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The Marriage Break
Absence makes the heart grow fonder…doesn’t it? What happens when two people decide to give themselves the year off…from each other? Annie and Dan were the perfect couple. But now the not-so-newly weds feel more like flatmates than soul mates and wonder where all the fun and fireworks went … When Annie lands her big break in a smash-hit show that’s heading for the bright lights of Broadway, she’s over the moon. Goodbye remote Irish village of Stickens, hello fabulous Big Apple! But with their relationship already on the rocks, how will Annie and Dan survive the distance? They’re hitting the pause button on their marriage. One year off from each other – no strings attached, except a date to meet in twelve months at the Rockefeller Centre to decide their fate. Will they both turn up? Or is it too late for love? Lose yourself in a fabulously entertaining and poignant love story – perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2011
62 people are currently reading
2143 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Carroll
42 books454 followersClaudia was born in Dublin and is a graduate of UCD, the College of Music and of the Gaiety School of Acting. Since then she has worked extensively as an actress on the Irish stage, but is probably best known for her role as TV’s Nicola Prendergast in the long running Dublin soap opera, ‘Fair City.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
December 20, 2012
"It bubbles and sparkles like pink champagne' -Patricia Scanlan
That caption screams in front of the novel cover. Yes, yes I agree! Yes! It is bubbling, it is sparkling.
I find this book satisfying on many level. On friendship, love, rediscovering love, family and drama. I cried. I keep wishing the heroine had lady luck smiling on her.
This, was my first read by the marvelous Irish author (yes, my first Irish author, oh where have I been?), Claudia Carroll. Even though the book is categorised under chick lit, instead veering towards Sophie Kinsella's light and fun writing, this book actually had more in depth and toward heavy plot - even though it was an enjoyable ride. With Sophie Kinsella's books, you will feel girlish and childish - but with this book, you will feel all womanly and elegant. So my question is, which version would you choose? I decided to be elegant.
Just a simple question, if you love your spouse, would you let them go? In this book, the answer is yes. Annie, our heroine, was stuck in a routine that spells boring, but she is married to the most wonderful biggest heart man veterinarian named Dan. Her marriage should feel wonderful, Dan is her first love at the age of 15, and everyone says they are perfect together.
But routine and more routine makes Annie wants to escape her life. And oh well, my oh my, Annie lands a big part in Broadway, thus she tells Dan she wants to have her big break, and Dan let her go - for one year, in New York. And 3,000 miles separates the husband and the wife, with Dan in Ireland (sweet, beautiful Ireland) and Annie in New York (hustle and bustle race rat city).
I love that Annie is cast in a Broadway production entitled Wedding Belles. And that is where she bonds with her casts, which consist of Liz, Blythe, Chris and Alex. Oh, the joy of women friendship! They have their ups and downs all the time. Liz, as long as Annie knows her, is her best friend and landing parts in the same production is like a dream come true for them!
And now we have all the drama back at tiny Waterford village of Stickens in Ireland, and we have the drama in New York City. The very worst mother in law, the very worst father, the very worst friend cum neighbour - and this contribute to the first part where Annie feels her marriage is going to break up at any moment.
But, the real question is, will long distance relationship between Dan and Annie works? I keep hanging on every page, praying hard for Dan to come and snatch Annie from Jack Gordon, the theatre director, who has been flirting and asks Annie on a date (even though he knows Annie is married). And I keep praying that Dan does not have any relationship with that 'Countess bleeding Dracula' - just because both the hero and heroine are such a nice and wonderful characters that I have known for such a long time. Plus the other strings of supporting characters, Annie's diplomatic mother, Jules (Dan's sister) and her friends from Wedding Belle.
That is the strong point of this novel. It has a well executed plot and wonderful characters.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.. doesn't it?
So of course, I feel like I want to jump with joy, when Dan finally, finally claims Annie (I was sobbing non stop for that part) - because I want their marriage to work so much.
And it did touch the deepest part of me, just because, I had such a wonderful husband. And rediscovering love for the second time after finding your first love is nothing short of miracle.
I am in a happy mood for a long time after I finished reading this book. I was smiling non stop.
That caption screams in front of the novel cover. Yes, yes I agree! Yes! It is bubbling, it is sparkling.
I find this book satisfying on many level. On friendship, love, rediscovering love, family and drama. I cried. I keep wishing the heroine had lady luck smiling on her.
This, was my first read by the marvelous Irish author (yes, my first Irish author, oh where have I been?), Claudia Carroll. Even though the book is categorised under chick lit, instead veering towards Sophie Kinsella's light and fun writing, this book actually had more in depth and toward heavy plot - even though it was an enjoyable ride. With Sophie Kinsella's books, you will feel girlish and childish - but with this book, you will feel all womanly and elegant. So my question is, which version would you choose? I decided to be elegant.
Just a simple question, if you love your spouse, would you let them go? In this book, the answer is yes. Annie, our heroine, was stuck in a routine that spells boring, but she is married to the most wonderful biggest heart man veterinarian named Dan. Her marriage should feel wonderful, Dan is her first love at the age of 15, and everyone says they are perfect together.
But routine and more routine makes Annie wants to escape her life. And oh well, my oh my, Annie lands a big part in Broadway, thus she tells Dan she wants to have her big break, and Dan let her go - for one year, in New York. And 3,000 miles separates the husband and the wife, with Dan in Ireland (sweet, beautiful Ireland) and Annie in New York (hustle and bustle race rat city).
I love that Annie is cast in a Broadway production entitled Wedding Belles. And that is where she bonds with her casts, which consist of Liz, Blythe, Chris and Alex. Oh, the joy of women friendship! They have their ups and downs all the time. Liz, as long as Annie knows her, is her best friend and landing parts in the same production is like a dream come true for them!
And now we have all the drama back at tiny Waterford village of Stickens in Ireland, and we have the drama in New York City. The very worst mother in law, the very worst father, the very worst friend cum neighbour - and this contribute to the first part where Annie feels her marriage is going to break up at any moment.
But, the real question is, will long distance relationship between Dan and Annie works? I keep hanging on every page, praying hard for Dan to come and snatch Annie from Jack Gordon, the theatre director, who has been flirting and asks Annie on a date (even though he knows Annie is married). And I keep praying that Dan does not have any relationship with that 'Countess bleeding Dracula' - just because both the hero and heroine are such a nice and wonderful characters that I have known for such a long time. Plus the other strings of supporting characters, Annie's diplomatic mother, Jules (Dan's sister) and her friends from Wedding Belle.
