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I Can't Tell You Why
An engrossing and emotionally true novel about the love triangle from hell – an agent, Dani, her star client and a paparazzi photographer programmed to expose.
Sometimes even the most grounded people make bad decisions – decisions that even they cannot explain. And sometimes bad decisions take on a life of their own . . .
Having an affair is inconceivable to Dani and yet she’s having one with Alex. He’s married, he’s an actor and she’s his agent. Then Dani meets Sean, a paparazzi photographer with a formidable reputation. It’s a profession that makes him unpredictable at best. A dangerous trait when his motivation to expose becomes personal.
Can Dani dig her way out of a bad situation that she thought that she was too smart to get into?
Sometimes even the most grounded people make bad decisions – decisions that even they cannot explain. And sometimes bad decisions take on a life of their own . . .
Having an affair is inconceivable to Dani and yet she’s having one with Alex. He’s married, he’s an actor and she’s his agent. Then Dani meets Sean, a paparazzi photographer with a formidable reputation. It’s a profession that makes him unpredictable at best. A dangerous trait when his motivation to expose becomes personal.
Can Dani dig her way out of a bad situation that she thought that she was too smart to get into?
363 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2019
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Robertson North
3 books3 followersElaine spent 25 years working in marketing and communications in the media and entertainment industries. This included seven years marketing national newspapers and a variety of senior executive roles in TV, radio and film.
I've Been Waiting For You is Elaine's third novel. Her previous titles, I Can’t Tell You Why and Bring Me To Life are also available.
Elaine lives in North London with her husband and their two sons.
I've Been Waiting For You is Elaine's third novel. Her previous titles, I Can’t Tell You Why and Bring Me To Life are also available.
Elaine lives in North London with her husband and their two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 17, 2019
I Can't Tell You Why wasn't an easy read for me. The more I read, the more tired I felt, and as result, finishing it took me way longer than it should've. There's a whole lot going on, an event after an event, some of it plot, some of it filler, and close to no air in between.
The text is so focused on the story, it seems as though the characters are second plan. I didn't feel like I got to know any of them, especially the main character Dani. I think that if slightly more of the text was focused on Dani's inner train of thought rather than everything happening around her, I would've been able to connect to her more.
I Can't Tell You Why isn't a bad book, it just wasn't for me. And Mrs. North's writing is decent, especially for a debut release. I am excited to see how her style further develops in her future releases.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Actual rating: 2/5 stars
The text is so focused on the story, it seems as though the characters are second plan. I didn't feel like I got to know any of them, especially the main character Dani. I think that if slightly more of the text was focused on Dani's inner train of thought rather than everything happening around her, I would've been able to connect to her more.
I Can't Tell You Why isn't a bad book, it just wasn't for me. And Mrs. North's writing is decent, especially for a debut release. I am excited to see how her style further develops in her future releases.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Actual rating: 2/5 stars
January 26, 2019
Love triangles always make for interesting reading. This book was no exception. It's like having the worst day. Ever. Murphy's law maybe? An entertaining read for sure.
August 5, 2019
3☆ A Complex Love Triangle!
I Can’t Tell You Why is a complex and intriguing story about Relationships, Love Triangle, Deceit and illicit liaisons.
Dani has gotten herself into a sticky situation. The famous line never mix business with pleasure... is exactly what Dani did!
She is having an affair with her client Alex, but things are not so simple as he is married.
Why oh why she got herself mixed up with a married man, screams red flags.
But it doesn't stop there, Dani also finds herself mixed up with Sean.
Sean is a journalist photographer and always on the lookout for next big scoop.... But is her illicit affair with Alex about to backfire on her?
My reasoning for a 3☆ was I found the pace to be slower and at times disjointed which left me a little confused.
I liked the characters but wanted more and felt it was missing something.
My personal opinion I would of liked more chemistry and danger/illicit liaisons between the characters it was just missing that spark, I love with my romances/love triangle affairs.
It does get you thinking about Dani's situation and if she was right or wrong.
In my mind there's no doubt she was wrong... it's never ok to cheat! But it takes two to Tango and Alex is definitely not innocent, he is married with kids!
There was Deceit, Secrets, Infidelity, Lies, Drama and Angst.
Overall I Can’t Tell You Why is a good debut novel with lots of potential.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
I Can’t Tell You Why is a complex and intriguing story about Relationships, Love Triangle, Deceit and illicit liaisons.
Dani has gotten herself into a sticky situation. The famous line never mix business with pleasure... is exactly what Dani did!
She is having an affair with her client Alex, but things are not so simple as he is married.
Why oh why she got herself mixed up with a married man, screams red flags.
But it doesn't stop there, Dani also finds herself mixed up with Sean.
Sean is a journalist photographer and always on the lookout for next big scoop.... But is her illicit affair with Alex about to backfire on her?
My reasoning for a 3☆ was I found the pace to be slower and at times disjointed which left me a little confused.
I liked the characters but wanted more and felt it was missing something.
