What do you think?
Rate this book
Effortless
At 28, Helen longs to be effortless. Jamie looks it. Breaking a long-standing engagement, Helen at once knows what she has to do. She follows this enchanting stranger across the Atlantic, hoping to find more than temporary shelter and a distraction from her seemingly crumbling life when she gets there. Inevitably, the road for the two proves to be bumpier than Helen had ever imagined it could be. Along the way, she stumbles across unexpected discoveries about herself, as well as those in her life she's always thought she knew best.
- GenresFiction
330 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2015
13 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Marina Raydun
7 books122 followersMarina's published works of fiction include a compilation of two novellas ("One Year in Berlin" and "Foreign Bride"), a full length suspense novel called "Joe After Maya," as well as a contemporary women's fiction novel entitled "Effortless." Born in the former Soviet Union, she lives in Brooklyn with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 27, 2015
Effortless (Effortless, Book 1) by Marina Raydun
28 year school teacher Helen travels to Europe as with some of her best students. She is facing many turning points in her life. She just broke up with her fiance, (she's) not sure where her life is going once she gets back home to the states.
Jamie, another young teacher goes on the trip as well. He and Helen soon become friends, yet she wonders if he could be the one for her. While battling a horrible cold, handling a bunch of teenagers and trying to figure out her life path, Helen has a lot on her mind. She is faced with some tough life choices. Will she make the right ones?
A well written story, filled with teenage and adult drama. I really liked Helen. Her problems are real, she is not perfect, yet she strives to make the best out of what she is dealt.
Jamie, faced with his own problems, is just as likable. He too is not perfect and he also has some life choices he must make. Then there were the students. Some were likable others were not.
Marina Raydun captures your attention. She pulls you into the story where you feel as if you are there. The teenage problems that arise are true to life. The same goes for the adults with their problems.
The plot is original, the story moves at a nice even pace. I found myself saying "just one more chapter" and I was up way past my bedtime, needing to read more.
I highly recommend Effortless to those who love a great story.
28 year school teacher Helen travels to Europe as with some of her best students. She is facing many turning points in her life. She just broke up with her fiance, (she's) not sure where her life is going once she gets back home to the states.
Jamie, another young teacher goes on the trip as well. He and Helen soon become friends, yet she wonders if he could be the one for her. While battling a horrible cold, handling a bunch of teenagers and trying to figure out her life path, Helen has a lot on her mind. She is faced with some tough life choices. Will she make the right ones?
A well written story, filled with teenage and adult drama. I really liked Helen. Her problems are real, she is not perfect, yet she strives to make the best out of what she is dealt.
Jamie, faced with his own problems, is just as likable. He too is not perfect and he also has some life choices he must make. Then there were the students. Some were likable others were not.
Marina Raydun captures your attention. She pulls you into the story where you feel as if you are there. The teenage problems that arise are true to life. The same goes for the adults with their problems.
The plot is original, the story moves at a nice even pace. I found myself saying "just one more chapter" and I was up way past my bedtime, needing to read more.
I highly recommend Effortless to those who love a great story.
August 18, 2019
To be effortless is to achieve one’s dreams with very minimal work. Everyone in life longs to be effortless so that they can do anything they want to do, be anyone they dream to be, and go anywhere they please without so much as lifting a finger. To be effortless means happiness, doesn’t it? To be effortless means no more trials and tribulations in life… right? Author Marina Raydun has given readers an enjoyable and truthful story about striving for a perfect life, but discovering how difficult the road can be to get there in Effortless.
Teaching history at a school for talented and gifted young individuals of the arts, Helen Levit wishes to live her life effortlessly. Everyone around her at the school, both her younger students and the other teachers, all seem to have their lives together, so at the age of 28, why does she feel like hers is not? Trying to free herself from a toxic engagement and a life that is most certainly not what she dreamed it would be, the perfect opportunity arises to escape and possibly create a new future – an opportunity that takes her halfway across the world with a man she has admired since the first time she laid eyes on him. The future, however, is not as bright as it first appeared when she discovers brutally honest truths about not only herself, but also from the people she thought she had always known.
Readers should not think they are picking up an ordinary love story for Raydun has delved much deeper than that in the first of her Effortless duology. Using well-crafted storytelling and a beautifully flowing and witty writing style, Raydun has delivered a story through the eyes of her main female protagonist about wanting more of what life has to offer. Sure, everyone strives to find love in life, but what about everything else there is in life? What about finding one’s dream job? What about forming relationships with new people and strengthening ongoing relationships with family and old friends? What about wanting more in life, but unsure of how to get it all? What about finding one’s place in said life? These thoughts run through everyone’s minds all the time which is what will most likely make readers fall in love with Helen.