That is the strong point of this novel. It has a well executed plot and wonderful characters.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.. doesn't it?
So of course, I feel like I want to jump with joy, when Dan finally, finally claims Annie (I was sobbing non stop for that part) - because I want their marriage to work so much.
And it did touch the deepest part of me, just because, I had such a wonderful husband. And rediscovering love for the second time after finding your first love is nothing short of miracle.
I am in a happy mood for a long time after I finished reading this book. I was smiling non stop.
November 4, 2019
Annie and Dan everyone thinks they are the perfect couple right from childhood, apart from the cracks are starting to show.
Annie gets a role in no other than Broadway. I love the descriptions of New York that take over this book. I can't wait to visit the city. The storyline is easy to follow and enjoyable.
The character of Annie grows on me, in the first half she crates on me towards the middle and end I'm starting to connect with her. Dan is portrayed as the better half of the couple but I don't find him to be that way, he's asked for much of what has happened to him.
It's a story with happy ever afters thrown in with drug addiction and rehab. The story was enjoyable in an amazing setting but the characters were not the most likeable I have read.
3.5 Stars (A favourite of mine)
Annie gets a role in no other than Broadway. I love the descriptions of New York that take over this book. I can't wait to visit the city. The storyline is easy to follow and enjoyable.
The character of Annie grows on me, in the first half she crates on me towards the middle and end I'm starting to connect with her. Dan is portrayed as the better half of the couple but I don't find him to be that way, he's asked for much of what has happened to him.
It's a story with happy ever afters thrown in with drug addiction and rehab. The story was enjoyable in an amazing setting but the characters were not the most likeable I have read.
3.5 Stars (A favourite of mine)
December 8, 2011
I have read "Personally I blame my fairy godmother" as the first Carroll's book and I liked it very, very much. This is why I decided to buy "Will you still love me tomorrow?", hoping I will like it at least the same.
Unfortunately not. Firstly, the characters. Annie: because her name is Annie and it doesn't suit at her at all in some way. I hated her naivity, her letting all around to command her, and this that she couldn't stand for herself, that she didn't say a single word about how she feels and what she wants and she let other people to abuse her. She was an adult, for God's sake, just moaning in her head won't bring any change. Then Dan: perhaps he was super handsome and super responsible but if my husband dissapoints me at every step, if he just promises and doesn't keep his word, if he puts all other things, work and people before me then I finally say something. The other people in "Stickens" but Jules were just so, so unfriendly and unsympathic, I didn't have any warm feelings for them. The same with Liz - oh God, I don't remember when I hated a person in the book so much, actually perhaps not hated but a person who I didn't care at all, I was not interested in her problems, didn't keep my fingers cross for her and for me she was not necessary in this book.
Anyroadup... exactly!!!! I am a really easy person, but when every few words I see "anyroadups" than I want to bite. I don't even know what "anyroadups" mean, perhaps something like anyway? Than why not to write just anyway?????
This book was long, like a chewing gum, there was really nothing happening, there was no tension and to be totally honest, I was not at all interested what's going to happen at the end. In the last part of this book I have skipped a lot of writing, it was just so, so boring, just a lot of words that I can live without actually. I didn't laugh a single time, oh, what do I say, I didn't SMILE a single time and for me this book was one, big dissapointment, Pity.
Unfortunately not. Firstly, the characters. Annie: because her name is Annie and it doesn't suit at her at all in some way. I hated her naivity, her letting all around to command her, and this that she couldn't stand for herself, that she didn't say a single word about how she feels and what she wants and she let other people to abuse her. She was an adult, for God's sake, just moaning in her head won't bring any change. Then Dan: perhaps he was super handsome and super responsible but if my husband dissapoints me at every step, if he just promises and doesn't keep his word, if he puts all other things, work and people before me then I finally say something. The other people in "Stickens" but Jules were just so, so unfriendly and unsympathic, I didn't have any warm feelings for them. The same with Liz - oh God, I don't remember when I hated a person in the book so much, actually perhaps not hated but a person who I didn't care at all, I was not interested in her problems, didn't keep my fingers cross for her and for me she was not necessary in this book.
Anyroadup... exactly!!!! I am a really easy person, but when every few words I see "anyroadups" than I want to bite. I don't even know what "anyroadups" mean, perhaps something like anyway? Than why not to write just anyway?????
This book was long, like a chewing gum, there was really nothing happening, there was no tension and to be totally honest, I was not at all interested what's going to happen at the end. In the last part of this book I have skipped a lot of writing, it was just so, so boring, just a lot of words that I can live without actually. I didn't laugh a single time, oh, what do I say, I didn't SMILE a single time and for me this book was one, big dissapointment, Pity.
July 6, 2012
This is my very first book by the author. I was looking for a light, fluffy novel and I loved the cover(yes, I am shallow like that)
Also I read a review somewhere that said that the author is like Sophie Kinsella(I don't think so),whom I love. So I decided to give this book a try.
To be honest, I am not sure how I feel about this book. It was fun in parts and I liked the plot. But after a 100 pages or so it got really slow.
The MC, Annie is a good person and I liked her(at least in the beginning). I felt so angry on her behalf during the entire novel.
Dan treated her badly and I could not understand him. Everybody in the story kept saying that he is perfect but I din't see anything perfect. He cares about everybody's problems except Annie's. Sorry, but that doesn't seem perfect to me.In trying to save the world he completely ignores his wife.
Annie is like-able and sweet and I hated how she was treated in the book. Everyone seemed to walk over her and she let's them.
She is constantly whining and is too hard on herself. It's almost like she enjoys taking the blame.
"As personalities go, I'm an accommodator, a pleaser, a hand-wringer."
JACK, hmmm.....I think he had potential to be swoon worthy. But that wasn't explored by the author.
The secondary characters, honestly, I didn't like any one of them. All the characters are selfish and take Annie for granted. I actually wanted to slap some of them.
The writing is good. The editing was bad.
In terms of character development, the author excels. I liked how the characters were described. The story is realistic.
I also like the constant references to real life things and people.
The beginning is good, the middle is dragged and the ending is rushed.
What's with the weird love for the word "anyroadup." It has been used so many freaking times in the book.......
Also I read a review somewhere that said that the author is like Sophie Kinsella(I don't think so),whom I love. So I decided to give this book a try.
To be honest, I am not sure how I feel about this book. It was fun in parts and I liked the plot. But after a 100 pages or so it got really slow.