My personal opinion I would of liked more chemistry and danger/illicit liaisons between the characters it was just missing that spark, I love with my romances/love triangle affairs.
It does get you thinking about Dani's situation and if she was right or wrong.
In my mind there's no doubt she was wrong... it's never ok to cheat! But it takes two to Tango and Alex is definitely not innocent, he is married with kids!
There was Deceit, Secrets, Infidelity, Lies, Drama and Angst.
Overall I Can’t Tell You Why is a good debut novel with lots of potential.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
May 5, 2021
| Reader Fox Blog |
Literally just turning the pages in this book was a struggle for me. So, ironically I can't tell you why I expected more depth from I Can't Tell You Why by Elaine Robertson North, but I just did. And instead, I was left with a novel that was more summary than story, had more awful characters than characters worth liking, barely allowed readers to get to know the characters and their relationships in a real way instead of including meaningful conversations and events, and for some reason focused on a lot more menial ideas than thoughts of actual import. And I don't know, I just really did expect a lot more from this book. But I'm realizing now, after having read it, that even the title should have clued me in to the fact that this book wasn't going to have much deep thought. It just uses a cop-out as an excuse for the awful behavior of everyone involved. And I just cannot.
I think the worst part about this book is that it was so long alongside never actually giving the reader anything worth reading. The novel is a giant summary of events with a smattering of useless dialogue in between. The characters make horrible decisions for what seems like no bloody reason at all because you never get enough of the characters--it's all summarized!--to understand their motives, give a damn about them in any sense at all, or to even see how their relationships make sense.
I still have no understanding how any of these people cared about each other in the slightest. I don't understand what there ever could have possibly been for Alex to see something worthwhile in Dani or for Dani to see something worthwhile in Alex. Every single piece of their relationship that might have made them caring for each other make sense was entirely left out of the novel or briefly summarized. I mean, the book starts out with Alex propositioning Dani for sex while plainly stating that he had no intention of leaving his wife.
It's just gross. It's awful. And getting through this book was incredibly difficult. A novel that is mostly summary is not going to keep my interest. And at the end of the day, the writing wasn't so terrible grammatically that I had a problem with it, but the story and the characters need work. I can enjoy books where I hate the characters--see Sutter Keeley from The Spectacular Now--and appreciate them for their own merits, but I couldn't appreciate I Can't Tell You Why.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
Literally just turning the pages in this book was a struggle for me. So, ironically I can't tell you why I expected more depth from I Can't Tell You Why by Elaine Robertson North, but I just did. And instead, I was left with a novel that was more summary than story, had more awful characters than characters worth liking, barely allowed readers to get to know the characters and their relationships in a real way instead of including meaningful conversations and events, and for some reason focused on a lot more menial ideas than thoughts of actual import. And I don't know, I just really did expect a lot more from this book. But I'm realizing now, after having read it, that even the title should have clued me in to the fact that this book wasn't going to have much deep thought. It just uses a cop-out as an excuse for the awful behavior of everyone involved. And I just cannot.
I think the worst part about this book is that it was so long alongside never actually giving the reader anything worth reading. The novel is a giant summary of events with a smattering of useless dialogue in between. The characters make horrible decisions for what seems like no bloody reason at all because you never get enough of the characters--it's all summarized!--to understand their motives, give a damn about them in any sense at all, or to even see how their relationships make sense.
I still have no understanding how any of these people cared about each other in the slightest. I don't understand what there ever could have possibly been for Alex to see something worthwhile in Dani or for Dani to see something worthwhile in Alex. Every single piece of their relationship that might have made them caring for each other make sense was entirely left out of the novel or briefly summarized. I mean, the book starts out with Alex propositioning Dani for sex while plainly stating that he had no intention of leaving his wife.
It's just gross. It's awful. And getting through this book was incredibly difficult. A novel that is mostly summary is not going to keep my interest. And at the end of the day, the writing wasn't so terrible grammatically that I had a problem with it, but the story and the characters need work. I can enjoy books where I hate the characters--see Sutter Keeley from The Spectacular Now--and appreciate them for their own merits, but I couldn't appreciate I Can't Tell You Why.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
March 3, 2019
"I can't tell you why" is the story of Dina who is a celebrity agent. She's successful,confident,rich but unlucky in relationships. Had her heart broken quite a few times.
(Danger alert!)
And YET. Yet she started an affair with a married man of 3 children and who is also her client. I mean..WHO would do that in their right mind.and WHY. I am just sick of hearing attraction, lust or whatever that is being the reason of cheating someone. Surely she could've understood the feeling of being cheated on. No. She doesn't. And it doesn't end there.
(DOUBLE ALERT)
She also get involved with someone else while having an affair. It's just a recipe for utter disaster which is not even entertaining.
The writing could've been way better because it bored me to sleep most of the time. I have no energy left to dive into this madness. So this isn't not for me at all.
( thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the Arc in exchange of an honest review)
(Danger alert!)
