with objects they were hiding in different ways that had personal significance to them.
Some things I found weak:
I didn't get to know the pre-widowed version of Audrey very well. I wanted a more fleshed out baseline to compare the grief-ridden version of Audrey to. As a result she did not seem very likable and I couldn't see what a highly eligible man would see in her.
The developing romance that was unconvincing and more tell, not show: I couldn't "buy into it." I appreciated that the author didn't get extremely and unnecessarily graphic with sex scenes, however, beyond the sex: what was going on inside the characters to convince me they were in falling love was missing.
The main premise for the conflict of the novel: not plausible enough for me. Just too predictable, as in a cheesy horror movie when you see it coming, you want to say "No-o-o-o-!" to the Dumb Thing a character does. Especially exasperating when that character is a very smart person. If there was an emotional reason and not a logistical one for the Dumb Thing, it isn't explored. .
Audrey's reaction to the Dumb Thing and the ensuing results in her and Garrett’s relationship: inexplicably "over the top" and created two problems which dampened the realism and development of the character: while at first it served as plus when it peaked my curiosity as to why she would react to the extent she did, that curiosity was ultimately not completely satisfied, leaving a loose thread; secondly, the resolution of the conflict was weak, it was rushed and it grayed out the setting and the characters of the novel and lowered the believability and realism toward the end.
Unnecessary swearing: it especially bugs me when it’s religious references, and too extreme for the context of the characters’ typical conversations, which was the case here.
Some potential that I would like to see further developed:
Symbolism unexplored: I would have loved to see some greater use of elements in the setting used to deepen the message and impact of the main point of the storyline, such as: the room addition being built, hiding or storing things in closets and drawers, Mt. Hood, the weather, the firefighting career and firehouse culture.
The first third or so of the novel lays a great foundation of a personal challenge from which to portray a character(s) potential rise up on journey of growing hope. This path didn’t emerge as clear or compelling as I wished in the remainder of the book, but overall, I thought it was a really promising beginning for a first published novel by a new author.
November 19, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
The Sweetheart Deal
By Polly Dugan
ISBN: 9780316320351
Author Website: http://www.pollydugan.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer jerjen
Synopsis:
The poignant story of what happens when a woman who thinks she’s lost everything has the chance to love again.
Leo has long joked that, in the event of his death, he wants his best friend Garrett, a lifelong bachelor, to marry his wife, Audrey. One drunken night, he goes so far as to make Garrett promise to do so. Then, twelve years later, Leo, a veteran firefighter, dies in a skiing accident.
As Audrey navigates her new role as widow and single parent, Garrett quits his job in Boston and buys a one-way ticket out west. Before long, Audrey’s feelings for Garrett become more than platonic, and Garrett finds himself falling for Audrey, her boys, and their life together in Portland. When Audrey finds out about the drunken pact from years ago, though, the harmless promise that brought Garrett into her world becomes the obstacle to his remaining in it. (Goodreads)
Review:
This is a story that involves many facets of life. It deals with many real-life situations and issues. It is a story about friendship, love, loss, pain, life, commitment and second chances. It is about having the courage to let go of the past and grabbing the future with both hands.
Leo and Garrett have been best friends for a very long time. They have each others’ back and would do just about anything for each other. Leo decides that he cannot think of anyone better to take care of his wife and family should anything ever happen to him. He is not planning on dying anytime soon but being a firefighter, he knows that it is possible he will die in the line of duty. He gets Garrett to agree that, in the event of his death, Garrett will be there for his wife Audrey and his children and will take of them forever. When the unthinkable happens and Leo does die, Garrett must decide if he will honor the promise he made to Leo. And he has to find out if Audrey is willing to accept his help.
I like the fact that the book is written from different perspectives. Each chapter spotlights a different character: there are sections for Garrett, Audrey, and Audrey’s children. I found this to be a very effect way to follow their lives, their feelings, their struggles and their emotions.
Reading about what happened to Audrey made me stop to think about how I would feel in the same situation. How devastated I would feel, how alone I would feel and how overwhelmed I would feel. I think I would feel as though I would never overcome my grief and I would just want to give up on life. But then I would look at my children and know that I had to move on and be there for them. This is a situation that many women and men are faced with and forced to deal with on a daily basis. I think the author did a great job relaying the devastation and determination it would take to get through this.
This book explored the different types of love that exists. There is the obvious one, the love between spouses or a significant other. Most people have experienced this type of love and have first hand experience in these feelings. But there is also the love between best friends, the love that Leo and Garrett experienced. They had best friends forever and would do anything for each other. Some people may have not experienced this type of love but it does exist. And the third type of love demonstrated in this book is the love between parent and adult. In some ways, I think this is the strongest love there is.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick read. There are a lot of heartfelt emotions contained within the pages and the reader is taken on an emotional roller-coaster ride. It also challenged me to think about what my feelings would be and how I would handle things if I found myself in Audrey’s shoes. I really enjoyed the fact that this happened.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written women’s contemporary. If you like to read books that make you stop and think about how you would react, this is a book that you should read.
The Sweetheart Deal
By Polly Dugan
ISBN: 9780316320351
Author Website: http://www.pollydugan.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer jerjen
Synopsis:
The poignant story of what happens when a woman who thinks she’s lost everything has the chance to love again.
Leo has long joked that, in the event of his death, he wants his best friend Garrett, a lifelong bachelor, to marry his wife, Audrey. One drunken night, he goes so far as to make Garrett promise to do so. Then, twelve years later, Leo, a veteran firefighter, dies in a skiing accident.
As Audrey navigates her new role as widow and single parent, Garrett quits his job in Boston and buys a one-way ticket out west. Before long, Audrey’s feelings for Garrett become more than platonic, and Garrett finds himself falling for Audrey, her boys, and their life together in Portland. When Audrey finds out about the drunken pact from years ago, though, the harmless promise that brought Garrett into her world becomes the obstacle to his remaining in it. (Goodreads)
Review:
This is a story that involves many facets of life. It deals with many real-life situations and issues. It is a story about friendship, love, loss, pain, life, commitment and second chances. It is about having the courage to let go of the past and grabbing the future with both hands.
