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Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire
No marriage is perfect.
Josh and Anna Montgomery are trying to have a baby. Well, Anna is. Josh is making the minimum contribution necessary, and it’s ruining their relationship.
Gabe Hawkins is trying to survive the wild ride that is life with his wife, Claire. It’s passionate everywhere but in their bedroom.
For these four friends, the difficulties of their marriages are camouflaged by hazy happy hours, extravagant vacations, picturesque weddings, and sleeping in. The possibilities of their youth are wilting in the light of their waning twenties, and on one fateful night, four friends become two. Survivors become lovers. Truths are told, and nothing seems like forever anymore.
Josh and Anna Montgomery are trying to have a baby. Well, Anna is. Josh is making the minimum contribution necessary, and it’s ruining their relationship.
Gabe Hawkins is trying to survive the wild ride that is life with his wife, Claire. It’s passionate everywhere but in their bedroom.
For these four friends, the difficulties of their marriages are camouflaged by hazy happy hours, extravagant vacations, picturesque weddings, and sleeping in. The possibilities of their youth are wilting in the light of their waning twenties, and on one fateful night, four friends become two. Survivors become lovers. Truths are told, and nothing seems like forever anymore.
282 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2016
7 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Freed
17 books230 followersTo keep in touch, sign up at:
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter...
Eliza Freed graduated from Rutgers University and returned to her hometown in rural South Jersey. Her mother encouraged her to take some time and find herself. After three months of searching, she began to bounce checks, her neighbors began to talk, and her mother told her to find a job.
She settled into corporate America, learning systems and practices and the bureaucracy that slows them. Eliza quickly discovered her creativity and gift for story telling as a corporate trainer and spent years perfecting her presentation skills and studying diversity. It was during this time she became an avid observer of the characters she met and the heartaches they endured. Her years of study taught her that laughter, even the completely inappropriate kind, was the key to survival.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her family and a misbehaving beagle named Odin. As an avid swimmer, if Eliza is not with her family and friends, she'd rather be underwater. While she enjoys many genres, she is, and always has been, a sucker for a love story…the more screwed up the better.
To keep up with all of Eliza’s new releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter at
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter....
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter...
Eliza Freed graduated from Rutgers University and returned to her hometown in rural South Jersey. Her mother encouraged her to take some time and find herself. After three months of searching, she began to bounce checks, her neighbors began to talk, and her mother told her to find a job.
She settled into corporate America, learning systems and practices and the bureaucracy that slows them. Eliza quickly discovered her creativity and gift for story telling as a corporate trainer and spent years perfecting her presentation skills and studying diversity. It was during this time she became an avid observer of the characters she met and the heartaches they endured. Her years of study taught her that laughter, even the completely inappropriate kind, was the key to survival.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her family and a misbehaving beagle named Odin. As an avid swimmer, if Eliza is not with her family and friends, she'd rather be underwater. While she enjoys many genres, she is, and always has been, a sucker for a love story…the more screwed up the better.
To keep up with all of Eliza’s new releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter at
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
November 16, 2016
5 STARS
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Eliza Freed delivers yet another winner this year! If you aren’t familiar with her work, I implore you to try one of the fabulous stories she released just this year: Devil’s Playground & Lion’s Den, Full Share and this novel that was impossible to put down. This story will have your full attention till the last line of the last page.
This is the story of two married couples; Gabe and Claire Hawkins and Josh and Anna Montgomery. The two couples formed a friendship through Gabe and Josh’s working relationship. They have been social friends who do vacations, dinners, and nights out drinking together.
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The story is told in Anna and Gabe’s pov which is very interesting since these two are married to other parts of this foursome. It seems that there is trouble in both marriages. One marriage is struggling to conceive a child while the other is overrun by a pushy wife and hidden feelings for someone else’s wife.
”Anna never suspected how I felt about her. She’d end this friendship immediately. She’d never let any of these emotions exist behind Josh’s back. She was that good, and so was I.”
Due to a shocking accident, this foursome becomes a twosome. Like I stated before this story is impossible to put down and the particulars surrounding this accident and the connection the two survivors find in one another is fantastic.
”Now, I had to stay away from her because the boundaries had died.”
As both survivors work through the stages of grief they keep their friendship and their chemistry is point!
”Can we please never speak of this again?”
“No.” I was on a roll. “You fucked me. It was semi-violent, and I loved it. No one’s ever bitten me before. You’re a fucking freak in bed in all the right ways.”
The story doesn’t contain cheating, the pacing is perfect and a reader’s suspicions about the accident will have you eager to find out what the heck happened that night.
This story is not only well written but even ends leaving me rereading parts to look for clues about someone who perhaps wasn’t as shallow as she pretended? I would do anything to know what happened in that car but loved the execution of this story and how things ended.
”Claire understood. She always did.”
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
[image error]
Eliza Freed delivers yet another winner this year! If you aren’t familiar with her work, I implore you to try one of the fabulous stories she released just this year: Devil’s Playground & Lion’s Den, Full Share and this novel that was impossible to put down. This story will have your full attention till the last line of the last page.
This is the story of two married couples; Gabe and Claire Hawkins and Josh and Anna Montgomery. The two couples formed a friendship through Gabe and Josh’s working relationship. They have been social friends who do vacations, dinners, and nights out drinking together.
[image error]
The story is told in Anna and Gabe’s pov which is very interesting since these two are married to other parts of this foursome. It seems that there is trouble in both marriages. One marriage is struggling to conceive a child while the other is overrun by a pushy wife and hidden feelings for someone else’s wife.