And YET. Yet she started an affair with a married man of 3 children and who is also her client. I mean..WHO would do that in their right mind.and WHY. I am just sick of hearing attraction, lust or whatever that is being the reason of cheating someone. Surely she could've understood the feeling of being cheated on. No. She doesn't. And it doesn't end there.
(DOUBLE ALERT)
She also get involved with someone else while having an affair. It's just a recipe for utter disaster which is not even entertaining.
The writing could've been way better because it bored me to sleep most of the time. I have no energy left to dive into this madness. So this isn't not for me at all.
( thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the Arc in exchange of an honest review)
July 30, 2019
An interesting exploration of celebrity, life as a media agent and a romantic love triangle. The detail in this novel is clearly well- researched, it makes the story authentic. However, it lacks the in-depth characterisation that would give it emotional weight.
It’s easy to read, and interesting. The themes of celebrity, the invasion of privacy and the blurring of professional relationships, are emotional topics. I know the characters suffered, were challenged and confused, but I didn’t feel their pain.
An interesting foray into the media world, perfect for those who enjoy plot rather than character-driven stories.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
January 10, 2019
This is a debut novel, North's writing is good and there is no doubt she has a career as a writer. I truly liked all the characters and learning more about the world of being an agent for the entertainment industry, something that the Author had experience with previously. For the most part, I can handle a 3rd person narrative but it seemed like we never really got to know Dani fully. It's almost as if the Author wrote for the balcony when we were sitting in the front row. As wordy a book as this is and I admit I skimmed a ton of over-explanation many times, there was so much missing with respect to feelings, thoughts and days and sometimes even weeks! I wanted more of her with Sean and even Alex and the reasons as to why she was desperate to hang onto both.
I felt as if Dani's decisions were her own and in the end, she came to the hard conclusions that were painful but honest as to why she continues to sabotage any real relationships she has with the men in her life. But right along with her besties Billy and Amanda, I wanted to throttle her more than once as she spiraled out of control and I almost gave up on this book because of her choices.
I think with a little less in extraneous descriptions and a little more with respect to reactions and true experiences within Dani's head would have made this book a bit easier to digest. Too many lapses in time together with other characters left me feeling a bit bereft. And the secondary characters were wonderful and worthy of a bit more storyline. The title is truly apropos, however, since Dani truly can't tell us the whys of her decisions until the story comes to a close.
In the end, I will not hesitate to read more from this author in the future and give I Can't Tell You Why 3 stars.
I felt as if Dani's decisions were her own and in the end, she came to the hard conclusions that were painful but honest as to why she continues to sabotage any real relationships she has with the men in her life. But right along with her besties Billy and Amanda, I wanted to throttle her more than once as she spiraled out of control and I almost gave up on this book because of her choices.
I think with a little less in extraneous descriptions and a little more with respect to reactions and true experiences within Dani's head would have made this book a bit easier to digest. Too many lapses in time together with other characters left me feeling a bit bereft. And the secondary characters were wonderful and worthy of a bit more storyline. The title is truly apropos, however, since Dani truly can't tell us the whys of her decisions until the story comes to a close.
In the end, I will not hesitate to read more from this author in the future and give I Can't Tell You Why 3 stars.
July 24, 2019
Love triangles are like Kryptonite to me...I know I should avoid them to avoid breaking my heart, but in this case, I'm weak-willed… Therefore, I didn't hesitate to read I Can't Tell You Why, the début novel by Elaine Robertson North.
It defies logic why a successful talent agent embarks on an affair with her married with children client, Alex Cambridge. Yet, it's just what Dani does. On getting to know the respected paparazzi photographer Sean Mc Donald on a more personal level, Dani still can't break free from Alex. It's a complicated web of deceit and lies...
This is a story which began slowly but quickly gained momentum. The unfolding of the main plot-line is realistic and relatable as secondary characters voice their opinions about their friend's reckless behaviour. It's an example of what can happen when circumstances spiral uncontrollably and how the fallout impacts those involved. The scenario involves three players but the net is wide to include those affected by their actions.
What's lacking in this narrative is emotion. I wanted to feel what Dani, Alex and Sean Mc were going through but didn't. Yet, the author still managed to pull me into their story, allowing me to connect with the characters based on what we are told. It's enticing, fuelling my enthusiasm to keep turning the pages.
Overall, the author has written an unputdownable novel. I love the unexpected and appreciated the twist. Of course, I could say more, but I'm not going to-ha! Let's say, the ending isn't how I imagined it to be...and I'm more than okay with that.
3.5 stars
***Review copy received courtesy of the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources***
It defies logic why a successful talent agent embarks on an affair with her married with children client, Alex Cambridge. Yet, it's just what Dani does. On getting to know the respected paparazzi photographer Sean Mc Donald on a more personal level, Dani still can't break free from Alex. It's a complicated web of deceit and lies...
This is a story which began slowly but quickly gained momentum. The unfolding of the main plot-line is realistic and relatable as secondary characters voice their opinions about their friend's reckless behaviour. It's an example of what can happen when circumstances spiral uncontrollably and how the fallout impacts those involved. The scenario involves three players but the net is wide to include those affected by their actions.