Leo and Garrett have been best friends for a very long time. They have each others’ back and would do just about anything for each other. Leo decides that he cannot think of anyone better to take care of his wife and family should anything ever happen to him. He is not planning on dying anytime soon but being a firefighter, he knows that it is possible he will die in the line of duty. He gets Garrett to agree that, in the event of his death, Garrett will be there for his wife Audrey and his children and will take of them forever. When the unthinkable happens and Leo does die, Garrett must decide if he will honor the promise he made to Leo. And he has to find out if Audrey is willing to accept his help.
I like the fact that the book is written from different perspectives. Each chapter spotlights a different character: there are sections for Garrett, Audrey, and Audrey’s children. I found this to be a very effect way to follow their lives, their feelings, their struggles and their emotions.
Reading about what happened to Audrey made me stop to think about how I would feel in the same situation. How devastated I would feel, how alone I would feel and how overwhelmed I would feel. I think I would feel as though I would never overcome my grief and I would just want to give up on life. But then I would look at my children and know that I had to move on and be there for them. This is a situation that many women and men are faced with and forced to deal with on a daily basis. I think the author did a great job relaying the devastation and determination it would take to get through this.
This book explored the different types of love that exists. There is the obvious one, the love between spouses or a significant other. Most people have experienced this type of love and have first hand experience in these feelings. But there is also the love between best friends, the love that Leo and Garrett experienced. They had best friends forever and would do anything for each other. Some people may have not experienced this type of love but it does exist. And the third type of love demonstrated in this book is the love between parent and adult. In some ways, I think this is the strongest love there is.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick read. There are a lot of heartfelt emotions contained within the pages and the reader is taken on an emotional roller-coaster ride. It also challenged me to think about what my feelings would be and how I would handle things if I found myself in Audrey’s shoes. I really enjoyed the fact that this happened.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written women’s contemporary. If you like to read books that make you stop and think about how you would react, this is a book that you should read.
September 1, 2015
I loved the idea of this book but not its implementation. The basic plot showed a lot of promise with a drunken firefighter Leo having extracted a promise from his best friend to marry his wife if something bad happen'd and he died - only many years later to die in a skiing accident. I really wanted to like this one but didn't.
So why didn't I like it? I guess I didn't like the writing style which was predominately first person and told rather than showing or letting me draw my own conclusions about events, emotional tensions etc. It was also very repetitive with each character in turn going back over the same ground to tell me their version of the events.
It felt a bit flat. Things happen'd without explanation or demonstration of emotion. Why did she insist of buying him a brand new suit so he wouldn't be buried in something he had worn before? Why was it a closed casket affair with only the family getting to see him and say their goodbyes? How did he feel about leaving his job, losing his chance of tenure, was that really so easy?
I got 25% of the way in before calling it a day.
So why didn't I like it? I guess I didn't like the writing style which was predominately first person and told rather than showing or letting me draw my own conclusions about events, emotional tensions etc. It was also very repetitive with each character in turn going back over the same ground to tell me their version of the events.
It felt a bit flat. Things happen'd without explanation or demonstration of emotion. Why did she insist of buying him a brand new suit so he wouldn't be buried in something he had worn before? Why was it a closed casket affair with only the family getting to see him and say their goodbyes? How did he feel about leaving his job, losing his chance of tenure, was that really so easy?
I got 25% of the way in before calling it a day.
March 17, 2015
The Sweetheart Deal
The Sweetheart Deal becomes not only a sweet story but one filled with a rollercoaster ride of emotions for not only Audrey, a young widow, but Garrett her late husband’s best friend. As Audrey tries to process the tragic accident that took her husband’s life, she is thrown feelings for Garrett that she feels are inappropriately too soon. A secret pack between Leo and Garrett would lead to what seemed like insurmountable problems when the secret was revealed to Audrey. Would her knowing the secret drive her into the arms of her late husband’s best friend, or would it drive a wedge between the two of them?
With few surprises in the story line and a little too predictable, it was still a well told story. Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of different characters in the book, which leads to a richness of getting to know and love each person.
The Sweetheart Deal becomes not only a sweet story but one filled with a rollercoaster ride of emotions for not only Audrey, a young widow, but Garrett her late husband’s best friend. As Audrey tries to process the tragic accident that took her husband’s life, she is thrown feelings for Garrett that she feels are inappropriately too soon. A secret pack between Leo and Garrett would lead to what seemed like insurmountable problems when the secret was revealed to Audrey. Would her knowing the secret drive her into the arms of her late husband’s best friend, or would it drive a wedge between the two of them?
With few surprises in the story line and a little too predictable, it was still a well told story. Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of different characters in the book, which leads to a richness of getting to know and love each person.
May 22, 2015
I won this book in a giveaway, and it was honestly one of the best ones I've gotten on Goodreads. It's a fictional story of a family coping with the loss of the father, but focuses on the mother and his best friend's relationship and recovery. Each chapter is titled with the author of the narrative. The chapters are very short, so it jumps back and forth between characters quite a bit.
This book is so real. It will give any griever something with which to relate. I have not lost a husband, but it made me think about what that would be like. The story and emotions portrayed are incredible.
This book is so real. It will give any griever something with which to relate. I have not lost a husband, but it made me think about what that would be like. The story and emotions portrayed are incredible.
February 10, 2015
I read this as an advance reader copy.... Enjoyable but Predictable
The Sweetheart Deal is a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the format of short chapters with alternating characters featured. The ending is predictable right from the beginning but there are some twists to keep the pages turning. I would like to have had another chapter or two, perhaps a glimpse into the future a few years later. Overall, I enjoyed this book and think it would be interesting for a book club discussion.
The Sweetheart Deal is a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the format of short chapters with alternating characters featured. The ending is predictable right from the beginning but there are some twists to keep the pages turning. I would like to have had another chapter or two, perhaps a glimpse into the future a few years later. Overall, I enjoyed this book and think it would be interesting for a book club discussion.
September 7, 2020
I enjoyed this book and the sensitive, authentic way the author developed her characters. It felt real, lovely, evocative and insightful all in one. This book is an insight into life after the death of a spouse. Equally so, it's about the complexities of relationships and life after death.
October 6, 2017
Oh look, it's one of my very favorite tropes, out in the wild and free from the pat confines of the romance genre. This is as much a book about dealing with loss as it is a love story, and both aspects are very good, but I definitely focused on the latter. At the risk of sounding awful, I really like stories where a death brings together two friends who loved the deceased in equal measure. Much less off-putting than if the grieving partner just hops into bed with a dashing stranger, is my point.
