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The Accidental Life of Greg Miller
Lucy Aright is not the sort of woman to be swept off her feet. She is sober, career-minded and numb since the death of her fiancé. So it's completely out of character for her to race a man in traffic- and even more unusual when they meet again and she is irritated, intrigued and finally enraptured by the driver, writer Greg Miller. Within eight weeks, she is seriously considering his pleas to marry him and wondering if she can take on his two motherless children. But before she can make a decision about becoming part of Greg's world, events plunge her right into it. Her careful existence is shattered as she has to figure out how to handle two vulnerable children and face that she doesn't really know the man whose life has so overwhelmed hers.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2014
634 people are currently reading
1682 people want to read
About the author
Aimee Alexander
30 books91 followersAimee Alexander is the pen name of bestselling Irish author, Denise Deegan. Denise writes contemporary teenage fiction under her own name. As Aimee Alexander, she writes contemporary adult fiction that focuses, largely, on family and relationships.
For more information visit: https://aimeealexander.com
For news on new books and offers and to receive a free copy of Aimee's short story, Checkout Girl, visit: http://eepurl.com/-II1X
Happy reading x
For more information visit: https://aimeealexander.com
For news on new books and offers and to receive a free copy of Aimee's short story, Checkout Girl, visit: http://eepurl.com/-II1X
Happy reading x
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
March 29, 2019
SPOILERS AHEAD...
I have been thinking about this review for over a week now and I am still unsure what to say and how I feel about it. So I'm going to give the points that I feel stick out for me the most and leave it at that!
I really enjoyed the fact that this was written by an Irish Author.
It was refreshing to read about mental illness with a positive spin on the outcome and how it was handled.
Some small details really got under my skin,
For example, after going through so much together and being engaged why would they agree to live separately again
Why did they keep saying how Greg single handedly raised the children when it was clear the nanny was doing just that.
Why when the children are his live would he propose to someone he hadn't even introduced to the children.
I think overall i was left with more annoying questions than a feeling of contentment at finishing the book.
A bit of a let down overall, but had to read to the end.
I have been thinking about this review for over a week now and I am still unsure what to say and how I feel about it. So I'm going to give the points that I feel stick out for me the most and leave it at that!
I really enjoyed the fact that this was written by an Irish Author.
It was refreshing to read about mental illness with a positive spin on the outcome and how it was handled.
Some small details really got under my skin,
For example, after going through so much together and being engaged why would they agree to live separately again
Why did they keep saying how Greg single handedly raised the children when it was clear the nanny was doing just that.
Why when the children are his live would he propose to someone he hadn't even introduced to the children.
I think overall i was left with more annoying questions than a feeling of contentment at finishing the book.
A bit of a let down overall, but had to read to the end.
May 1, 2016
I picked up this book without reading the story summary or any reviews - and it really wasn't at all what I expected. The first surprise was the first person, present tense narrative - we see everything through Lucy's eyes - which is something I sometimes have difficulty with as a reader. If I'm honest, for the first few chapters, I really thought I wasn't going to like this book. Lucy, a career driven graphic designer, with a hint of tragedy in her past that makes her seem rather closed down and emotionally cold, has a chance meeting with a rather false and flashy famous novelist... and I thought I could see exactly where it was all heading. When she decided to marry him after a matter of weeks... I'm afraid the story really wasn't working for me at all.
But I'm really glad I didn't give up - because the book very soon afterwards turned into something very different. Greg turned out not to be the flash and superficial character I'd had him marked down as - and the whole issue of his problem and how it affects everyone around him was totally engrossing and quite excellently handled. I've noticed that there are quite a lot of reviews that clearly identify Greg's "problem" - I must admit, I think that's a bit of a spoiler, and I'm not going to (and, if you can, I'd urge you to read this book not knowing more about the story too).
There's a lot in this book about families - Lucy's experience when introduced as potential stepmother to Greg's young children is presented in great detail, and has the feeling of total authenticity. The children are superbly drawn - Rachel's hatred and jealousy moving very slowly to acceptance and beyond, Toby's openness, innocence and natural friendliness. The family theme is explored further with Lucy's own (simply lovely) parents who help her build bridges with the children, the contrast with her sister's apparently perfect home life, the coldness of the children's maternal grandparents and the downright animosity of Greg's mother (softened by the presence of his peacemaker brother).
Everything conspires to make this a long way from the simple happy ever after story I'd expected it to be - the obstacles to that come thick and fast, from Greg's issues, to the competing demands of family and career, through to the vindictiveness of others who consider themselves wronged or displaced. And when there finally seem to be still waters and plain sailing, there's another storm ahead that keeps you turning the pages as the tension is cranked up yet further.
I might not have liked the first person or present tense narration at first, but as the crises multiply it really does work very well. I never particularly liked Lucy - but that doesn't really matter, you rarely like everyone in life - but there were times that seeing things through her eyes put me very firmly in her corner, and able to feel what she was feeling. This was a very different read, emotional, quite dark in mood at times, very moving - a story about ordinary people being tested beyond endurance, and a story really well told... I look forward to reading more from Aimee Alexander.
But I'm really glad I didn't give up - because the book very soon afterwards turned into something very different. Greg turned out not to be the flash and superficial character I'd had him marked down as - and the whole issue of his problem and how it affects everyone around him was totally engrossing and quite excellently handled. I've noticed that there are quite a lot of reviews that clearly identify Greg's "problem" - I must admit, I think that's a bit of a spoiler, and I'm not going to (and, if you can, I'd urge you to read this book not knowing more about the story too).
There's a lot in this book about families - Lucy's experience when introduced as potential stepmother to Greg's young children is presented in great detail, and has the feeling of total authenticity. The children are superbly drawn - Rachel's hatred and jealousy moving very slowly to acceptance and beyond, Toby's openness, innocence and natural friendliness. The family theme is explored further with Lucy's own (simply lovely) parents who help her build bridges with the children, the contrast with her sister's apparently perfect home life, the coldness of the children's maternal grandparents and the downright animosity of Greg's mother (softened by the presence of his peacemaker brother).
Everything conspires to make this a long way from the simple happy ever after story I'd expected it to be - the obstacles to that come thick and fast, from Greg's issues, to the competing demands of family and career, through to the vindictiveness of others who consider themselves wronged or displaced. And when there finally seem to be still waters and plain sailing, there's another storm ahead that keeps you turning the pages as the tension is cranked up yet further.
I might not have liked the first person or present tense narration at first, but as the crises multiply it really does work very well. I never particularly liked Lucy - but that doesn't really matter, you rarely like everyone in life - but there were times that seeing things through her eyes put me very firmly in her corner, and able to feel what she was feeling. This was a very different read, emotional, quite dark in mood at times, very moving - a story about ordinary people being tested beyond endurance, and a story really well told... I look forward to reading more from Aimee Alexander.
June 21, 2016
Although the title of this novel would make any reader assume that this is a story about Greg Millar, it is, in fact Lucy's story. Told by her, in her words.
I read this book whilst on holiday in Corfu, it's a couple of weeks ago now, and I do struggle to write a review if I don't do it immediately. However, I remember being really surprised by the turns that this story took. At first glance, and throughout the first few chapters it would be easy to assume that this is another run-of-the-mill romance. You know the kind of thing; two tortured souls meet and fall in love ......
It isn't, it really really isn't. Yes, there is a love story at the heart of this book, and a beautifully written one at that, but there are so many more layers to Lucy and Greg that add depth and feeling to the story.
Aimee Alexander creates characters that you can relate to, there are some awful people in this book, who do some pretty vile things, but there are also some wonderful people who take the story to another level, and even the vilest characters are perfectly formed.
Greg Millar is a complex and at times, very unnerving character and Lucy is forced to deal with not only his erratic behaviour, but also his two small children and their nanny who are determined that they are not going to share Greg with her. The French setting is very well done and the author has cleverly added to the suspense and discomfort with the addition of a stifling heatwave.
There's a lot packed into this book, the author deals with some pretty dark issues, and does it very well. There are twists and turns a plenty, a heavy dose of romance, some pretty dysfunctional characters and a wonderfully evocative setting. I enjoyed The Accidental Life of Greg Millar very much and look forward to reading more from this author.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
I read this book whilst on holiday in Corfu, it's a couple of weeks ago now, and I do struggle to write a review if I don't do it immediately. However, I remember being really surprised by the turns that this story took. At first glance, and throughout the first few chapters it would be easy to assume that this is another run-of-the-mill romance. You know the kind of thing; two tortured souls meet and fall in love ......
It isn't, it really really isn't. Yes, there is a love story at the heart of this book, and a beautifully written one at that, but there are so many more layers to Lucy and Greg that add depth and feeling to the story.
Aimee Alexander creates characters that you can relate to, there are some awful people in this book, who do some pretty vile things, but there are also some wonderful people who take the story to another level, and even the vilest characters are perfectly formed.
Greg Millar is a complex and at times, very unnerving character and Lucy is forced to deal with not only his erratic behaviour, but also his two small children and their nanny who are determined that they are not going to share Greg with her. The French setting is very well done and the author has cleverly added to the suspense and discomfort with the addition of a stifling heatwave.
There's a lot packed into this book, the author deals with some pretty dark issues, and does it very well. There are twists and turns a plenty, a heavy dose of romance, some pretty dysfunctional characters and a wonderfully evocative setting. I enjoyed The Accidental Life of Greg Millar very much and look forward to reading more from this author.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
April 28, 2016
i read this book without any preconceptions as i had really enjoyed reading the blurb. Fast-paced and not overly challenging, this is the story of Greg and Lucy - both struggling through life after the deaths of their partners. From a story that seemed somewhat superficial from the outset, this tale unfolded with multiple layers and had far more complexities and plot lines than I was anticipating.
A throughly enjoyable read - with a realistic cast of characters in circumstances that you could easily imagine (apart from the sports cars of course!)
Two observations - i may have missed it, but I was almost halfway through when I realised that Lucy was based in Ireland rather than the UK (going back to Dublin gave it away!). Second observation - like Ms Alexander's previous book (Pause to Rewind), the title didn't really work for me...
I enjoyed this story and it helped rekindle my reading mojo.
My thanks to the publisher Lake Union Publishing for an advance review copy in exchange for this honest review.
A throughly enjoyable read - with a realistic cast of characters in circumstances that you could easily imagine (apart from the sports cars of course!)
Two observations - i may have missed it, but I was almost halfway through when I realised that Lucy was based in Ireland rather than the UK (going back to Dublin gave it away!). Second observation - like Ms Alexander's previous book (Pause to Rewind), the title didn't really work for me...
I enjoyed this story and it helped rekindle my reading mojo.
My thanks to the publisher Lake Union Publishing for an advance review copy in exchange for this honest review.
April 25, 2016
The Accidental Life of Greg Millar was not what I was expecting AT ALL. I imagined a fun story, about a girl who finds love after losing the person she thought was her soulmate, someone who makes her happy again, and see the world in a much better light. And while it is that, for the first bit of the novel, it soon takes a way more serious turn as Greg turns out to be quite erratic. It took a while to get my head around, because Lucy's and Greg's relationship went from being the most amazing thing ever, to something balanced precariously on an edge of a cliff.
What I liked about the book was Lucy. She was the narrator, and she goes through so much - before Greg, whilst she's with Greg. Her entire relationship with Greg is like one big whirlwind. They're engaged within two months of knowing each other, then they go to France, with his kids, and it's like WHOA SLOW DOWN, but they're both away in this mad little love bubble and nothing can penetrate it, until it all starts to go slightly pear-shaped. It's the little things at first - Greg's kids, Rachel in particular, can't stand Lucy and she's not even willing to give her a chance; Helena the nanny is like the wicked witch, stirring trouble every where she goes; Greg disappears for hours on end, and yet through it all, Lucy is level-headed. Even afterwards, through everything else, Lucy is level-headed. And that's amazing. She really was the one who kept everything ticking over throughout, when anyone else would have said see you later.
I actually loved Rachel and Toby, Greg's kids. Yes, Rachel was very prickly with Lucy, but that's kids for you isn't it? And it's never easy having someone come into your life the way Lucy does, although it was unfair because Lucy didn't do anything wrong. But Toby was so cute. Ahhh, I love little boys, they're so sweet and innocent, especially in books. Greg, for me, was the hardest character to like. It was so, so hard to get a hold on who the real Greg was. But it was his love for Lucy that made me like him the most, because again, despite everything, these two loved each, there was no petty falling out and breaking up over nothing, this was the old-fashioned, make it work no matter what, because you love each other stuff and that was so good to read.
I really enjoyed The Accidental Life of Greg Millar. Yes, it was way more serious than I expected, but it was no less enjoyable. It made it all worthwhile, in fact, and it was refreshing to see a book tackle such a serious subject, with ease, too. Aimee Alexander writes really, really well (and she writes really well, too, as Denise Deegan, her real name) and I look forward to reading more of her Aimee books, and any others she's published under any other names.
What I liked about the book was Lucy. She was the narrator, and she goes through so much - before Greg, whilst she's with Greg. Her entire relationship with Greg is like one big whirlwind. They're engaged within two months of knowing each other, then they go to France, with his kids, and it's like WHOA SLOW DOWN, but they're both away in this mad little love bubble and nothing can penetrate it, until it all starts to go slightly pear-shaped. It's the little things at first - Greg's kids, Rachel in particular, can't stand Lucy and she's not even willing to give her a chance; Helena the nanny is like the wicked witch, stirring trouble every where she goes; Greg disappears for hours on end, and yet through it all, Lucy is level-headed. Even afterwards, through everything else, Lucy is level-headed. And that's amazing. She really was the one who kept everything ticking over throughout, when anyone else would have said see you later.
I actually loved Rachel and Toby, Greg's kids. Yes, Rachel was very prickly with Lucy, but that's kids for you isn't it? And it's never easy having someone come into your life the way Lucy does, although it was unfair because Lucy didn't do anything wrong. But Toby was so cute. Ahhh, I love little boys, they're so sweet and innocent, especially in books. Greg, for me, was the hardest character to like. It was so, so hard to get a hold on who the real Greg was. But it was his love for Lucy that made me like him the most, because again, despite everything, these two loved each, there was no petty falling out and breaking up over nothing, this was the old-fashioned, make it work no matter what, because you love each other stuff and that was so good to read.
I really enjoyed The Accidental Life of Greg Millar. Yes, it was way more serious than I expected, but it was no less enjoyable. It made it all worthwhile, in fact, and it was refreshing to see a book tackle such a serious subject, with ease, too. Aimee Alexander writes really, really well (and she writes really well, too, as Denise Deegan, her real name) and I look forward to reading more of her Aimee books, and any others she's published under any other names.
April 16, 2015
I was trying to move this book from the carousel in my kindle phone app and it opened without my intending to. The first sentence caught my eye so I read it. By the end of the first paragraph I knew I wouldn't be moving it before I finished it.
Aimee Alexander writes manic depression extremely well. If she is writing from personal experience, KUDOS! If telling the story from a perspective of observation and empathy, she is very gifted with a rare understanding of BiPolar Disorder.
Living with BPD myself, I'm all too familiar with climbing to the highest manic peak, subsequently plummeting to abysmal depths of despair in the darkest suicidal depression. This is so well written, I wish I'd written it myself. It's THAT good!
Aimee Alexander writes manic depression extremely well. If she is writing from personal experience, KUDOS! If telling the story from a perspective of observation and empathy, she is very gifted with a rare understanding of BiPolar Disorder.
Living with BPD myself, I'm all too familiar with climbing to the highest manic peak, subsequently plummeting to abysmal depths of despair in the darkest suicidal depression. This is so well written, I wish I'd written it myself. It's THAT good!
April 21, 2015
Sweet and emotional story. Some reviewers didn't like the writing style, but personally I found it refreshing and mature. I liked that. The story moved quickly and the characters fell in love so fast, especially given Lucy's adamant desire NOT to move on so fast, and I would've preferred to see more of that stage, but alas it continued into more conflicts and I just kept flipping pages as fast as possible. I loved the evolution of the relationship and the family drama/dynamics, which are all too familiar to many of us, but I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. Hence the 4 instead of 5 stars. Still a great, interesting read though!
September 3, 2016
I listened to a solid 3.5 hours of this 11.5 hour audiobook and gave up. Tedious and drawn-out story.
August 10, 2016
This review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]
Green Giants is my feature where I share some of my favourite books by Irish Authors. I’m passionate about Irish Authors, as they supply us with an entertaining and exciting mix of books, so hopefully you will find something new to try. Today I’m featuring The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander which was so engaging that I read it in a single day.
I met the lovely Denise Deegan (aka Aimee Alexander) at a book event in Dublin lately. And her enthusiasm for her 'Greg Millar' book made me rush out and buy it! I previously enjoyed her YA books that she wrote as Denise Deegan so I was looking forward to seeing how she tackled an adult contemporary novel.
First Line of The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander:
My Thoughts on The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander:
I didn't know a lot about this book before I read it, as I just glanced at the synopsis. And the theme of the book is a hard-hitting issue that directly or indirectly affects many people. But I can't reveal what it is because it would be a huge spoiler. Trust me when I say it's a relevant and interesting plot, as it delves into a difficult topic with compassion and sensitivity.
No Insta-Love:
Now you all know, I'm detest insta-love. So when the couple in this book get engaged after just eight weeks, I was wary. But this is no insta-love. It's an insta-attraction that just goes deeper and deeper as we progress through the book. Lucy and Greg had lots of challenges but their love for each other is not one I ever questioned.
No Fairy Tale:
It's no fairy tale romance but it is one that is inspiring and hopeful. At first it all looks perfect. Greg and Lucy are madly in love, money isn't an issue and they are going to start their life with a few weeks in the South of France. All Lucy has to do is get Greg's children on board. Which isn't smooth sailing. Greg's children are strong characters and have strong feelings about their stepmother to be. Both kids are very authentic; from their actions to their dialogue, they just rang true to life.
Inspirational and moving:
The characters in this book work very hard to gel their family together and to create a future. They are hit by unexpected problems but they stand together and push forward. That made it a very emotional and encouraging read for me. Even though my eyes filled up at times, I ultimately loved the message of this book. There is also lots of dry humour which lighted the tone.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Aimee Alexander knows how to write character driven books with intriguing plots and I need to read more of her back catalogue.
Who should read The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander?
I'd recommend this to you if you like contemporary romances that deal with realistic issues. Fans of authors such as Sheila O'Flanagan and Maeve Binchy should also enjoy.
Green Giants is my feature where I share some of my favourite books by Irish Authors. I’m passionate about Irish Authors, as they supply us with an entertaining and exciting mix of books, so hopefully you will find something new to try. Today I’m featuring The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander which was so engaging that I read it in a single day.
I met the lovely Denise Deegan (aka Aimee Alexander) at a book event in Dublin lately. And her enthusiasm for her 'Greg Millar' book made me rush out and buy it! I previously enjoyed her YA books that she wrote as Denise Deegan so I was looking forward to seeing how she tackled an adult contemporary novel.
First Line of The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander:
“A bird has just flown into my car - a moving car, a moving bird, heading in different directions yet somehow magically intersecting.”
My Thoughts on The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander:
I didn't know a lot about this book before I read it, as I just glanced at the synopsis. And the theme of the book is a hard-hitting issue that directly or indirectly affects many people. But I can't reveal what it is because it would be a huge spoiler. Trust me when I say it's a relevant and interesting plot, as it delves into a difficult topic with compassion and sensitivity.
No Insta-Love:
Now you all know, I'm detest insta-love. So when the couple in this book get engaged after just eight weeks, I was wary. But this is no insta-love. It's an insta-attraction that just goes deeper and deeper as we progress through the book. Lucy and Greg had lots of challenges but their love for each other is not one I ever questioned.
No Fairy Tale:
It's no fairy tale romance but it is one that is inspiring and hopeful. At first it all looks perfect. Greg and Lucy are madly in love, money isn't an issue and they are going to start their life with a few weeks in the South of France. All Lucy has to do is get Greg's children on board. Which isn't smooth sailing. Greg's children are strong characters and have strong feelings about their stepmother to be. Both kids are very authentic; from their actions to their dialogue, they just rang true to life.
Inspirational and moving:
The characters in this book work very hard to gel their family together and to create a future. They are hit by unexpected problems but they stand together and push forward. That made it a very emotional and encouraging read for me. Even though my eyes filled up at times, I ultimately loved the message of this book. There is also lots of dry humour which lighted the tone.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Aimee Alexander knows how to write character driven books with intriguing plots and I need to read more of her back catalogue.
Who should read The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander?
I'd recommend this to you if you like contemporary romances that deal with realistic issues. Fans of authors such as Sheila O'Flanagan and Maeve Binchy should also enjoy.