What's lacking in this narrative is emotion. I wanted to feel what Dani, Alex and Sean Mc were going through but didn't. Yet, the author still managed to pull me into their story, allowing me to connect with the characters based on what we are told. It's enticing, fuelling my enthusiasm to keep turning the pages.
Overall, the author has written an unputdownable novel. I love the unexpected and appreciated the twist. Of course, I could say more, but I'm not going to-ha! Let's say, the ending isn't how I imagined it to be...and I'm more than okay with that.
3.5 stars
***Review copy received courtesy of the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources***
January 16, 2019
While I enjoyed the story here, I have to admit this novel is not my favorite. This novel is very lengthy, which is not what I personally look for when I’m thinking about a romance novel. I also have to admit that none of the characters seemed truly likable, or at least, we never got to know them well enough to understand their actions and emotions.
The story I enjoyed tells of a love triangle between Dani, an entertainment agent; Alex, one of Dani’s clients; and Sean, a paparazzi photographer. Each romance seems dreamy and North pulls on the emotions well. However, we never really seem to get to know Dani enough to understand her relationship with each man, or what makes it difficult to choose between them. The lack of depth was added to by numerous supporting characters, so many in number I found it hard to keep track of their identities.
For a debut novel, I have to give it to Elaine Robertson North. She created a touching story and got it published, and with some refinement of her writing style and characters, I know her next novel will be amazing.
The story I enjoyed tells of a love triangle between Dani, an entertainment agent; Alex, one of Dani’s clients; and Sean, a paparazzi photographer. Each romance seems dreamy and North pulls on the emotions well. However, we never really seem to get to know Dani enough to understand her relationship with each man, or what makes it difficult to choose between them. The lack of depth was added to by numerous supporting characters, so many in number I found it hard to keep track of their identities.
For a debut novel, I have to give it to Elaine Robertson North. She created a touching story and got it published, and with some refinement of her writing style and characters, I know her next novel will be amazing.
March 3, 2019
Every now and again I put myself through the emotional wringer and read a love triangle story. Love triangles for me are always filled with angst, drawing out feelings and emotions that are sometimes difficult to experience.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy the storyline, I felt it seriously lacked any sort of substance. The characters were unlikeable for me, and I felt no connection to them at all, they seemed bland and boring..
This was a debut romance for Elaine Robertson North, and although I didn't enjoy the story I can't deny it was well written, hence the 2 stars.
I would be interested in giving another go at reading a story by Robertson North but this book just didn't do it for me!
**Copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy the storyline, I felt it seriously lacked any sort of substance. The characters were unlikeable for me, and I felt no connection to them at all, they seemed bland and boring..
This was a debut romance for Elaine Robertson North, and although I didn't enjoy the story I can't deny it was well written, hence the 2 stars.
I would be interested in giving another go at reading a story by Robertson North but this book just didn't do it for me!
**Copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
January 17, 2019
Love love loved it. Easy to read; straight in and to the deep end - my favourite kind of novel.
The main character Dani lives in a professional world that I'm familiar with and it was like my new best friend at work sharing their life with me. With a generous sprinkling of unexpected twists and turns, I literally couldn't put it down.
Did Dani make the right choice in the end? I do hope so. I felt such a closeness to her that I still find myself wondering about how she is getting on in her fictional world!
This fast paced novel would make the perfect partner to any summer holiday - five stars with a cherry on top.
The main character Dani lives in a professional world that I'm familiar with and it was like my new best friend at work sharing their life with me. With a generous sprinkling of unexpected twists and turns, I literally couldn't put it down.
Did Dani make the right choice in the end? I do hope so. I felt such a closeness to her that I still find myself wondering about how she is getting on in her fictional world!
This fast paced novel would make the perfect partner to any summer holiday - five stars with a cherry on top.
July 25, 2019
3.5/5 rounded up to a 4
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Dani is a smart, successful, independent woman. Despite her qualities Dani isn't without deep rooted issues. She ends up having an affair with her client, Alex, who is also a married man. We watch as Dani figures out how to handle her affair after beginning a relationship with Sean, a paparazzi photographer who would love nothing more than to bust Alex and whoever he has been messing around with.
I Can't Tell You Why is told through the perspective of an all seeing narrator. What I did like about this perspective is that we were able to see things from an objective perspective. What I didn't like was that we never got to get an in depth perspective on what the main characters were thinking and feeling throughout the story line.
I found the writing to be good, however, the author uses cliche phrases throughout the story. I didn't enjoy them and I thought they put a damper on the tone. For example:
“Billy sighed as he watched him go, knowing as he turned his back on the frying pan that he had no choice but to head for the fire.”
I found at the time when this was said it was a serious and sad moment for the character and this just kind of ruined it for me. I found it went from dramatic to a little bit cheesy. There are a few others throughout the book but this one annoyed me the most.
I really didn't like Dani. I found myself wanting to shake her and just yell at her to stop causing her own problems. To me Dani was a very selfish person who I couldn't relate to. There was something in particular that happened in the book and I felt like she brought it on herself, actually everything that happened to her from the time period to where the book started to where it ended was her own fault.
