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Valencia and Valentine
For fans of
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
, debut author Suzy Krause delivers a quirky, colorful story about love, loss, second chances, and what it means to truly live.
Valencia, a timid debt collector with crippling OCD, is afraid of many things, but the two that scare her most are flying and turning thirty-five. To confront those fears, Valencia’s therapist suggests that she fly somewhere - anywhere - before her upcoming birthday. And as Valencia begins a telephone romance with a man from New York, she suddenly has a destination in mind. There’s only one problem - he might not actually exist.
Mrs. Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for company, be it from neighbors, telemarketers, or even the funeral director (when you’re her age, you go to a lot of funerals). So she’s thrilled when the new cleaning girl provides a listening ear for her life’s story - a tale of storybook love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband before his mysterious and sudden disappearance.
The stories of Valencia and Mrs. Valentine may at first appear to have nothing in common…but then again, nothing in life is as straightforward as it seems.
Valencia, a timid debt collector with crippling OCD, is afraid of many things, but the two that scare her most are flying and turning thirty-five. To confront those fears, Valencia’s therapist suggests that she fly somewhere - anywhere - before her upcoming birthday. And as Valencia begins a telephone romance with a man from New York, she suddenly has a destination in mind. There’s only one problem - he might not actually exist.
Mrs. Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for company, be it from neighbors, telemarketers, or even the funeral director (when you’re her age, you go to a lot of funerals). So she’s thrilled when the new cleaning girl provides a listening ear for her life’s story - a tale of storybook love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband before his mysterious and sudden disappearance.
The stories of Valencia and Mrs. Valentine may at first appear to have nothing in common…but then again, nothing in life is as straightforward as it seems.
254 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2019
5865 people are currently reading
8606 people want to read
About the author
Suzy Krause
3 books441 followersSuzy Krause is a writer and music lover from the Saskatchewan prairies.
Her first novel, Valencia and Valentine, was inspired by her time as a debt collector and the song Heart by Stars. She wrote her second book, Sorry I Missed You, after walking by a house with three mailboxes that looked like it could possibly be haunted. Her third book, I Think We've Been Here Before, is due September 2024 and has been optioned for TV. It was inspired by a recurring dream about the end of the world that was oddly comforting. Her books have been translated into Russian and Estonian.
Her first novel, Valencia and Valentine, was inspired by her time as a debt collector and the song Heart by Stars. She wrote her second book, Sorry I Missed You, after walking by a house with three mailboxes that looked like it could possibly be haunted. Her third book, I Think We've Been Here Before, is due September 2024 and has been optioned for TV. It was inspired by a recurring dream about the end of the world that was oddly comforting. Her books have been translated into Russian and Estonian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 884 reviews
June 17, 2019
ONE WANNABE STAR
PUHLEEZE. Just because you have a "quirky" character with OCD issues, you don't have to declare your novel the next Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine!! This is a wannabe and falls way short of Eleanor. That book had such a heartwarming feel to it whereas Valencia and Valentine has a pronounced sad and depressing tone.
This novel is a structural mess and totally confusing to the reader. You will eventually understand what the writer is trying to do (create a gotcha reveal), but it is an epic fail. Waaaaaahhhhh!
So sorry to bear such bad news, don't waste your money.
I was able to read this via the Amazon Kindle First Look program. I think I chose badly.
PUHLEEZE. Just because you have a "quirky" character with OCD issues, you don't have to declare your novel the next Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine!! This is a wannabe and falls way short of Eleanor. That book had such a heartwarming feel to it whereas Valencia and Valentine has a pronounced sad and depressing tone.
This novel is a structural mess and totally confusing to the reader. You will eventually understand what the writer is trying to do (create a gotcha reveal), but it is an epic fail. Waaaaaahhhhh!
So sorry to bear such bad news, don't waste your money.
I was able to read this via the Amazon Kindle First Look program. I think I chose badly.
June 12, 2019
𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗸. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁.
Suzy Krause’s debut is a quirky little gem. This is the story of Valencia, 35 A lonely debt collector who suffers from OCD. And Mrs. Valentine, 87 a lonely elderly lady who will talk to anyone telemarketers, funeral organizers, the lady who cleans her house. As both of these ladies’ stories unfold you will wonder what could possibly tie these tales together? This is such a character driven story, so full of quirk, charm, and heart. This is another book that is compared to Eleanor. While I can see how they came to this comparison I’d really like to see them stop doing this. Seriously books are still being compared to “Gone Girl”! So here is my comparison... this book is more like Eleanor then it is GG!
When I finish this book I said out loud (to nobody) damn that was good! This was a book that got better and better as the story progressed. I was more and more invested in Valencia and Mrs. Valentine’s lives as I turn the pages. Valencia had a very busy mind and we got a lot of her inner dialogue throughout this book. I really just wanted to reach through the pages give her a hug and tell her it’s all gonna be OK! Mrs. Valentine was so endearing and seem to have lead such a colorful life. Or did she? That was part of the charm of the story with both these narratives I was never quite sure what was truth, what was a lie, and what was a figment of the characters imagination. Reading this book really was like putting a puzzle together. It really didn’t make much sense and you couldn’t see the beauty of it until it was all pieced together.
A lovely tale you need to read with an open mind. The beginning of the story is a little convoluted, a little muddled.. But these characters are so endearing, so engaging, you can’t help but fall in love with them and want to know what happens in their lives. A delightful debut looking forward to what’s next from Suzy Krause.