”Anna never suspected how I felt about her. She’d end this friendship immediately. She’d never let any of these emotions exist behind Josh’s back. She was that good, and so was I.”
Due to a shocking accident, this foursome becomes a twosome. Like I stated before this story is impossible to put down and the particulars surrounding this accident and the connection the two survivors find in one another is fantastic.
”Now, I had to stay away from her because the boundaries had died.”
As both survivors work through the stages of grief they keep their friendship and their chemistry is point!
”Can we please never speak of this again?”
“No.” I was on a roll. “You fucked me. It was semi-violent, and I loved it. No one’s ever bitten me before. You’re a fucking freak in bed in all the right ways.”
The story doesn’t contain cheating, the pacing is perfect and a reader’s suspicions about the accident will have you eager to find out what the heck happened that night.
This story is not only well written but even ends leaving me rereading parts to look for clues about someone who perhaps wasn’t as shallow as she pretended? I would do anything to know what happened in that car but loved the execution of this story and how things ended.
”Claire understood. She always did.”
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
December 20, 2016
What a strange freaking story.
This may be a case of it's not you, it's me but I was wasn't a fan of this author's writing style and felt she didn't possess the finesse this storyline needed to be executed. I think I could have liked this a lot better if it was written by someone else.
I keep seeing people praise this as unique and unputdownable, but I have to disagree since I started to skim from the beginning. The characters were majorly flat and lacked personality and the writing itself was very choppy. And the ending? Two words. THE FUCK???
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December 28, 2016
3.75 stars.
Loved the idea, plot, etc. but Anna with her constant push and pull/whining got on my wick after a while. It all got a bit old, thank goodness for Gabe who saved the book for me.
Loved the idea, plot, etc. but Anna with her constant push and pull/whining got on my wick after a while. It all got a bit old, thank goodness for Gabe who saved the book for me.
November 27, 2016
When I first started reading this book I knew it wasn't for me but I kept going anyway. By the time I finished I just had a bad feeling about the whole story. The author is definitely gifted and her writing is excellent but the story seemed to drag on. I didn't connect to the characters and everything seemed so slow with too much unnecessary information. I enjoy a book with more suspense, aghast and like the feeling of not knowing what to expect next. I didn't feel any of these things in this book so I guess it was just not my type of book. As for the epilogue, I can only say it was different.
Please don't let my review sway you since I'm sure there are many readers who will enjoy it!!!
Please don't let my review sway you since I'm sure there are many readers who will enjoy it!!!
Read
December 25, 2016
Review to come post-Xmas.
November 16, 2016
To be honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this book. I didn’t realize that it was going to force me to literally not put it down. That’s a sign of a great book, right?!
Josh and Anna & Claire and Gabe are two married couples but they do everything together. They are always vacationing, going out to bars, dinner, etc.
Due to the way the author set up the narrative, you get the POVs from two people, one person from each couple. In their POVs, you realize that everything is not perfect in both marriages. That what you see on the outside is not really what is happening behind closed doors.
Unfortunately, tragedy strikes both of these couples leaving only two survivors in its wake and LOTS of questions.
This is where the story gets even more interesting. It will have you second-guessing what really happed that night. You will also see the fallout that happens between the two lone survivors and how they lean on each other during those times. Both of them go through different experiences during the grieving process but their keep coming back to each other to help with the pain.
I need to point out the awesome writing in this book. Eliza Freed executed this unique storyline flawlessly. She kept my attention throughout the entire book. It literally messed with my head and just showed that not everything you believe or see is the truth.
I really don’t want to give much away as it will definitely hurt the reader’s experience. I must say, I cannot believe this is my first read by Eliza Freed. I absolutely adored her storytelling and have already picked up another one of her reads to start immediately.
I highly recommend this one if you want something that is different yet will become your next book hangover. It is a book that will have you wanting to reread it again to see what you missed throughout the pages. It will have you questioning everything. AND will have you rereading that epilogue a couple of times after being totally blown away. Yep, people, all of these things are signs of a fabulous read!
Enjoy!
Josh and Anna & Claire and Gabe are two married couples but they do everything together. They are always vacationing, going out to bars, dinner, etc.
Due to the way the author set up the narrative, you get the POVs from two people, one person from each couple. In their POVs, you realize that everything is not perfect in both marriages. That what you see on the outside is not really what is happening behind closed doors.
Unfortunately, tragedy strikes both of these couples leaving only two survivors in its wake and LOTS of questions.
This is where the story gets even more interesting. It will have you second-guessing what really happed that night. You will also see the fallout that happens between the two lone survivors and how they lean on each other during those times. Both of them go through different experiences during the grieving process but their keep coming back to each other to help with the pain.
I need to point out the awesome writing in this book. Eliza Freed executed this unique storyline flawlessly. She kept my attention throughout the entire book. It literally messed with my head and just showed that not everything you believe or see is the truth.
I really don’t want to give much away as it will definitely hurt the reader’s experience. I must say, I cannot believe this is my first read by Eliza Freed. I absolutely adored her storytelling and have already picked up another one of her reads to start immediately.
I highly recommend this one if you want something that is different yet will become your next book hangover. It is a book that will have you wanting to reread it again to see what you missed throughout the pages. It will have you questioning everything. AND will have you rereading that epilogue a couple of times after being totally blown away. Yep, people, all of these things are signs of a fabulous read!
Enjoy!
November 19, 2016
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire by Eliza Freed
4.5 stars!!!