I hated the cheating and I really didn't like Dani but I did enjoy this book. There was something about it that made me feel content to just read it. It wasn't an “OMG I couldn't put it down!” read, and it did take a little longer to get through than I would of liked but it was definitely something I enjoyed. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a mindless read who isn't turned off by the cheating troupe.
You can find all my reviews and info about how to enter a giveaway for this book on my blog:
https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/...
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Dani is a smart, successful, independent woman. Despite her qualities Dani isn't without deep rooted issues. She ends up having an affair with her client, Alex, who is also a married man. We watch as Dani figures out how to handle her affair after beginning a relationship with Sean, a paparazzi photographer who would love nothing more than to bust Alex and whoever he has been messing around with.
I Can't Tell You Why is told through the perspective of an all seeing narrator. What I did like about this perspective is that we were able to see things from an objective perspective. What I didn't like was that we never got to get an in depth perspective on what the main characters were thinking and feeling throughout the story line.
I found the writing to be good, however, the author uses cliche phrases throughout the story. I didn't enjoy them and I thought they put a damper on the tone. For example:
“Billy sighed as he watched him go, knowing as he turned his back on the frying pan that he had no choice but to head for the fire.”
I found at the time when this was said it was a serious and sad moment for the character and this just kind of ruined it for me. I found it went from dramatic to a little bit cheesy. There are a few others throughout the book but this one annoyed me the most.
I really didn't like Dani. I found myself wanting to shake her and just yell at her to stop causing her own problems. To me Dani was a very selfish person who I couldn't relate to. There was something in particular that happened in the book and I felt like she brought it on herself, actually everything that happened to her from the time period to where the book started to where it ended was her own fault.
I hated the cheating and I really didn't like Dani but I did enjoy this book. There was something about it that made me feel content to just read it. It wasn't an “OMG I couldn't put it down!” read, and it did take a little longer to get through than I would of liked but it was definitely something I enjoyed. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a mindless read who isn't turned off by the cheating troupe.
You can find all my reviews and info about how to enter a giveaway for this book on my blog:
https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/...
July 30, 2019
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
There is a camera lens present within each primary character, an interesting perspective for I Can’t Tell You Why. A scene between individuals showcases what each person is really thinking, and while this vantage point might sound a bit confusing, it wasn’t, and it added depth to not only the primary characters, but to the scene.
The depth, we discover, isn’t always pretty. Given what the reader finds out about Dani’s past, it’s hard to fathom she’d have an affair with Alex. Yet, we learn through her experiences that we’re often our own worst enemies when it comes to the right and wrongs in this world. I appreciated the vulnerability and honesty reflected in Dani’s decisions, up for judgement and not considered ideal. I could really feel the agony in wanting to break free, yet not being able to. It also helped that given all outside appearances, she has it together. She’s successful, she appears to be a born leader, but in her dealings with Alex, she is anything but. A huge contrast that only added to the secrets and lies.
Her relationship with Sean is also an interesting conundrum, and I never knew for sure if this was someone she genuinely wanted to pursue, or if he was a much-needed distraction from the chaos. It really could have gone either way, a flip-flop of emotions that delved into realistic territory for many of us who have conflicted feelings about someone we are in a relationship with, but aren’t entirely sure what that means. She finds herself in, as described in the synopsis, a “love triangle from hell”, but I felt it was more than that. At some point, she has to make a solid decision that could potentially change the course of her future. But what’s the right decision?
Told with a simplistic perspective that doesn’t oversimplify, I Can’t Tell You Why made sense, in showing the inner workings of someone who is struggling with poor choices that, at the time and in the moment, feel right. While there were sections that felt a little slow at times, there were plenty of scenes that were engaging and picked up quickly, leaving me feeling just as breathless as Dani did, while she’s trying to get through her sticky situation.
There is a camera lens present within each primary character, an interesting perspective for I Can’t Tell You Why. A scene between individuals showcases what each person is really thinking, and while this vantage point might sound a bit confusing, it wasn’t, and it added depth to not only the primary characters, but to the scene.
The depth, we discover, isn’t always pretty. Given what the reader finds out about Dani’s past, it’s hard to fathom she’d have an affair with Alex. Yet, we learn through her experiences that we’re often our own worst enemies when it comes to the right and wrongs in this world. I appreciated the vulnerability and honesty reflected in Dani’s decisions, up for judgement and not considered ideal. I could really feel the agony in wanting to break free, yet not being able to. It also helped that given all outside appearances, she has it together. She’s successful, she appears to be a born leader, but in her dealings with Alex, she is anything but. A huge contrast that only added to the secrets and lies.
Her relationship with Sean is also an interesting conundrum, and I never knew for sure if this was someone she genuinely wanted to pursue, or if he was a much-needed distraction from the chaos. It really could have gone either way, a flip-flop of emotions that delved into realistic territory for many of us who have conflicted feelings about someone we are in a relationship with, but aren’t entirely sure what that means. She finds herself in, as described in the synopsis, a “love triangle from hell”, but I felt it was more than that. At some point, she has to make a solid decision that could potentially change the course of her future. But what’s the right decision?