I also very much dig stories where a Consummate Bachelor finds himself invested in a family, but not in overly pushy way. He just shows up and works on the house, talks to the kids, is casually supportive in the background until we're ready for him to take center stage. It's helpful and important that Audrey has a best (female) friend to support her through the worst of the early grief, so it doesn't all fall on Garrett to be the Miracle Savior/Lover in one.
Aside from maybe 1 or 2 from the eldest near the end, I did not enjoy the chapters from the boys' POV ("Children, I am here to watch your mother fall in love with your dad's best friend and I don't care about your grieving process," I may have said more than once), and pretty much flipped past them unless I caught Garrett's name in the text. But I did love that it alternated perspectives between Garrett and Audrey, and especially loved the opening chapter from Leo. He only appears in memories thereafter, but this primes you for them. It's important, in this kind of setup, that you understand why the late spouse is missed, and that you don't just dismiss him as an obstacle. And in this case, it's particularly helpful to explain how The Pact even happened.
"I didn't think about them being intimate. I couldn't. I only thought that if Audrey and the boys were left on their own, if I had anything to say about it, Garrett was the one person I'd choose to take care of them. I wouldn't be around to know abut any of the rest, which they would figure out."
Basically, I spent the entire book being gleeful as this relationship appeared and unfurled at the exactly perfect pace and took all of the right turns along the way. It took them so well that I barely even noticed the failure to activate fade-to-black (it's not terribly explicit, but it does clearly outline certain activities). I wanted to live in their love story forever, and may have kept the book within arm's length for the next 48 hours after reading it so I could constantly go back and soak up my favorite passages.
I also very much dig stories where a Consummate Bachelor finds himself invested in a family, but not in overly pushy way. He just shows up and works on the house, talks to the kids, is casually supportive in the background until we're ready for him to take center stage. It's helpful and important that Audrey has a best (female) friend to support her through the worst of the early grief, so it doesn't all fall on Garrett to be the Miracle Savior/Lover in one.
Aside from maybe 1 or 2 from the eldest near the end, I did not enjoy the chapters from the boys' POV ("Children, I am here to watch your mother fall in love with your dad's best friend and I don't care about your grieving process," I may have said more than once), and pretty much flipped past them unless I caught Garrett's name in the text. But I did love that it alternated perspectives between Garrett and Audrey, and especially loved the opening chapter from Leo. He only appears in memories thereafter, but this primes you for them. It's important, in this kind of setup, that you understand why the late spouse is missed, and that you don't just dismiss him as an obstacle. And in this case, it's particularly helpful to explain how The Pact even happened.
"I didn't think about them being intimate. I couldn't. I only thought that if Audrey and the boys were left on their own, if I had anything to say about it, Garrett was the one person I'd choose to take care of them. I wouldn't be around to know abut any of the rest, which they would figure out."
Basically, I spent the entire book being gleeful as this relationship appeared and unfurled at the exactly perfect pace and took all of the right turns along the way. It took them so well that I barely even noticed the failure to activate fade-to-black (it's not terribly explicit, but it does clearly outline certain activities). I wanted to live in their love story forever, and may have kept the book within arm's length for the next 48 hours after reading it so I could constantly go back and soak up my favorite passages.
June 27, 2016
I hadn't heard of Polly Dugan, but so far all the books I've read as part of the Summer Reading Challenge have been pretty great, so I knew this one - The Sweetheart Deal - would be a great book too!
The Sweetheart Deal is a story about Audrey, who is the mother of three boys. Audrey becomes widowed when her husband, Leo dies in a tragic skiing accident. Long before his accident, Leo makes his best friend, Garrett agree to his persistent plea that should anything ever happen to him, that Garrett would marry his wife, Audrey. Leo even gets Garrett to sign a piece of paper reflecting the arrangements of their drunken promise. Garrett wants to make good on his promise but Audrey has no clue what had happened that night twelve years ago. Garrett uproots his life and makes the move to Portland from Boston to make sure Audrey and the boys are okay and to honor his promise.
Garrett is so diligent in his efforts that his intentions toward Audrey become very genuine and not simply as a result of his promise to Leo. He helps out around the house and helps out with the boys too. Because Audrey is still riddled with grief and at first only looks at Garrett as a friend, until then she doesn't, and she starts to see him with different eyes. Audrey finds herself falling for Garrett but at the same time, thinking that she is somehow cheating on Leo.
The whole thing comes to light when one of the boys finds the note and it leads to Audrey discovering what everything that has been happening the last few months in a ending that nobody will see coming! This book is about love and the different kinds that exist: between friends, family and spouses. Garrett has his own issues to deal with, and readers then realize that there is more to it than just helping out a friend and it could possibly be something that has been there all along.
In this book you will read through the perspectives of Audrey, Garrett and Audrey's sons. The author has done a great job making the grief in this book feels very real to readers. Audrey is struggling, for obvious reasons, and readers can just imagine those instances taking place. Audrey has to sort through the hurt and coming to terms with her own feelings. This was a really well written book and I think readers will enjoy the unique situation that Audrey and Garrett finds themselves in, even if it's because Leo died.
The Sweetheart Deal caused me to stay up later than what I had planned just to see how it all ends and it will leave you crying in some places at what is going on. Polly Dugan is definitely on my list of authors to keep an eye on in the future because I'll be reading whatever it is she writes! It's official folks, I'm a fan!
I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publishers and BookSparks as part of the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge in exchange for this post, which is my honest review and unbiased opinion.
The Sweetheart Deal is a story about Audrey, who is the mother of three boys. Audrey becomes widowed when her husband, Leo dies in a tragic skiing accident. Long before his accident, Leo makes his best friend, Garrett agree to his persistent plea that should anything ever happen to him, that Garrett would marry his wife, Audrey. Leo even gets Garrett to sign a piece of paper reflecting the arrangements of their drunken promise. Garrett wants to make good on his promise but Audrey has no clue what had happened that night twelve years ago. Garrett uproots his life and makes the move to Portland from Boston to make sure Audrey and the boys are okay and to honor his promise.
