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Restless in LA
It was an innocent online flirtation. Until it wasn’t… Alexandra Hoffman thinks she has it all together. She lives with her work-obsessed husband Jason and their three challenging children in upscale Los Angeles. She never meant to “friend” her old boyfriend, Matt Daniels. She hasn’t seen him in twenty years. But as Alex’s fortieth birthday approaches, she finds herself re-connecting with Matt online—and re-reading her college journal, which details their intense connection and unresolved ending. But Alex’s hands are full with the kids, one of whom she just can’t help, no matter how hard she tries. Lonely and alienated by the helicopter moms, and from Jason who is never around, Alex’s flirtation quickly moves from on-line to real-world. Alex realizes—too late—that she cannot trust herself. When she meets Matt for dinner, the attraction is undeniable. And when he touches her face, it’s electric. As her life spirals out of control, she clings to her free-spirited life coach, Lark, to make sense of the mess she’s made. But Lark’s advice is Alex must confront her past and find the courage to face her future, even if it means risking everything.
338 pages, Paperback
Published February 26, 2017
11 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Robin Finn
4 books9 followersRobin Finn, MA, MPH, is passionate about helping women find and share their voices in service to living more self-expressed, creative, and joyful lives. She is an award-winning writer, teacher, and coach, and the founder and creator of Heart. Soul. Pen.® writing course, blending writing and radical self-expression for women. Robin’s work is informed by more than two decades of study and practice in the areas of women’s health, education & training, parenting, writing, and spiritual psychology.
As a writer, Robin's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed, and many more. She is on the faculty of UCLA Extension Writer’s Program where she launched and teaches the Women’s Writing Workshop. Her first novel, 'Restless in L.A.' was published in 2017.
Robin has master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica and in Public Health from Columbia University, with a specialization in women’s health. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and is a devoted advocate for children with ADHD and learning differences.
As a writer, Robin's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed, and many more. She is on the faculty of UCLA Extension Writer’s Program where she launched and teaches the Women’s Writing Workshop. Her first novel, 'Restless in L.A.' was published in 2017.
Robin has master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica and in Public Health from Columbia University, with a specialization in women’s health. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and is a devoted advocate for children with ADHD and learning differences.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 6, 2017
Restless in L.A. by Robin Finn is a must read for all womne. It instantly took me deep into a married woman's life. Complicated, complex, and adventurous. A full-time mom, battling the struggles of her marriage and children. One of her children has a lot of symptoms that make it hard for him to fit in within a normal classroom setting. His behavior and learning needs are hard. His school isn't helping him and Alex knows it. Her son needs more. Something different. Alex tries to tell her husband but he doesn't agree. It's like a constant battle between them. Tense, messy, and unraveling. Just in case, Alex didn't have enough to juggle in her life...there's a photo of her old lover. A man who made her heart race and feel on fire. She ends up making a lot of mistakes, but she needs to really find herself. Life happens...and it can be both bad and good. Restless in L.A. is a contemporary romance that explores a restless married woman's life. Funny, sad, sexy, and frustrating. Robin Finn writes extremely well. The first few pages were slow, but the plot build up quickly after that. I was hooked. This story was believable. Robin Finn captured real life in her novel. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.
August 29, 2021
An unexpected delight— married Alex struggles with life of a being a mom to three kids (one with special needs) and a husband who works all the time. So, she channels her frustrations out on a blog and ends up rekindling a passionate affair with a past lover. It’s troublesome (as most affairs are), but it is realistic writing that still presents a passionate (and salacious!) story.
November 17, 2017
Love this book! What a fun romp. We get to follow Alex as she navigates her life in middle age and falls into an affair with an old high school flame. With juicy sex scenes, hysterical characters and a lovingly and accurately rendered look at a mom in the middle of a mid-life crisis, Robin Finn had me eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next.
December 28, 2016
Alex is approaching forty and suddenly doesn't know what she wants in life. She has three kids, a great husband, and a lovely house, and she's drowning in all her good fortune, which isn't actually that good. Her middle child has ADHD and is constantly getting into trouble at school, the other children resent all the time and energy he takes, her husband is only supportive providing he doesn't actually have to do anything, and she spends all her time doing chores, running errands, and taking care of everyone in her life except for herself. Instead of being the writer she'd once dreamed of being, Alex is now a nanny and a chauffeur, shuttling her kids to dance, soccer, and therapy appointments. Then one day she friends an old flame on Facebook, and her life is turned upside down.