Told with a simplistic perspective that doesn’t oversimplify, I Can’t Tell You Why made sense, in showing the inner workings of someone who is struggling with poor choices that, at the time and in the moment, feel right. While there were sections that felt a little slow at times, there were plenty of scenes that were engaging and picked up quickly, leaving me feeling just as breathless as Dani did, while she’s trying to get through her sticky situation.
January 28, 2019
I Can't Tell You Why by Elaine Robertson North is a debut romance novel about bad decisions in romance. Unfortunately, this book was not an easy read and felt tiresome to get through. The writing seemed bland, so did the storyline. Characters were boring and uninteresting, with nothing particularly unique about them at all.
Dani, an agent, is trapped in a hellish love triangle with her married client Alex and paparazzi photographer Sean. Both are completely off-limits, for various reasons - which begs the question, what should Dani do?
These two sentences comprise all 234 pages.
I thought the whole "off-limits" factor about these two love interests might make the story sizzle. I think this idea could have been used to make the story a bit hotter in that "wanting what you can't have" sort of way, but unfortunately, it wasn't used as well it could have been. When it came to Alex, nothing really felt "off-limits" at all. The story picks off by Alex propositioning Dani, and there's nothing remotely romantic or sexy about it, and Dani just flatly refuses. It was written so plainly it didn't make me feel interested in Alex at all. Sean was described sweetly, though, but, just as with Alex, sparks failed to fly here too.
The storyline felt tiresomely cliche and I will admit I was disappointed by what could have been a promising read. I Can't Tell You Why was still enjoyable, but fails to fulfil its suggested potential. I look forward to following the author's journey, as this story was a debut novel and showed promise.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.
Dani, an agent, is trapped in a hellish love triangle with her married client Alex and paparazzi photographer Sean. Both are completely off-limits, for various reasons - which begs the question, what should Dani do?
These two sentences comprise all 234 pages.
I thought the whole "off-limits" factor about these two love interests might make the story sizzle. I think this idea could have been used to make the story a bit hotter in that "wanting what you can't have" sort of way, but unfortunately, it wasn't used as well it could have been. When it came to Alex, nothing really felt "off-limits" at all. The story picks off by Alex propositioning Dani, and there's nothing remotely romantic or sexy about it, and Dani just flatly refuses. It was written so plainly it didn't make me feel interested in Alex at all. Sean was described sweetly, though, but, just as with Alex, sparks failed to fly here too.
The storyline felt tiresomely cliche and I will admit I was disappointed by what could have been a promising read. I Can't Tell You Why was still enjoyable, but fails to fulfil its suggested potential. I look forward to following the author's journey, as this story was a debut novel and showed promise.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.
July 23, 2019
I Can’t Tell You Why definitely held my attention through the entire book. I haven’t read a love triangle in a while, and I know they are pretty polarizing with the reading community. I myself do not mind them, as I think it’s possible to develop a lust for more than one person and have trouble unwrapping what your feelings mean. Elaine Robertson North’s writing is very descriptive and she handles this love triangle well.
I really wish I had gotten to know Dani a bit more. I think in certain places, she lacked some depth, but she was still an engaging character that I cared about. There was interesting desperation that I could feel coming from her and her difficulty in wanting to hang on to both Sean and Alex.
I love the idea of I Can’t Tell You Why, and that theme is very present in Dani’s world. While she makes these decisions, she really can’t tell us why. I find that fascinating and actually really realistic. Sometimes, we can’t really give a reason for our feelings. It’s just a gut instinct that doesn’t always have a reason.
I’m looking forward to reading more from Elaine Robertson North. I recommend checking this one out! It’s a unique look at how sometimes we really just can’t vocalize why we decide what we decide.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resouces. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/
I really wish I had gotten to know Dani a bit more. I think in certain places, she lacked some depth, but she was still an engaging character that I cared about. There was interesting desperation that I could feel coming from her and her difficulty in wanting to hang on to both Sean and Alex.
I love the idea of I Can’t Tell You Why, and that theme is very present in Dani’s world. While she makes these decisions, she really can’t tell us why. I find that fascinating and actually really realistic. Sometimes, we can’t really give a reason for our feelings. It’s just a gut instinct that doesn’t always have a reason.
I’m looking forward to reading more from Elaine Robertson North. I recommend checking this one out! It’s a unique look at how sometimes we really just can’t vocalize why we decide what we decide.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resouces. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/
August 1, 2019
I Can’t Tell You Why is the debut contemporary romance novel by Elaine Robertson North that tells the story about Dani a talent agent and her romantic love triangle.
Dani finds herself having an affair with one of her married clients, Alex and at the same time starts a relationship with a paparazzi photographer Sean.