*** many thanks to Lake Union for my copy of this book ***
Suzy Krause’s debut is a quirky little gem. This is the story of Valencia, 35 A lonely debt collector who suffers from OCD. And Mrs. Valentine, 87 a lonely elderly lady who will talk to anyone telemarketers, funeral organizers, the lady who cleans her house. As both of these ladies’ stories unfold you will wonder what could possibly tie these tales together? This is such a character driven story, so full of quirk, charm, and heart. This is another book that is compared to Eleanor. While I can see how they came to this comparison I’d really like to see them stop doing this. Seriously books are still being compared to “Gone Girl”! So here is my comparison... this book is more like Eleanor then it is GG!
When I finish this book I said out loud (to nobody) damn that was good! This was a book that got better and better as the story progressed. I was more and more invested in Valencia and Mrs. Valentine’s lives as I turn the pages. Valencia had a very busy mind and we got a lot of her inner dialogue throughout this book. I really just wanted to reach through the pages give her a hug and tell her it’s all gonna be OK! Mrs. Valentine was so endearing and seem to have lead such a colorful life. Or did she? That was part of the charm of the story with both these narratives I was never quite sure what was truth, what was a lie, and what was a figment of the characters imagination. Reading this book really was like putting a puzzle together. It really didn’t make much sense and you couldn’t see the beauty of it until it was all pieced together.
A lovely tale you need to read with an open mind. The beginning of the story is a little convoluted, a little muddled.. But these characters are so endearing, so engaging, you can’t help but fall in love with them and want to know what happens in their lives. A delightful debut looking forward to what’s next from Suzy Krause.
*** many thanks to Lake Union for my copy of this book ***
Read
December 19, 2020Dear Reader,
Thanks so much for reading this book! It's my very first; I wrote it in 2015, as a new mom in the midst of a lot of sleepless nights (yes, that might explain why it's—I'll borrow the most commonly-used word from the reviews below—'weird'). It was inspired by the song "Heart" by Stars (one of my favorite bands), and by the time I spent working as debt collector in a call centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
I know V&V looks, at first glance, like a light-hearted read—and in tone, it is (though my sense of humor is a bit dry and dark, sorry). The subject matter, however, is serious and very close to my heart. It deals with things like suicide, anxiety, OCD, and death. The protagonist is not a funny Hollywood caricature of a person struggling with mental illness; she's based in real-life stories and experiences. If at any point you think her thought processes or reactions or interactions are far-fetched or overwrought, I'd encourage you to stretch your empathy muscles—I love that fiction, by nature, forces you to do this—and consider that this is how some brains work.
I love that books about mental health are prevalent right now. I think it's great that people are looking at these issues from so many different angles—and that readers are taking them in and interacting with them. I'm really thankful to be part of this conversation. A few years ago, an industry professional said to me that these kinds of books (meaning women with mental health issues) were a hard sell. I know some people look at this recent rash of characters dealing with things like autism, OCD, anxiety, etc and are quick to dismiss it as a trend—and I suppose it is. But the thing is, a lot of people have been writing these kinds of books for a long time, as evidenced by the fact that so many have come out in the past couple of years. With the amount of time it takes to write and sell a book—years and years—it's obvious that the trend doesn't lie in the writing, the trend is in the publication and readership.
And I say, GREAT.
Thanks, again, for reading. :)
Thanks so much for reading this book! It's my very first; I wrote it in 2015, as a new mom in the midst of a lot of sleepless nights (yes, that might explain why it's—I'll borrow the most commonly-used word from the reviews below—'weird'). It was inspired by the song "Heart" by Stars (one of my favorite bands), and by the time I spent working as debt collector in a call centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
I know V&V looks, at first glance, like a light-hearted read—and in tone, it is (though my sense of humor is a bit dry and dark, sorry). The subject matter, however, is serious and very close to my heart. It deals with things like suicide, anxiety, OCD, and death. The protagonist is not a funny Hollywood caricature of a person struggling with mental illness; she's based in real-life stories and experiences. If at any point you think her thought processes or reactions or interactions are far-fetched or overwrought, I'd encourage you to stretch your empathy muscles—I love that fiction, by nature, forces you to do this—and consider that this is how some brains work.
I love that books about mental health are prevalent right now. I think it's great that people are looking at these issues from so many different angles—and that readers are taking them in and interacting with them. I'm really thankful to be part of this conversation. A few years ago, an industry professional said to me that these kinds of books (meaning women with mental health issues) were a hard sell. I know some people look at this recent rash of characters dealing with things like autism, OCD, anxiety, etc and are quick to dismiss it as a trend—and I suppose it is. But the thing is, a lot of people have been writing these kinds of books for a long time, as evidenced by the fact that so many have come out in the past couple of years. With the amount of time it takes to write and sell a book—years and years—it's obvious that the trend doesn't lie in the writing, the trend is in the publication and readership.
And I say, GREAT.
Thanks, again, for reading. :)
June 13, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
She’s not dying, technically, but she’s old enough that if she keeps living, it’ll start surprising people. She’s eighty-seven years old—but she’s a young eighty-seven. She’s more like an eighty-six.
Everyone has ulterior motives. When an evil person has ulterior motives, it’s called scheming. When a good person has ulterior motives, it’s called planning. Mrs. Valentine is planning.
When I was your age, Anna, I always said I’d do everything later. I can’t tell you what an odd day that was, when I woke up and realized it was later. And now I’m living in the part that comes after. There’s a part after later, where almost everyone else is dead and you’re just killing time, and it’s … odd.
This was a drastic leap in logic, but Valencia was very good at this kind of leaping; it was her only claim to athleticism.
That’s how it is when you’re in your thirties; birthdays aren’t important anymore because everyone has gotten over the initial excitement of your basic existence. You’re old news.
Time had never done anything but crawl for Valencia; it had never even walked before (she had, at points, wondered if it had lain down and died). This new speed was exhilarating.