Alex's story is typical, which doesn't make it any less real and compelling. Like countless other women, she's submerged herself in what her family--first her parents, then her husband and children--want from her, until she doesn't know who she is or what she wants for herself at all, if she ever did. Alex's first-person narrative about her day-to-day activities is interspersed with entries from the anonymous blog she's started posting, and journal entries and flashbacks from her affair twenty years ago with the handsome and compelling Matt Daniels, whom she has just invited back into her life. This jumping back and forth is skillfully handled and heightens the tension, as we know that Alex and Matt's relationship broke off, but we don't know why until Alex herself figures it out after reviewing her old journal entries and memories, and coming to some long-overdue realizations.
Readers are likely either to find Alex extremely sympathetic, or not at all, depending on whether they think that well-to-do stay-at-home moms who are trying to find themselves are a fit subject for literature, or not. There's nothing here that hasn't been written about in other romance and "women's fiction" novels before, but Alex's soul-searching is particularly profound, and her struggles to deal with her child with ADHD, who continues to have problems despite--or maybe because of--all his therapy sessions and the cocktail of drugs he's being given, add a layer of depth to the story and are likely to ring a bell for readers going through similar issues. There is also a fair amount of explicit sex in the novel, which you'll enjoy if that's your thing, but readers should be aware that this is not a completely "clean" read. It is, however, a compelling one, and a worthwhile entry to the genre of women's fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Alex's story is typical, which doesn't make it any less real and compelling. Like countless other women, she's submerged herself in what her family--first her parents, then her husband and children--want from her, until she doesn't know who she is or what she wants for herself at all, if she ever did. Alex's first-person narrative about her day-to-day activities is interspersed with entries from the anonymous blog she's started posting, and journal entries and flashbacks from her affair twenty years ago with the handsome and compelling Matt Daniels, whom she has just invited back into her life. This jumping back and forth is skillfully handled and heightens the tension, as we know that Alex and Matt's relationship broke off, but we don't know why until Alex herself figures it out after reviewing her old journal entries and memories, and coming to some long-overdue realizations.
Readers are likely either to find Alex extremely sympathetic, or not at all, depending on whether they think that well-to-do stay-at-home moms who are trying to find themselves are a fit subject for literature, or not. There's nothing here that hasn't been written about in other romance and "women's fiction" novels before, but Alex's soul-searching is particularly profound, and her struggles to deal with her child with ADHD, who continues to have problems despite--or maybe because of--all his therapy sessions and the cocktail of drugs he's being given, add a layer of depth to the story and are likely to ring a bell for readers going through similar issues. There is also a fair amount of explicit sex in the novel, which you'll enjoy if that's your thing, but readers should be aware that this is not a completely "clean" read. It is, however, a compelling one, and a worthwhile entry to the genre of women's fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 2, 2017
I received Restless in LA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Though this is not a book I would have picked up on my own, I am glad I was given the chance to read it; as it far exceeded my expectations. I like how the characters are, how the book flows smoothly, even with flashbacks of the past. You will have no hard time keeping up with the story line. It really gets exciting about half-way through, and won't want to put it down.
Restless is about a stay-at-home mom, Alex, who reaches her 40th birthday, and perhaps on the verge of a midlife crisis. She has a loving, wonderful, but extremely busy husband, Jayson, and three beautiful children- who can be quite the handful at times, especially her youngest son.
Alex reminisces about her time in London, and Matt. She finds him on Facebook, and accidentally sends him a friend request. He quickly accepts, and they begin corresponding, and even setting up a time to meet when he is in town for work. Perhaps that is where Alex went wrong, but she just had to know if he was the same Matt she loved twenty years ago. She allows the "what ifs" to run her thoughts, and begins her downward spiral.
Alex frequently references her journal that she wrote during her time in London, and that is how we re-live their experiences. If only she had disposed of that journal when she ran home from London... but the heart never forgets.
One thing leads to another, one drink leads to another, and one bad decision leads to another. Alex ends up sleeping with Matt, and ends up putting her marriage, her whole life as she knows it, at risk. Should she stay with her husband, for the sake of their children, or should she try to rekindle that flame with Matt?
Regardless if you agree or disagree with Alex's choices, this book will make you think, and perhaps re-evaluate yourself and your happiness.