This book can be difficult for readers who have a problem with infidelity, but is very relatable to women who are struggling with relationship problems. As it states in the title, Dani just can’t tell you why she just doesn’t seem to make good relationship choices and continues to sabotage the ones she’s in.
Depending on your perspective, and your own past experiences, you could either love or hate Dani, and I can see both views. There are times you just want to grab and shake her and ask her what she’s doing, and others you just want to give her some good advice and help her out.
The authors writing was decent, I did find some of the time lapses in the story a bit confusing, but overall its a good start for a debut novel. For a contemporary romance I would have liked to have gotten a little more “feeling” from the characters, but given the title, I guess they just didn’t know how they felt. Sometimes that happens in life. I’m anxious to see what Ms. North comes up with next. I have to give her a good 3 1/2 stars for this start to her writing career.
Dani finds herself having an affair with one of her married clients, Alex and at the same time starts a relationship with a paparazzi photographer Sean.
This book can be difficult for readers who have a problem with infidelity, but is very relatable to women who are struggling with relationship problems. As it states in the title, Dani just can’t tell you why she just doesn’t seem to make good relationship choices and continues to sabotage the ones she’s in.
Depending on your perspective, and your own past experiences, you could either love or hate Dani, and I can see both views. There are times you just want to grab and shake her and ask her what she’s doing, and others you just want to give her some good advice and help her out.
The authors writing was decent, I did find some of the time lapses in the story a bit confusing, but overall its a good start for a debut novel. For a contemporary romance I would have liked to have gotten a little more “feeling” from the characters, but given the title, I guess they just didn’t know how they felt. Sometimes that happens in life. I’m anxious to see what Ms. North comes up with next. I have to give her a good 3 1/2 stars for this start to her writing career.
February 12, 2019
I've received this book as an ARC, free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. Some information about the book may change at any giving time.
DNF
I’ve been pushing this book for the past month and a half to read and I am still confused on DNF or just keep on reading. I wanted to love this book so much and I feel like there is a lot of potential with the characters but for me I couldn’t grab the idea of the story, jumping from an event to another out of the blue. We were on the road to learning more about Dani but nope the author decided to change completely the train of thought by changing the point of view or the day completely. I loved to learn more about the agency world but there might have been just a tad too much information, explaining all her different actors BORING!
Overall I might pick up this book in the future because I really do want to know how this love triangle will end, but can we just say that with 30% of the book read only do we know that it is not technically a full on love triangle yet……..
DNF
I’ve been pushing this book for the past month and a half to read and I am still confused on DNF or just keep on reading. I wanted to love this book so much and I feel like there is a lot of potential with the characters but for me I couldn’t grab the idea of the story, jumping from an event to another out of the blue. We were on the road to learning more about Dani but nope the author decided to change completely the train of thought by changing the point of view or the day completely. I loved to learn more about the agency world but there might have been just a tad too much information, explaining all her different actors BORING!
Overall I might pick up this book in the future because I really do want to know how this love triangle will end, but can we just say that with 30% of the book read only do we know that it is not technically a full on love triangle yet……..
July 29, 2019
Thank you to the author and Rachel's Random Resources for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Now this is a book that I did take a little while getting into but I am glad I persevered through, I'm not sure why it took me a bit to get into as I did enjoy the writing and was most definitely hooked by the story and the premise of the love triangle, I think perhaps there was just a lot going on to digest.
This was definitely a novel with a lot of bad decisions going on by characters and I have to say although I was rooting for Dani I wasn't sure how I actually wanted her story to end, this is a fast-paced novel with a lot going on but it makes for a fun and interesting read.
Rating: 4/5
Would I read again: Yes
Would I Recommend: Yes
Would I read another book from this author: Yes
Now this is a book that I did take a little while getting into but I am glad I persevered through, I'm not sure why it took me a bit to get into as I did enjoy the writing and was most definitely hooked by the story and the premise of the love triangle, I think perhaps there was just a lot going on to digest.
This was definitely a novel with a lot of bad decisions going on by characters and I have to say although I was rooting for Dani I wasn't sure how I actually wanted her story to end, this is a fast-paced novel with a lot going on but it makes for a fun and interesting read.
Rating: 4/5
Would I read again: Yes
Would I Recommend: Yes
Would I read another book from this author: Yes
January 16, 2019
I absolutely loved this book - couldn't put it down! A friend recommended it as I said I was looking for a fun read, but with more depth than the usual fare. This was the perfect choice! Great story, really draws you in, you just want to keep on reading. Interesting and engaging characters, their lives and dilemmas are complex and honest, and therefore very believable. And the story is hugely enjoyable, but without being 'fluffy' - there is some real gravitas here too. Credible escapism at its best! Really hope Elaine Robertson North writes another soon.
January 16, 2019
I've just finished reading this book and I loved it. I was hooked from the very beginning and it was a struggle to put it down, so desperate was I to know how the story would play out. It’s well-written, the characters are wonderfully flawed and therefore believable, and the setting provides lots of additional drama and pace. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.