Eliza Freed is an author that I stumbled across this year thanks to a blogging friend and I have devoured every book since. Once again, Eliza Freed delivers a winner with Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire. This is one of those books that is totally addicting, totally captivating and totally unputdownable. From first to last word you will become entrenched in the marriages of Josh and Anna Montgomery and Gabe and Claire Hawkins and if you are anything like me, it won’t be enough.
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire are best friends, Josh and Gabe work together and ever since the couples have been inseparable, from evenings out to holidays. Anna and Claire are total opposites, yet as friendships go they are tight knit, they just hit it off and never looked back. Anna is more low maintenance and down to earth, whereas Claire is all about appearances, spending her husband’s money and having a good time, but her heart is in the right place.
The story is told in Anna and Gabe’s point of view, so one half of each couple, one female and one male. This was a novel concept and really worked as not only did we get an insight into each couple but also into them as best friends, through the female friendships we learned more about Claire and through Gabe we learned more about Josh.
Neither marriage is flourishing, Josh & Anna are struggling with infertility and Gabe and Claire are just struggling with marriage in general. Gabe is definitely under the thumb and finds his marriage stifling to the point he even has to lie about going to the gym for fear of the repercussions.
On one of their nights out this fearsome foursome become a woesome twosome addled with grief and guilt and frantically hanging onto one and other for some sense of normality. The two survivors form a formidable friendship and the way that Eliza Freed deals with this part of the story is empathetic and realistic. With many a tete a tete truths are told, feelings discussed and emotion and passion eventually take over.
As with anything in life, nothing is at it seems and I found myself constantly pondering what the hell happened that night and found myself re-reading parts desperately trying to garner more information and find some little clue or snippet I may have missed. The mystery element of the accident is constant throughout the story and never dissipates even at the end, I actually found myself messaging the author begging and pleading for more, but the end was well done and definitely unforgettable.
Eliza Freed delivers a fantastically executed story covering married life in general, grief and a second chance at love. There is no cheating, just an honest portrayal of many nights and weekends we find ourselves sharing with our besties and the real-life problems a lot of couples find themselves facing. Post-accident though, Eliza Freed really delivers the emotional side that I love in her writing and encompasses every aspect of the many stages of grief and turning those milestone corners. I loved everything about this book, but I will continue to champion for one scene that I want from two other point of views.
www.theromancecoer.com
4.5 stars!!!
“It was only supposed to be happy hour that night, but since then, none of the hours were happy.”
Eliza Freed is an author that I stumbled across this year thanks to a blogging friend and I have devoured every book since. Once again, Eliza Freed delivers a winner with Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire. This is one of those books that is totally addicting, totally captivating and totally unputdownable. From first to last word you will become entrenched in the marriages of Josh and Anna Montgomery and Gabe and Claire Hawkins and if you are anything like me, it won’t be enough.
“…I had to stay away from her because the boundaries had died.”
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire are best friends, Josh and Gabe work together and ever since the couples have been inseparable, from evenings out to holidays. Anna and Claire are total opposites, yet as friendships go they are tight knit, they just hit it off and never looked back. Anna is more low maintenance and down to earth, whereas Claire is all about appearances, spending her husband’s money and having a good time, but her heart is in the right place.
The story is told in Anna and Gabe’s point of view, so one half of each couple, one female and one male. This was a novel concept and really worked as not only did we get an insight into each couple but also into them as best friends, through the female friendships we learned more about Claire and through Gabe we learned more about Josh.
Neither marriage is flourishing, Josh & Anna are struggling with infertility and Gabe and Claire are just struggling with marriage in general. Gabe is definitely under the thumb and finds his marriage stifling to the point he even has to lie about going to the gym for fear of the repercussions.
“I was a loser in my mind, but the only thing I was losing was myself.”
On one of their nights out this fearsome foursome become a woesome twosome addled with grief and guilt and frantically hanging onto one and other for some sense of normality. The two survivors form a formidable friendship and the way that Eliza Freed deals with this part of the story is empathetic and realistic. With many a tete a tete truths are told, feelings discussed and emotion and passion eventually take over.
“It was a perfect storm. A once-in-a-lifetime chance that took my breath away.”
As with anything in life, nothing is at it seems and I found myself constantly pondering what the hell happened that night and found myself re-reading parts desperately trying to garner more information and find some little clue or snippet I may have missed. The mystery element of the accident is constant throughout the story and never dissipates even at the end, I actually found myself messaging the author begging and pleading for more, but the end was well done and definitely unforgettable.
“I’d left my remains in Delaware and reclaimed my life in Rome.”
Eliza Freed delivers a fantastically executed story covering married life in general, grief and a second chance at love. There is no cheating, just an honest portrayal of many nights and weekends we find ourselves sharing with our besties and the real-life problems a lot of couples find themselves facing. Post-accident though, Eliza Freed really delivers the emotional side that I love in her writing and encompasses every aspect of the many stages of grief and turning those milestone corners. I loved everything about this book, but I will continue to champion for one scene that I want from two other point of views.
“Claire understood. She always did.”
www.theromancecoer.com
December 23, 2016
4.5 Stars!
‘He leaned down and kissed me as if it were the first time our lips had met. Every touch, every breath on my skin sent his love coursing through me.’
What a story! We couldn’t wait to get on the phone and discuss this book once we’d finished. Eliza Freed is a new author to us and we’re now eager to check out her other work after becoming so engrossed in this book, finishing it one sitting. An addictive, heartbreaking glimpse into the lives of two married couples, who, on the surface appear to be quite happy…dig a little deeper and cracks appear to show. This was a very clever bit of writing that kept us on our toes and guessing. We love it when a book manages to pull one over on us, and Josh & Anna, Gabe & Claire did exactly that.