Helen is an incredibly likeable character and, at the same time, so frustratingly realistic and relatable it can be daunting. She is a 28 year old who feels like she has life figured out, but has made some not so wise decisions and must find a way to start her life anew. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? While there are times it is frustrating to read what Helen has chosen to do, what is daunting is that readers have, most likely, made similar choices in their own lives, as well. Who hasn’t made poor choices in their lives in their twenties? It is a rough age group and it is for this very reason why Helen is such a well-written and complex character.
The handful of other characters readers follow are just as well-developed and complex as Helen. Jamie Sola is the teacher Helen has admired from a distance and seems perfect on the outside, though he proves to have many hidden secrets inside. George, Helen’s clingy fiancé, doesn’t seem to know what he wants in life either, but makes no effort to try to change his life around for either him or Helen. Javier is a man from Spain who Helen met while traveling and serves as somewhat of a rock for Helen when things go bad in life. Even the students have complex stories, demonstrating how they are there for their talents, but maybe they wish to do something else for the rest of their lives than just the arts. These students also rely and lean on Helen for she provides a comfort to them even though she doesn’t see it in herself.
In all honesty, Raydun does what not many authors do nowadays and what she does is a rather refreshing breath of fresh air: through Helen, Raydun puts a mirror up in front of the reader’s face. What does this mirror show? Perhaps we as the readers believe our whole lives are figured out, yet we cannot fathom why the bad continues to happen. Perhaps we know that we have made bad choices in our lives, yet don’t know how to make things right or are in denial and believe nothing needs to be done to make things right. Maybe we are stuck in a rut and have no idea how to move forward and start a new chapter in our lives. This mirror can be terrifying to look at, but Raydun has also shown that no one is stuck where they are and that change can always come to make life better if you are open to make that change.
Focusing on life, making mistakes, and starting anew, Effortless is a story that delves deeper than just an average love story ever would. Raydun has impressed with the first in her duology and has created a memorable story through the eyes of an equally memorable character. Readers are in for a story that delves deep into the thoughts of an everyday woman in her late twenties dreaming of a life not her own and just trying to figure out where she wants her life to go. Readers may find themselves relating closely to Helen, but Raydun encourages through her protagonist that it is never too late to start over and change one’s life around. To be effortless in life is impossible, but it is not impossible to obtain the life one longs for. All it takes is a bit of effort to get there.
**Originally published on my blog, Roll Out Reviews, on August 17, 2019**
Teaching history at a school for talented and gifted young individuals of the arts, Helen Levit wishes to live her life effortlessly. Everyone around her at the school, both her younger students and the other teachers, all seem to have their lives together, so at the age of 28, why does she feel like hers is not? Trying to free herself from a toxic engagement and a life that is most certainly not what she dreamed it would be, the perfect opportunity arises to escape and possibly create a new future – an opportunity that takes her halfway across the world with a man she has admired since the first time she laid eyes on him. The future, however, is not as bright as it first appeared when she discovers brutally honest truths about not only herself, but also from the people she thought she had always known.
Readers should not think they are picking up an ordinary love story for Raydun has delved much deeper than that in the first of her Effortless duology. Using well-crafted storytelling and a beautifully flowing and witty writing style, Raydun has delivered a story through the eyes of her main female protagonist about wanting more of what life has to offer. Sure, everyone strives to find love in life, but what about everything else there is in life? What about finding one’s dream job? What about forming relationships with new people and strengthening ongoing relationships with family and old friends? What about wanting more in life, but unsure of how to get it all? What about finding one’s place in said life? These thoughts run through everyone’s minds all the time which is what will most likely make readers fall in love with Helen.
Helen is an incredibly likeable character and, at the same time, so frustratingly realistic and relatable it can be daunting. She is a 28 year old who feels like she has life figured out, but has made some not so wise decisions and must find a way to start her life anew. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? While there are times it is frustrating to read what Helen has chosen to do, what is daunting is that readers have, most likely, made similar choices in their own lives, as well. Who hasn’t made poor choices in their lives in their twenties? It is a rough age group and it is for this very reason why Helen is such a well-written and complex character.