January 24, 2019
The story plot was great. But unfortunately, many times I had to reread paragraphs because there was a switch in characters within the same paragraph. I feel like many times the characters were all over the place. Many times it was hard to keep up with point in time the book was in. I was disappointed about the end but the story can't go on forever.
July 30, 2019
"I Can't Tell You Why" tells the story of a woman questioning the decisions she has made in her love life. Recommended for fans of contemporary romance that doesn't always go to plan - it's 4 stars from me.
My full review is on my blog here: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
My full review is on my blog here: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
August 29, 2019
Mistakes can be life changing and the choices that are made can last a lifetime. When the characters meet under odd circumstances the plot begins to thicken and the sparks begin to fly. The reader will follow the characters in their trek through infidelity, unpredictablility, and the process of unweaving errors of the heart.
January 27, 2019
3.5 stars
Not a bad read at all. Held my attention. Overall ok read.
Not a bad read at all. Held my attention. Overall ok read.
July 28, 2019
First thing you need to know, is that the book goes very fast.
It took me a while to realise this fact, but if you know this from the start, the book will make more sense.
Even if you think only a small lapse of time has passed, in truth a couple of months have passed.
So if you think that everything is going way too fast, it’s not.
This story had me really thinking, how you sometimes cannot just explain your own actions. You do something wrong, and you know it is, but you just cannot stop yourself.
This is what happening with Dani. She’s the agent of happily married Alex and somehow she finds herself having an affair with him.
And then she starts a relationship with Sean, a paparazzi.
You already know that one of the relationships is going to be doomed. But is it the affair, being discovered by Sean? Or is Sean going to be dumped, as Alex is the right man for Dani?
This isn’t a typical love story where all is forgotten and forgiven. Dani needs to learn to live with the consequences of her choices and has to do some deep digging in her past.
And who will be prepared to forgive her for her badly made choices? And will she get her life back together or not?
The life of an agent isn’t an easy one, as work is always the first priority. And love messes up the perfect balance Dani had.
So in some kind of way, it’s a sad story, but there is always a silver lining in the places you least expect it.
It took me a while to realise this fact, but if you know this from the start, the book will make more sense.
Even if you think only a small lapse of time has passed, in truth a couple of months have passed.
So if you think that everything is going way too fast, it’s not.
This story had me really thinking, how you sometimes cannot just explain your own actions. You do something wrong, and you know it is, but you just cannot stop yourself.
This is what happening with Dani. She’s the agent of happily married Alex and somehow she finds herself having an affair with him.
And then she starts a relationship with Sean, a paparazzi.
You already know that one of the relationships is going to be doomed. But is it the affair, being discovered by Sean? Or is Sean going to be dumped, as Alex is the right man for Dani?
This isn’t a typical love story where all is forgotten and forgiven. Dani needs to learn to live with the consequences of her choices and has to do some deep digging in her past.
And who will be prepared to forgive her for her badly made choices? And will she get her life back together or not?
The life of an agent isn’t an easy one, as work is always the first priority. And love messes up the perfect balance Dani had.
So in some kind of way, it’s a sad story, but there is always a silver lining in the places you least expect it.
January 26, 2019
Dani is an agent and works with actors promoting them and keeping them looking good in the spotlight. Alex is one of her clients, and he's "happily" married. So he says.
One evening, Alex proposes that he and Dani have an affair. She totally shuts him down. But he's persistent, and he initiates things by kissing her, and thus their affair begins.
I had a hard time with the Dani/Alex romance because of how swiftly she shut him down in the beginning, and for a while, to me, it really didn't feel like she had any interest or connection with him besides sex.
And when I sat back and thought about it, it really was Alex pursuing her and initiating almost every time.
I thought the Sean relationship moved fairly fast, and then I kept hoping that things would work out between them. But it was hard to watch Dani fall back into Alex's arms time and again during her relationship with Sean.
There were parts of the story that felt slow to me. But there were also some twists I didn't see coming and I always love when there's a good twist in a story. In this case, there were a couple twists that had me surprised.
I keep trying to think of a way to discuss the ending without giving away spoilers, and I'm struggling. I'll just say, I thought I'd be unhappy with it but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
Overall, this was a good read!
One evening, Alex proposes that he and Dani have an affair. She totally shuts him down. But he's persistent, and he initiates things by kissing her, and thus their affair begins.
I had a hard time with the Dani/Alex romance because of how swiftly she shut him down in the beginning, and for a while, to me, it really didn't feel like she had any interest or connection with him besides sex.
And when I sat back and thought about it, it really was Alex pursuing her and initiating almost every time.
I thought the Sean relationship moved fairly fast, and then I kept hoping that things would work out between them. But it was hard to watch Dani fall back into Alex's arms time and again during her relationship with Sean.
There were parts of the story that felt slow to me. But there were also some twists I didn't see coming and I always love when there's a good twist in a story. In this case, there were a couple twists that had me surprised.
I keep trying to think of a way to discuss the ending without giving away spoilers, and I'm struggling. I'll just say, I thought I'd be unhappy with it but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
Overall, this was a good read!
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