Garrett is so diligent in his efforts that his intentions toward Audrey become very genuine and not simply as a result of his promise to Leo. He helps out around the house and helps out with the boys too. Because Audrey is still riddled with grief and at first only looks at Garrett as a friend, until then she doesn't, and she starts to see him with different eyes. Audrey finds herself falling for Garrett but at the same time, thinking that she is somehow cheating on Leo.
The whole thing comes to light when one of the boys finds the note and it leads to Audrey discovering what everything that has been happening the last few months in a ending that nobody will see coming! This book is about love and the different kinds that exist: between friends, family and spouses. Garrett has his own issues to deal with, and readers then realize that there is more to it than just helping out a friend and it could possibly be something that has been there all along.
In this book you will read through the perspectives of Audrey, Garrett and Audrey's sons. The author has done a great job making the grief in this book feels very real to readers. Audrey is struggling, for obvious reasons, and readers can just imagine those instances taking place. Audrey has to sort through the hurt and coming to terms with her own feelings. This was a really well written book and I think readers will enjoy the unique situation that Audrey and Garrett finds themselves in, even if it's because Leo died.
The Sweetheart Deal caused me to stay up later than what I had planned just to see how it all ends and it will leave you crying in some places at what is going on. Polly Dugan is definitely on my list of authors to keep an eye on in the future because I'll be reading whatever it is she writes! It's official folks, I'm a fan!
I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publishers and BookSparks as part of the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge in exchange for this post, which is my honest review and unbiased opinion.
March 22, 2016
Inhalt:
Kann eine Liebe auf der Basis eines alten Versprechens gegenüber eines Freundes wirklich existieren?
Über diese Frage dachte Garrett damals nicht nach als er seinem besten Freund Leo das Versprechen gab, wenn ihm einmal was passieren sollte und er nicht mehr unter den Lebenden weilt, würde er sich um seine Familie kümmern und sie schützen. Sogar in schriftlicher Form wurde dieses Versprechen besiegelt. 12 Jahre später passiert ausgerechnet das womit niemand je gerechnet hat – Leo stirbt bei einem Skiunfall und für Garretts heißt es sein Versprechen in die Tat umzusetzen…
Meine Meinung:
Wie oft lässt man aus einer lustigen Laune heraus oder gar etwas angetrunken ein Versprechen einfallen und hofft, dass es nie dazu kommen wird. Genauso geht es dem Hauptprotagonisten Garrett, der bei einer Silvesterparty seinem besten Freund Leo das Versprechen gibt, dass wenn es einmal dazu kommen sollte und er nicht mehr für seine Familie sorgen kann, er für ihn einspringen wird und seinen Part übernimmt. 12 Jahre später ist es soweit und eine dramatische Geschichte nimmt seinen Lauf. Doch was vielleicht einfach klingen mag, bringt Hindernisse und Hürden mit sich, die man erst einmal bewältigen muss um am Ende vielleicht sein großes Glück zu finden.
Polly Dugan hat um dieses Grundgerüst eine wundervolle und sehr ergreifende Geschichte aufgebaut, die einem sehr ans Herz geht und dort zu tiefst berührt. Es zeigt die Höhen und Tiefen einer Beziehung auf und auch was eine wahre Männerfreundschaft im weitesten Sinne ausmacht, aber auch in wie weit sich eins mit dem anderen verbindet.
Mit viel Gefühl baut sie auf einer sehr emotionalen und auch authentischen Basis die Handlung rund um die Protagonisten und deren Leben auf. Der Schreibstil tut sein Übriges dazu und fesselt nicht nur mit Empathie, sondern auch erhoffter Dramatik und tollen Dialogen, deren Wortgewalt und Bedeutungen sehr ergreifend gestaltet sind.
Die Protagonisten sind aus dem Grund sympathisch, weil sie wie aus dem wahren Leben gegriffen wirken, so als sei es der Leser selbst oder gar die beste Freundin/ der beste Freund oder auch ein Familienangehöriger, der sich mit einer Aufgabe konfrontiert sieht, die mehr als nur Mut fordert und einen dazu bewegt vielleicht über seinen eigenen Schatten zu springen um über sich selbst hinaus zu wachsen. Genau dies macht für mich ein gelungener Roman aus und daher konnte die Autorin total bei mir punkten!
Fazit:
Ein Roman, der so viel Realität im Gepäck dabei hat, dass er den Leser auf eine Reise ins Ungewisse voller Gefühle und Dramatik einlädt und ihn so schnell nicht mehr loslässt.
Mich konnte die Autorin in vielerlei Hinsicht begeistern und daher empfehle ich dieses wundervolle Buch gerne weiter!
Finde doch heraus ob es dir genauso ergehen wird wie mir! ;)
Kann eine Liebe auf der Basis eines alten Versprechens gegenüber eines Freundes wirklich existieren?
Über diese Frage dachte Garrett damals nicht nach als er seinem besten Freund Leo das Versprechen gab, wenn ihm einmal was passieren sollte und er nicht mehr unter den Lebenden weilt, würde er sich um seine Familie kümmern und sie schützen. Sogar in schriftlicher Form wurde dieses Versprechen besiegelt. 12 Jahre später passiert ausgerechnet das womit niemand je gerechnet hat – Leo stirbt bei einem Skiunfall und für Garretts heißt es sein Versprechen in die Tat umzusetzen…
Meine Meinung:
Wie oft lässt man aus einer lustigen Laune heraus oder gar etwas angetrunken ein Versprechen einfallen und hofft, dass es nie dazu kommen wird. Genauso geht es dem Hauptprotagonisten Garrett, der bei einer Silvesterparty seinem besten Freund Leo das Versprechen gibt, dass wenn es einmal dazu kommen sollte und er nicht mehr für seine Familie sorgen kann, er für ihn einspringen wird und seinen Part übernimmt. 12 Jahre später ist es soweit und eine dramatische Geschichte nimmt seinen Lauf. Doch was vielleicht einfach klingen mag, bringt Hindernisse und Hürden mit sich, die man erst einmal bewältigen muss um am Ende vielleicht sein großes Glück zu finden.
Polly Dugan hat um dieses Grundgerüst eine wundervolle und sehr ergreifende Geschichte aufgebaut, die einem sehr ans Herz geht und dort zu tiefst berührt. Es zeigt die Höhen und Tiefen einer Beziehung auf und auch was eine wahre Männerfreundschaft im weitesten Sinne ausmacht, aber auch in wie weit sich eins mit dem anderen verbindet.