Restless is about a stay-at-home mom, Alex, who reaches her 40th birthday, and perhaps on the verge of a midlife crisis. She has a loving, wonderful, but extremely busy husband, Jayson, and three beautiful children- who can be quite the handful at times, especially her youngest son.
Alex reminisces about her time in London, and Matt. She finds him on Facebook, and accidentally sends him a friend request. He quickly accepts, and they begin corresponding, and even setting up a time to meet when he is in town for work. Perhaps that is where Alex went wrong, but she just had to know if he was the same Matt she loved twenty years ago. She allows the "what ifs" to run her thoughts, and begins her downward spiral.
Alex frequently references her journal that she wrote during her time in London, and that is how we re-live their experiences. If only she had disposed of that journal when she ran home from London... but the heart never forgets.
One thing leads to another, one drink leads to another, and one bad decision leads to another. Alex ends up sleeping with Matt, and ends up putting her marriage, her whole life as she knows it, at risk. Should she stay with her husband, for the sake of their children, or should she try to rekindle that flame with Matt?
Regardless if you agree or disagree with Alex's choices, this book will make you think, and perhaps re-evaluate yourself and your happiness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2017
Restless in LA isn’t the type of book I would normally go for. A story about adultery isn’t usually a draw card for me, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
Alex is a conflicted main character - a stay at home mother raising three kids, one with ADHD, while her high-powered husband flits in and out of their lives. This part of the book is done very well and really captures the loneliness and frustration that many parents in a similar situation feel. She begins to write a blog - Restless in LA - as a way to deal with her emotions and frustrations. Not long after, she engages in an extra-marital affair with her first real love, Matt Daniels. Their relationship is mostly physical based, and when everything falls apart, as it inevitably does, Alex questions what it is she really wants.
For me this is where the story didn’t really make much sense. I understood Alex seeking comfort in an old flame, but the strange explanations given about why she left Matt in the first instance didn’t really seem to make much sense for me. Then again, I’ve never really understood the whole reluctance to admit how you feel thing. The other issue that bothered me is that big sections of the story seemed to be glossed over, and the turmoil Alex should have been feeling, especially in regards to how her affair would affect her children in particular, felt largely underdone.
Overall the story was a quick read and a nice change from my usually reading selections.
Alex is a conflicted main character - a stay at home mother raising three kids, one with ADHD, while her high-powered husband flits in and out of their lives. This part of the book is done very well and really captures the loneliness and frustration that many parents in a similar situation feel. She begins to write a blog - Restless in LA - as a way to deal with her emotions and frustrations. Not long after, she engages in an extra-marital affair with her first real love, Matt Daniels. Their relationship is mostly physical based, and when everything falls apart, as it inevitably does, Alex questions what it is she really wants.
For me this is where the story didn’t really make much sense. I understood Alex seeking comfort in an old flame, but the strange explanations given about why she left Matt in the first instance didn’t really seem to make much sense for me. Then again, I’ve never really understood the whole reluctance to admit how you feel thing. The other issue that bothered me is that big sections of the story seemed to be glossed over, and the turmoil Alex should have been feeling, especially in regards to how her affair would affect her children in particular, felt largely underdone.
Overall the story was a quick read and a nice change from my usually reading selections.
February 20, 2017
I have been tasked with reading the new novel by Robin Finn, Restless in L.A. It isn’t a book that I would have picked up on my own as the cover gives off the impression that I’m about to divulge into a steamy romance novel. I recently moved to Los Angeles from Minneapolis, however, and was intrigued to read a book that took place within my adoptive city. What this book really boils down to is wondering what would have happened if you didn’t let the one that got away get away. Are there second chances? Or if you’ve been stuck in a lifestyle for so long, is that the course you need to continue down?
The main character, Alex Hoffman, is a woman who is stuck in a world of suburban routine. She lives in a nice house with her husband and three school-aged children. Her life is complicated by the fact that her middle child, Ryan, suffers from a multitude of behavioral issues including severe ADHD and is struggling with interacting with others. Alex is isolated from all the other moms as they have shamed her and shut her out of their circle due to her son’s behavior. Without the support of her husband, who works long hours at work, she feels trapped.
Throughout the book, Alex writes entries in an anonymous blog entitled “Restless in L.A.” based on the recommendation of her new age life coach, Lark. Once a blooming writer, this is Alex’s attempt to get back into what she once enjoyed. I found this to be unnecessary to the telling of the story. We’d already been exposed to the Alex’s dialogue, so I didn’t find this to add any substance to the story. It was fluff that I felt I could skip over without missing a beat. I understand that this is meant to by symbolic of Alex finding herself. We are told that she was once a brilliant writer, and the blog doesn’t support this claim.