“It’s kind of a dumb hobby, but you need a good, dumb, eccentric hobby, I think. I heard somewhere that eccentric people live longer.” “Okay,” said Valencia, picturing her own life stretching on and on ahead of her, even more vast and endless than she had previously supposed. I’m so eccentric I might be immortal, she thought miserably.
My Review:
It took me several chapters to settle into this tale, as it was oddly paced and at times a bit tedious when minutely detailing Valencia’s irrational, delusional and catastrophic fears and beliefs as she spiraled into panic attacks which involved worse case scenarios and epic disasters. However, that was merely setting the stage for the cleverness and well-crafted storylines to come. Ms. Krause’s writing was often bitingly witty and profoundly insightful with frequent lashings of brilliance. I had four solid pages of highlights and favorite quotes and it was rather painful to pare them down. But what staggered and astounded me was the realization that this wryly written and cleverly conjured book was the author’s debut. Impressive!
She’s not dying, technically, but she’s old enough that if she keeps living, it’ll start surprising people. She’s eighty-seven years old—but she’s a young eighty-seven. She’s more like an eighty-six.
Everyone has ulterior motives. When an evil person has ulterior motives, it’s called scheming. When a good person has ulterior motives, it’s called planning. Mrs. Valentine is planning.
When I was your age, Anna, I always said I’d do everything later. I can’t tell you what an odd day that was, when I woke up and realized it was later. And now I’m living in the part that comes after. There’s a part after later, where almost everyone else is dead and you’re just killing time, and it’s … odd.
This was a drastic leap in logic, but Valencia was very good at this kind of leaping; it was her only claim to athleticism.
That’s how it is when you’re in your thirties; birthdays aren’t important anymore because everyone has gotten over the initial excitement of your basic existence. You’re old news.
Time had never done anything but crawl for Valencia; it had never even walked before (she had, at points, wondered if it had lain down and died). This new speed was exhilarating.
“It’s kind of a dumb hobby, but you need a good, dumb, eccentric hobby, I think. I heard somewhere that eccentric people live longer.” “Okay,” said Valencia, picturing her own life stretching on and on ahead of her, even more vast and endless than she had previously supposed. I’m so eccentric I might be immortal, she thought miserably.
My Review:
It took me several chapters to settle into this tale, as it was oddly paced and at times a bit tedious when minutely detailing Valencia’s irrational, delusional and catastrophic fears and beliefs as she spiraled into panic attacks which involved worse case scenarios and epic disasters. However, that was merely setting the stage for the cleverness and well-crafted storylines to come. Ms. Krause’s writing was often bitingly witty and profoundly insightful with frequent lashings of brilliance. I had four solid pages of highlights and favorite quotes and it was rather painful to pare them down. But what staggered and astounded me was the realization that this wryly written and cleverly conjured book was the author’s debut. Impressive!
June 27, 2019
A quirky, charming read! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Valencia has obsessive-compulsive disorder. It controls her life. She is also a debt collector and frightened of her own shadow. She currently has two irrational fears consuming her every thought: turning thirty-five and flying.
Her therapist has given her assignments to address the fears. First, she needs to fly somewhere before her next birthday.
At the same time, Valencia is falling for a man from New York she has not yet met, so that may be her destination. She is worried he may be catfishing her, though.
Mrs. Valentine is an elderly woman with some quirks of her own. She is lonely and will talk the ear off of anyone who will sit with her. Or stand with her. Her new housekeeper is a good listener, and Mrs. Valentine begins to tell her life story. That story includes the mysterious disappearance of her husband.
There’s a way this story comes together with these two charming characters, piece-by-piece, and you have to just trust the author that it will meld. And when it does? There’s a beautiful quilt here filled with heart.
Overall, Valencia and Valentine is easy-to-read, funny, and an uplifting, quirky, original, feel-good story.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Valencia has obsessive-compulsive disorder. It controls her life. She is also a debt collector and frightened of her own shadow. She currently has two irrational fears consuming her every thought: turning thirty-five and flying.
Her therapist has given her assignments to address the fears. First, she needs to fly somewhere before her next birthday.
At the same time, Valencia is falling for a man from New York she has not yet met, so that may be her destination. She is worried he may be catfishing her, though.
Mrs. Valentine is an elderly woman with some quirks of her own. She is lonely and will talk the ear off of anyone who will sit with her. Or stand with her. Her new housekeeper is a good listener, and Mrs. Valentine begins to tell her life story. That story includes the mysterious disappearance of her husband.
There’s a way this story comes together with these two charming characters, piece-by-piece, and you have to just trust the author that it will meld. And when it does? There’s a beautiful quilt here filled with heart.
Overall, Valencia and Valentine is easy-to-read, funny, and an uplifting, quirky, original, feel-good story.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
June 12, 2019
I'm speechless. I know this story will be predictable for many (and I did predict some of the events) but after reading this, I'm left in awe and I'm feeling all of the feels.
Before I get into this review, I do want to mention that this novel heavily focuses on a character with OCD and in accompaniment the anxiety and depression that often follows with that diagnosis. Although I don't personally have OCD and therefore can't attest to the representation, I do have some medical and experiential knowledge and think that the author did an amazing job at portraying a character with OCD and the severe impact it can have on someone. It really made me emotional for this character and all of the struggles that she had, especially when you realize a major plot point down the line (no spoilers here). Also, as the author did an amazing job at capturing OCD, I do want to mention that this novel could unintentionally be triggering. It's a catch-22 because I think this novel is very important and could be helpful for those with OCD but at the same time, it could be a trigger. Know that before going into this novel.
It's hard to review this novel because it's one of those that could be easily spoiled so I will tread carefully.