The MC, Annie is a good person and I liked her(at least in the beginning). I felt so angry on her behalf during the entire novel.
Dan treated her badly and I could not understand him. Everybody in the story kept saying that he is perfect but I din't see anything perfect. He cares about everybody's problems except Annie's. Sorry, but that doesn't seem perfect to me.In trying to save the world he completely ignores his wife.
Annie is like-able and sweet and I hated how she was treated in the book. Everyone seemed to walk over her and she let's them.
She is constantly whining and is too hard on herself. It's almost like she enjoys taking the blame.
"As personalities go, I'm an accommodator, a pleaser, a hand-wringer."
JACK, hmmm.....I think he had potential to be swoon worthy. But that wasn't explored by the author.
The secondary characters, honestly, I didn't like any one of them. All the characters are selfish and take Annie for granted. I actually wanted to slap some of them.
The writing is good. The editing was bad.
In terms of character development, the author excels. I liked how the characters were described. The story is realistic.
I also like the constant references to real life things and people.
The beginning is good, the middle is dragged and the ending is rushed.
What's with the weird love for the word "anyroadup." It has been used so many freaking times in the book.......
April 28, 2011
I have to start by saying that I absolutely love the cover of this book. If I was choosing a book from a shelf, I would immediately be drawn to the colours and how they make me feel. There’s a lot to be said for colour therapy! I love the embossed title with words in different colours and the author’s name in block colour. The picture speaks to me of a girl alone on an adventure in a city and makes me want to see what type of journey she is going to make.
The foundation of the story is told in the first quarter of the book. We get to know how Annie and Dan’s relationship is today and meet the characters who are a part of their lives. I did find this hard going at times, but only because I hated Annie feeling like she did and wanted the story to move on so that she could develop! I truly felt her frustration at being let down so much.
From the time Annie gets to Broadway the story sparkles along. She has the freedom that she never had as a teen (having been with Dan since she was 15) and you can feel her joie de vivre bouncing off the pages! I enjoyed getting to know the characters of the cast in the play. I thought the character of Jack (the director) was crafted really well and loved the ‘cold hands’, which only emphasised how aloof and distant he was! When Jules (Dan’s sister) comes out to stay the gears move up a notch on the romance front. My inference from Annie’s life as a child, with her father deserting her and her mother being a diplomat, led me to think that perhaps Annie had settled with Dan at such a young age because his character was one of stability and safeness. So to be honest, I really didn’t know which life Annie would choose, her home or parallel world. I loved the fact that I couldn’t make up my mind, that I kept guessing one way and then the next. The subplot also surprised me. I hadn’t seen that coming until it was there in black and white!
Being a romantic at heart ……………. I loved the ‘meet me at the moon’. The symbol of the moon in the Western world of fluctuating emotions, nurturing and finding a stable home to express those emotions, is such a fitting ‘catchphrase’ to have as part of the story and the timing of its appearance was spot on.
As a chiclit novel, Claudia Carroll has crafted a story that ticks all the boxes. It’s easy to read and will keep you entertained.
The foundation of the story is told in the first quarter of the book. We get to know how Annie and Dan’s relationship is today and meet the characters who are a part of their lives. I did find this hard going at times, but only because I hated Annie feeling like she did and wanted the story to move on so that she could develop! I truly felt her frustration at being let down so much.
From the time Annie gets to Broadway the story sparkles along. She has the freedom that she never had as a teen (having been with Dan since she was 15) and you can feel her joie de vivre bouncing off the pages! I enjoyed getting to know the characters of the cast in the play. I thought the character of Jack (the director) was crafted really well and loved the ‘cold hands’, which only emphasised how aloof and distant he was! When Jules (Dan’s sister) comes out to stay the gears move up a notch on the romance front. My inference from Annie’s life as a child, with her father deserting her and her mother being a diplomat, led me to think that perhaps Annie had settled with Dan at such a young age because his character was one of stability and safeness. So to be honest, I really didn’t know which life Annie would choose, her home or parallel world. I loved the fact that I couldn’t make up my mind, that I kept guessing one way and then the next. The subplot also surprised me. I hadn’t seen that coming until it was there in black and white!
Being a romantic at heart ……………. I loved the ‘meet me at the moon’. The symbol of the moon in the Western world of fluctuating emotions, nurturing and finding a stable home to express those emotions, is such a fitting ‘catchphrase’ to have as part of the story and the timing of its appearance was spot on.
As a chiclit novel, Claudia Carroll has crafted a story that ticks all the boxes. It’s easy to read and will keep you entertained.
August 6, 2012
After reading Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother I was really looking forward to this as I loved that novel. So I was really disappointed by how much I didn't enjoy this one.
Here was have Annie and Dan, childhood sweethearts who are blissfully married, well, Dan seems to think so anyway. From the start any reader would be able to understand Annie's frustrations with her marriage. She's married to the nicest guy in Ireland and she loves him but hates having to share in and the fact she spends more time with his mother than she does with him. With the opportunity to do a play in New York she feels this is the break she needs from life in The Sticks.
The plot sounded like something I'd be interested in but by about three chapters in I was bored. In fact I didn't pick up the book for a whole day as I wasn't interested in it. Wanting to finish the book so I could move onto a different one, I forced myself to pick it back up. There were times, further on, when the story did manage to hold my interest however it wasn't always for very long. It didn't help that I didn't really like any of the characters either, they were either too whiny or just didn't have a personality that appealed to me.
It wasn't just the characters I had a problem with the language too. One word, if you can call it that, in particular "anyroadup". The continuous use of this was very annoying. After reading this book I never want to see this in a novel ever again. I understand that it's probably some Irish dialect that should be used in a book like this but not to the extent it was used. It was too excessive and as soon as I saw it at the beginning of a paragraph it instantly put me in a bad mood.
Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't all bad. As I said there were times when I did find it interesting and I was happy with the ending. Overall this book wasn't a patch on Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother and just left me with mixed feelings.
Here was have Annie and Dan, childhood sweethearts who are blissfully married, well, Dan seems to think so anyway. From the start any reader would be able to understand Annie's frustrations with her marriage. She's married to the nicest guy in Ireland and she loves him but hates having to share in and the fact she spends more time with his mother than she does with him. With the opportunity to do a play in New York she feels this is the break she needs from life in The Sticks.