The handful of other characters readers follow are just as well-developed and complex as Helen. Jamie Sola is the teacher Helen has admired from a distance and seems perfect on the outside, though he proves to have many hidden secrets inside. George, Helen’s clingy fiancé, doesn’t seem to know what he wants in life either, but makes no effort to try to change his life around for either him or Helen. Javier is a man from Spain who Helen met while traveling and serves as somewhat of a rock for Helen when things go bad in life. Even the students have complex stories, demonstrating how they are there for their talents, but maybe they wish to do something else for the rest of their lives than just the arts. These students also rely and lean on Helen for she provides a comfort to them even though she doesn’t see it in herself.
In all honesty, Raydun does what not many authors do nowadays and what she does is a rather refreshing breath of fresh air: through Helen, Raydun puts a mirror up in front of the reader’s face. What does this mirror show? Perhaps we as the readers believe our whole lives are figured out, yet we cannot fathom why the bad continues to happen. Perhaps we know that we have made bad choices in our lives, yet don’t know how to make things right or are in denial and believe nothing needs to be done to make things right. Maybe we are stuck in a rut and have no idea how to move forward and start a new chapter in our lives. This mirror can be terrifying to look at, but Raydun has also shown that no one is stuck where they are and that change can always come to make life better if you are open to make that change.
Focusing on life, making mistakes, and starting anew, Effortless is a story that delves deeper than just an average love story ever would. Raydun has impressed with the first in her duology and has created a memorable story through the eyes of an equally memorable character. Readers are in for a story that delves deep into the thoughts of an everyday woman in her late twenties dreaming of a life not her own and just trying to figure out where she wants her life to go. Readers may find themselves relating closely to Helen, but Raydun encourages through her protagonist that it is never too late to start over and change one’s life around. To be effortless in life is impossible, but it is not impossible to obtain the life one longs for. All it takes is a bit of effort to get there.
**Originally published on my blog, Roll Out Reviews, on August 17, 2019**
July 11, 2015
In Effortless, we meet Helen, a high school History Teacher, who struggles to both find herself, and leave a long-term engagement, for good. Becoming a chaperone for the senior class trip to Paris and London, she sees this trip as an escape, and as time away from her everyday life, in which to find herself. Jamie Sola is the newly hired Music Teacher, who Helen develops a crush on. She sees everyone around her as being effortless while everything in her life seems to take much effort. She longs for those things to be effortless. As a relationship between her and Jamie progresses, her ex-fiance, George, becomes more and more unstable. Will his instability inevitably lead Helen back to him? Or will she, despite it, finally be able to move on with Jamie, and finally find herself in the process?
As a reader of her previous 2 books, Marina Raydun is known for writing relatable characters with complicated relationships. I felt a connection to Helen in her trying to find herself, trying to be independent enough to be out on her own, and ultimately trying to have a more effortless life. The writing gets better and better with each new novel. I loved the cliff-hanger coming right at the very end. I can't wait to find out what happens in the sequel to this!
As a reader of her previous 2 books, Marina Raydun is known for writing relatable characters with complicated relationships. I felt a connection to Helen in her trying to find herself, trying to be independent enough to be out on her own, and ultimately trying to have a more effortless life. The writing gets better and better with each new novel. I loved the cliff-hanger coming right at the very end. I can't wait to find out what happens in the sequel to this!
June 8, 2015
This was a interesting book. We have two people on seemingly different journeys in life or so it seems. Both have a attraction to each other but to one the other has a life that is effortless. Helen is the lost kind of selfish character who is trying to figure out who she is, what she wants and how her life fits in the grand scheme of things. She leaves for a school trip across the atlantic where she really sees the world and herself differently. She also learns that others aren’t always as they seem. As she is being more self absorbed she didn’t realize different aspects about her favorite students nor did she really know the teacher she crushes on.
Jamie is having a rough time as well and is paired with Helen. The girl he likes but she doesn’t know. As they get to see each other in a different light, they get close and realize that they are both struggling to find a sense of self.
A interestingly written book from the view of Helen as she tries to discover herself, gain strength to stand on her own and finds not only a friend but possibly a love in Jamie.
Jamie is having a rough time as well and is paired with Helen. The girl he likes but she doesn’t know. As they get to see each other in a different light, they get close and realize that they are both struggling to find a sense of self.
A interestingly written book from the view of Helen as she tries to discover herself, gain strength to stand on her own and finds not only a friend but possibly a love in Jamie.