I really enjoyed the two different character perspectives that this story was told from. Technically, there is three perspectives if Anna's is being counted but she only had a few chapters to herself. But all of these perspectives really built up the story and allowed for me to become more and more invested in these characters. As well, there is such a vast age difference between the two perspectives, from one being in their mid-thirties to the other approaching their nineties capturing a lifetime of struggles between both of them.
This was a quick and relatively short read but I found myself having difficulty putting this book down. It had me laughing and then had me on the brink of tears. I read it in less than a day and when that happens the book is generally a really good one. Even though I liked the whole of this novel, I think what really brought it to another level was the last quarter or third of the story. The explanation made this story so much more powerful and so much more emotional. I will be thinking about these characters and that ending for quite some time.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Before I get into this review, I do want to mention that this novel heavily focuses on a character with OCD and in accompaniment the anxiety and depression that often follows with that diagnosis. Although I don't personally have OCD and therefore can't attest to the representation, I do have some medical and experiential knowledge and think that the author did an amazing job at portraying a character with OCD and the severe impact it can have on someone. It really made me emotional for this character and all of the struggles that she had, especially when you realize a major plot point down the line (no spoilers here). Also, as the author did an amazing job at capturing OCD, I do want to mention that this novel could unintentionally be triggering. It's a catch-22 because I think this novel is very important and could be helpful for those with OCD but at the same time, it could be a trigger. Know that before going into this novel.
It's hard to review this novel because it's one of those that could be easily spoiled so I will tread carefully.
I really enjoyed the two different character perspectives that this story was told from. Technically, there is three perspectives if Anna's is being counted but she only had a few chapters to herself. But all of these perspectives really built up the story and allowed for me to become more and more invested in these characters. As well, there is such a vast age difference between the two perspectives, from one being in their mid-thirties to the other approaching their nineties capturing a lifetime of struggles between both of them.
This was a quick and relatively short read but I found myself having difficulty putting this book down. It had me laughing and then had me on the brink of tears. I read it in less than a day and when that happens the book is generally a really good one. Even though I liked the whole of this novel, I think what really brought it to another level was the last quarter or third of the story. The explanation made this story so much more powerful and so much more emotional. I will be thinking about these characters and that ending for quite some time.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
May 10, 2019
I see that a lot of readers were annoyed by Valencia's mental illness in this book. As someone with OCD and anxiety, I can say that is pretty much the way the population tends to react to actual people with similar issues. Myself, I loved the story. Yes, I figured out that Valencia and Valentine were one and the same, but I was left guessing at other things. Was Valencia hallucinating? Was Mrs Valentine ever really married? I loved the ending. I loved that Valencia/Mrs Valentine was finally able to overcome her OCD by realizing that the worse had already happened and she SURVIVED. It is a not-so-subtle reminder to tell that little voice (the one that whispers "What if?" in the back of my head) to take a flying leap and shut the heck up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2019
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I almost put it down a hundred times, but the author had piqued my interest about a few events that made me keep reading to find out what happened. But I really did NOT enjoy the book until my kindle told me I was 70% done. Then,the book became interesting and I enjoyed the rest of the read. But to take 3/4 of a book before it really grabs you, is just too long. It could also be extremely confusing as to the past and the present and what was real and what wasn’t. All in all this was a decent read but I really can’t say I would recommend it.
May 21, 2019
“For readers of Eleanor Oliphant” was very misleading. I wish people would stop using other books as carrots to get readers to pick up a book. Or maybe I just need to stop being so easily led.
I just really did not like this story, and yet I couldn’t stop reading it – kind of like when a car wreck is going to happen, and you hope and hope it won’t happen and you can’t look away in hopes the wreck won’t happen, but it happens anyway. I prefer stories with at least some hope, but this one was just cruelty, loneliness, sadness and regret.
I just really did not like this story, and yet I couldn’t stop reading it – kind of like when a car wreck is going to happen, and you hope and hope it won’t happen and you can’t look away in hopes the wreck won’t happen, but it happens anyway. I prefer stories with at least some hope, but this one was just cruelty, loneliness, sadness and regret.
July 23, 2019
,
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: Fiction.
📚 POV: Third person, alternating.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Discussions of OCD, Anxiety, Depression. Being buried deep in thoughts of someone with OCD, can be triggering.
⚠ Read if: you are looking for something quirky with a nice writing style.
I unfortunately have read unsatisfied reviews on this novel from GR friends. I still dove in and gave this once a chance.
I am grateful that I did. 🧡
This book tackles mental health concerns, and like I said, if you are someone who has triggers especially on 'death', dying, and things around it, this book might not be for you.
Some people raised concerns about the wrong comparison of this book with Eleanor Oliphant. I cannot comment on that though because I have not read the other one.
What I can say is that I enjoyed my entire reading experience, even though the plot twist was quite easy to guess.
Kudos to the author. I am looking forward for more of her works.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Heroine 2:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Unputdownability:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.09/5 ☁
Much thanks to NetGalley and Lake Uniom Publishing for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.
Review also appears on my blog.
“But I guess if being scared of something stopped you from doing it, you’d miss out on everything.”📖 Buy This Book: Amazon 📖
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: Fiction.
📚 POV: Third person, alternating.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Discussions of OCD, Anxiety, Depression. Being buried deep in thoughts of someone with OCD, can be triggering.
⚠ Read if: you are looking for something quirky with a nice writing style.
I unfortunately have read unsatisfied reviews on this novel from GR friends. I still dove in and gave this once a chance.
I am grateful that I did. 🧡
"Beauty is on a different plane than happy and sad or easy and hard; I’m sure you know that. A song can be sad and beautiful at the same time. Life too.”Valencia and Valentine is a read that I definitely enjoyed, mainly because of the way it was written. I was captivated by the writing style. The prose and the metaphors got me and hit me when and where I needed
This book tackles mental health concerns, and like I said, if you are someone who has triggers especially on 'death', dying, and things around it, this book might not be for you.