Mit viel Gefühl baut sie auf einer sehr emotionalen und auch authentischen Basis die Handlung rund um die Protagonisten und deren Leben auf. Der Schreibstil tut sein Übriges dazu und fesselt nicht nur mit Empathie, sondern auch erhoffter Dramatik und tollen Dialogen, deren Wortgewalt und Bedeutungen sehr ergreifend gestaltet sind.
Die Protagonisten sind aus dem Grund sympathisch, weil sie wie aus dem wahren Leben gegriffen wirken, so als sei es der Leser selbst oder gar die beste Freundin/ der beste Freund oder auch ein Familienangehöriger, der sich mit einer Aufgabe konfrontiert sieht, die mehr als nur Mut fordert und einen dazu bewegt vielleicht über seinen eigenen Schatten zu springen um über sich selbst hinaus zu wachsen. Genau dies macht für mich ein gelungener Roman aus und daher konnte die Autorin total bei mir punkten!
Fazit:
Ein Roman, der so viel Realität im Gepäck dabei hat, dass er den Leser auf eine Reise ins Ungewisse voller Gefühle und Dramatik einlädt und ihn so schnell nicht mehr loslässt.
Mich konnte die Autorin in vielerlei Hinsicht begeistern und daher empfehle ich dieses wundervolle Buch gerne weiter!
Finde doch heraus ob es dir genauso ergehen wird wie mir! ;)
February 26, 2016
Selten schafft es ein Buch mich direkt zu Beginn zu packen. Aber dieser Roman hat es zweifelsohne geschafft. Nach nur wenigen Seiten kamen mir bereits die Tränen. Teils vor Traurigkeit, aber auch vor Rührung, weil mich die Handlung so mitgerissen hat.
Polly Dugan ist mit diesem Roman ein wundervoller Roman gelungen, der einem zu Herzen geht und beim Lesen nicht kalt lässt. Sie schreibt mit einer beeindruckenden Emotionalität vom Verabschieden, Loslassen und Neuanfang und reißt einen so mit, dass man das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen mag,
Im Mittelpunkt des Geschehens stehen vorrangig Garett und Audrey. Garett hatte seinem besten Freund Leo, Audreys Mann, vor gut 12 Jahren geschworen, dass er sich um Audrey und seine Familie kümmern und sie heiraten würde, wenn ihm irgendetwas geschieht. Das Undenkbare tritt dann ein und Garett fühlt sich seinem Versprechen verpflichtet. Er zieht zu Audrey und ihren Söhnen und kümmert sich nicht nur um sie, sondern sorgt auch dafür, dass der von Leo angefangene Hausanbau weiter voranschreitet. Während die Wochen vergehen, entwickeln Garett und Audrey Gefühle für einander, auch wenn sie sich selbst nicht eingestehen wollen, dass dies mehr ist, als nur gemeinsame Verbindung zu Leo. Auch an den Jungs geht dies nicht spurlos vorbei.
Polly Dugan hat die Auswirkungen, die Leos Tod auf alle Beteiligten hat, perfekt dargestellt. Jeder geht mit seinem Tod auf unterschiedliche Art um und verarbeitet diesen auf seine persönliche Art. Der im Buch beschriebene Heilungsprozess ist dabei total ungradlinig, dass die Handlung real erscheint. Man nimmt den Figuren ihre Trauer ab und merkt beim Lesen, wie man selbst in eine Trauerstimmung gerät.
Man merkt, dass die Figuren wohldurchdacht sind. Jede Figur hat Charaktereigenschaften, die sie einzigartig macht und lebendig erscheinen lässt. Es fällt leicht sie auseinander zuhalten. Jede Figur darf im Verlauf des Romans die Geschehnisse aus der eigenen Sichtweise schildern, wodurch ein allumfassendes Bild gezeichnet wird. Die Figuren gewinnen dadurch meiner Meinung auch an enormen Tiefgang und man kann sich leicht in sie hineinversetzen.
Dies ist in jedem Fall ein Roman, bei dem man eine Packung Taschentücher zur Hand haben sollte. Mich hat er in jedem Fall immer wieder stark mitgenommen, dass ich öfters mal einen Kloß im Hals hatte.
Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein Buch, das man gelesen haben sollte. Total bewegend und emotional und verdient damit berechtigt die volle Punktzahl von 5 (von 5) Punkte.
Polly Dugan ist mit diesem Roman ein wundervoller Roman gelungen, der einem zu Herzen geht und beim Lesen nicht kalt lässt. Sie schreibt mit einer beeindruckenden Emotionalität vom Verabschieden, Loslassen und Neuanfang und reißt einen so mit, dass man das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen mag,
Im Mittelpunkt des Geschehens stehen vorrangig Garett und Audrey. Garett hatte seinem besten Freund Leo, Audreys Mann, vor gut 12 Jahren geschworen, dass er sich um Audrey und seine Familie kümmern und sie heiraten würde, wenn ihm irgendetwas geschieht. Das Undenkbare tritt dann ein und Garett fühlt sich seinem Versprechen verpflichtet. Er zieht zu Audrey und ihren Söhnen und kümmert sich nicht nur um sie, sondern sorgt auch dafür, dass der von Leo angefangene Hausanbau weiter voranschreitet. Während die Wochen vergehen, entwickeln Garett und Audrey Gefühle für einander, auch wenn sie sich selbst nicht eingestehen wollen, dass dies mehr ist, als nur gemeinsame Verbindung zu Leo. Auch an den Jungs geht dies nicht spurlos vorbei.
Polly Dugan hat die Auswirkungen, die Leos Tod auf alle Beteiligten hat, perfekt dargestellt. Jeder geht mit seinem Tod auf unterschiedliche Art um und verarbeitet diesen auf seine persönliche Art. Der im Buch beschriebene Heilungsprozess ist dabei total ungradlinig, dass die Handlung real erscheint. Man nimmt den Figuren ihre Trauer ab und merkt beim Lesen, wie man selbst in eine Trauerstimmung gerät.