“The only thing I’m sorry about is the way you feel right now. I was selfish. I needed you more than I loved you. For that, I apologize.”
It’s important to note that in our opinion, we feel this book is one best experienced completely spoiler free because the author does such a fabulous job of building the story into a guessing game. We had continual theories and thought we had it pegged throughout, but we were wrong.
We guess we’d describe this as an emotional, suspenseful expose of life behind closed doors and begs the question, do we really get to know someone as well as we think? Do we recognise and ignore a person’s flaws or do we choose not to see them, does love blind us to all? Well, Gabe and Claire thought they did, as did Josh and Anna. Two couples, four friends who all shared a close bond in marriage and friendship. Each couple is very different but each has issues they choose to bury, ignore or suffer in silence.
Gabe and Claire seemed to have the perfect marriage but behind closed doors, Claire’s insecurities were severe to the point of exhaustion. She was a pushy character who always liked to get her own way. We felt quite sorry for Gabe as he loved Claire but she certainly had Gabe walking on eggshells trying to placate her and keep some form of equilibrium in their marriage. For Gabe it was hard to reconcile Claire to the woman he married. They say love is blind….was Gabe completely blinkered?
‘Claire could do anything, and she often had, whether the rest of the world thought it was okay or not.’
Anna and Josh were dealing with their own issues. Anna was the day to Claire’s night. Whilst Claire was gregarious and pushy, Anna was quiet and went along for the ride. The cracks in Anna and Josh’s marriage started to appear when their hopes of conceiving a baby wasn’t coming to fruition.
“Don’t ever change – not for me or anyone else.”
A tragedy would soon affect them all. There would be moments to reflect, a time of self-discovery, guilt, pain and hidden feelings that would bubble to the surface leaving some ripped and raw.
“I need you to be fearless and bold.”
“Make me forget.”
That’s really as much as we can tell you about this story because to say more would completely ruin the surprise elements of this gripping, unputdownable read. Strap yourselves in for one hell of a ride and an epilogue that was eye opening to say the least! Wow! We really loved this one!
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is available to purchase below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Come visit and follow us at:
✲ TotallybookedBlog
✲ TB on Facebook
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✲ TB on Pinterest
November 21, 2016
This book is a captivating story about the complications of marriage, betrayal, lies, mental illness and friendship. And I definitely didn't expect that twist at the end. Wow.
I recently read the Faraway series by Eliza Freed and that duet blew me away. Seriously, it's a must read. I had a couple of issues with this one. But it's still a very strong 4 stars for me.
Read
November 17, 2016DNF at 67%! I tried to finish this one but I just couldn't take it any more. I was ready to be finished around 40%. I felt zero emotions while reading this book. Anna is grating my nerves. I'm pretty sure I've got the whole accident figured out. I'm moving on:))
November 20, 2016
This is one of those books that within the first few pages, you just know that you won't be able to put down once you start. The writing, the characters--my curiosity was peaked and I just KNEW it was going to be unputdownable!!
Friendship, marriage, love, lies, secrets.
Two couples bound together through friendship. Inseparable. They did everything together. Vacations, dinners, day trips, holiday celebrations.
"Live's not about what happens, it's about what could happen... You can't plan life... You can only live it."
Josh and Anna, in love and trying to conceive a child that at first they both wanted. Soon it becomes all Anna can think about. Josh tells her to let the idea of a child go and is happy to just spend his life with just Anna, having fun with his friends and being carefree.
Gabe and Claire have everything most couples dream of. Money, a beautiful home--everything they could ever want.
From the outside looking in, any person would be envious of the lives these characters lead.
But nothing is ever what it seems. It's all smoke and mirrors.
As the events unfold and secrets are revealed, my jaw hung open and my heart raced. I love when books keep you hanging on the edge of your seat. I had no idea what was coming and I LOVE when that happens.
Eliza Freed delivered one hell of a story with Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire. Her writing is incredible and I can't believe this is the first book I've read by her. After reading the synopsis, I immediately one-clicked and I'm so glad I did!!
My only issue was I wished the epilogue had more umph. I was hoping for another BAM moment, and kinda felt a little let down. But overall, Eliza did a fantastic job and you don't want to miss this one. I get it that sometimes when bloggers gush over a book, often times readers are skeptical. The twists and turns that you don't expect then you're like holy sh*t, did that seriously just happen?!! Great story!!!
December 23, 2016
4.5 Stars!
‘He leaned down and kissed me as if it were the first time our lips had met. Every touch, every breath on my skin sent his love coursing through me.’
What a story! We couldn’t wait to get on the phone and discuss this book once we’d finished. Eliza Freed is a new author to us and we’re now eager to check out her other work after becoming so engrossed in this book, finishing it one sitting. An addictive, heartbreaking glimpse into the lives of two married couples, who, on the surface appear to be quite happy…dig a little deeper and cracks appear to show. This was a very clever bit of writing that kept us on our toes and guessing. We love it when a book manages to pull one over on us, and Josh & Anna, Gabe & Claire did exactly that.
“The only thing I’m sorry about is the way you feel right now. I was selfish. I needed you more than I loved you. For that, I apologize.”
It’s important to note that in our opinion, we feel this book is one best experienced completely spoiler free because the author does such a fabulous job of building the story into a guessing game. We had continual theories and thought we had it pegged throughout, but we were wrong.... See full review at TBB
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is available to purchase below
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Come visit and follow us at:
✲ TotallybookedBlog
✲ TB on Facebook
✲ TB on Twitter
✲ TB on Pinterest
December 30, 2016
3 Stars
What's it about Falling in love with your best friend's wife, who is also your wife's best friend.
The best bits: Freed is a gifted writer and sets a tone of melancholy and grief very well.
The worst bits: I really didn't like Anna and thought she had just as many issues as Claire.
Josh was practically a shadow and I felt we barely got to know him.
And even though Gabe was the most sympathetic character, I really didn't like his HEA at all.
Many elements were either unrealistic or poorly researched and the some supporting characters were unnecessary.
Recommended for: Readers who don't mind emotional infidelity and a little bit of dark mystery in their romance. This is not a cheery tale nor does it paint its four main characters in a favourable light... But some will enjoy the twist at the end.
What's it about Falling in love with your best friend's wife, who is also your wife's best friend.
The best bits: Freed is a gifted writer and sets a tone of melancholy and grief very well.
The worst bits: I really didn't like Anna and thought she had just as many issues as Claire.
Josh was practically a shadow and I felt we barely got to know him.
And even though Gabe was the most sympathetic character, I really didn't like his HEA at all.
Many elements were either unrealistic or poorly researched and the some supporting characters were unnecessary.
Recommended for: Readers who don't mind emotional infidelity and a little bit of dark mystery in their romance. This is not a cheery tale nor does it paint its four main characters in a favourable light... But some will enjoy the twist at the end.
November 19, 2016
Well, this book was something...amazing! But I'm at a loss after reading that epilogue. I need to collect my thoughts and whatnot.
All I'll say is this was so unique and special. From the beginning, I was thrown into a whirlwind tale of deception, tragedy, pain and eventually acceptance. It was brilliant, definitely kept me intrigued.
I'll post a full review once I get my thoughts sorted out.
All I'll say is this was so unique and special. From the beginning, I was thrown into a whirlwind tale of deception, tragedy, pain and eventually acceptance. It was brilliant, definitely kept me intrigued.
I'll post a full review once I get my thoughts sorted out.
Want to read
November 12, 2016I CAN'T WAIT... OH, 3 MORE DAYS!!!!
November 26, 2016
3-4 stars
December 7, 2016
Wow! This book owned me from start to finish. When real life was calling, I was ignoring it to read one more chapter…and then one more. This is my third book by Eliza Freed, and each one has been a page-turner that has stayed on my mind long after the final page was read.
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is about friendship, marriage, and secrets. To the outside world, these two couples would appear to have it all – successful careers, a great social life, good friends. But after last call at the bar, after the get-togethers are over, after the smiles and the laughter fades, life for these two couples isn’t as perfect as it may seem. Each couple is going through their own set of marital issues which are weighing down their relationships. This is where Eliza Freed’s strength shines through. She taps into married life and all of the trials and tribulations that couples face. She doesn’t sugar-coat married life. She writes the messy, complicated, frustrating aspects of it and makes you feel the pain and anguish right along with the characters.
The book is written from the perspectives of two characters in alternating chapters. What makes this interesting is that it’s a character from each couple. This enables the reader to get a bird’s-eye view into each marriage. I loved this aspect and found that it added a great dimension to an already intriguing and fast-paced story.
I enjoyed witnessing the friendships between these couples. Anna and Claire initially met because their husbands worked together. Gabe and Josh were best friends, and soon their wives grew to be close friends. The two couples were quite different, but their differences in personality often opened doors to new adventures for them. Claire was a believer in living each day to the fullest. Gabe went along with his wife’s whims. Anna just loved being around Claire. And while Josh was the complete opposite of Claire, being more of an organized, well planned out kind of guy, he still usually caved to what his friends were game to do. They were an inseparable little group, until everything changed in the blink of an eye.
When a tragic accident claimed the lives of two of these friends, the other two were left to try to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. In their grief, they turned to each other for comfort. But while they were attempting to move on from the loss of their loved ones, questions about the accident kept surfacing. What happened in the car that night?
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is an intriguing story that had me feeling the emotions right along with the characters. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to find out what was going to become of the characters. It is a very well-written, fast-paced story that I felt in the pit of my stomach and right down to my toes. It is a captivating and unnerving story of marriage, friendship, fate, grief, and love. It shows that sometimes the people that we are supposed to know the best are the ones with the biggest secrets.
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is about friendship, marriage, and secrets. To the outside world, these two couples would appear to have it all – successful careers, a great social life, good friends. But after last call at the bar, after the get-togethers are over, after the smiles and the laughter fades, life for these two couples isn’t as perfect as it may seem. Each couple is going through their own set of marital issues which are weighing down their relationships. This is where Eliza Freed’s strength shines through. She taps into married life and all of the trials and tribulations that couples face. She doesn’t sugar-coat married life. She writes the messy, complicated, frustrating aspects of it and makes you feel the pain and anguish right along with the characters.
The book is written from the perspectives of two characters in alternating chapters. What makes this interesting is that it’s a character from each couple. This enables the reader to get a bird’s-eye view into each marriage. I loved this aspect and found that it added a great dimension to an already intriguing and fast-paced story.
I enjoyed witnessing the friendships between these couples. Anna and Claire initially met because their husbands worked together. Gabe and Josh were best friends, and soon their wives grew to be close friends. The two couples were quite different, but their differences in personality often opened doors to new adventures for them. Claire was a believer in living each day to the fullest. Gabe went along with his wife’s whims. Anna just loved being around Claire. And while Josh was the complete opposite of Claire, being more of an organized, well planned out kind of guy, he still usually caved to what his friends were game to do. They were an inseparable little group, until everything changed in the blink of an eye.
When a tragic accident claimed the lives of two of these friends, the other two were left to try to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. In their grief, they turned to each other for comfort. But while they were attempting to move on from the loss of their loved ones, questions about the accident kept surfacing. What happened in the car that night?
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is an intriguing story that had me feeling the emotions right along with the characters. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to find out what was going to become of the characters. It is a very well-written, fast-paced story that I felt in the pit of my stomach and right down to my toes. It is a captivating and unnerving story of marriage, friendship, fate, grief, and love. It shows that sometimes the people that we are supposed to know the best are the ones with the biggest secrets.
January 16, 2017
Often times I underestimate a book based on its cover or description. It happens pretty frequently, actually. I did it here with Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire.
It's not that I didn't think this book would be as good as it was. It's more that I expected another light, fluffy, romance read. Instead I got a much more complicated, nebulous story.
I'll admit that I had no idea what this story entailed exactly going into it. At about halfway through I realized that I needed to take all formerly-developed opinions and crush them. I'm not entirely sure that I'm going to stop thinking about this book for quite some time.
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is in no way a fluffy romance novel. While there is romance involved, it's not what you'd call a "conventional" romance. That's not a bad thing, however.
Ms. Freed definitely did something different with this story. She made characters that are so multi-faceted and esoteric that it's impossible for me to compare this work to anything else.
The two main characters (I'm hesitant to give their names) go through something so dreadful that just imagining it makes me sad. But, at the same time, because of the unfortunate event that takes place, there's a hope for these two that the reader envies. It's a second-chance.
I'm not going to give anything away because I believe that half of why I enjoyed this story so much was that it took me by surprise. So, I'm just going to say that Ms. Freed knows how to write. She knows how to pull the reader into a story and then pull the rug completely out from under them. Even though I had some idea as to what this would be about, I really didn't comprehend the emotions it would evoke.
That's not to say it was perfect. There were a couple of parts that I think I had to kind of suspend belief for, but--it's fiction. That happens.
All-in-all, I'm encouraged by the fact that I can still be stirred and surprised in this day-and-age of regurgitated material.
Christine @ Captivated Reading
It's not that I didn't think this book would be as good as it was. It's more that I expected another light, fluffy, romance read. Instead I got a much more complicated, nebulous story.
I'll admit that I had no idea what this story entailed exactly going into it. At about halfway through I realized that I needed to take all formerly-developed opinions and crush them. I'm not entirely sure that I'm going to stop thinking about this book for quite some time.
Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is in no way a fluffy romance novel. While there is romance involved, it's not what you'd call a "conventional" romance. That's not a bad thing, however.
Ms. Freed definitely did something different with this story. She made characters that are so multi-faceted and esoteric that it's impossible for me to compare this work to anything else.
The two main characters (I'm hesitant to give their names) go through something so dreadful that just imagining it makes me sad. But, at the same time, because of the unfortunate event that takes place, there's a hope for these two that the reader envies. It's a second-chance.
I'm not going to give anything away because I believe that half of why I enjoyed this story so much was that it took me by surprise. So, I'm just going to say that Ms. Freed knows how to write. She knows how to pull the reader into a story and then pull the rug completely out from under them. Even though I had some idea as to what this would be about, I really didn't comprehend the emotions it would evoke.
That's not to say it was perfect. There were a couple of parts that I think I had to kind of suspend belief for, but--it's fiction. That happens.
All-in-all, I'm encouraged by the fact that I can still be stirred and surprised in this day-and-age of regurgitated material.
Christine @ Captivated Reading
November 18, 2016
This was an interesting read. I'd classify it more as contemporary fiction than romance though. I struggled with my thoughts about this book (even as I devoured it) right up until that epilogue. Rarely does a chapter define a book for me, but man I did not see that coming. It was definitely an intriguing book that will have you questioning and re-reading it at the end. I really enjoyed getting such a different yet well written story!
November 21, 2016
4.5-5 STARS
I really enjoyed this one. Ms. Freed has a way of telling a story. I can't exactly say at I was "connected" to these characters but I absolutely loved the story. The epilogue brought it all together and I will forever think about what happened inside of that car!
I'm going to leave my review short because I don't want to give any spoilers so I will just say, "Read it!"
January 1, 2017
Wow!
Seriously what did I just read! I live for books like this! Such amazing writing. The story did NOT go as I had planned and I LOVE it! Looking forward to reading more by this new to me author!
Seriously what did I just read! I live for books like this! Such amazing writing. The story did NOT go as I had planned and I LOVE it! Looking forward to reading more by this new to me author!
November 17, 2016
This was a winner! Well written and kept my interest from start to finish...kept my busy little brain working too!
April 18, 2017
I’ve been of Freed’s since day one; but unlike her earlier work, she ventures outside the New Adult genre with a story that is as shocking as it is touching.
I’ll just do a quick summary because the blurb does a good job summarizing the story without giving away all of the twists and turns of this riveting story. Josh & Anna have been married for a handful of years and like their good friends Gabe & Claire, seem to have reached the seven year itch, but not necessarily in the way one would think. It isn’t infidelity that seems to be driving a wedge between the couples (one of them directly, the other indirectly), but the prospects of the future, namely having children. One couple is trying, the other doesn’t really see kids as a way to bring them closer together, so they are both testing the waters of how they proceed and grow within their relationships. But it is the test of love and loyalty that is really at play here, and when decisions are taken out of their hands and left to fate, they need to make amends and move on, no matter how difficult that may be.
This book is really unlike any other I have read. It’s not going to be for everyone. It broaches some very difficult subjects that you may need to have reached a certain point in your life to truly understand. As I said at the beginning, this is NOT a New Adult book. The themes involved are mature and heart breaking at times. Much of the book is dark, however there is an undercurrent of hope as the characters come to understand the gift (for lack of a better word) they’ve been given.
Like her previous work, the characters are complex and the dialogue between them gives a hint at just how deep the relationships run. There are comedic moments (most self-deprecating, a coping mechanism) and scenes of palpable pain. The story is told in a dual POV from Anna and Gabe’s perspectives, giving a clear picture of the intricacies of the story.
It goes without saying that this was a five star read for me. It was difficult at times. Anna’s grief especially was tough to power through because it is easy to second-guess all of the choices you make when the power to make those decisions is taken away from you. At its very core this is a love story, just not a conventional one. If you’re looking for something different that will really push your boundaries, give this one a try.
I’ll just do a quick summary because the blurb does a good job summarizing the story without giving away all of the twists and turns of this riveting story. Josh & Anna have been married for a handful of years and like their good friends Gabe & Claire, seem to have reached the seven year itch, but not necessarily in the way one would think. It isn’t infidelity that seems to be driving a wedge between the couples (one of them directly, the other indirectly), but the prospects of the future, namely having children. One couple is trying, the other doesn’t really see kids as a way to bring them closer together, so they are both testing the waters of how they proceed and grow within their relationships. But it is the test of love and loyalty that is really at play here, and when decisions are taken out of their hands and left to fate, they need to make amends and move on, no matter how difficult that may be.
This book is really unlike any other I have read. It’s not going to be for everyone. It broaches some very difficult subjects that you may need to have reached a certain point in your life to truly understand. As I said at the beginning, this is NOT a New Adult book. The themes involved are mature and heart breaking at times. Much of the book is dark, however there is an undercurrent of hope as the characters come to understand the gift (for lack of a better word) they’ve been given.
Like her previous work, the characters are complex and the dialogue between them gives a hint at just how deep the relationships run. There are comedic moments (most self-deprecating, a coping mechanism) and scenes of palpable pain. The story is told in a dual POV from Anna and Gabe’s perspectives, giving a clear picture of the intricacies of the story.
It goes without saying that this was a five star read for me. It was difficult at times. Anna’s grief especially was tough to power through because it is easy to second-guess all of the choices you make when the power to make those decisions is taken away from you. At its very core this is a love story, just not a conventional one. If you’re looking for something different that will really push your boundaries, give this one a try.
December 7, 2016
There was something about the simplicity of the title and then the synopsis to this book. This is the first book that drew my attention. Josh & Anna and Gabe & Claire is the first book by Eliza Freed that I've read but all her her books look interesting. Since finishing this book I've decided I'll be adding them all to my TBR.
I expected that Josh & Anna and Gave & Claire would be partially a mystery and partially women's fiction. Holding the idea that love comes in many ways, I also thought it might be a love story. Let me tell you, it's one of those books that has a bit of all that and more. The story is delivered to us through two points of view and is one that makes you truly believe that everything is not as it seems. Freed writes characters rich in emotion and this crew will provoke many, many feelings. I loved every minute of it.
The story is told in 3 stages and in alternating points of view, that of Anna's and Gabe's. It opens with Anna's contemplating the state of her marriage as she and Josh working on conceiving a child. From there we journey through events and memories that reveal the personal thoughts and interactions of Anna and Gabe with there respective partners. The dynamics between the 4 of them are incredible - all 4 are great friends but they all have distinct relationships with each other. We learn from Anna that Josh is a bit of a hot head and from Gabe we learn that Claire is impetuous and drives a lot of the activities the 4 of them participate in. .
Anna & Gabe are most strongly tied together by their love of Claire. Without divulging too much of the plot I can say that circumstances push Anna and Gabe together just as they find themselves understanding each other more clearly and realizing they connect in a way neither saw. There's also a mystery surrounding Claire's state of mind and why things occurred as they did. Gabe is on track when he suspects something is off and he sets to uncover what exactly happened and why. Much of the story is Anna pushing her comfort levels and experiencing great personal growth. As a characters she very admirable and I so wanted her happiness and for her to find what would fulfilled her. At the same time, Gabe is learning to adjust to being on his own and there bond at times in tenuous. It's a story of surrendering to ones feelings, not feeling guilty for them, and learning to move on...to find happiness.
Eliza's writing is impeccable. The dialogue and the plot flow well and the mystery has a very interesting twist. Based on what we knew of Claire, I never saw that coming and the same goes for Josh. By the end we learn that Anna wasn't completely unaware of his true nature. This is one of those unputdownable books that left me both strangely contemplative and exhilarated. I really loved how everything played out. Josh & Anna and Gave & Claire is one of those standout reads that combines romance and mystery in a very surprising way. 5 Stars and recommendation!!
I expected that Josh & Anna and Gave & Claire would be partially a mystery and partially women's fiction. Holding the idea that love comes in many ways, I also thought it might be a love story. Let me tell you, it's one of those books that has a bit of all that and more. The story is delivered to us through two points of view and is one that makes you truly believe that everything is not as it seems. Freed writes characters rich in emotion and this crew will provoke many, many feelings. I loved every minute of it.