Some people raised concerns about the wrong comparison of this book with Eleanor Oliphant. I cannot comment on that though because I have not read the other one.
What I can say is that I enjoyed my entire reading experience, even though the plot twist was quite easy to guess.
Kudos to the author. I am looking forward for more of her works.
"Meanwhile, my soul was having an adventure— it didn’t matter in the least who was sitting across the table from me. The point was not who was there; the point was that someone was. The most important thing was that I was."
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Heroine 2:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Unputdownability:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.09/5 ☁
Much thanks to NetGalley and Lake Uniom Publishing for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.
Review also appears on my blog.
May 30, 2019
Valencia is a 35-year-old debt collector. Mrs. Valentine is an 87-year-old lonely widow. Both are somewhat obsessed with death.
Valencia and Mrs. Valentine’s stories are told with alternating points of view. Valencia is stuck in a job she doesn’t love, has no friends, and struggles with her crippling fears and OCD. She wants to change her life, and starts to make strides in that direction. Along the way, she starts a romance with a man she talks with on the phone at work and she becomes friends with a new coworker. Mrs. Valentine is lonely, and talks to anyone who gives her the chance – neighbors, telemarketers, and her new cleaning lady. She loves to tell her stories, and is excited the new cleaning lady wants to here about her life.
This was my pick for Amazon’s First Reads in May 2019. I wasn’t a big fan of this book. I found the plot too convoluted, yet predictable. The characters both have fairly sad lives, and some parts came off as quite dark. I was expecting something a little more heartwarming and light. A bittersweet novel of love and loneliness.
Valencia and Mrs. Valentine’s stories are told with alternating points of view. Valencia is stuck in a job she doesn’t love, has no friends, and struggles with her crippling fears and OCD. She wants to change her life, and starts to make strides in that direction. Along the way, she starts a romance with a man she talks with on the phone at work and she becomes friends with a new coworker. Mrs. Valentine is lonely, and talks to anyone who gives her the chance – neighbors, telemarketers, and her new cleaning lady. She loves to tell her stories, and is excited the new cleaning lady wants to here about her life.
This was my pick for Amazon’s First Reads in May 2019. I wasn’t a big fan of this book. I found the plot too convoluted, yet predictable. The characters both have fairly sad lives, and some parts came off as quite dark. I was expecting something a little more heartwarming and light. A bittersweet novel of love and loneliness.
May 9, 2019
The way this book started out, I was intrigued and loved it. About 1/3rd of the way in, I was getting tired of Valencia's mental health issues and the very weird story told by Mrs. Valentine which did not fit with the time line of her life at all (she is an old woman talking about her youth when she went to the airport and the employee typed into her computer--that is not how things were 60 years ago, so was this story supposed to be in the future?) Then the ending was just bizarre and unsatisfying.
April 2, 2019
What an enjoyable debut! From the cover to the name to the description, I was excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint. Both Valencia and Mrs. Valentine were likable from the start in spite of - and actually because of - their quirks. Readers will devour this feel-good book and eagerly anticipate more from this author.
July 21, 2022
Quote:
“That’s how it is when you’re in your thirties; birthdays aren’t important anymore because everyone has gotten over the initial excitement of your basic existence. You’re old news.”
“That’s how it is when you’re in your thirties; birthdays aren’t important anymore because everyone has gotten over the initial excitement of your basic existence. You’re old news.”
June 29, 2019
When I hit the 50% mark I had forumulated a theory on how Valencia and Mrs. Valentine’s lives may intersect; it was certainly an interesting back and forth ride after that to figure out if I was right or not.
This book is not a mystery, but there is certainly an element of it. As a reader you become a detective and reread sections and when you think you are right, something pops up to prove you may be wrong: I love reading books that keep me on my toes like this all the way to the end.
I will let you know that I was in fact right on my theory, but how it got there I could never have predicted.
It was a slow start for me but when I turned the corner it was full steam ahead. I couldn't whip through the ending fast enough!
To read my reviews visit: www.saturdaynitereader.com
This book is not a mystery, but there is certainly an element of it. As a reader you become a detective and reread sections and when you think you are right, something pops up to prove you may be wrong: I love reading books that keep me on my toes like this all the way to the end.
I will let you know that I was in fact right on my theory, but how it got there I could never have predicted.
It was a slow start for me but when I turned the corner it was full steam ahead. I couldn't whip through the ending fast enough!
To read my reviews visit: www.saturdaynitereader.com
June 9, 2019
This is a quirky, yet easy read. It started slow for me yet picked up and I was able to finish it rather quickly. However, it left me feeling a little unsettled, for lack of a better word. It’s an enjoyable read yet I never connected with the characters. I absolutely love quirky characters but I had a hard time with these. The writing is fine, the book is fine, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it was that stopped me from loving this. Others have loved this so I’m going to chalk it up to just not being the book for me. Thank you to the publisher for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
June 1, 2019
If you want to read an adorable book about the quirkiest of characters,Valencia and Valentine is the book for you! I fell in love SO quickly with both of these so different ladies, connected in the most surprising of ways, and adored getting to know them immensely!
I must say first - that the book is blurbed for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine ... so I know THAT book is BELOVED by millions of readers, and many of you will be thrilled with this cute story! I personally am not included in that group (don't hate me!) AND I STILL loved it. SO I would personally blurb this one "for fans of love, and friendship, and colorful characters who are living their lives the best way they know how, whether tou loved EO or not. (haha!)"
I though the story was unique and lovely. I laughed out loud at some parts and teared up at others. I was captivated by both women's stories and enticed by the charming peculiarness of both of them, desperate to read on to find their connection.