March 14, 2015
A blackbird in the car is definitely a good omen. The beautiful image that opens 'The Accidental Life of Greg Millar' also represents the flying pace of the writing. I'm not a fan of the present tense but before I knew it I was in the South of France with Lucy, wishing I could give her some advice. I instantly recognised the illness that afflicts one of the characters, due to my own close association with a sufferer. Aimee Alexander's exact description put me through it all over again. The car journey, in particular, brought back vivid and heart stopping memories. I won't say any more as I don't want to be a plot spoiler.
This book is much more than the story of a romance, although love is at the centre of the action. 'The Accidental Life of Greg Millar' is a true reflection of the complicated endless tangles of family relationships, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. A thought provoking read.
This book is much more than the story of a romance, although love is at the centre of the action. 'The Accidental Life of Greg Millar' is a true reflection of the complicated endless tangles of family relationships, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. A thought provoking read.
November 8, 2016
This story was not what I expected at all. It was a little slow at the start, then unforeseen things happen. The subject matter becomes more than I bargained for. But as the story progresses, you start to put yourself in Lucy's shoes and try to understand her choices. Halfway through the book, uncomfortable topics and situations present themselves, and I become emotionally invested. By the ending, it was raw and very, very real. I like the way the author brought those emotions out in me. I will be checking out more of her work, for sure.
May 3, 2017
This book had me hooked by the beauty of the writing but, at first, I thought the story was fairly innocuous and unchallenging, even predictable. I was wrong!
When you get to know someone you gradually find out more about them as they change from acquaintances into friends. This novel does the same. It becomes multi-themed and increasingly gripping but also thoughtful and very emotional. The characters are complex and very real. This is not a book to set down and forget about.
When you get to know someone you gradually find out more about them as they change from acquaintances into friends. This novel does the same. It becomes multi-themed and increasingly gripping but also thoughtful and very emotional. The characters are complex and very real. This is not a book to set down and forget about.
Read
October 27, 2015Lacking the sparkle to sustain interest
I had high hopes for this book as the outline looked very interesting, but the book just seemed to drag on, going everywhere and no where at the same time. Great idea for a book, but not written well enough to keep the attention of the reader.
I had high hopes for this book as the outline looked very interesting, but the book just seemed to drag on, going everywhere and no where at the same time. Great idea for a book, but not written well enough to keep the attention of the reader.
April 8, 2017
I was pleased to have won this book in the Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This was an excellent story and quite emotional. This is the first time that I have read any novels by Aimee Alexander and shall be looking forward to reading more. I rarely write what a story is about for fear of spoiling for others, but I do highly recommend.
This was an excellent story and quite emotional. This is the first time that I have read any novels by Aimee Alexander and shall be looking forward to reading more. I rarely write what a story is about for fear of spoiling for others, but I do highly recommend.
September 27, 2016
Lucy Arigho’s first meeting with Greg Millar didn’t go that well however just a few weeks later she is considering his proposal and they appear to be madly in love. Little does she know just how much her life will change.
Set in Ireland and the South of France, and narrated in the present tense by Lucy, this is a multi faceted story of love, family, relationships, and much deeper complex issues. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I really felt for Lucy when she was struggling to cope. Having been in a very similar situation to Lucy myself some years ago, so much of her experience was familiar ground and reading this story bought back some very unhappy memories.
Lucy wasn’t a character that I immediately engaged with, she seemed cold and distant, maybe not surprising as she’d had her own tragedy to deal with and had retreated from life and love when she met Greg Millar; a crime writer and widowed with two young children. Unlike Lucy who was a much more reserved character, Greg was full of life and had a reckless and impulsive nature. He very quickly managed to break down her self-protection barriers and even though there were times when I thought their relationship was too much, too fast, it was heart-warming to see her living a little.
Lucy’s integration into Greg’s life was not without its difficulties and she faced hostility from so many quarters that a lesser person would have been worn down and there were times when I thought that perhaps she should admit defeat and walk away. It’s Lucy’s strength of character that carries her through and there were certainly enough peaks and troughs of happiness and despair in this story for more than one lifetime.
The author writes the story very well and the characters are realistic and rounded; whether you love or hate them, they are unforgettable. There was an excellent sense of place, particularly with the part set in the South of France. This is much more than just a simple romance story. The drama and emotion continue to the very end to make this a very moving read and definitely one to be recommended.
My thanks to the author for the e-copy to review.
I should also mention that this book was previously published as Loves Comes Tumbling under the name of Denise Deegan. (When adding ‘Greg Millar’ to my Goodreads shelf, I realised that I already had the original book!)
Set in Ireland and the South of France, and narrated in the present tense by Lucy, this is a multi faceted story of love, family, relationships, and much deeper complex issues. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I really felt for Lucy when she was struggling to cope. Having been in a very similar situation to Lucy myself some years ago, so much of her experience was familiar ground and reading this story bought back some very unhappy memories.
Lucy wasn’t a character that I immediately engaged with, she seemed cold and distant, maybe not surprising as she’d had her own tragedy to deal with and had retreated from life and love when she met Greg Millar; a crime writer and widowed with two young children. Unlike Lucy who was a much more reserved character, Greg was full of life and had a reckless and impulsive nature. He very quickly managed to break down her self-protection barriers and even though there were times when I thought their relationship was too much, too fast, it was heart-warming to see her living a little.
Lucy’s integration into Greg’s life was not without its difficulties and she faced hostility from so many quarters that a lesser person would have been worn down and there were times when I thought that perhaps she should admit defeat and walk away. It’s Lucy’s strength of character that carries her through and there were certainly enough peaks and troughs of happiness and despair in this story for more than one lifetime.
The author writes the story very well and the characters are realistic and rounded; whether you love or hate them, they are unforgettable. There was an excellent sense of place, particularly with the part set in the South of France. This is much more than just a simple romance story. The drama and emotion continue to the very end to make this a very moving read and definitely one to be recommended.
My thanks to the author for the e-copy to review.
I should also mention that this book was previously published as Loves Comes Tumbling under the name of Denise Deegan. (When adding ‘Greg Millar’ to my Goodreads shelf, I realised that I already had the original book!)
May 1, 2017
Lucy Arigho is a graphic designer mourning her late fiance when she meets - and is swept off her feet by - best-selling author Greg Millar. Widowed himself he seems charming and Lucy finds herself starting to enjoy life again. Lucy is likeable and believable and I loved the way the author captures Lucy's mum's knack of putting a dampener on things.
This is an easy and enjoyable read with well-rounded and plausible characters. I raced through the first few chapters. Greg quickly proposes to Lucy before she has even met his children and even she is shocked by the speed at which this happens. However after her initial hesitation she agrees to marry him and then meets his children, their nanny and Greg's brother. Greg's brother reveals a side to Greg that Lucy does not know. The children and nanny are unfriendly and we begin to wonder just who Greg really is and why he has been less than open about his past life.
Lucy's mother is charmed by Greg but her father is unsure and when Lucy travels to France to spend the summer with Greg, the nanny and the children she begins to learn more about Greg and to wonder whether she will ever be accepted by his two young children. She unwittingly makes mistakes along the way and this added to my enjoyment of this well-crafted book.
And then things get really worrying and strange and this book becomes a real page-turner. Greg's life is out of control and so is Greg. Lucy us caught up in the chaos and risks losing everything as she realises that Greg is not the man she thought he was. She doesn't know what he is hiding and nor does the reader. No spoilers from me but I loved this book!!!
Lucy has to win the children over and this aspect of the book appealed to me as a step-parent myself. I loved Lucy's parents, her sister Grace and the way - as Lucy has to cope with everything life throws at her - her family are right behind her.
This is a very well-written, surprising and clever book. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it. It's not quite a psychological thriller but it's exciting and a gripping read - well done Aimee Alexander - 5 stars from me!!!
This is an easy and enjoyable read with well-rounded and plausible characters. I raced through the first few chapters. Greg quickly proposes to Lucy before she has even met his children and even she is shocked by the speed at which this happens. However after her initial hesitation she agrees to marry him and then meets his children, their nanny and Greg's brother. Greg's brother reveals a side to Greg that Lucy does not know. The children and nanny are unfriendly and we begin to wonder just who Greg really is and why he has been less than open about his past life.
Lucy's mother is charmed by Greg but her father is unsure and when Lucy travels to France to spend the summer with Greg, the nanny and the children she begins to learn more about Greg and to wonder whether she will ever be accepted by his two young children. She unwittingly makes mistakes along the way and this added to my enjoyment of this well-crafted book.
And then things get really worrying and strange and this book becomes a real page-turner. Greg's life is out of control and so is Greg. Lucy us caught up in the chaos and risks losing everything as she realises that Greg is not the man she thought he was. She doesn't know what he is hiding and nor does the reader. No spoilers from me but I loved this book!!!
Lucy has to win the children over and this aspect of the book appealed to me as a step-parent myself. I loved Lucy's parents, her sister Grace and the way - as Lucy has to cope with everything life throws at her - her family are right behind her.
This is a very well-written, surprising and clever book. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it. It's not quite a psychological thriller but it's exciting and a gripping read - well done Aimee Alexander - 5 stars from me!!!
February 14, 2016
I liked this more than her other one as it had fewer mistakes !! It makes such a difference. There were errors but way fewer than her first.
It's a great story and not what I was expecting. I liked Lucy a great deal. She'd had some junk thrown at her in her life and she manages to cope well with all this awful adversity. You have to feel for her. She had more patience with Greg's daughter than I would have had as well, all credit to her !! There were some really funny moments and little asides in it as well along with a couple of passages that made me snivel as well.
There were some apostrophe mistakes and Gordon is a Moron isn't the title of the song mentioned though I remember it well-it's Jilted John. She spelt a lot of words the American way but not all of them. When I started reading I assumed it was set in the States so paid no attention till I realised we were in Ireland !! Some commas were misused and this sentence makes no sense-"How's this day week ?".....lost me there but that was the lot.
I really liked the image of little Toby saying "Hello, sir" to every dog he encounters.. I thought that was so very sweet. I look forward to the next by her. I see this author name is a pen-name but haven't seen others by her on the Kindle in her real name.
It's a great story and not what I was expecting. I liked Lucy a great deal. She'd had some junk thrown at her in her life and she manages to cope well with all this awful adversity. You have to feel for her. She had more patience with Greg's daughter than I would have had as well, all credit to her !! There were some really funny moments and little asides in it as well along with a couple of passages that made me snivel as well.
There were some apostrophe mistakes and Gordon is a Moron isn't the title of the song mentioned though I remember it well-it's Jilted John. She spelt a lot of words the American way but not all of them. When I started reading I assumed it was set in the States so paid no attention till I realised we were in Ireland !! Some commas were misused and this sentence makes no sense-"How's this day week ?".....lost me there but that was the lot.
I really liked the image of little Toby saying "Hello, sir" to every dog he encounters.. I thought that was so very sweet. I look forward to the next by her. I see this author name is a pen-name but haven't seen others by her on the Kindle in her real name.
October 30, 2016
They say never judge a book by its cover - in this case, don't judge it by its title or blurb either!
The title implies it's a cute n' quirky chick-lit, whilst the blurb implies it's more of a physiological thriller 'His behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre and Lucy begins to wonder whether his larger-than-life personality hides something darker—and whether she knows him at all.' The blurb is why I chose to read it.
Neither the title nor the blurb come anywhere close to depicting what the book is actually about, which is , grief and parenting; not a genre I often go for. I didn't realise it was heading this way till past the half way point, but by this time good storytelling, interesting characters and real life issues had made it an engrossing and emotive read; I don't mind admitting I shed a few tears at the end.
Not at all what I was expecting, but surprisingly very good!
The title implies it's a cute n' quirky chick-lit, whilst the blurb implies it's more of a physiological thriller 'His behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre and Lucy begins to wonder whether his larger-than-life personality hides something darker—and whether she knows him at all.' The blurb is why I chose to read it.
Neither the title nor the blurb come anywhere close to depicting what the book is actually about, which is , grief and parenting; not a genre I often go for. I didn't realise it was heading this way till past the half way point, but by this time good storytelling, interesting characters and real life issues had made it an engrossing and emotive read; I don't mind admitting I shed a few tears at the end.
Not at all what I was expecting, but surprisingly very good!
March 23, 2015
DNF, which is rare for me. I couldn't, I just couldn't. The story seemed like it would have been interesting, but the writing style and the fact that the story felt like it was at a roller derby kept me from going any farther.
The good news is,this was a free download for Kindle. Maybe later I'll try to pick it back up.
The good news is,this was a free download for Kindle. Maybe later I'll try to pick it back up.
March 28, 2015
Tedious
April 14, 2017
I am not completely sure what I expected from The Accidental Life of Greg Miller, having added it to my TBR many months ago and not really remembering much of the reviews I’d read that had me doing that. Reading the description, I knew this was outside of my regular reading, and possibly comfort zone, and that it was a relationship book but references to a personality that hides something darker made me think maybe there was a thriller in here as well.
Long story short(ish), there wasn’t, though it wasn’t a boring read in any way. At it’s heart this is a love story, not my usual read at all. That said, I still found myself enjoying it because I really liked the characters and quickly fell into their story. I thought they were well rounded with plenty of quirks to make them real and Lucy’s reactions to Greg’s behaviour as the book progresses felt genuine.
The way they met was right out of a rom-com and it’s hard not to be as charmed as Lucy by Greg’s love of life and spontaneity. Given Lucy’s past you want her to find happiness and you believe she has in Greg. It’s also hard not to feel as thrown as she is when confronted with what are huge changes in Greg’s behaviour, changes which put her and his children’s lives at risk.
Whilst I don’t like spoilers, I am going to give things away next so please skip to the last paragraph if you don’t want to find out more.
I blame the type of books I normally read for making me think that Greg’s behaviour, when it changed, would come from a bad place. That’s what Lucy thought too. She was convinced it was drugs. I wasn’t so sure but I did think he was hiding something. He wasn’t though. He actually wasn’t aware of what he was doing because he was in the middle of a manic episode and suffering from bi-polar disorder. The reason I decided to share this is because, for me, it was one of the things that made the book stand out.
I work in the mental health sector and mental ill health is often called the hidden disease because you can’t see it, just witness the behaviours. As a result, a lot of people don’t understand what is happening to them, friends or family members who are ill. They will see other causes (like drugs) when there are none or think people can “snap out of it”, which they can’t. To be suffering from a mental illness is scary for the person who is ill but also those around them.
Here, Greg’s mental illness was a huge part of the story, the main part really as without it and Lucy / his family’s reaction there would be no drama at all, but I thought it was handled really well. It showed the impact mental illness has on everyone, including Greg’s children, who don’t really understand and who have to grow up a lot more quickly than they might otherwise (even though the adults try to protect them). For Lucy, there are stages to her acceptance and you see how she struggles to decide if she can handle their future when there is a risk of relapse. Nothing here felt sensationalised and it wasn’t glossed over. It takes a talented writer to do that well and I tip my hat to Aimee Alexander for doing just that.
Spoiler’s are over – feel free to read on…
Which leaves me just to say what I felt about this book. And I have to say I liked it a lot. Not may usual read but a very good one I can definitely recommend.
Long story short(ish), there wasn’t, though it wasn’t a boring read in any way. At it’s heart this is a love story, not my usual read at all. That said, I still found myself enjoying it because I really liked the characters and quickly fell into their story. I thought they were well rounded with plenty of quirks to make them real and Lucy’s reactions to Greg’s behaviour as the book progresses felt genuine.
The way they met was right out of a rom-com and it’s hard not to be as charmed as Lucy by Greg’s love of life and spontaneity. Given Lucy’s past you want her to find happiness and you believe she has in Greg. It’s also hard not to feel as thrown as she is when confronted with what are huge changes in Greg’s behaviour, changes which put her and his children’s lives at risk.
Whilst I don’t like spoilers, I am going to give things away next so please skip to the last paragraph if you don’t want to find out more.
I blame the type of books I normally read for making me think that Greg’s behaviour, when it changed, would come from a bad place. That’s what Lucy thought too. She was convinced it was drugs. I wasn’t so sure but I did think he was hiding something. He wasn’t though. He actually wasn’t aware of what he was doing because he was in the middle of a manic episode and suffering from bi-polar disorder. The reason I decided to share this is because, for me, it was one of the things that made the book stand out.
I work in the mental health sector and mental ill health is often called the hidden disease because you can’t see it, just witness the behaviours. As a result, a lot of people don’t understand what is happening to them, friends or family members who are ill. They will see other causes (like drugs) when there are none or think people can “snap out of it”, which they can’t. To be suffering from a mental illness is scary for the person who is ill but also those around them.
Here, Greg’s mental illness was a huge part of the story, the main part really as without it and Lucy / his family’s reaction there would be no drama at all, but I thought it was handled really well. It showed the impact mental illness has on everyone, including Greg’s children, who don’t really understand and who have to grow up a lot more quickly than they might otherwise (even though the adults try to protect them). For Lucy, there are stages to her acceptance and you see how she struggles to decide if she can handle their future when there is a risk of relapse. Nothing here felt sensationalised and it wasn’t glossed over. It takes a talented writer to do that well and I tip my hat to Aimee Alexander for doing just that.
Spoiler’s are over – feel free to read on…
Which leaves me just to say what I felt about this book. And I have to say I liked it a lot. Not may usual read but a very good one I can definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2018
What a superb book! I was completely surprised by the effect it had on me. The writing was strong, the characters believable and wonderfully flawed. 'The Accidental Life...' is the story of everyday life, true, gritty, everyday life for a lot of people and the issues they have to learn to deal with. What Alexander does so well is she makes you care about them. I cared what happened to the children Rachel and Toby. I understood how hard life can be juggling work life and home life. I related to the dysfunctional family relationships. This book is a big thumbs up for me. It tackles a hard subject matter with feeling and humour.
November 8, 2020
*Discovered on Amazon Prime*
A great novel that explores the themes of love, family and supporting people during the hardest of times. The story line ended up being nothing like I expected and completely exceeded my expectations. Thought I’d struggle to finish the book once I discovered the true story of this novel - mental health and bipolar disorder. Instead it made me feel involved with the characters/story and I struggled to put it down. I needed to know more and how the story would continue. A great ending to round up a great reading experience. Highly recommend this book.
A great novel that explores the themes of love, family and supporting people during the hardest of times. The story line ended up being nothing like I expected and completely exceeded my expectations. Thought I’d struggle to finish the book once I discovered the true story of this novel - mental health and bipolar disorder. Instead it made me feel involved with the characters/story and I struggled to put it down. I needed to know more and how the story would continue. A great ending to round up a great reading experience. Highly recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2016
About the story : As you all can guess this story is about Greg Millar and also Lucy Arigho. Lucy is a graphic designer who works at a company Get Smart with Fint her job partner. Lucy's fiance Brendan died on a road accident. So, on her way to office when she watches a car being driven so carelessly she could not help but talk to the driver and he was none other than the famous author Greg Millar. Later at her office she found out that they were having meeting for Greg's recent book cover. Since then Lucy and Greg starts seeing each other. They both meet each other's family. After having a barbecue at Greg's house Lucy came to know that Hillary is the nanny of Greg's two kids Rachel and Toby. Rob, Greg's brother their admits that he has never seen his brother so active after Greg's wife Catherine died. Soon after that Greg proposes Lucy to marry him. Lucy at first denied that but afterwards accepted his proposal. Rachel was not easy with Lucy being her to-be stepmother on the other hand Toby was a always happy and bright kid. Greg invited Lucy to his Villa in France and spend her summer holidays. There the changes start. Greg became over hyper, too active and never tired. After that he started disappearing without any notice.Once on a trip back from the hills in France Greg drove terribly like crazy maniac recklessly. Alongside Lucy finds it troubling to get close with the kids with Hillary always with them. Hillary manipulates Rachel saying that Lucy wants her to get out of the house. Rachel gets more and more difficult. After certain unexpected events like that Greg became too low. Then he fires Hillary without any previous concern. Lucy finds out that there's something wrong with him. But Greg always gets upset when he is bothered about this. But somehow Lucy persuaded him back to Dublin their home. After returning Greg visits a doctor and after check up he is diagnosed with bipolar disorder ( a mental disorder ). Greg was sent to hospital when Lucy tried to parent his two kids. It was difficult with Rachel at first but gradually everything cool down. In the mean time Hillary kept on threatening Lucy to let her talk to Greg but she never allows her. By the time Greg recovers and comes back home, they become a happy family. Greg and Lucy gets married. Everything became almost happy and perfect. Greg also publish his book on his life on those days while he was suffering from bipolar disorder. It became an instant hit.
One day suddenly a letter arrived claiming their kids by their grandparents. They soon found out that Hillary was behind all this. Now whether they will be able to get their kids back becomes a big question mark....
My thoughts: Honestly this is the best book based on family I've read. This story is so real and it seems to cling with daily lives so much. It was easy for me to visualize the life of Greg and Lucy as it is a movie. Toby was so cute and innocent. I really loved Lucy. She fought till the end. One thing I clearly got from this book - if you stay true to your path and be honest no one can drag you down how hard they even try. And, my my, how evil can Hillary be? She was too evil to be a nanny or barely a human. We should keep in our mind that every thing has a limit and no one should step out of it. Hillary being a nanny stepped out of her limit. She forgot her scope and tried to ruin Greg's family from the core only because she could not bear kid herself. At first reading the boom I expected it be a psychological thriller or a crime-thriller with a tremendous plot twist. Later I discovered that how beautifully Aimee has written the story so simple, so true from the roots that gave the plot a tremendous touch of reality. The story was not at all boring. In fact it kept me glued from the beginning till the end. And when I was reading the letter written by Rachel to bring them back to their parents I almost cried. I totally loved this and I'm glad the author herself send me her book. Thank you so much Aimee.
One day suddenly a letter arrived claiming their kids by their grandparents. They soon found out that Hillary was behind all this. Now whether they will be able to get their kids back becomes a big question mark....
My thoughts: Honestly this is the best book based on family I've read. This story is so real and it seems to cling with daily lives so much. It was easy for me to visualize the life of Greg and Lucy as it is a movie. Toby was so cute and innocent. I really loved Lucy. She fought till the end. One thing I clearly got from this book - if you stay true to your path and be honest no one can drag you down how hard they even try. And, my my, how evil can Hillary be? She was too evil to be a nanny or barely a human. We should keep in our mind that every thing has a limit and no one should step out of it. Hillary being a nanny stepped out of her limit. She forgot her scope and tried to ruin Greg's family from the core only because she could not bear kid herself. At first reading the boom I expected it be a psychological thriller or a crime-thriller with a tremendous plot twist. Later I discovered that how beautifully Aimee has written the story so simple, so true from the roots that gave the plot a tremendous touch of reality. The story was not at all boring. In fact it kept me glued from the beginning till the end. And when I was reading the letter written by Rachel to bring them back to their parents I almost cried. I totally loved this and I'm glad the author herself send me her book. Thank you so much Aimee.
November 12, 2017
The first impression Greg Millar leaves when he meets Lucy Arigho isn't good. However, soon he makes up for his rude behavior and she gives him another chance. Greg is a talented author and Lucy is fascinated by him professionally as well as personally. Lucy is a designer and is working on the cover of his new book. Greg manages to charm Lucy and even though she thought she wouldn't be ready to love someone again he convinces her to give him a chance. He even proposes to her when they've just started dating.
Greg is a father and has two children. Lucy's first real test is spending a family holiday with them. However, Greg's nanny is there as well and she's far from happy with Lucy's presence. She doesn't want Greg's family to like Lucy. Meanwhile Greg's behavior starts to become stranger and stranger. Lucy barely recognizes the man she's on holiday with, Greg isn't the same person she fell in love with anymore. What's happening to Greg and is Lucy's love for him strong enough to stay and find out? Will Greg's actions eventually break her heart?
The Accidental Life of Greg Millar is a beautiful moving story. Lucy's careful when it comes to love. She's been through a lot already and the last thing she needs is more complications in her life. The first weeks with Greg are fun, but then his behavior starts to change. My heart ached for Lucy, she doesn't know Greg's family all that well and she's being placed in a situation she's not comfortable with, but can't get out of either. She's stronger than she thinks and I loved her caring nature and perseverance. I had my suspicions about what was going on with Greg and Aimee Alexander describes what's happening to him in an impressive poignant and honest way. I was blown away by her story and loved it from beginning to end.
The Accidental Life of Greg Millar has many emotional layers. It's a story that brought tears to my eyes. Aimee Alexander has written a surprising and brilliant story about an important subject and I greatly admire the way she's done this. Lucy and Greg seem to be the perfect couple until things start to unravel completely. This happens in an irrational, but somehow also natural way and that makes the story really good. Aimee Alexander knows how to work with tension and perfectly sets the exact atmosphere she needs. The result is a terrific story. I highly recommend The Accidental Life of Greg Millar, it's a fantastic book.
Greg is a father and has two children. Lucy's first real test is spending a family holiday with them. However, Greg's nanny is there as well and she's far from happy with Lucy's presence. She doesn't want Greg's family to like Lucy. Meanwhile Greg's behavior starts to become stranger and stranger. Lucy barely recognizes the man she's on holiday with, Greg isn't the same person she fell in love with anymore. What's happening to Greg and is Lucy's love for him strong enough to stay and find out? Will Greg's actions eventually break her heart?
The Accidental Life of Greg Millar is a beautiful moving story. Lucy's careful when it comes to love. She's been through a lot already and the last thing she needs is more complications in her life. The first weeks with Greg are fun, but then his behavior starts to change. My heart ached for Lucy, she doesn't know Greg's family all that well and she's being placed in a situation she's not comfortable with, but can't get out of either. She's stronger than she thinks and I loved her caring nature and perseverance. I had my suspicions about what was going on with Greg and Aimee Alexander describes what's happening to him in an impressive poignant and honest way. I was blown away by her story and loved it from beginning to end.
The Accidental Life of Greg Millar has many emotional layers. It's a story that brought tears to my eyes. Aimee Alexander has written a surprising and brilliant story about an important subject and I greatly admire the way she's done this. Lucy and Greg seem to be the perfect couple until things start to unravel completely. This happens in an irrational, but somehow also natural way and that makes the story really good. Aimee Alexander knows how to work with tension and perfectly sets the exact atmosphere she needs. The result is a terrific story. I highly recommend The Accidental Life of Greg Millar, it's a fantastic book.
June 5, 2016
If you like books about families overcoming adversity with more than a few secrets to muddy the waters, this would make a good choice.
The Accidental Life of Greg Millar is told in the first person present tense by Lucy Arigho, a graphic designer. A young woman mourning the death of her fiancé and struggling to come to terms with the fact that the life she imagined has gone. Then she meets Greg Millar through the course of her work. He is a crime fiction writer who is full of zest for life. Greg and Lucy bond over their respective losses, Greg’s wife died in childbirth five years previously and since then Greg has raised their two children, Toby and Rachel with the help of his live-in nanny Hilary.
The first part of the book was a fairly light look at an emerging love affair with Lucy infected by Greg’s outlook on life. When a rapid engagement followed I was beginning to think that it may well be overly saccharine for my tastes but when the family and Lucy decamped to France for the summer their lives took a much darker turn. Not least because Rachel at ten had taken firmly against Lucy and certainly wasn’t amenable to the thought of her becoming a firm fixture – Lucy meanwhile has taken her older sister Gayle’s advice and is frantically reading books on becoming a step-parent.