The plot sounded like something I'd be interested in but by about three chapters in I was bored. In fact I didn't pick up the book for a whole day as I wasn't interested in it. Wanting to finish the book so I could move onto a different one, I forced myself to pick it back up. There were times, further on, when the story did manage to hold my interest however it wasn't always for very long. It didn't help that I didn't really like any of the characters either, they were either too whiny or just didn't have a personality that appealed to me.
It wasn't just the characters I had a problem with the language too. One word, if you can call it that, in particular "anyroadup". The continuous use of this was very annoying. After reading this book I never want to see this in a novel ever again. I understand that it's probably some Irish dialect that should be used in a book like this but not to the extent it was used. It was too excessive and as soon as I saw it at the beginning of a paragraph it instantly put me in a bad mood.
Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't all bad. As I said there were times when I did find it interesting and I was happy with the ending. Overall this book wasn't a patch on Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother and just left me with mixed feelings.
August 18, 2011
After reading the blurb I was curious to see if Annie and Dan's marriage could survive a year break and different continents.
I did not warm to Annie at the beginning of the novel. Annie was not a happy bunny. She seemed to spend her time moaning about what was wrong in her marriage and with the folks around her. She seemed self-centred and not at all supportive of her hard working husband, the local vet, Dan. She had given up her acting dream to move to Ireland with Dan so he could run his vet business and be near his mother, but Annie did not seem to appreciate how difficult this was for Dan.
I changed my mind about Annie and started to have empathy for her after events that happened on the night she left for the Big Apple. By then, I was getting more insight into what was going on behind closed doors.
The author has cleverly arranged the characters to make appearances, on cue, to give their best performances.
Lisa was not just a childhood friend, but a much bigger threat. "The Frenemy."
Annie's mum came into the story just enough to jolt Annie when needed.
The story explores a long distance relationship that has already gone stale. Life is very different for Annie when she gets to The Big Apple and new friendships are established. A life far removed from home.
Dan could not make time for Annie when she lived in the same house!
Can Annie and Dan save their marriage after putting time and distance between them?
I will not spoil the ending for you.
4 out of 5 for me! I really enjoyed it!
I did not warm to Annie at the beginning of the novel. Annie was not a happy bunny. She seemed to spend her time moaning about what was wrong in her marriage and with the folks around her. She seemed self-centred and not at all supportive of her hard working husband, the local vet, Dan. She had given up her acting dream to move to Ireland with Dan so he could run his vet business and be near his mother, but Annie did not seem to appreciate how difficult this was for Dan.
I changed my mind about Annie and started to have empathy for her after events that happened on the night she left for the Big Apple. By then, I was getting more insight into what was going on behind closed doors.
The author has cleverly arranged the characters to make appearances, on cue, to give their best performances.
Lisa was not just a childhood friend, but a much bigger threat. "The Frenemy."
Annie's mum came into the story just enough to jolt Annie when needed.
The story explores a long distance relationship that has already gone stale. Life is very different for Annie when she gets to The Big Apple and new friendships are established. A life far removed from home.
Dan could not make time for Annie when she lived in the same house!
Can Annie and Dan save their marriage after putting time and distance between them?
I will not spoil the ending for you.
4 out of 5 for me! I really enjoyed it!
April 30, 2013
For a book from an unknown author, I found this a refreshing book indeed! The plot started on Annie getting tired on her married life, where the routine is the same all day in an out, and Annie lost her enthusiasm towards her marriage. She's married to Dan, her high school sweetheart but shouldering a great burden, hence Annie felt neglected. And then, opportunity came for Annie to make her name at Broadway!
Dan, her stable everlasting husband, gave his permission, giving her a break one year off her marriage. Somehow, in the first place, I felt the plot was quite patchy, even though Dan loves Annie, he always had things to do and neglected her. Annie cried her heart out when she found that Dan couldn't came for her first Broadway performance at New York city. But their marriage was tested on all the way, when Jack, Annie's superior was interested in her.
Dan had my redemption when he sent Annie a card, a simple card mentioning that he missed her. And then, they started to have real conversation via phone when Dan leave a message saying "Meet me at the moon."
Somehow, sometimes, mis communication can lead to disastrous result. In the first place, they didn't communicate much and then, they opened up. The story could be better if the author explore Dan's feelings. It seemed one-sided at times where the author focus too much on Annie. But this is still a good book. A book that can leaves you feeling deliriously happy despite the predictable plot.
A 3.5-star. A keeper!
Dan, her stable everlasting husband, gave his permission, giving her a break one year off her marriage. Somehow, in the first place, I felt the plot was quite patchy, even though Dan loves Annie, he always had things to do and neglected her. Annie cried her heart out when she found that Dan couldn't came for her first Broadway performance at New York city. But their marriage was tested on all the way, when Jack, Annie's superior was interested in her.
Dan had my redemption when he sent Annie a card, a simple card mentioning that he missed her. And then, they started to have real conversation via phone when Dan leave a message saying "Meet me at the moon."
Somehow, sometimes, mis communication can lead to disastrous result. In the first place, they didn't communicate much and then, they opened up. The story could be better if the author explore Dan's feelings. It seemed one-sided at times where the author focus too much on Annie. But this is still a good book. A book that can leaves you feeling deliriously happy despite the predictable plot.
A 3.5-star. A keeper!
March 16, 2014
Essentially, this is a story about taking love too much for granted. Happens all the time in marriages, especially when the fire and passion fizzes out in a long relationship. “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” shows what happens when a couple stops communicating and stops working to keep the romance going, no matter how much they love each other.
The author is adept at engaging readers and tugging hard at the heartstrings. I read the book before bedtime and retired puffy-eyed. And I succumbed despite silently acknowledging the lack of credibility in the storyline. Seriously, no self-respecting woman would have tolerated the kind of treatment Annie received from Dan and his kith & kin, and a man like Dan, so tall and good-looking, kind, steadfast in love, accommodating etc etc, does not exist in real life. But who cares? Such books are meant to entertain, and meant to turn on the waterworks in the most effective way. But most importantly, it will serve to remind readers to treasure what they have in their relationship.
This is the first time I am reading a book by Claudia Carroll. Would like to explore more of her books but can’t help noticing that “Will You Still Me Tomorrow” is the one with the highest rating on goodreads ….. so if you plan to read only one of Ms Carroll’s creations, pick this book. Highly recommended, despite its imperfections.