Man merkt, dass die Figuren wohldurchdacht sind. Jede Figur hat Charaktereigenschaften, die sie einzigartig macht und lebendig erscheinen lässt. Es fällt leicht sie auseinander zuhalten. Jede Figur darf im Verlauf des Romans die Geschehnisse aus der eigenen Sichtweise schildern, wodurch ein allumfassendes Bild gezeichnet wird. Die Figuren gewinnen dadurch meiner Meinung auch an enormen Tiefgang und man kann sich leicht in sie hineinversetzen.
Dies ist in jedem Fall ein Roman, bei dem man eine Packung Taschentücher zur Hand haben sollte. Mich hat er in jedem Fall immer wieder stark mitgenommen, dass ich öfters mal einen Kloß im Hals hatte.
Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein Buch, das man gelesen haben sollte. Total bewegend und emotional und verdient damit berechtigt die volle Punktzahl von 5 (von 5) Punkte.
May 12, 2016
Cover
Wir zwei und der Himmel dazwischen ist eines der wenigen Bücher, bei denen mir das deutsche Cover besser gefällt. Obwohl auch das original Cover den Charakter des Buches gut wiederspiegelt, finde ich das Deutsche einfach schöner und fast schon etwas tragischer.
Meine Meinung
Als Leo stirbt, bricht für Audrey und ihre drei Söhne die Welt zusammen. Wie soll man damit umgehen, dass der eigene Vater, der geliebte Ehemann nie wieder zurückkommt? In dem Buch wird die Trauer der einzelnen Figuren sehr schön dargestellt. Die Autorin wechselt beim Erzählen zwischen den einzelnen Figuren hin und her, so dass man immer erfährt was die Person gerade fühlt. Garrett, der beste Freund Leos, kommt zur Beerdigung und verspricht, die Umbauarbeiten am Haus zu beenden, ehe er wieder geht. Mit sich trägt er das schriftlich festgehaltene Versprechen, Audrey zu heiraten. Ich fand die Beziehung von Leo und Garrett sehr faszinierend. Die Beiden haben sich praktisch 10 Jahre nicht gesehen, nur hin und wieder telefoniert und sind trotzdem beste Freunde geblieben. Einerseits finde ich es hart an der Grenze zum Unrealistischen, andererseits ist es sehr bewundernswert, was sie geschafft haben. Die Beziehung der Beiden war nicht platonisch, sie waren sich nah, selbst in Zeiten, in denen sie Räumlich sehr weit voneinander getrennt waren. Es war schön, etwas über ihre besondere Freundschaft zu lesen.
Die Geschichte bleibt nicht zu lang an der Beerdigung und dem Tod Leos hängen, wie ich gedacht hätte. Stattdessen erfährt man mehr darüber, wie das Leben danach ist. Wie verändert es sich für die Hinterbliebenen. Es ist faszinierend zu sehen, wie jeder sein Leben wieder aufnimmt und versucht das Beste daraus zu machen. Für mich war es spannend zu sehen, wie sehr sich diese Menschen verändert haben und wie sehr sie gekämpft haben, um das Leid abzuschütteln.
Wir zwei und der Himmel dazwischen ist ein wirklich tolles Buch. Es hat mich berührt und es erzählt eine wirklich tolle Geschichte, die man immer und immer wieder hören könnte. Ich mochte den Schreibstil der Autorin sehr gerne. Trotz des doch etwas schwereren Themas, war er immer leicht und locker. Der Stil hatte keine bedrückende Wirkung auf mich gehabt. Alles in allem kann ich nur sagen, dass mir die Geschichte um Audrey und Garrett sehr gut gefallen hat. Sie hätte ruhig etwas länger sein dürfen, denn am Ende wollte ich die Charaktere gar nicht gehen lassen. Da mir das Buch wirklich gut gefallen hat, vergebe ich vier von fünf Monstern.
Wir zwei und der Himmel dazwischen ist eines der wenigen Bücher, bei denen mir das deutsche Cover besser gefällt. Obwohl auch das original Cover den Charakter des Buches gut wiederspiegelt, finde ich das Deutsche einfach schöner und fast schon etwas tragischer.
Meine Meinung
Als Leo stirbt, bricht für Audrey und ihre drei Söhne die Welt zusammen. Wie soll man damit umgehen, dass der eigene Vater, der geliebte Ehemann nie wieder zurückkommt? In dem Buch wird die Trauer der einzelnen Figuren sehr schön dargestellt. Die Autorin wechselt beim Erzählen zwischen den einzelnen Figuren hin und her, so dass man immer erfährt was die Person gerade fühlt. Garrett, der beste Freund Leos, kommt zur Beerdigung und verspricht, die Umbauarbeiten am Haus zu beenden, ehe er wieder geht. Mit sich trägt er das schriftlich festgehaltene Versprechen, Audrey zu heiraten. Ich fand die Beziehung von Leo und Garrett sehr faszinierend. Die Beiden haben sich praktisch 10 Jahre nicht gesehen, nur hin und wieder telefoniert und sind trotzdem beste Freunde geblieben. Einerseits finde ich es hart an der Grenze zum Unrealistischen, andererseits ist es sehr bewundernswert, was sie geschafft haben. Die Beziehung der Beiden war nicht platonisch, sie waren sich nah, selbst in Zeiten, in denen sie Räumlich sehr weit voneinander getrennt waren. Es war schön, etwas über ihre besondere Freundschaft zu lesen.
Die Geschichte bleibt nicht zu lang an der Beerdigung und dem Tod Leos hängen, wie ich gedacht hätte. Stattdessen erfährt man mehr darüber, wie das Leben danach ist. Wie verändert es sich für die Hinterbliebenen. Es ist faszinierend zu sehen, wie jeder sein Leben wieder aufnimmt und versucht das Beste daraus zu machen. Für mich war es spannend zu sehen, wie sehr sich diese Menschen verändert haben und wie sehr sie gekämpft haben, um das Leid abzuschütteln.
Wir zwei und der Himmel dazwischen ist ein wirklich tolles Buch. Es hat mich berührt und es erzählt eine wirklich tolle Geschichte, die man immer und immer wieder hören könnte. Ich mochte den Schreibstil der Autorin sehr gerne. Trotz des doch etwas schwereren Themas, war er immer leicht und locker. Der Stil hatte keine bedrückende Wirkung auf mich gehabt. Alles in allem kann ich nur sagen, dass mir die Geschichte um Audrey und Garrett sehr gut gefallen hat. Sie hätte ruhig etwas länger sein dürfen, denn am Ende wollte ich die Charaktere gar nicht gehen lassen. Da mir das Buch wirklich gut gefallen hat, vergebe ich vier von fünf Monstern.