Valencia is shy, and a bit awkward, and afraid of most things. Her job as a debt collector is boring and tedious, but the familiarity and monotony is comforting to her. She's terrified of flying and driving on highways, but determined to travel somewhere and face her fears. She meets a man on the phone through her job, and thinks, maybe, just maybe, she can go visit him in New York. But there's a slight dilemma - how will she meet a man, who may not even be real?
Valentine has lead and incredible life of love and travel and adventure. Yet now, 87 and living alone, she is desperate for company. She will talk to anyone who will listen and when she hires a new cleaning lady, we start to learn her story as she recounts her incredible life to a skeptical maid who kind of just wants to do her job.
I loved Suzy's writing so much and can't believe this is her first novel! She has created a humorous and fanciful story that was so beautifully strange and refreshing and reading it was a delight!
I must say first - that the book is blurbed for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine ... so I know THAT book is BELOVED by millions of readers, and many of you will be thrilled with this cute story! I personally am not included in that group (don't hate me!) AND I STILL loved it. SO I would personally blurb this one "for fans of love, and friendship, and colorful characters who are living their lives the best way they know how, whether tou loved EO or not. (haha!)"
I though the story was unique and lovely. I laughed out loud at some parts and teared up at others. I was captivated by both women's stories and enticed by the charming peculiarness of both of them, desperate to read on to find their connection.
Valencia is shy, and a bit awkward, and afraid of most things. Her job as a debt collector is boring and tedious, but the familiarity and monotony is comforting to her. She's terrified of flying and driving on highways, but determined to travel somewhere and face her fears. She meets a man on the phone through her job, and thinks, maybe, just maybe, she can go visit him in New York. But there's a slight dilemma - how will she meet a man, who may not even be real?
Valentine has lead and incredible life of love and travel and adventure. Yet now, 87 and living alone, she is desperate for company. She will talk to anyone who will listen and when she hires a new cleaning lady, we start to learn her story as she recounts her incredible life to a skeptical maid who kind of just wants to do her job.
I loved Suzy's writing so much and can't believe this is her first novel! She has created a humorous and fanciful story that was so beautifully strange and refreshing and reading it was a delight!
May 11, 2019
OH MY HEART. What a glorious book! Very much in tune with Eleanor Oliphant, but remarkably different as well, I burned through this gem. So many feelings, a real mix of humour and heartbreak. Valencia's voice leapt off the page and the OCD elements felt all too real. By the end, I was legit weeping. Astounding debut!!
Big thanks to Lake Union for a complimentary finished review copy!
Big thanks to Lake Union for a complimentary finished review copy!
May 7, 2019
2.5 STARS
I've been trying to branch out in my Kindle First picks, not just going for the mystery/thriller offering. Although there is a bit of mystery here, it's hard to describe without spoiling it. Valencia has pretty serious mental health issues: severe OCD, fear of traveling, fear of aging.
There's a bit of a romantic subplot, but I never got any sense of him, just Valencia. Valencia is haunted by something that happened in high school, but I found that part of the story very confusing. Valencia seemed like a completely different character, she was basically a mean girl. Did her OCD (which she'd implied she'd had since childhood) not get noticed by any of her friends?
Valencia's chapters are alternated with Mrs. Valentine: an 87 year old woman who loves to chat and make up stories. The book really lost me during these chapters. I guessed how the two POV were related, but Mrs. Valentine's chapters felt like filler.
It's definitely a hard book to explain/review, I guess it just wasn't a good fit for me.
I've been trying to branch out in my Kindle First picks, not just going for the mystery/thriller offering. Although there is a bit of mystery here, it's hard to describe without spoiling it. Valencia has pretty serious mental health issues: severe OCD, fear of traveling, fear of aging.
There's a bit of a romantic subplot, but I never got any sense of him, just Valencia. Valencia is haunted by something that happened in high school, but I found that part of the story very confusing. Valencia seemed like a completely different character, she was basically a mean girl. Did her OCD (which she'd implied she'd had since childhood) not get noticed by any of her friends?
Valencia's chapters are alternated with Mrs. Valentine: an 87 year old woman who loves to chat and make up stories. The book really lost me during these chapters. I guessed how the two POV were related, but Mrs. Valentine's chapters felt like filler.
It's definitely a hard book to explain/review, I guess it just wasn't a good fit for me.
May 3, 2019
Adorable, sad, funny, and very moving—it’s a love story and a mental health story and a story inside a story. Krause did a wonderful job; this is one hell of a first novel. Highly recommended.
July 2, 2019
This book might be a bit confusing at times but it’s a literary triumph.
Loved it!
For fans of Eleanor Oliphant and Bridget Jones everywhere :)
Loved it!
For fans of Eleanor Oliphant and Bridget Jones everywhere :)
June 11, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley, Suzy Krause and Lake Union Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Valencia is a debt collector with intense OCD and is fearful of everything, mostly flying and turning 35. Her therapist suggests flying anywhere to deal with her fears before her birthday. She begins a telephone relationship with a man from New York and suddenly she has a destination in mind. But does this man actually exist? Mrs Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for any sort of company. So she is thrilled when a new cleaning lady lends an ear for her life story – a tale of love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband.
I was so excited to read a book by a Canadian author that I didn’t even read what this book was about. I was excited to see how these ladies lives connected and how different their lives seemed from one another. I flew through most of this novel reading about each different life the women were leading and how different their problems seemed from one another. I really enjoyed reading this one and how you see so many real life issues in both women. I loved both women and I wanted to be friends with both of them and I would have loved to listen to Mrs Valentine’s love stories. I was shocked by the ending and I loved every minute of it! I am so glad this one was chosen for the book club! I definitely would recommend this one as a great palate cleanser.