The author is adept at engaging readers and tugging hard at the heartstrings. I read the book before bedtime and retired puffy-eyed. And I succumbed despite silently acknowledging the lack of credibility in the storyline. Seriously, no self-respecting woman would have tolerated the kind of treatment Annie received from Dan and his kith & kin, and a man like Dan, so tall and good-looking, kind, steadfast in love, accommodating etc etc, does not exist in real life. But who cares? Such books are meant to entertain, and meant to turn on the waterworks in the most effective way. But most importantly, it will serve to remind readers to treasure what they have in their relationship.
This is the first time I am reading a book by Claudia Carroll. Would like to explore more of her books but can’t help noticing that “Will You Still Me Tomorrow” is the one with the highest rating on goodreads ….. so if you plan to read only one of Ms Carroll’s creations, pick this book. Highly recommended, despite its imperfections.
December 15, 2015
What did I like:
-the start was good, the first 20% was a great book. You get hooked and want to know what happens...
What I DID NOT like:
- The heroine is a push-over-everyone-pleaser I don't particularly bond or care for characters who have this personality...they get me so mad! Especially when they don't get retribution afterwards, or the retribution is not nearly as satisfying as in the case of this book
- PACE!!!! Oh dear me... after she goes to NY 80% of the book is: I went there, I was here, I did this, I did that, blah-di-blah I had to skip read most of it just to survive! It was tell tell tell and no show at all.
- Leading man, he's too bad in the beginning ... it doesn't make sense. Christmas day it doesn't make any sense why would he do it? His behaviour is way too much for how the book ends, it doesn't seem logical that someone who cares would behave so badly... and regarding Countess Dracula what is he? Stupid? Because goodhearted does not cut it! We have another push over character (well except when it comes to his wife) I ruled for him all the same, but as I said too much!
- the drug addiction side plot...who needed the fellow actress addicted to cocaine? Not me! Why, why, why put drug abuse in a fluff book, WHY??
overall this book was too descriptive and too slow I would only save the beginning and the end everything in the middle is skippable!
-the start was good, the first 20% was a great book. You get hooked and want to know what happens...
What I DID NOT like:
- The heroine is a push-over-everyone-pleaser I don't particularly bond or care for characters who have this personality...they get me so mad! Especially when they don't get retribution afterwards, or the retribution is not nearly as satisfying as in the case of this book
- PACE!!!! Oh dear me... after she goes to NY 80% of the book is: I went there, I was here, I did this, I did that, blah-di-blah I had to skip read most of it just to survive! It was tell tell tell and no show at all.
- Leading man, he's too bad in the beginning ... it doesn't make sense. Christmas day it doesn't make any sense why would he do it? His behaviour is way too much for how the book ends, it doesn't seem logical that someone who cares would behave so badly... and regarding Countess Dracula what is he? Stupid? Because goodhearted does not cut it! We have another push over character (well except when it comes to his wife) I ruled for him all the same, but as I said too much!
- the drug addiction side plot...who needed the fellow actress addicted to cocaine? Not me! Why, why, why put drug abuse in a fluff book, WHY??
overall this book was too descriptive and too slow I would only save the beginning and the end everything in the middle is skippable!
May 8, 2013
It was a bore. I managed to read the first few chapters before I finally gave up and just skimming through the pages to know how the ending was.
The idea of the story itself is actually interesting. You are married to your teenage sweetheart, your first love. But after getting married, life becomes unbearable when your too sweet and kind husband (the qualities that made you fall for him in the first place) seem to care about everybody else except you. All kinds of doubts start to occupy your mind and that is when you decide to make a change though you haven't any clue which way it drives your marriage to. Another fresh start or an end.
I think the book was meant to be romantic. Unfortunately, the narration was dragging and simply boring I could not wait to put it down. Just not worth reading the entire story. Only the bottomline is enough.
The idea of the story itself is actually interesting. You are married to your teenage sweetheart, your first love. But after getting married, life becomes unbearable when your too sweet and kind husband (the qualities that made you fall for him in the first place) seem to care about everybody else except you. All kinds of doubts start to occupy your mind and that is when you decide to make a change though you haven't any clue which way it drives your marriage to. Another fresh start or an end.
I think the book was meant to be romantic. Unfortunately, the narration was dragging and simply boring I could not wait to put it down. Just not worth reading the entire story. Only the bottomline is enough.
April 16, 2015
What a boring , annoying little book. With a really annoying, weak main character which got on my nerves all the time. I found me right on the edge and had a permanent desirable,urgent temptation to punch her right in the face. Frankly I'm to dissapointed to write an appropriate review. That was a waste of time. Everyone hands off unless you really really wanna savour some boredom!
January 1, 2012
Boring , predictable, done to death.
August 16, 2011
Last year I read – and enjoyed – Personally I Blame My Fairygodmother by Claudia Carroll. It was a fun read, and it more than made up for the rather disappointing Carroll novel I read a few years ago called He Loves Me Not… He Loves Me. Carroll has grown as a writer since her first novel and I was really pleased to receive a copy of her new book Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? I loved the title, I loved the cover (although the new cover which you can see on the left is even better) and I liked the synopsis. It’s an intriguing concept: Two people so flawlessly in love decide to take a year-long break from their marriage because it turns out, their love isn’t as enduring as they thought it was. I was really looking forward to reading it and having reached the very last page, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? is probably Carroll’s most ambitious novel to date (and she does like to be ‘out there’ with her plots – a re-telling of Cinderella last year, the year before that the girl died and went to heaven but had the chance of coming back, she’s had psychics in her novels…) and it asks the question of can love survive long distance. Can a couple who have been together since they were teenagers survive as Annie finds herself in New York and having all her dreams come true as she stars in a Broadway play whilst Dan has to stay home in Stickens in Ireland because that’s where the couple live. That’s where his family are. His vet’s practice. It’s like a seven-year-itch novel but without the annoying name of it being a seven-year-itch novel. It’s not necessarily that Dan and Annie have fallen out of love with each other, they just don’t know how to be around each other. Annie feels frozen out and alone in Stickens, with a mad mother-in-law and a never-ending circle of visiting neighbours to boot while Dan is always rushing around like a man possessed to be Ireland’s Greatest Ever Vet heck he’s probably going for Ireland’s Greatest Ever Person as he can’t say no to anybody; except Annie.