July 15, 2016
In The Sweetheart Deal, we meet Audrey whose husband has recently died and is trying to deal with that all while raising three sons. We meet Garrett who is Leo’s best friend and has always said if something happens to him he wants Garrett to marry Audrey. Garrett has never even seriously considered this but when Leo dies he knows he must go and help Audrey out as much as he can and that means finishing an addition on the house that Leo had started and also help out when it comes to his sons.
While everything started out has friends slowly but surely the tension is so much and Audrey and Garrett experience some sparks. As much as Garrett tries not to get involved with Audrey he can’t help but fall for her. They try and keep it a secret from everyone especially the boys but in time their secret is exposed. Not only that secret but the note that Leo had Garrett sign, as a joke, saying he would marry Audrey is also found out. Needless to say, when she finds it she isn’t pleased, she thinks it’s all a joke, she thinks she’s the joke. That everything that has happened wasn’t real. This is where I get a little upset, she goes off on him like this is his entire fault when in actuality she is the one who started all the physical stuff.
The Sweetheart Deal was a good read. I liked how we got the full back story of Leo and Audrey and how deep their love was. I think in order for us to buy the whole Audrey and Garrett story you had to know the relationships between Leo and Audrey and especially the one between Leo and Garrett. While the whole idea of asking your best friend to marry your wife if you die is really odd, I can see that Leo’s logic was that he knew Garret would do anything for Audrey and his kids, he knew they would be in good hands. Overall I enjoyed this story of loss and eventually finding love again in the most unexpected places.
While everything started out has friends slowly but surely the tension is so much and Audrey and Garrett experience some sparks. As much as Garrett tries not to get involved with Audrey he can’t help but fall for her. They try and keep it a secret from everyone especially the boys but in time their secret is exposed. Not only that secret but the note that Leo had Garrett sign, as a joke, saying he would marry Audrey is also found out. Needless to say, when she finds it she isn’t pleased, she thinks it’s all a joke, she thinks she’s the joke. That everything that has happened wasn’t real. This is where I get a little upset, she goes off on him like this is his entire fault when in actuality she is the one who started all the physical stuff.
The Sweetheart Deal was a good read. I liked how we got the full back story of Leo and Audrey and how deep their love was. I think in order for us to buy the whole Audrey and Garrett story you had to know the relationships between Leo and Audrey and especially the one between Leo and Garrett. While the whole idea of asking your best friend to marry your wife if you die is really odd, I can see that Leo’s logic was that he knew Garret would do anything for Audrey and his kids, he knew they would be in good hands. Overall I enjoyed this story of loss and eventually finding love again in the most unexpected places.
April 25, 2021
I found this book pretty boring. The author does a good job portraying grief, but there was a lack of focus in the overall story. I would have preferred she just stick with Audrey and Garrett since their story was centric, based on the jacket summary. I was incredibly disinterested in the sons' chapters, thought there was too many of them and didn't think it was necessary to use their POVs to get their point across (reasons they didn't like Audrey getting involved with Garrett after their dad's death etc).
Also, I couldn't stand Audrey. She struck me as the type of woman that's colloquially called a 'Karen'. She was easily offended, passive-aggressive and annoying. I get that she's grieving, but she needed some hint of charisma that was lacking. Garrett was ok but I didn't see why he was so into her, being that he was portrayed as noncommittal in relationships and somehow she was SO special that she slipped through his status quo.
A majority of the story was telling instead of showing. The concept could have been handled in much more vivid ways with more implementation of scenes. I think the author had a good grasp of the psychological landscape of the story but could have done more with it than she did. At no point did I wonder eagerly 'what happens next?' I just kept trudging through to get it over with because generally I don't DNF.
Also, I couldn't stand Audrey. She struck me as the type of woman that's colloquially called a 'Karen'. She was easily offended, passive-aggressive and annoying. I get that she's grieving, but she needed some hint of charisma that was lacking. Garrett was ok but I didn't see why he was so into her, being that he was portrayed as noncommittal in relationships and somehow she was SO special that she slipped through his status quo.
A majority of the story was telling instead of showing. The concept could have been handled in much more vivid ways with more implementation of scenes. I think the author had a good grasp of the psychological landscape of the story but could have done more with it than she did. At no point did I wonder eagerly 'what happens next?' I just kept trudging through to get it over with because generally I don't DNF.
June 1, 2015
It was an intriguing idea for a story; one man asking his best friend to take care of his sweetheart and family if anything should ever happen to him. He was a firefighter, so it made a little bit of sense. And I did find the story compelling enough to read it all the way to the end, hoping for good to come out of tragedy and for every one in the story to be ok in the long run. I did want to find out what happened to each of the characters. But I wasn't convinced that the author cared about how the main characters actually fell in love. She also included some immature swearing for emphasis, that reminded me of a movie who throws in cuss words to get a more intense rating to oblige an audience. The language didn't enhance the story, but detracted and seemed out of place. I did think the author developed her main character more towards the end of the novel, and hope that this shows her writing improved over time. I will look for future books.
June 11, 2016
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started reading The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan. I knew there would be love, loss, and more love. What I wanted to know was would this book make me feel, make me fall in love with the characters?
Yes and yes! It was so easy to love Audrey and her boys thru their devastation. And Garrett was exactly as described, "like a weed, easy to uproot."
I devoured this book because Ms. Duncan's writing is so smooth and the setting of Portland was perfect, just enough details and not in the way of the story.
I highly recommend The Sweetheart Deal as a great summer read. I don't think you will be disappointed.
I received a copy of this book from BookSparks as part of their summer reading challenge.
Yes and yes! It was so easy to love Audrey and her boys thru their devastation. And Garrett was exactly as described, "like a weed, easy to uproot."
I devoured this book because Ms. Duncan's writing is so smooth and the setting of Portland was perfect, just enough details and not in the way of the story.
I highly recommend The Sweetheart Deal as a great summer read. I don't think you will be disappointed.
I received a copy of this book from BookSparks as part of their summer reading challenge.