As Alex continues with her monotonous routine, she is slowly approaching her 40th birthday. As she searches for old phots in the garage, Alex uncovers an ancient relic: her journal from her year abroad in England. The journal reflects her time she spent growing close to her former boyfriend and fellow American, Matt Daniels.
It’s obvious through the journal entries that back in college Matt and Alex were passionately in love. But when Alex moved back home suddenly, they lost touch. After finding the journal, Alex searches Facebook and friends Matt, who now has a family of his own, and promises to meet up with him for dinner to catch up. When they do meet up, one thing leads to another and an affair begins. Throughout the story, Alex is tormented on what she’s done and what she wants out of life. She’s been a mommy for so long, she puts others ahead of herself without thinking about what she wants out of life.
I found the characters to be unbalanced. I have a very clear image of who I image Matt to be, every move he makes is very clear and deliberate. Matt makes it clear what he wants, but Alex is playing an emotional game of tug of war with herself. Throughout the book, we get glimpses of the life that Alex and Matt shared. Their sweet, silly love makes you cheer for them and wonder why they would ever give that up. I kept hoping for a second chance for them even though I knew what they were doing was wrong and was cruel to their families. The flaw in this is that we know very little about her husband. The background between them, while there are small glimpses, we don’t get a clear view of who he is as a person. Without knowing much about Jason, it’s hard to have a clear view on the struggle that Alex is torn between.
I like books with strong, female characters. I kept getting angry at Alex who, to me, felt like a wisp of a character. I wanted her to grow a backbone and make a decisive decision on what she wanted. She has so many excuses that she finds to hide behind. If she’s going to hurt everyone that she loves, I wanted her to be deliberate about it. You wonder what it is that Matt sees in her to risk his family. I kept trying to see the woman that Matt saw, but would come up short every time.
Overall, I would say that this book was entertaining. I read it in 3 days and didn’t have trouble getting through it as it was a relatively easy read. This is one that I would recommend taking to the beach if the Chick-Lit genre is your thing. There’s a good mix of suspense and emotion, but the story and characters aren’t once that will stay with me long.
The main character, Alex Hoffman, is a woman who is stuck in a world of suburban routine. She lives in a nice house with her husband and three school-aged children. Her life is complicated by the fact that her middle child, Ryan, suffers from a multitude of behavioral issues including severe ADHD and is struggling with interacting with others. Alex is isolated from all the other moms as they have shamed her and shut her out of their circle due to her son’s behavior. Without the support of her husband, who works long hours at work, she feels trapped.
Throughout the book, Alex writes entries in an anonymous blog entitled “Restless in L.A.” based on the recommendation of her new age life coach, Lark. Once a blooming writer, this is Alex’s attempt to get back into what she once enjoyed. I found this to be unnecessary to the telling of the story. We’d already been exposed to the Alex’s dialogue, so I didn’t find this to add any substance to the story. It was fluff that I felt I could skip over without missing a beat. I understand that this is meant to by symbolic of Alex finding herself. We are told that she was once a brilliant writer, and the blog doesn’t support this claim.
As Alex continues with her monotonous routine, she is slowly approaching her 40th birthday. As she searches for old phots in the garage, Alex uncovers an ancient relic: her journal from her year abroad in England. The journal reflects her time she spent growing close to her former boyfriend and fellow American, Matt Daniels.
It’s obvious through the journal entries that back in college Matt and Alex were passionately in love. But when Alex moved back home suddenly, they lost touch. After finding the journal, Alex searches Facebook and friends Matt, who now has a family of his own, and promises to meet up with him for dinner to catch up. When they do meet up, one thing leads to another and an affair begins. Throughout the story, Alex is tormented on what she’s done and what she wants out of life. She’s been a mommy for so long, she puts others ahead of herself without thinking about what she wants out of life.
I found the characters to be unbalanced. I have a very clear image of who I image Matt to be, every move he makes is very clear and deliberate. Matt makes it clear what he wants, but Alex is playing an emotional game of tug of war with herself. Throughout the book, we get glimpses of the life that Alex and Matt shared. Their sweet, silly love makes you cheer for them and wonder why they would ever give that up. I kept hoping for a second chance for them even though I knew what they were doing was wrong and was cruel to their families. The flaw in this is that we know very little about her husband. The background between them, while there are small glimpses, we don’t get a clear view of who he is as a person. Without knowing much about Jason, it’s hard to have a clear view on the struggle that Alex is torn between.