I love me some long distance love affairs. I loved the idea of Annie and Dan hitting the pause button on their relationship and meeting a year later at Rockefeller center in New York where they got engaged. I think mainly I loved the romance of it all; I love the idea of two people who love each other seeing if the grass is really greener or if it just appears to be greener. Mind you, Annie’s life in Stickens was miserable. I thought Carroll set up Annie’s exit from Ireland beautifully because I could feel how stifled she was with everybody being on top of her and Dan constantly disappointing her. It radiated out of the book. Her need to escape was tangible. I found myself willing her to get the job, willing her to tell everyone where to stick themselves. I wanted Annie to burst out and yell at everyone to leave. her. alone. I wanted to smack Dan for not being there, for being absent. I thought the first half of the book was really fast-paced, despite Annie’s slow-going life. I found myself caught up in it all as Annie desperately hopes to get the Broadway gig. I wanted to see Annie in her natural habitat, which was her being an actress, being on stage, not feeling like an extra in her own life and I thoroughly enjoyed the New York section of the novel.
I did find the characters to be a bit wishy-washy. I liked Annie. I did. But I also wanted her to put Lisa Ledbitter into her place, to be forceful with her mother-in-law yet there was a part of me that understood her deference. Understood her lack of fighting spirit. On the one hand I wanted her to scream and yell but on the other, with everything going on around her I could understand why she just let it all float past her. Whilst in Ireland, Annie was fighting a losing battle, that was for sure. I liked how she came out of her shell in New York. How she was able to shake off the shackles and come to life more. I found the girls around her who were also in the play to be fascinating, too. I wasn’t a big fan of Liz. Well, let me re-phrase. I liked Liz. Until she went off the rails. Then I didn’t care what happened to her and I did, truly, honestly, get frustrated with how Annie made excuses for her. I didn’t find the redeeming features in Liz that Annie saw, let’s put it that way. Alex, Blythe and Chris are the other girls in Wedding Belles and I would have liked to have seen more of them, especially Blythe (if there was a movie made of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Betty White would be Blythe). I didn’t like many of the people back in Ireland, in Stickens. Except for Jules they all needed a slap! I loved Jules. And although most of the time I did want to shake Dan and tell him to wake up and smell the cow poo, I did want him to succeed; I did want him to realise what he was doing was wrong, that he was driving Annie further away every time he let her down.
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, on the whole, was an enjoyable read. I don’t have any major quibbles and for the most part Carroll is a brilliant writer who’s really great at making us care for her characters, particularly Annie. I did get a bit frustrated at her continual use of certain words: “Christ Alive”, “Anyroadup” (If I had heard anyroadup on more time!), “Anyway” and how “ice cold” Jack Gordon’s hands were and how “blonde” her apartment was. It was very repetitive, and it took all my might not to get annoyed at just how many times “anyroadup” began a paragraph. I don’t even know what the word means; I presume it’s basically another way of saying “anyway”, but I may be wrong. Claudia Carroll is an author I enjoy, even making me laugh at certain points of the novel, which is a rarity (honestly, you have no idea how many novels promise to be “hilarious” or “witty” and don’t even make me crack a smile and let it be known I am the easiest person ever to make laugh). I was never entirely sure, either, how the novel would end, as Annie found life in New York quite exciting and well, you answer me this: How many people would swap NY for Stickens? I liked that the ending wasn’t entirely fluid, that I wasn’t sure which way it would go. I’m very much looking forward to Claudia’s next novel (and going back to read her others, particularly If This Is Paradise I Want My Money Back).
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? is probably Carroll’s most ambitious novel to date (and she does like to be ‘out there’ with her plots – a re-telling of Cinderella last year, the year before that the girl died and went to heaven but had the chance of coming back, she’s had psychics in her novels…) and it asks the question of can love survive long distance. Can a couple who have been together since they were teenagers survive as Annie finds herself in New York and having all her dreams come true as she stars in a Broadway play whilst Dan has to stay home in Stickens in Ireland because that’s where the couple live. That’s where his family are. His vet’s practice. It’s like a seven-year-itch novel but without the annoying name of it being a seven-year-itch novel. It’s not necessarily that Dan and Annie have fallen out of love with each other, they just don’t know how to be around each other. Annie feels frozen out and alone in Stickens, with a mad mother-in-law and a never-ending circle of visiting neighbours to boot while Dan is always rushing around like a man possessed to be Ireland’s Greatest Ever Vet heck he’s probably going for Ireland’s Greatest Ever Person as he can’t say no to anybody; except Annie.
I love me some long distance love affairs. I loved the idea of Annie and Dan hitting the pause button on their relationship and meeting a year later at Rockefeller center in New York where they got engaged. I think mainly I loved the romance of it all; I love the idea of two people who love each other seeing if the grass is really greener or if it just appears to be greener. Mind you, Annie’s life in Stickens was miserable. I thought Carroll set up Annie’s exit from Ireland beautifully because I could feel how stifled she was with everybody being on top of her and Dan constantly disappointing her. It radiated out of the book. Her need to escape was tangible. I found myself willing her to get the job, willing her to tell everyone where to stick themselves. I wanted Annie to burst out and yell at everyone to leave. her. alone. I wanted to smack Dan for not being there, for being absent. I thought the first half of the book was really fast-paced, despite Annie’s slow-going life. I found myself caught up in it all as Annie desperately hopes to get the Broadway gig. I wanted to see Annie in her natural habitat, which was her being an actress, being on stage, not feeling like an extra in her own life and I thoroughly enjoyed the New York section of the novel.
I did find the characters to be a bit wishy-washy. I liked Annie. I did. But I also wanted her to put Lisa Ledbitter into her place, to be forceful with her mother-in-law yet there was a part of me that understood her deference. Understood her lack of fighting spirit. On the one hand I wanted her to scream and yell but on the other, with everything going on around her I could understand why she just let it all float past her. Whilst in Ireland, Annie was fighting a losing battle, that was for sure. I liked how she came out of her shell in New York. How she was able to shake off the shackles and come to life more. I found the girls around her who were also in the play to be fascinating, too. I wasn’t a big fan of Liz. Well, let me re-phrase. I liked Liz. Until she went off the rails. Then I didn’t care what happened to her and I did, truly, honestly, get frustrated with how Annie made excuses for her. I didn’t find the redeeming features in Liz that Annie saw, let’s put it that way. Alex, Blythe and Chris are the other girls in Wedding Belles and I would have liked to have seen more of them, especially Blythe (if there was a movie made of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Betty White would be Blythe). I didn’t like many of the people back in Ireland, in Stickens. Except for Jules they all needed a slap! I loved Jules. And although most of the time I did want to shake Dan and tell him to wake up and smell the cow poo, I did want him to succeed; I did want him to realise what he was doing was wrong, that he was driving Annie further away every time he let her down.
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, on the whole, was an enjoyable read. I don’t have any major quibbles and for the most part Carroll is a brilliant writer who’s really great at making us care for her characters, particularly Annie. I did get a bit frustrated at her continual use of certain words: “Christ Alive”, “Anyroadup” (If I had heard anyroadup on more time!), “Anyway” and how “ice cold” Jack Gordon’s hands were and how “blonde” her apartment was. It was very repetitive, and it took all my might not to get annoyed at just how many times “anyroadup” began a paragraph. I don’t even know what the word means; I presume it’s basically another way of saying “anyway”, but I may be wrong. Claudia Carroll is an author I enjoy, even making me laugh at certain points of the novel, which is a rarity (honestly, you have no idea how many novels promise to be “hilarious” or “witty” and don’t even make me crack a smile and let it be known I am the easiest person ever to make laugh). I was never entirely sure, either, how the novel would end, as Annie found life in New York quite exciting and well, you answer me this: How many people would swap NY for Stickens? I liked that the ending wasn’t entirely fluid, that I wasn’t sure which way it would go. I’m very much looking forward to Claudia’s next novel (and going back to read her others, particularly If This Is Paradise I Want My Money Back).
March 30, 2014
I really liked this book. Its my first book by this author and definitely not going to be my last. It started of well and really got me sympathizing with Annie, who is treated pretty badly throughout the book. In the middle it gets slow but I still liked it. What I really love about this book is the way Claudia Carroll describes Annie and Dan's relationship. Despite all the flaws, their relationship just seems so realistic and perfect. Even though Dan doesn't treat her well and takes her for granted, he really grows on you in the end. He loves Annie, thats pretty evident but he's not able to show it in the right way. The scene in which he comes rushing to New York is just heart warming. That part of the book just wrapped around me like a thick blanket and warmed me up entirely. Even though Dan is a total dick I just could never hate him. Never throughout the book have I thought he doesnt deserve Annie. He's not perfect but then who is?
Coming to the secondary characters in the story the only ones I liked were Blythe and Jules though I thought she was kind of a bitch when she let slip that Annie was having a thing with another guy. It really wasnt her place. Other times she was pretty Likeable. Blythe was always supporting and the only character in the book who didn't take advantage of Annie. I loved Liz's fun loving character at the beginning of the book but slowly came to hate her. The way she behaved with Annie was just unforgivable, in the true meaning of the word. Yes, she was intoxicated and wasn't her true self, but still.
All in all this book was refreshing. The kind of book you would like to read before going to bed at night.
Coming to the secondary characters in the story the only ones I liked were Blythe and Jules though I thought she was kind of a bitch when she let slip that Annie was having a thing with another guy. It really wasnt her place. Other times she was pretty Likeable. Blythe was always supporting and the only character in the book who didn't take advantage of Annie. I loved Liz's fun loving character at the beginning of the book but slowly came to hate her. The way she behaved with Annie was just unforgivable, in the true meaning of the word. Yes, she was intoxicated and wasn't her true self, but still.
All in all this book was refreshing. The kind of book you would like to read before going to bed at night.
January 14, 2015
For a book from an unknown author, I found this a refreshing book indeed! The plot started on Annie getting tired on her married life, where the routine is the same all day in an out, and Annie lost her enthusiasm towards her marriage. She's married to Dan, her high school sweetheart but shouldering a great burden, hence Annie felt neglected. And then, opportunity came for Annie to make her name at Broadway!
Dan, her stable everlasting husband, gave his permission, giving her a break one year off her marriage. Somehow, in the first place, I felt the plot was quite patchy, even though Dan loves Annie, he always had things to do and neglected her. Annie cried her heart out when she found that Dan couldn't came for her first Broadway performance at New York city. But their marriage was tested on all the way, when Jack, Annie's superior was interested in her.
Dan had my redemption when he sent Annie a card, a simple card mentioning that he missed her. And then, they started to have real conversation via phone when Dan leave a message saying "Meet me at the moon."
Somehow, sometimes, mis communication can lead to disastrous result. In the first place, they didn't communicate much and then, they opened up. The story could be better if the author explore Dan's feelings. It seemed one-sided at times where the author focus too much on Annie. But this is still a good book. A book that can leaves you feeling deliriously happy despite the predictable plot.
Dan, her stable everlasting husband, gave his permission, giving her a break one year off her marriage. Somehow, in the first place, I felt the plot was quite patchy, even though Dan loves Annie, he always had things to do and neglected her. Annie cried her heart out when she found that Dan couldn't came for her first Broadway performance at New York city. But their marriage was tested on all the way, when Jack, Annie's superior was interested in her.
Dan had my redemption when he sent Annie a card, a simple card mentioning that he missed her. And then, they started to have real conversation via phone when Dan leave a message saying "Meet me at the moon."
Somehow, sometimes, mis communication can lead to disastrous result. In the first place, they didn't communicate much and then, they opened up. The story could be better if the author explore Dan's feelings. It seemed one-sided at times where the author focus too much on Annie. But this is still a good book. A book that can leaves you feeling deliriously happy despite the predictable plot.
May 18, 2011
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
This is a very light, frothy summer read which I was very pleased to receive so promptly via goodreads.com.
I thought the two main characters Annie and Dan were very sympathetic, and found I was really wanting them to resolve their problems. However, I found Annie's best friend Liz, and her mother-in-law Audrey rather annoying, and more like caricatures. Little sister Jules is very sweet, though.
The story romps along at a lively pace and I got through the book very quickly. The ending is predictable, but satisfying nonetheless. It is a very undemanding read, ideal airport and flight material.
One thing I found irritating was the name-dropping, which means the book will age badly. In a few years time we will still know of Beckham and Nigella (probably) but will we still remember Gillian Keith, Gok Wan or SJP? I wonder!
All in all, I enjoyed it, hence the 4 stars, though given the option, I might have given it only 3 1/2 stars.
This is a very light, frothy summer read which I was very pleased to receive so promptly via goodreads.com.
I thought the two main characters Annie and Dan were very sympathetic, and found I was really wanting them to resolve their problems. However, I found Annie's best friend Liz, and her mother-in-law Audrey rather annoying, and more like caricatures. Little sister Jules is very sweet, though.
The story romps along at a lively pace and I got through the book very quickly. The ending is predictable, but satisfying nonetheless. It is a very undemanding read, ideal airport and flight material.
One thing I found irritating was the name-dropping, which means the book will age badly. In a few years time we will still know of Beckham and Nigella (probably) but will we still remember Gillian Keith, Gok Wan or SJP? I wonder!