June 25, 2015
I really wanted to love this book. I was totally pulled in by the premise - a man dies and his best friend tries to fulfill his promise to take care of the dead man's wife and three sons...and they fall in love. AND it was set in Portland. Perfect!
The problem was that I didn't think the characters got fleshed out enough, especially the younger 2 boys. The two main characters did, but the wife totally annoyed me. I ended up thinking she wasn't good enough for either of the men! And the ending....well, it just felt like it kind of trailed off.
It wasn't a bad book, just left me wanting more.
The problem was that I didn't think the characters got fleshed out enough, especially the younger 2 boys. The two main characters did, but the wife totally annoyed me. I ended up thinking she wasn't good enough for either of the men! And the ending....well, it just felt like it kind of trailed off.
It wasn't a bad book, just left me wanting more.
January 6, 2016
WOW- this is a beautifully written story of a family moving through incredible and unexpected grief. Dugan's words truly resonated with me- not matter if they came from Audrey, the kids, or Garrett. She did a wonderful job of of portraying a really bad situation. Yes, you can kind of guess where some of it is going but there are some great touches, especially with the boys, that make this so much more than the standard. I'm looking forward to more from Dugan- HIGHLY recommend.
January 5, 2016
When Audrey's husband Leo dies in a skiing accident, his best friend Garrett immediately flies to Portland. As he stays finishing the addition to the hours that Leo started, feelings begin to develop between the 2 of them. Told in their voices as well as the voices of Audrey's 3 sons the story of grief and healing was far more profound than I had expected.
September 21, 2015
A poignant exploration of a family not just recovering from loss, but growing stronger in its wake. Polly Dugan's debut novel moved me to tears and challenged my assumptions as it explored what any of us would do when offered a second chance at love.
March 6, 2015
I received this book from good reads. This was a very good book but I didn't care for the ending because I did not want the story to end. lol
June 30, 2015
Sweet book.
August 9, 2025
Random pull off the library shelf - the name & plot synopsis drew me, thinking it would be like a fun, cheesy Hallmark rom-com. It's not. It's a realistic drama that honestly bored me with all the mundanity to the point I reconsidered finishing it several times. It has multiple narrators, including the husband who dies, the wife, his three kids, and the husband's best friend - which in itself isn't a bad technique, but I didn't think it added very much to the story. Lots of F-words, some sex scenes, not graphic. But really, just NOT memorable and mostly sad watching a widow and her children deal with grief.
I read to escape reality, not slog through someone else's... Would not read again or recommend.
PLOT
Audrey has 3 boys at home, all teenagers (or about to be) when her husband, firefighter Leo dies in a skiing accident. His best friend Garrett comes out for the funeral and decides to stay until he finishes the addition on Audrey's home which Leo had started. He's been part of their life before, but it had been 6 years since he'd last seen Audrey and the boys, and as a serial dater, Garrett didn't feel remotely qualified to help Leo's family adjust to life without him, but he stayed.
And not just because of a drunken promise given years and years ago, to marry Leo's wife if anything should ever happen to Leo.
What happens when the temporary escape of sex, too soon after Leo's passing, starts to become something more for Audrey and Garrett? Will Garrett be able to leave behind his noncommittal habits? Will Audrey be able to forgive herself for loving someone after her husband?
I read to escape reality, not slog through someone else's... Would not read again or recommend.
PLOT
Audrey has 3 boys at home, all teenagers (or about to be) when her husband, firefighter Leo dies in a skiing accident. His best friend Garrett comes out for the funeral and decides to stay until he finishes the addition on Audrey's home which Leo had started. He's been part of their life before, but it had been 6 years since he'd last seen Audrey and the boys, and as a serial dater, Garrett didn't feel remotely qualified to help Leo's family adjust to life without him, but he stayed.
And not just because of a drunken promise given years and years ago, to marry Leo's wife if anything should ever happen to Leo.
What happens when the temporary escape of sex, too soon after Leo's passing, starts to become something more for Audrey and Garrett? Will Garrett be able to leave behind his noncommittal habits? Will Audrey be able to forgive herself for loving someone after her husband?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2019
This story takes you on the journey of what a family goes through when they are grieving. Told in multiple points of view, from the wife, kids and best friend of the deceased. The husband 12 years before his death made his best friend swear to marry his wife should he die, but his friend took it as at joke, it was never going to happen. Right?
Well when it does, he sweeps in to help the family. Working on the addition that never got completed. He becomes a part of the family, until his feelings grow. The pact he made forgotten, but his feelings have changed. The anger, pain, loss, and all the grief stages in between are shown in all it's not so glorious ways. The ending was a little rushed for me but otherwise I loved the way this story was told.
Well when it does, he sweeps in to help the family. Working on the addition that never got completed. He becomes a part of the family, until his feelings grow. The pact he made forgotten, but his feelings have changed. The anger, pain, loss, and all the grief stages in between are shown in all it's not so glorious ways. The ending was a little rushed for me but otherwise I loved the way this story was told.
June 8, 2018
This was an ok book. Each chapter was written from a different character's point of view, sometimes overlapping other's chapters, sometimes not. I liked that style. I was into the book, but waiting for something a little more happy to happen, and it never really did. The main character's husband dies in one of the first chapters and most of the book was about dealing with it. I was hoping it would move past that by the midpoint onto something happier, but it didn't. However, I was hooked enough to keep reading to find out.
September 16, 2017
I don't give one star ratings often and while I think there's an audience for this type of book, for me, it commits one of the worse sins: it's boring. The plot is very predictable. It's also incredible bland. I'm talking plain oatmeal, unsalted crackers kind of bland. All of the characters have the same voice and it's all tell and no show. We're told that Garrett is in love with Audrey and that this is different from his other women, but we never see it. For me, this was a waste of time.
September 12, 2018
The Sweetheart Deal... at a drunken New Year's Eve celebration, Leo forces his friend, Garrett, to sign a handwritten note saying Garrett will marry Leo's wife, Audrey, upon Leo's death. Garrett grudgingly signs, hoping his friend isn't planning on dying soon. 12 years later, the family grieves Leo's passing, and Garrett flies cross country to help Audrey and her sons finish a home addition project that Leo started. Will Audrey's feelings reflect Leo's intentions? Slow beginning, abrupt ending.
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