But I Love You Anyway

by Sara Lewis

Two sisters confront love, marriage, and a failing business in this “charming and deceptively breezy second novel” (Publishers Weekly) that “deftly explores big issues like loyalty, trust, sorrow, and disappointment in sure, bright, effervescent prose” (New York Times Book Review).

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

Sara Lewis is the author of five novels, "The Best of Good", "Second Draft of My Life", "The Answer Is Yes", "But I Love You Anyway", and "Heart Conditions", as well as the collection "Trying to Smile and Other Stories". Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, McCall's, Redbook, Mademoiselle, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping" and other magazines as well as on National Public Radio. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Beth Melo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of it. But I had trouble connecting with the main character. Her choices and emotional reactions would twist so unexpectedly. I don't mind surprises. Here they just didn't feel real.

[Allison Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had Sara Lewis’s books for about ten years now, keeping them because they are like a comfort blanket. I remember the stories as being cozy and easy to read and get sucked into. I recently decided to re-read them because I needed that reading experience in my life right now. I still really enjoyed the worlds she created, and even though her writing isn’t beautiful, the stories she tells are so satisfying.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this about 15 or 20 years ago, I think, and then couldn't remember the name of the book, just the plot. The What's the Name of that Book? group on here was helpful in locating it.

SPOILERS AHEAD


That said, I liked it a lot better years ago. I admit to being a bit of a book snob since I was in an MFA program in the mid-20teens.

However, I thought the end was incredibly stupid. First, the botched wedding--these people are literally at the altar and they figure out they don't want to get married?? I mean, does this kind of thing actually happen in real life?

Second, the narrator knows her BF stole from her but she's going to move to another country because she doesn't want to be without him? What about her kids? I'm sure her ex had something to say about it, but we'll never know because the author chose to end the book there.

Oy vey...

[Anika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sara Lewis's novel THE ANSWER IS YES is one of my favorites. It not only is a fun story, it's outrageously optimistic and I read it whenever I'm feeling down. This novel was okay, but nothing compared to YES. This one has a similarly lost main character and the story resolves in a similar way, but without the charm.

[Tracy Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was light easy reading but there were many sad and serious notes hidden in all the lightness. I am a lover of music just as the sisters Mimi and Eve are in this book. I could identify with them so much and with their quirky little family. It was truly a pleasure to read this book.

[Sara Truog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always have a good time reading Sara Lewis's books. Are they going to change my life? No. But they're still fun. This one is about Eve, a widow with two kids who runs a Mailboxes Etc.-type store and whose sister marries a guy that Eve just isn't sure about. Mid-life romance, family drama, mystery... it's all there. She's written another one that I like called The Answer Is Yes.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly I enjoyed it but I felt like some of the more boring day-to-day stuff the protagonist experienced could have been left out. Also I wasn't sure who I was meant to be rooting for out of Henry and the ex-husband.

[Beverlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute easy to read book about two sisters and their relationship and the men in their lives. Predictable for the most part but a good Saturday afternoon read.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite books of 1996...

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. Kind of a feel-good novel. Written in first first, the author is talented in communicating emotions and back-story.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dad's a thief.
Sister marries a maybe-thief.
Protag's boyfriend steal from her.
And...
SPOILER ALERT!!!
...she ends up with him.

[K M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn - not my cup of tea.

[Barb McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the writing, and the characters. Didn't like the ending at all.