I like books with strong, female characters. I kept getting angry at Alex who, to me, felt like a wisp of a character. I wanted her to grow a backbone and make a decisive decision on what she wanted. She has so many excuses that she finds to hide behind. If she’s going to hurt everyone that she loves, I wanted her to be deliberate about it. You wonder what it is that Matt sees in her to risk his family. I kept trying to see the woman that Matt saw, but would come up short every time.
Overall, I would say that this book was entertaining. I read it in 3 days and didn’t have trouble getting through it as it was a relatively easy read. This is one that I would recommend taking to the beach if the Chick-Lit genre is your thing. There’s a good mix of suspense and emotion, but the story and characters aren’t once that will stay with me long.
August 1, 2017
I received this book for free from Netgalley.
I absolutely loved this book. The main character was so real and relate-able. I read it in one day. It made me laugh and broke my heart for Alex at the same time. Even though she cheats on her husband, she is still so likable. I did not want the book to end. When it did-- I quickly googled the author and found that it was her first book! This was upsetting to me because I WANT TO READ MORE!
I absolutely loved this book. The main character was so real and relate-able. I read it in one day. It made me laugh and broke my heart for Alex at the same time. Even though she cheats on her husband, she is still so likable. I did not want the book to end. When it did-- I quickly googled the author and found that it was her first book! This was upsetting to me because I WANT TO READ MORE!
May 13, 2017
I have heard the phrase "authentic voice" for some writers, and that description kept returning to my thoughts as I read this very engaging novel. The narrator felt as if she were someone I might have been friends with at some point. The blending of past, present, and blogging kept my attention and interest throughout. I hope to find other novels by this novel in the future.
June 3, 2017
Ms. Finn does not apologize for her female character’s choices as they bring her to the brink of what could be both her destruction and her path to freedom.
Read full review in the 2017 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2017 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
November 2, 2021
4 ⭐️ to this saucy page turner. Few books outside of mysteries and thrillers have held my attention these past few months, but this one was an exception. It could be the steamy scenes, but it also could be the story line of how marriage can be so incredibly complicated, especially when you have a love in your past that you haven’t forgotten.
August 8, 2022
Robin Finn's "Restless in L.A." is a well-written page-turner about a relatable mom of three who is struggling with her identity. She "accidentally" friends an old flame on Facebook that leads to a tumultuous affair. I loved the narrator's voice and the details of life in the San Fernando Valley. I'm looking forward to Robin's next book!
May 30, 2017
I just really didn't like reading this novel about a wife and mother being unfaithful to her husband.
May 11, 2018
Just wow...
Today was not very productive for me, as I could not put the book down! This is powerful story about love, family and soul searching. Highly recommend!!!
Today was not very productive for me, as I could not put the book down! This is powerful story about love, family and soul searching. Highly recommend!!!
March 22, 2017
Are you looking for a fun, juicy read??? Then this is the book for you....Great for book club and vacation. You won't be able to put the book down..
March 4, 2017
Whew. This was quite the read. I started this without reading the synopsis, so I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into. It quickly became clear this was going to be a very emotional, raw, and realistic read. We follow Alex, who is very clearly unhappy to me, even if she can’t understand why she is so unhappy and at first is troubled to admit it. Between her lackluster marriage, three children, and lack of friends besides bestie Laurie, it’s easy to see why Alex isn’t happy-go-lucky. As she meets Matt, I just kind of wanted to yell at her to turn around. Don’t go with him. Don’t keep going back to him. Why risk your marriage, why disrupt your family? But it was also clear Alex and Matt has something so special, and something that can’t be ignored. I don’t want to get into too much more detail because I wasn’t sure what choices she would make and would like you to be surprised as well, but this was a really good read. I couldn’t always understand Alex and her actions at times, like when she was constantly blaming others for her decisions, but also found her very relatable. There are some fairly erotic scenes sprinkled throughout which I thought it would be important to mention, and overall I found this to be a good read. Not an easy read, but still gave me plenty to think about.
I received a review copy
I received a review copy
March 16, 2017
Awesome fast-paced page turner that I finished overnight because I couldn't put it down. It's a little 50 shades, a little soccer mom, and a lot of chaos. Loved every bit of it!