The story is told in 3 stages and in alternating points of view, that of Anna's and Gabe's. It opens with Anna's contemplating the state of her marriage as she and Josh working on conceiving a child. From there we journey through events and memories that reveal the personal thoughts and interactions of Anna and Gabe with there respective partners. The dynamics between the 4 of them are incredible - all 4 are great friends but they all have distinct relationships with each other. We learn from Anna that Josh is a bit of a hot head and from Gabe we learn that Claire is impetuous and drives a lot of the activities the 4 of them participate in. .
Anna & Gabe are most strongly tied together by their love of Claire. Without divulging too much of the plot I can say that circumstances push Anna and Gabe together just as they find themselves understanding each other more clearly and realizing they connect in a way neither saw. There's also a mystery surrounding Claire's state of mind and why things occurred as they did. Gabe is on track when he suspects something is off and he sets to uncover what exactly happened and why. Much of the story is Anna pushing her comfort levels and experiencing great personal growth. As a characters she very admirable and I so wanted her happiness and for her to find what would fulfilled her. At the same time, Gabe is learning to adjust to being on his own and there bond at times in tenuous. It's a story of surrendering to ones feelings, not feeling guilty for them, and learning to move on...to find happiness.
Eliza's writing is impeccable. The dialogue and the plot flow well and the mystery has a very interesting twist. Based on what we knew of Claire, I never saw that coming and the same goes for Josh. By the end we learn that Anna wasn't completely unaware of his true nature. This is one of those unputdownable books that left me both strangely contemplative and exhilarated. I really loved how everything played out. Josh & Anna and Gave & Claire is one of those standout reads that combines romance and mystery in a very surprising way. 5 Stars and recommendation!!
February 5, 2017
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I finished this book in a haze. Unsure of what I just read, I thought about it for several days on just how I would write a review.
This book revolved around two married couples, Gabe and Claire Hawkins and Josh and Anna Montgomery. Gabe and Josh were work colleagues and quickly found themselves spending time with their wives as a group. These four did a lot together. And their eccentric personalities seemed to clash yet worked for them. The couples both face different marriage issues. Beneath their shiny exteriors, there is so much more than what meets the eye.
As the synopsis suggests, tragedy strikes. And survivors are left to pick up the pieces. I will say that this book was very unique. The author is talented with her engaging dialogue, but it was the execution of the storyline that felt short for me. I wanted to feel a strong connection among the characters. Everything was on the surface. When everything is revealed that also felt flat to me. Such a twist should’ve really hit me harder than it did. While the book didn’t blow me away, I will give kudos to the author for the interesting and different premise.
I finished this book in a haze. Unsure of what I just read, I thought about it for several days on just how I would write a review.
This book revolved around two married couples, Gabe and Claire Hawkins and Josh and Anna Montgomery. Gabe and Josh were work colleagues and quickly found themselves spending time with their wives as a group. These four did a lot together. And their eccentric personalities seemed to clash yet worked for them. The couples both face different marriage issues. Beneath their shiny exteriors, there is so much more than what meets the eye.
As the synopsis suggests, tragedy strikes. And survivors are left to pick up the pieces. I will say that this book was very unique. The author is talented with her engaging dialogue, but it was the execution of the storyline that felt short for me. I wanted to feel a strong connection among the characters. Everything was on the surface. When everything is revealed that also felt flat to me. Such a twist should’ve really hit me harder than it did. While the book didn’t blow me away, I will give kudos to the author for the interesting and different premise.
November 18, 2016
4.5 very original stars! I think fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid will really enjoy this one.
2 couples whose friendship and lives are interwoven as best friends and coworkers. One who sees or perceives more than the others and orchestrates something so huge you will never see it coming. Told in alternating POV's by two of the characters (one male, one female) this read put an ache in my chest so many times and tears in my eyes and streaming down my cheeks. The feelings are raw and realistic, the writing forcing you to live through these horrible few months so that you can finally get what you deserve.
I recommend for fans of contemporary romance!
2 couples whose friendship and lives are interwoven as best friends and coworkers. One who sees or perceives more than the others and orchestrates something so huge you will never see it coming. Told in alternating POV's by two of the characters (one male, one female) this read put an ache in my chest so many times and tears in my eyes and streaming down my cheeks. The feelings are raw and realistic, the writing forcing you to live through these horrible few months so that you can finally get what you deserve.
I recommend for fans of contemporary romance!
January 7, 2017
This book was a pleasant surprise for me.I went into knowing that it would be about two couples and my mind was whirling with what the different scenarios could possibly be.I ended up getting an unexpected one.
I felt like the author brought life into her characters and wrote about them in a way that their personalities and traits really shone through.They were all unique.It was easy to pinpoint the things l liked and then the things I disliked about them and why.
There was an element of suspense and not knowing to this book.I closed it with a some questions that I didn't feel were answered,and I liked that.Makes me wonder and ponder on the characters long after the final chapter
I felt like the author brought life into her characters and wrote about them in a way that their personalities and traits really shone through.They were all unique.It was easy to pinpoint the things l liked and then the things I disliked about them and why.
There was an element of suspense and not knowing to this book.I closed it with a some questions that I didn't feel were answered,and I liked that.Makes me wonder and ponder on the characters long after the final chapter
November 20, 2016
Loved the story...hated the epilouge!
November 24, 2016
4.5 Stars! I loved this story.
November 30, 2016
LOVED this book!! I have never read a book by this author and can't wait to read more.
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