Once the book moved on from the somewhat superficial beginning there was lots to become interested in although the focus remained on relationships of all shapes and sizes, there were other big issues to be explored although at times I felt that Lucy was impossibly naïve at times and other characters had clearly been living in a bubble, this was a minor point which didn’t detract from the overall plot.
I don’t often get overly-emotional by the books I read but this one did see a sneaky tear or two roll down my cheeks as the story moved towards its grand finale indicating that the author had done her job well. She made me care about this family from Dublin with the scenes concerning the children very well executed. Toby being younger was a typical little boy although I didn’t feel the author was quite as diligent at charting his growth as she was with Rachel who right from the start came across as a genuine girl growing up without her mother, a young girl who looked out for her much younger brother and who enjoyed the adoration shown by Gayle’s younger sons. We see Rachel mature and become part of the solution in the trials that the family faces but Toby remained the cosseted baby, an image that any self-respecting young boy would object to!
This book, held my attention with its somewhat darker take on the boy meets girl storyline, a book that had enough issues so that I genuinely wanted to know how the story would pan out and I’m glad to say it definitely ended on a high-note.
I’d like to thank the author, Aimee Alexander for giving me a copy of The Accidental Life of Greg Millar for review purposes. This unbiased review is my thank you to her.
The Accidental Life of Greg Millar is told in the first person present tense by Lucy Arigho, a graphic designer. A young woman mourning the death of her fiancé and struggling to come to terms with the fact that the life she imagined has gone. Then she meets Greg Millar through the course of her work. He is a crime fiction writer who is full of zest for life. Greg and Lucy bond over their respective losses, Greg’s wife died in childbirth five years previously and since then Greg has raised their two children, Toby and Rachel with the help of his live-in nanny Hilary.
The first part of the book was a fairly light look at an emerging love affair with Lucy infected by Greg’s outlook on life. When a rapid engagement followed I was beginning to think that it may well be overly saccharine for my tastes but when the family and Lucy decamped to France for the summer their lives took a much darker turn. Not least because Rachel at ten had taken firmly against Lucy and certainly wasn’t amenable to the thought of her becoming a firm fixture – Lucy meanwhile has taken her older sister Gayle’s advice and is frantically reading books on becoming a step-parent.
Once the book moved on from the somewhat superficial beginning there was lots to become interested in although the focus remained on relationships of all shapes and sizes, there were other big issues to be explored although at times I felt that Lucy was impossibly naïve at times and other characters had clearly been living in a bubble, this was a minor point which didn’t detract from the overall plot.
I don’t often get overly-emotional by the books I read but this one did see a sneaky tear or two roll down my cheeks as the story moved towards its grand finale indicating that the author had done her job well. She made me care about this family from Dublin with the scenes concerning the children very well executed. Toby being younger was a typical little boy although I didn’t feel the author was quite as diligent at charting his growth as she was with Rachel who right from the start came across as a genuine girl growing up without her mother, a young girl who looked out for her much younger brother and who enjoyed the adoration shown by Gayle’s younger sons. We see Rachel mature and become part of the solution in the trials that the family faces but Toby remained the cosseted baby, an image that any self-respecting young boy would object to!
This book, held my attention with its somewhat darker take on the boy meets girl storyline, a book that had enough issues so that I genuinely wanted to know how the story would pan out and I’m glad to say it definitely ended on a high-note.
I’d like to thank the author, Aimee Alexander for giving me a copy of The Accidental Life of Greg Millar for review purposes. This unbiased review is my thank you to her.
February 27, 2017
This book made me cry a hundred times. The story is about a family. How you have to battle many fights and problems for your loved ones. This book showed me what true love really means. Greg and Lucy demonstrate how much a person can do and sacrifice just for the sake of love. Family isn't always about blood. It is how you love and what you are willing to do that makes a family.
April 7, 2015
Set in modern day Dublin. When graphic designer Lucy Arigho meets author Greg Millar she is swept away by his sense of adventure and devil-may-care attitude. Having lost her fiancee Brendan, she is slow to begin a new relationship. Greg has lost his wife Catherine, but falls head-over-heels for Lucy and wants to marry her. They agree to take things a little slower, and Lucy joins the family on holiday at their villa in France.
However, she faces a lot of difficulty. Greg's children don't seem to like Lucy very much, and their Nanny is increasingly hostile towards Lucy. Greg's behaviour seems to be changing, too - that sense of adventure is turning into downright recklessness, and Lucy is worried.
What follows is a tale of a family affected by mental illness. It's written in a very easy and clear way, and is a fantastic portrayal of how gradual changes can escape the notice of people until it's too late. Towards the end I felt the book went a bit Mrs. Doubtfire, I could have done without the whole court episode, hence the three stars. Still a very good read and one that I found worthwhile.
However, she faces a lot of difficulty. Greg's children don't seem to like Lucy very much, and their Nanny is increasingly hostile towards Lucy. Greg's behaviour seems to be changing, too - that sense of adventure is turning into downright recklessness, and Lucy is worried.
What follows is a tale of a family affected by mental illness. It's written in a very easy and clear way, and is a fantastic portrayal of how gradual changes can escape the notice of people until it's too late. Towards the end I felt the book went a bit Mrs. Doubtfire, I could have done without the whole court episode, hence the three stars. Still a very good read and one that I found worthwhile.
June 3, 2016
I was judgmental! Having lived a bad, abusive marriage, my entire thought process through three-fourths of the book was how much of suckers we women are of immature, irresponsible freaks.
The reality was a revelation. Not wanting to squeak out the details of this beautiful, masterpiece of a book, I'd say that we often go judgmental without realizing what a person may be going through... Aimee Alexander this was a story that needed telling for a lot of people out there. Lucy is a true heroine and her never-die-attitude makes this a love story which says 'in sickness and in health'!
:Loved the book <3
The reality was a revelation. Not wanting to squeak out the details of this beautiful, masterpiece of a book, I'd say that we often go judgmental without realizing what a person may be going through... Aimee Alexander this was a story that needed telling for a lot of people out there. Lucy is a true heroine and her never-die-attitude makes this a love story which says 'in sickness and in health'!
:Loved the book <3
April 29, 2015
Two Sisters, A Perfect Mom, Two Different Women
What a warm, rich, true sounding family tale. These characters are so well well rounded you may feel as if they are part of your distant family.
Aimee Alexander has worked a miracle here. Creating a cast of family members with a tremendous amount of humanity, in a family context, with a mental illness to recognize, strive to treat, and consequences of it to unravel, is an amazing literary feat.
This is a good book. It is well written. And yes, I laughed and I cried. Read this one.
K Agle
4-28-15
What a warm, rich, true sounding family tale. These characters are so well well rounded you may feel as if they are part of your distant family.
Aimee Alexander has worked a miracle here. Creating a cast of family members with a tremendous amount of humanity, in a family context, with a mental illness to recognize, strive to treat, and consequences of it to unravel, is an amazing literary feat.
This is a good book. It is well written. And yes, I laughed and I cried. Read this one.
K Agle
4-28-15
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