March 1, 2017
Restless in L.A. by Robin Finn, follows the story of Alex Hoffman, a middle-aged stay at home mom that spends her time managing PTA meetings, soccer practices and doctor’s appointments. Her husband, Jason, a lawyer who is never around, only supports her by providing. Raising a family has led Alex to forget about herself and to lose herself and love for writing. While on Facebook one day, she decides to search for her ex-boyfriend, Matt Daniels, a fire from the past she never truly forgot. She finds herself re-connecting with Matt and re-reading her journal from the time she spent with him in London, which details their intense connection. She reignites a passionate romance, which puts her in the position of risking everything. An innocent Facebook friend request, quickly turns into erotic, intense, real life encounters. Alex struggles with the dilemma of staying with her husband and three kids or fulfilling a side of her life she has been missing. This novel considers the struggle between personal happiness and adult responsibility. Readers will disagree or agree with Alex’s life choices but will ultimately not be able to put the novel down.
March 1, 2017
Wow. Workaholic husband that is blind to the special needs for one of his 3 children, Wife overly stressed emotionally and physically trying to make him and the school understand that their middle child needs more professional help(ADHD) while dealing with her other 2 children so they won't feel left out because majority of her attention is taken by their needy sibling. Then Facebook gets involved and now we've added an affair with an old boyfriend that turns serious for both of them and to top it all off......he's married with twin boys. As absurd as this may sound...I really liked this book, it reminded me of a saying that somethings are just not meant to be, or are they? Great read couldn't put it down. Thank you Netgalley.
March 1, 2017
I can't believe I won't get a part two to this story! Alex Hoffman is a modern day homemaker, but what makes this story so special is that part of the focus is on raising a kid with ADHD. Isn't it funny how we always read articles about how ADHD is over diagnosed and over medicated etc etc but it hasn't made it into mainstream art/media? This book highlights the challenges of parenting in the digital age, especially with a child that requires more energy than the others in the house. Toss in some SUPER HOT lovemaking scenes, and this is now my favorite book to recommend to all my friends....
Long story short: this is "Unfaithful" meets "Fifty Shades" meets "Parenthood" (the movie, not the show).
Long story short: this is "Unfaithful" meets "Fifty Shades" meets "Parenthood" (the movie, not the show).
February 27, 2017
Restless in LA by Robin Finn is, for me, a 4 star read. When Alex Hoffman sends a friends request on Facebook to an ex-boyfriend, she doesn't expect anything to come from it. Married for 16 years with 3 children who all have their own struggles, she has found herself in a rut with a husband who spends more time at the office. So when ex-boyfriend Matt Daniels suggests that they catch up over dinner, how can she refuse the sudden excitement and danger that is thrust into her life? A good read.
February 16, 2017
A story of a woman who has been moulding herself to suit others, but seldom found out her true self.
Restless in LA is Alex's story. Alex is married and has three beautiful kids. Juggling between her duty as a mum, and a wife she finds herself lost in life. Finding her ex online through Facebook, she starts an affair that wrecks the status quo of the family.
As things begin to fall apart around her, she copes with change and begins a healing process. One that leads to rediscovering herself.
The book was well written and enjoyable. Some would claim that Alex is perhaps selfish in her interest, but aren't we all to some extent?
Restless in LA is Alex's story. Alex is married and has three beautiful kids. Juggling between her duty as a mum, and a wife she finds herself lost in life. Finding her ex online through Facebook, she starts an affair that wrecks the status quo of the family.
As things begin to fall apart around her, she copes with change and begins a healing process. One that leads to rediscovering herself.
The book was well written and enjoyable. Some would claim that Alex is perhaps selfish in her interest, but aren't we all to some extent?
February 13, 2017
This book was quite different from my usual reads but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could empathise with Alex's struggles with raising her children & I enjoyed the insight into her marriage & her innermost thoughts. I really liked her interaction with Lark & I enjoyed reading her diary entries too. I would definitely read more from this author
April 1, 2017
Terrific story written by a wonderful author (a long lost sorority sister from UCLA!). I was so riveted to the story and drawn in to all of the characters. I felt like Robin did such a terrific job of fully developing each individual which made all of their interdependencies even that much better!!! Kept me guessing to the end... very real situation with the world of friends that Facebook brings back to us constantly.
April 15, 2017
"Restless in LA" is a wonderful, fun, easy-to-binge-read novel that follows the personal evolution of Alex Hoffman: stressed LA-mom of three. I read this book in 4-days despite the fact that I should have been working on my own stuff...but I digress.