Out now!
Valencia is a debt collector with intense OCD and is fearful of everything, mostly flying and turning 35. Her therapist suggests flying anywhere to deal with her fears before her birthday. She begins a telephone relationship with a man from New York and suddenly she has a destination in mind. But does this man actually exist? Mrs Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for any sort of company. So she is thrilled when a new cleaning lady lends an ear for her life story – a tale of love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband.
I was so excited to read a book by a Canadian author that I didn’t even read what this book was about. I was excited to see how these ladies lives connected and how different their lives seemed from one another. I flew through most of this novel reading about each different life the women were leading and how different their problems seemed from one another. I really enjoyed reading this one and how you see so many real life issues in both women. I loved both women and I wanted to be friends with both of them and I would have loved to listen to Mrs Valentine’s love stories. I was shocked by the ending and I loved every minute of it! I am so glad this one was chosen for the book club! I definitely would recommend this one as a great palate cleanser.
Out now!
June 2, 2019
Parts of this did not feel "true" to me. For example: Even though she was already exhibiting overt signs of OCD, the young Valencia was a popular, chatty, party-hopping "mean girl" in high school. I found that hard to believe. And she subsequently evolved into an isolated introvert who could not even look people in the eye, much less speak with them? That was quite a transformation. Yes, I understood part of the reason as given by the storyline, but it was still hard to believe.
May 9, 2019
3.5 I am skeptical of Kindle First books. I can't honestly remember if I have ever found one that I enjoyed. So, I approached this one with caution.
Honestly I was surprised by how quickly I read it. I enjoyed the author's style but I never connected with either of our two main characters, Valencia and Valentine. They were both too quirky, too tiresome, too... much.
I look forward to the author's future books.
Honestly I was surprised by how quickly I read it. I enjoyed the author's style but I never connected with either of our two main characters, Valencia and Valentine. They were both too quirky, too tiresome, too... much.
I look forward to the author's future books.
May 23, 2019
It’s rare that I get such an intense book hangover after finishing a book. I couldn’t put this one down and want to crawl into the story for awhile longer. Books about mental health issues are not my typical thing, but I was so completely engrossed in this story. Despite their eccentricities, the characters were charming and lovable. The writing was incredible. In the midst of a sad scene, I found myself chuckling from the pure charm of a turn of phrase. It was sad, it was sweet, I loved it.
August 18, 2019
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion!
2.5 Stars!
Last year I read and loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and therefore when this book came across my radar, I was pretty sure I would enjoy reading this one as well, However, I was sorely dissapointed by Valencia and Valentine because of that particular comparison as this book is nothing like Eleanor and has a sad, dark and depressing undertone to it.
Honestly, I don't have a problem in reading sad books and this book deals with quite a few mental health related issues which piqued my interest in the first place but for the major part Valencia and Valentine felt like a drag. I wasn't engaged by the plot and found it to be confusing a lot of times, in fact, it was only towards the end that this book started making sense to me and by then it was too little too late. The characters were no different, I couldn't relate to them and found them repetitive and monotonous. Author, Suzy Krause writing definitely has potential and part of the reason I saw this book to the end but other than that, I think this book wasn't for me.
I wish I could have enjoyed this more but alas!
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2.5 Stars!
Last year I read and loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and therefore when this book came across my radar, I was pretty sure I would enjoy reading this one as well, However, I was sorely dissapointed by Valencia and Valentine because of that particular comparison as this book is nothing like Eleanor and has a sad, dark and depressing undertone to it.
Honestly, I don't have a problem in reading sad books and this book deals with quite a few mental health related issues which piqued my interest in the first place but for the major part Valencia and Valentine felt like a drag. I wasn't engaged by the plot and found it to be confusing a lot of times, in fact, it was only towards the end that this book started making sense to me and by then it was too little too late. The characters were no different, I couldn't relate to them and found them repetitive and monotonous. Author, Suzy Krause writing definitely has potential and part of the reason I saw this book to the end but other than that, I think this book wasn't for me.
I wish I could have enjoyed this more but alas!
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May 30, 2019
A young woman working in a debt collector call center desiring to conquer her personal demons OCD-ing about flying and getting older and death and an older woman who is lonely and needing to share stories of her life with someone who will listen are seemingly on two separate paths. Or are they?
Valencia and Valentine got my attention when I spotted it as an Amazon First Read offering, but it wasn't until I saw that Janet Metzger was narrating the audio that I actually picked it up.
I read the blurb, saw the cover, and knew it was women's fiction so I formed an idea of what I was getting. I thought it would be light, maybe with a bit of wry humor, a multi-generational friendship, a little side romance... yeah, I'm always up for that. But, this one was almost nothing like I was expecting. I was three chapters in and knew that I was so utterly lost. I had to get my bearings before I could even concentrate on the story.
The thing is that I don't think I ever really got my bearings. This was on purpose, actually, but I never did get comfortable with this story. It was disconcerting, through and through. Both these women have mental health issues so this was a non-thriller unreliable narrator story. That said, there is something of a mystery because things don't quite add up and the reader slowly is let in on this fact. I really noticed it with the older woman, Valentine's stories of her past. I had a feeling about what was going on and sure enough, I was right.
The two women take turns narrating their sides of the story. Valencia is the younger of the two and she works at a call center as a debt collector. At first, it seems like she's fanciful in a morbid way, but then it's obvious that she is ill. She is seeing a therapist for her OCD. I don't know anyone in real life with OCD, but I thought Valencia was drawn authentically. I'll be honest, it's tough reading from her perspective as a result, but it made me see just how difficult life with this disorder truly is. I felt impatience and sometimes dislike (she was one of the mean girls back in HS), but I also felt enough affinity that I cheered her on with her romance. The romance was on-line for a bit and I couldn't get a read on her romance interest, but that again, makes sense if I got the right idea about what happened.