All in all, I enjoyed it, hence the 4 stars, though given the option, I might have given it only 3 1/2 stars.
June 30, 2012
I loved this book, it had an essence of realistic storyline and it's believeable the feelings the worries and the issues they address you are hooked because you feel like you can relate.
The settings contrast each other from Ireland to New York it displays an exciting layout of whats ahead and makes you think, where would you prefere?
I read this on holiday it was a last minute buy for £5 and I thought I might as well have something even if its not that great it will pass the time by the pool, but I became hooked and really loved it. I'm a sucker for a love story as well as mild adventure for seeking your wildest dreams and following your career
I found it a gentle read and inspirational.
The settings contrast each other from Ireland to New York it displays an exciting layout of whats ahead and makes you think, where would you prefere?
I read this on holiday it was a last minute buy for £5 and I thought I might as well have something even if its not that great it will pass the time by the pool, but I became hooked and really loved it. I'm a sucker for a love story as well as mild adventure for seeking your wildest dreams and following your career
I found it a gentle read and inspirational.
August 24, 2012
Read it if you must, but then it doesn't fall in the fun one category...nor does it come in the chic reads...it's not serious, and it's not light...I had not high, but still some hopes from it...but other than few words overly used (read abused), I frankly finished this novel for the sake of finishing it...Anyways, just hoping that there is a way to be sure any novel I read next doesn't have words like Anyroadsup or Fecking and so on...it gets all too irritating...
Definitely nowhere near where Kinsella resides...this one of its kind book with too much of cribbing and each character having their own set of characteristic issues...
Definitely nowhere near where Kinsella resides...this one of its kind book with too much of cribbing and each character having their own set of characteristic issues...
August 16, 2018
It was a likable story. For the longest time I had no hope for this couple but things changed for the better. Most of the characters were pretty good but there were some that stood out more than others and I was satisfied with the majority of them. For the longest time I couldn't tell how the book was going to turn out but things ended on a really good positive note and all things considered I wasn't expecting that with this one so it was nice to be proven wrong.
July 17, 2017
Really enjoyed this. Great story line with really good characters. Felt really sorry for Annie as she had to put up with so much from Dan, who was so inconsiderate. Her dream job comes up which means a year away from Dan ... will he even notice? Will it make or break them? Would definitely recommend!
October 12, 2011
I'm not quite sure why but I really didn't take to this story and eventually gave up. I guess it was the characters; I didn't even warm to the lead and I was supposed to feel sympathetic towards her.
June 29, 2016
This book was stupidly long and boring with so much useless rambling. The story wasn't that great, especially I could've done without the supporting characters side stories, but the pace was DEAD SLOW!
Steer clear...
Steer clear...
July 21, 2018
Got about halfway and then skimmed throughout the rest to the end. Plot drawn out, characters annoying...I mean how many times is this husband going to let his wife down...it got painful. Just didn’t hold my interest at all.
February 17, 2013
Fantastic! I just love Claudia Carroll's novels. She is such a great writer. I only wish more of her books were available over here in the US. I Can't wait for new novel to come out.
February 16, 2012
An easy read but a happy ending which I love!!
February 21, 2021
Easy fast read. Great story a little slow in the middle but great characters. I would definitely read more by this author.
April 30, 2024
Started out very fast!! Love the way Claudia writes
However, the middle dragged and dragged on, so I skipped a bunch of pages.
I don't believe I missed much.
Ended Happily Ever After
However, the middle dragged and dragged on, so I skipped a bunch of pages.
I don't believe I missed much.
Ended Happily Ever After
June 15, 2024
I absolutely did not enjoy this book at all!! I have not read the previous reviews so I have no idea why it is so highly rated.
Found the one main character Annie, to be a total doormat. Her husband, Dan, so fixated on becoming the best vet in rural Ireland.
Annie and Dan are a couple since high school who get married right after college. When Dan’s dad dies he returns home to take over his dad’s vet practice. His mother is extremely high maintenance, who feels Annie should be at her beck and call. Annie cannot do anything to the house as it must remain untouched.
Annie gets a part in a Broadway play and gets the chance to move to New York for a year. She gets a chance to rediscover herself and spread her wings. She spends her time lamenting over what her husband might be doing with a neighbour who has her eyes set on him.
The other characters Blythe, Chris, Alex and Liz are mostly hidden in the background. Liz does play a major role in the story as she is a college friend of Annie and is in the same play as Annie. Liz and Blythe, known for her bargain hunter ways are entertaining.
Jack, the director of the play of course develops the “hots” for Annie, who other than a drunken encounter has really no use for him.
Not going to get into more that happens, but I was very disappointed and was so glad to finally finish the book.
Found the one main character Annie, to be a total doormat. Her husband, Dan, so fixated on becoming the best vet in rural Ireland.
Annie and Dan are a couple since high school who get married right after college. When Dan’s dad dies he returns home to take over his dad’s vet practice. His mother is extremely high maintenance, who feels Annie should be at her beck and call. Annie cannot do anything to the house as it must remain untouched.
Annie gets a part in a Broadway play and gets the chance to move to New York for a year. She gets a chance to rediscover herself and spread her wings. She spends her time lamenting over what her husband might be doing with a neighbour who has her eyes set on him.
The other characters Blythe, Chris, Alex and Liz are mostly hidden in the background. Liz does play a major role in the story as she is a college friend of Annie and is in the same play as Annie. Liz and Blythe, known for her bargain hunter ways are entertaining.
Jack, the director of the play of course develops the “hots” for Annie, who other than a drunken encounter has really no use for him.
Not going to get into more that happens, but I was very disappointed and was so glad to finally finish the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2018
I always enjoy Claudia Carroll's stories for their rich panoply of characters. This one certainly has a troupe of them, from the folks back in Stickens to Annie's castmates and director. While on the surface, the main plotline is annoyingly predictable, to me, the end goal is not finding out what happens, but going on the journey with Annie from her horrid existence, and Dan's absolutely appalling neglect, including all of her disappointments to breaking out into the life she's always wanted, as an actress on Broadway in New York. Annie's adventures and the people she meets, as well as her quirky sister-in-law and the ice-cold director who has her marked for seduction, and her flighty best friend Liz make for a compelling and entertaining voyage on her road to finding herself again, and then, this time, getting what she truly wants at the end. Along the way, we meet and care for people and find family and belonging wherever we can, but ultimately, there is one home for the heart.
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