This is a book that can be enjoyed on many levels:
-It has an LA-story vibe to it with lots of inside jokes about my native city
-It is also a fast-paced bittersweet romance that leaves you aching for more
-It is also the, sometimes hysterical, story of a harried mom torn in every direction, wondering if there is more to life than new underwear from Costco and sales at her local Target
The combination of the three makes for a fun read that will have you asking: will the real Alex Hoffman please stand up?
SPOILER ALERT
I usually have no problem writing a review without revealing anything important, but I simply can't do it with this book. The fact is, I was a little hesitant to read a book that had marital infidelity at its core. It was hard to watch Alex fall into bed with her former lover without feeling a bit judgey about it. "How could she do this to her kids?" kept echoing in my mind. I was concerned that author Robin Finn had bit off more than she could chew and would not be able to redeem Alex in my eyes.
BUT I AM SO HAPPY TO BE WRONG.
Ms. Finn masterfully turned the story around and gives us a satisfying, and believable, conclusion. After all, it would be unrealistic for Alex to deny her core self for two decades and find herself in just a few months of fun romping in the sack with Matt Daniels. That would be fantasy, not romance. Instead, Ms. Finn goes the realistic, and more satisfying in my opinion, route and has Alex struggle with her choices and with that ultimate question: what will make her happy? Ms. Finn makes clear the daily commitment women need to make to themselves in order to not be swallowed up by the life, or loves, that they choose.
Amazing debut novel. I can't wait to read more!
This is a book that can be enjoyed on many levels:
-It has an LA-story vibe to it with lots of inside jokes about my native city
-It is also a fast-paced bittersweet romance that leaves you aching for more
-It is also the, sometimes hysterical, story of a harried mom torn in every direction, wondering if there is more to life than new underwear from Costco and sales at her local Target
The combination of the three makes for a fun read that will have you asking: will the real Alex Hoffman please stand up?
SPOILER ALERT
I usually have no problem writing a review without revealing anything important, but I simply can't do it with this book. The fact is, I was a little hesitant to read a book that had marital infidelity at its core. It was hard to watch Alex fall into bed with her former lover without feeling a bit judgey about it. "How could she do this to her kids?" kept echoing in my mind. I was concerned that author Robin Finn had bit off more than she could chew and would not be able to redeem Alex in my eyes.
BUT I AM SO HAPPY TO BE WRONG.
Ms. Finn masterfully turned the story around and gives us a satisfying, and believable, conclusion. After all, it would be unrealistic for Alex to deny her core self for two decades and find herself in just a few months of fun romping in the sack with Matt Daniels. That would be fantasy, not romance. Instead, Ms. Finn goes the realistic, and more satisfying in my opinion, route and has Alex struggle with her choices and with that ultimate question: what will make her happy? Ms. Finn makes clear the daily commitment women need to make to themselves in order to not be swallowed up by the life, or loves, that they choose.
Amazing debut novel. I can't wait to read more!
April 16, 2017
Loved this book!! To me the sign of a good book is one that you cannot put down. That was certainly the case with this book. Thankfully I had a long plane ride home with a lot of on interrupted reading time because once I got into the book (about 20 pages in) I could not put this one down. It was juicy, intriguing, fun, relatable (from a mother perspective), and somewhat suspenseful. Robin Finn is a talented writer and I really look forward to her next book...hope it's on it's way soon.
April 28, 2017
Thinking woman's take on Fifty Shades of Grey. It's a brisk, fun page-turner. Great for summer beach reading. The author has created a sexy, cautionary tale with realistic, complex characters in real and complicated situations. The lead character, 40 year old Alex, is a married mother of three, with one child who has severe ADHD. Her husband works non-stop and she is exhausted and bored with the tedium of daily life. Until she reconnects with an old flame and a hot, passionate affair ensues. There are crises of identity and morality and realistic yet unpredictable twists and turns that kept me reading way past my bedtime. The sex scenes rival Fifty Shades without relying on S and M power plays.
Don't let the sexy plot fool you, there's good, solid writing here. Real people, real emotions, and a real cathartic, there but for the grace go I, thrill.
I think this is a great debut for Robin Finn. I look forward to her next book
Don't let the sexy plot fool you, there's good, solid writing here. Real people, real emotions, and a real cathartic, there but for the grace go I, thrill.
I think this is a great debut for Robin Finn. I look forward to her next book
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