Valentine is an old woman feeling her years and as obsessed with death as Valencia. She also feels alone and locked in her past and stories. Many of these stories are questionable as true. Again, I was a little ambivalent about the character. I knew I needed to give her a break because she is struggling with her mental health like Valencia and made up stories is what she has left to give, but I got impatient and wanted to get down to the bottom of things.
However, in the end, I kept getting drawn back in each time I wanted to give up on the book or the characters. It's not an easy-read/listen like I thought it would be, but it is thought provoking and ultimately engaging in its own way. So, I recommend it to those who don't mind characters who aren't easy to like, but worth it and a gently-paced story or struggle, some triumph, and life with warts.
Janet Metzger is one of my favorite narrators and I think she absolutely excels at this genre. She's perfect for telling women's stories and drawing out the emotions and thoughtful cadence. If I felt any liking and sympathy for the characters, I feel she is largely responsible for that with her heartwarming voice. She is pretty much an auto-buy narrator for me at this point.
My thanks to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Valencia and Valentine got my attention when I spotted it as an Amazon First Read offering, but it wasn't until I saw that Janet Metzger was narrating the audio that I actually picked it up.
I read the blurb, saw the cover, and knew it was women's fiction so I formed an idea of what I was getting. I thought it would be light, maybe with a bit of wry humor, a multi-generational friendship, a little side romance... yeah, I'm always up for that. But, this one was almost nothing like I was expecting. I was three chapters in and knew that I was so utterly lost. I had to get my bearings before I could even concentrate on the story.
The thing is that I don't think I ever really got my bearings. This was on purpose, actually, but I never did get comfortable with this story. It was disconcerting, through and through. Both these women have mental health issues so this was a non-thriller unreliable narrator story. That said, there is something of a mystery because things don't quite add up and the reader slowly is let in on this fact. I really noticed it with the older woman, Valentine's stories of her past. I had a feeling about what was going on and sure enough, I was right.
The two women take turns narrating their sides of the story. Valencia is the younger of the two and she works at a call center as a debt collector. At first, it seems like she's fanciful in a morbid way, but then it's obvious that she is ill. She is seeing a therapist for her OCD. I don't know anyone in real life with OCD, but I thought Valencia was drawn authentically. I'll be honest, it's tough reading from her perspective as a result, but it made me see just how difficult life with this disorder truly is. I felt impatience and sometimes dislike (she was one of the mean girls back in HS), but I also felt enough affinity that I cheered her on with her romance. The romance was on-line for a bit and I couldn't get a read on her romance interest, but that again, makes sense if I got the right idea about what happened.
Valentine is an old woman feeling her years and as obsessed with death as Valencia. She also feels alone and locked in her past and stories. Many of these stories are questionable as true. Again, I was a little ambivalent about the character. I knew I needed to give her a break because she is struggling with her mental health like Valencia and made up stories is what she has left to give, but I got impatient and wanted to get down to the bottom of things.
However, in the end, I kept getting drawn back in each time I wanted to give up on the book or the characters. It's not an easy-read/listen like I thought it would be, but it is thought provoking and ultimately engaging in its own way. So, I recommend it to those who don't mind characters who aren't easy to like, but worth it and a gently-paced story or struggle, some triumph, and life with warts.
Janet Metzger is one of my favorite narrators and I think she absolutely excels at this genre. She's perfect for telling women's stories and drawing out the emotions and thoughtful cadence. If I felt any liking and sympathy for the characters, I feel she is largely responsible for that with her heartwarming voice. She is pretty much an auto-buy narrator for me at this point.
My thanks to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2019
This weekend I read Valencia and Valentine by Suzy Krause. Wow, you guys. This is such a unique story! I don’t think I’ve read anything like it before. I found it dark and heavy at times, but then adorable and heartwarming at others. There’s a strong focus on mental illness along with a touching love story. Oh, and a bit of mystery as well! If you’re in a reading slump or have read way too many thrillers in a row, I highly recommend you pick this one up. It’s definitely a refreshing reading experience. Here’s a fun fact: The author is from Canada and I kinda geek out over Canadian authors. Being on the state side for the past 10+ years, I get a little homesick from time to time. So, supporting Canadian authors is just a no-brainer for me. Also, I grew up in rural Manitoba, and Suzy is just one province over! Pretty neat, eh? 😉 Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this spectacular debut!
March 26, 2019
Insanely likeable characters, a tight and suspenseful plot, and a satisfying ending make this debut novel a home run for Krause.
January 5, 2020
Tissues at the ready! I found this to be quite a sad read. It’s the story of Valencia a morbid but surprisingly likeable debt collector and Mrs Valentine a fun but tragic and lonely old lady.
The story switches from morbid to happy frequently, expect humour and a few tears along the way. It’s a lovely book and I was reminded of Eleanor Oliphant is completely Fine, if you liked that book you’ll like this one. In the same way this story has some realistic and insightful observations which are both funny and sad.
Parts of this made my heart break. But overall I think it’s an uplifting story in many ways.
A very strong 4*/5, not quite amazing enough for full marks but not far off, some lovely writing and I would recommend this book.
The story switches from morbid to happy frequently, expect humour and a few tears along the way. It’s a lovely book and I was reminded of Eleanor Oliphant is completely Fine, if you liked that book you’ll like this one. In the same way this story has some realistic and insightful observations which are both funny and sad.
Parts of this made my heart break. But overall I think it’s an uplifting story in many ways.
A very strong 4*/5, not quite amazing enough for full marks but not far off, some lovely writing and I would recommend this book.
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