May 26, 2015
Effortless reminded me of a favorite indie movie. One that shows the life of the protagonist, the movements through each day; both the mundane & the heart fluttering, and the reality. We meet Helen, a high school teacher, while she goes through another break-up, a possible crush and a trip overseas with her students. You feel for her as she gets emotionally blasted by people in her life who enjoy to remind her about her endless faults. As if they are perfect. The trip to Europe has her experiencing old and new drama in her life. Some things happen on the trip (sorry, no spoilers) that leave a few things up in the air which I am sure the author will tackle in book two. I will impatiently wait for its release.
June 9, 2015
It is quick and effortless movement from frame to frame that keeps you engrossed. I enjoyed the very descriptive virtual tour of Paris and London as the backdrop. I’ve not been to Paris, but from London I could tell the author experienced it herself. Maybe a little more directed to a female audience, but just as girlfriends in the past introduced me to movies geared toward women that I have enjoyed, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Quickly hooked I wanted to know more. The scenes were well laid out with vivid descriptions and you feel like you are living through the characters. I will not give anything away, but I am cheering for Helen and know which way I would like to see her go. I’m looking forward to the conclusion. Nice work…
June 5, 2015
It's a masterpiece.
I was deeply moved by this book. What I loved the most about the book is that I felt deeply connected to the characters. I loved hearing the internal and external dialogue of the characters. I was completely immersed in the questions that were asked and raised. These are some of the same questions that I find myself thinking about on a daily basis. Everything about the dialogue, the twists, and the imagery, flowed for me from beginning to end. I felt incredibly happy while reading this work.
I wish this author lots of success going forward to deliver many many more masterpieces.
I was deeply moved by this book. What I loved the most about the book is that I felt deeply connected to the characters. I loved hearing the internal and external dialogue of the characters. I was completely immersed in the questions that were asked and raised. These are some of the same questions that I find myself thinking about on a daily basis. Everything about the dialogue, the twists, and the imagery, flowed for me from beginning to end. I felt incredibly happy while reading this work.
I wish this author lots of success going forward to deliver many many more masterpieces.
June 11, 2015
A little off the beaten track for my literary taste but the reviews struck an accord and I thought I'd give it a go. It's a nice story, a bit twee for me but I have to say it is told very well. One of the stand out things for me is the way an author moves between characters and whether they manage to maintain momentum in terms of direction. Marina Raydun does this very well, creating expectations whilst keeping the reader guessing as to the final outcome. For readers who enjoy real world romance I would say go for it, you won't be disappointed.
November 8, 2016
Helen is a 28 yr old School Teacher. She travels with some of her best Students to Europe. She just broke up with her Fiance. She is facing many turning points in her life. Once she gets back to the States.
Jamie is another Young Teacher he is also on the trip. Helen and Jamie become Friends.She wonders if they can become more than Friends. While battling a cold and trying to handle a group of teenagers , Helen is also trying to figure out her life path. She has some tough choices to make. Will she make the right ones! A very well written story filled with drama both Adult and teenage.
Jamie is another Young Teacher he is also on the trip. Helen and Jamie become Friends.She wonders if they can become more than Friends. While battling a cold and trying to handle a group of teenagers , Helen is also trying to figure out her life path. She has some tough choices to make. Will she make the right ones! A very well written story filled with drama both Adult and teenage.
June 11, 2015
I knew I was going to give this 5 stars from the opening chapter. It so connected with me and Iv quickly became lost in the story. The style of writing is very good and brings much warmth to the characters as well as the background settings. I now have some back books to read so am hoping for some summer sun.
July 22, 2015
I was given this book for review and thought it a well written story about relationships and striving for what you think you want.
It is difficult to say much because I don't give spoilers but this tale delves into the emotions of a woman who wants change, and for those who enjoy this genre it is worth a look.
It is difficult to say much because I don't give spoilers but this tale delves into the emotions of a woman who wants change, and for those who enjoy this genre it is worth a look.
December 3, 2015
Possibly the biggest waste of time
First of all, this isn't a stand alone book, and was not advertised as such. Second, it is a completely worthless story. I found it to be vulgar (I skipped a lot of pages) and am disappointed that I even finished the book, if it can be called such. I am giving it a one star rating because I have to rate it, and I suppose negative stars aren't an option.
First of all, this isn't a stand alone book, and was not advertised as such. Second, it is a completely worthless story. I found it to be vulgar (I skipped a lot of pages) and am disappointed that I even finished the book, if it can be called such. I am giving it a one star rating because I have to rate it, and I suppose negative stars aren't an option.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews