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Halfway to You
An ambitious podcaster and her reclusive interviewee embark on a life-altering journey to uncover long-lost truths in this immersive story about love, travel, and family secrets.
Forty years ago, aspiring writer Ann Fawkes left the United States for a Mediterranean adventure that opened her heart to travel and love. After a chance encounter propelled her into the publishing world, she released her first novel, an instant bestseller—and the last book she ever wrote.
Now, Ann lives a reclusive life in the San Juan Islands, hiding from the public and its probing questions. But when podcaster Maggie Whitaker convinces Ann to sit for an interview, Ann agrees on one condition: Maggie must keep her story off the record.
Determined to change Ann’s mind before she loses her job, Maggie agrees. But as she learns about Ann’s life—particularly the love affair that inspired her novel and the decisions she made in its wake—Maggie realizes Ann’s story intersects with her own in shocking, life-changing ways.
A sweeping, heart-wrenching novel that spans decades and continents, Halfway to You explores the distances we create between ourselves and the ones we love most and what it takes to finally bridge them.
Forty years ago, aspiring writer Ann Fawkes left the United States for a Mediterranean adventure that opened her heart to travel and love. After a chance encounter propelled her into the publishing world, she released her first novel, an instant bestseller—and the last book she ever wrote.
Now, Ann lives a reclusive life in the San Juan Islands, hiding from the public and its probing questions. But when podcaster Maggie Whitaker convinces Ann to sit for an interview, Ann agrees on one condition: Maggie must keep her story off the record.
Determined to change Ann’s mind before she loses her job, Maggie agrees. But as she learns about Ann’s life—particularly the love affair that inspired her novel and the decisions she made in its wake—Maggie realizes Ann’s story intersects with her own in shocking, life-changing ways.
A sweeping, heart-wrenching novel that spans decades and continents, Halfway to You explores the distances we create between ourselves and the ones we love most and what it takes to finally bridge them.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2023
4860 people are currently reading
8706 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Gold
4 books377 followersJennifer Gold writes discussable book club fiction about love, second chances, and self-discovery. She’s the multi-award-winning author of The Ingredients of Us, Keep Me Afloat, and Halfway to You.
When she’s not writing, Jenni can be found traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or curled up with a book. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two cats.
To hear first about Jenni’s upcoming novels, receive bonus content and sneak peeks, and chat with Jenni directly, join her monthly newsletter. You can also connect with Jenni on Instagram @jennifergoldauthor.
Newsletter: https://www.jennifergoldauthor.com/ne...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifergol...
When she’s not writing, Jenni can be found traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or curled up with a book. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two cats.
To hear first about Jenni’s upcoming novels, receive bonus content and sneak peeks, and chat with Jenni directly, join her monthly newsletter. You can also connect with Jenni on Instagram @jennifergoldauthor.
Newsletter: https://www.jennifergoldauthor.com/ne...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifergol...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews
March 5, 2023
I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY!
It’s a 3.5 rounded up. I’m marking it as spoiler because some of my thoughts might give things away. I’m trying to stay vague, but thinks happen.
The story is eerily similar to The Seven Husbands of Eleanor Hugo.
Let’s just talk characters.
Maggie- I liked her. She has moxie and perseverance. She doesn’t take no for an answer. She learns some insane truths and handles it like an adult while utilizing the lessons from Ann’s life.
Tracey- cmon! Who does this?????! The instant disdain she shows to Ann when they meet is cuckoo. She got off easy if you ask me.
Keith- who doesn’t love Keith?! Everyone should have a Keith in their lives (My Keith is named Stacy). He’s a stand up guy, good husband, father, uncle, friend etc. he really is pretty perfect. Seriously, go find your Keith!
Ann- here is a woman who knows what she wants and will not settle for less. She’s introspective enough to know that some of her decisions will make others uncomfortable. While she understands why secrets are being kept, she’s going to give people the opportunity to narrate the truth before she spills it. I like that about her. Very decent.
Todd- I loathe this man. lol. I recognize that I might be the only one. Frankly, I can live with that. He is soooo consumed with his grief he can’t get over himself. He actually brings Ann to a Christmas event without telling her his ties to the actual event!!!! Who does this? A jerk. He disappoints Ann enough for a pattern to develop. And she always empathizes herself into accepting his bad behavior. He’s not honest and he allows her to feel and look foolish because of his lies. He can suck it.
This is billed as this epic sweeping love story, but really? It’s a story of a man continually sabotaging his relationship by being selfish, dishonest and withholding.
1- in Venice/Greece he didn’t tell her the magnitude and details of his grief.
2- at Christmas he didn’t tell her how he was actually a member of this family and actually let her find out and be blindsided.
3- he didn’t even show up in Tahiti!!!!!
4- in Thailand he didn’t tell her about not wanting children. At this point he had DECADES to do so.
All this time he insulted her career and basically calling her a drift less wanderer and judging her for not “settling down” and having roots. He wanted to be with her only on his terms. She had to move to be with him or he threw a fit. No regard for her life at all. AND! AND!!!! Colorado was where his first life was. He wanted her to be in a place where he was reminded every single day of the life he mourned. What an ass!!!!
We’ve all had a Todd in our life. The sexy aloof guy that flits in and out of our life claiming to love us and failing to commit/be honest. Oh the tragic suffering man! Good for Ann, she didn’t give up her life. She lived it on her terms. Albeit with some unnecessary guilt from stupid Todd.
Ugh. I’m so irritated now I’m changing my rating to 3.5 rounded down instead of up.
Get a Keith and loose the Todd!
It’s a 3.5 rounded up. I’m marking it as spoiler because some of my thoughts might give things away. I’m trying to stay vague, but thinks happen.
The story is eerily similar to The Seven Husbands of Eleanor Hugo.
Let’s just talk characters.
Maggie- I liked her. She has moxie and perseverance. She doesn’t take no for an answer. She learns some insane truths and handles it like an adult while utilizing the lessons from Ann’s life.
Tracey- cmon! Who does this?????! The instant disdain she shows to Ann when they meet is cuckoo. She got off easy if you ask me.
Keith- who doesn’t love Keith?! Everyone should have a Keith in their lives (My Keith is named Stacy). He’s a stand up guy, good husband, father, uncle, friend etc. he really is pretty perfect. Seriously, go find your Keith!
Ann- here is a woman who knows what she wants and will not settle for less. She’s introspective enough to know that some of her decisions will make others uncomfortable. While she understands why secrets are being kept, she’s going to give people the opportunity to narrate the truth before she spills it. I like that about her. Very decent.
Todd- I loathe this man. lol. I recognize that I might be the only one. Frankly, I can live with that. He is soooo consumed with his grief he can’t get over himself. He actually brings Ann to a Christmas event without telling her his ties to the actual event!!!! Who does this? A jerk. He disappoints Ann enough for a pattern to develop. And she always empathizes herself into accepting his bad behavior. He’s not honest and he allows her to feel and look foolish because of his lies. He can suck it.
This is billed as this epic sweeping love story, but really? It’s a story of a man continually sabotaging his relationship by being selfish, dishonest and withholding.
1- in Venice/Greece he didn’t tell her the magnitude and details of his grief.
2- at Christmas he didn’t tell her how he was actually a member of this family and actually let her find out and be blindsided.
3- he didn’t even show up in Tahiti!!!!!
4- in Thailand he didn’t tell her about not wanting children. At this point he had DECADES to do so.
All this time he insulted her career and basically calling her a drift less wanderer and judging her for not “settling down” and having roots. He wanted to be with her only on his terms. She had to move to be with him or he threw a fit. No regard for her life at all. AND! AND!!!! Colorado was where his first life was. He wanted her to be in a place where he was reminded every single day of the life he mourned. What an ass!!!!
We’ve all had a Todd in our life. The sexy aloof guy that flits in and out of our life claiming to love us and failing to commit/be honest. Oh the tragic suffering man! Good for Ann, she didn’t give up her life. She lived it on her terms. Albeit with some unnecessary guilt from stupid Todd.
Ugh. I’m so irritated now I’m changing my rating to 3.5 rounded down instead of up.
Get a Keith and loose the Todd!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 19, 2023Dear Reader,
Travel is such a huge source of inspiration for me; there’s nothing like exploring a new locale, and I always find myself buzzing with creativity once I return home.
All the major locations in Halfway are places I’ve visited. My husband and I honeymooned in Greece and Italy; I taught English in Thailand; San Juan is just a few ferries from my hometown; and Tahiti, well…I scribbled down the opening to this story on a jungle tour in Tahiti (read more about this in the book’s acknowledgements!).
Long story short: this book is a bit of a tour through the past decade of my travels.
The biggest irony of this travel novel? I had just finished the first draft when the pandemic hit, and the world shut down. My eight-stop book tour for Keep Me Afloat (which released on March 3, 2020) was canceled. Halfway became a beacon of light during lockdown. I poured over old photo albums, dug through long-forgotten ephemera in my suitcase pockets, and re-read journals I’d kept throughout my travels.
It was therapeutic. I felt like I was visiting the places all over again through my memories—which is what my main character, Ann, ends up doing in the week-long podcast interview that drives the book’s plot. I spent the better part of 2020 traveling vicariously through Ann, Todd, Keith, and Maggie; these characters became my solace during a challenging year.
When I set out to write this book, I wanted to write a book about an expat. A book that explored what both physical and emotional distance can do to a relationship. I wanted to tell a sweeping love story—one that took place over decades of togetherness and distance. I had a question in mind: Why are we so resistant to vulnerability and honesty, when they in fact lead to the romance, friendships, and familial love we crave? Exploring such topics while living an isolated existence in lockdown gave me a unique perspective on my characters’ trials and tribulations. I hope this theme rings true.
On a lighter note: I hope you have as much fun following Ann across the globe as I did! I can’t wait to hear which locations are your favorites.
My heartfelt gratitude for your support of me and my books! I couldn’t live my dream of being a writer without readers like you.
Jenni
Travel is such a huge source of inspiration for me; there’s nothing like exploring a new locale, and I always find myself buzzing with creativity once I return home.
All the major locations in Halfway are places I’ve visited. My husband and I honeymooned in Greece and Italy; I taught English in Thailand; San Juan is just a few ferries from my hometown; and Tahiti, well…I scribbled down the opening to this story on a jungle tour in Tahiti (read more about this in the book’s acknowledgements!).
Long story short: this book is a bit of a tour through the past decade of my travels.
The biggest irony of this travel novel? I had just finished the first draft when the pandemic hit, and the world shut down. My eight-stop book tour for Keep Me Afloat (which released on March 3, 2020) was canceled. Halfway became a beacon of light during lockdown. I poured over old photo albums, dug through long-forgotten ephemera in my suitcase pockets, and re-read journals I’d kept throughout my travels.
It was therapeutic. I felt like I was visiting the places all over again through my memories—which is what my main character, Ann, ends up doing in the week-long podcast interview that drives the book’s plot. I spent the better part of 2020 traveling vicariously through Ann, Todd, Keith, and Maggie; these characters became my solace during a challenging year.
When I set out to write this book, I wanted to write a book about an expat. A book that explored what both physical and emotional distance can do to a relationship. I wanted to tell a sweeping love story—one that took place over decades of togetherness and distance. I had a question in mind: Why are we so resistant to vulnerability and honesty, when they in fact lead to the romance, friendships, and familial love we crave? Exploring such topics while living an isolated existence in lockdown gave me a unique perspective on my characters’ trials and tribulations. I hope this theme rings true.
On a lighter note: I hope you have as much fun following Ann across the globe as I did! I can’t wait to hear which locations are your favorites.
My heartfelt gratitude for your support of me and my books! I couldn’t live my dream of being a writer without readers like you.
Jenni
May 22, 2023
I just didn't click with these characters at all. The decisions they made baffled me. One meeting with someone and you drop everything and follow them? I thought I was a romantic.
The premise of the podcaster was a strong one, I love books with these. But the characters just didn't hold enough intrigue for me.
The premise of the podcaster was a strong one, I love books with these. But the characters just didn't hold enough intrigue for me.
February 26, 2023
Halfway to You is the story of podcaster Maggie as she uncovers the truths and secrets behind Ann Fawke's bestselling novel, Chasing Shadows. What follows is a journey through friendship, fate, and forgiveness set against stunning backdrops and unbeatable odds. Halfway to You is chock full of surprises (wait until you get to the end!), second chances, and the rich emotions that Jennifer Gold is best known for. A beautiful read from start to finish.
March 16, 2023
Wondering if people got paid for 5 star reviews on this one? The story was just ok, and the writing was horrible. The amount of extraneous detail was obscene. You could’ve shortened the book by at least 75 pages if the author had insisted on describing every scene using the 5 senses and then adding in extra scenes that had ZERO to do with the story. Please spare yourself.
March 16, 2023
Annoying!
Seriously? You are in a long-term relationship and never even attempt to find out the name of his first wife? I read to the end but could not wait until this book was over.
Seriously? You are in a long-term relationship and never even attempt to find out the name of his first wife? I read to the end but could not wait until this book was over.
April 11, 2023
4.5 stars — I loved this! Review to come!
April 6, 2025
As I’d grown up convinced that I was nothing special, his sincerity meant everything.
When I requested the book, I first thought was "it seems like a perfect summer read" and I was not wrong. I only wish I'd have gotten to it sooner.
The stories of Maggie and Ann are interesting, sometimes heartbreaking, and powerful. I highly enjoyed the travel stories, I dream of visiting Italy and Greece so much so being able to travel with Ann through her stories was fun.
I'd say if you enjoy travel stories with interesting main characters this is the book for you.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
💌 April 11, 2023: E-ARC provided via NetGalley. Big thank you to Lake Union Publishing.
When I requested the book, I first thought was "it seems like a perfect summer read" and I was not wrong. I only wish I'd have gotten to it sooner.
The stories of Maggie and Ann are interesting, sometimes heartbreaking, and powerful. I highly enjoyed the travel stories, I dream of visiting Italy and Greece so much so being able to travel with Ann through her stories was fun.
I'd say if you enjoy travel stories with interesting main characters this is the book for you.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
💌 April 11, 2023: E-ARC provided via NetGalley. Big thank you to Lake Union Publishing.
March 28, 2023
never ending
So much dialogue, and choppy in releasing bits and pieces of info pertinent to the story line. I swear this book could have been cut by 50-70% and the story sill told effectively. I wanted to give up on this book but I hate doing that, so I persevered. It took me 2 or 3 weeks to read this, and I think I read 2 or 3 books in the in between time bc they flowed better and were more interesting. I do not recommend this book at all, unfortunately, but at least it was free through kindle first reads. I’m just glad to be done with it FINALLY.
So much dialogue, and choppy in releasing bits and pieces of info pertinent to the story line. I swear this book could have been cut by 50-70% and the story sill told effectively. I wanted to give up on this book but I hate doing that, so I persevered. It took me 2 or 3 weeks to read this, and I think I read 2 or 3 books in the in between time bc they flowed better and were more interesting. I do not recommend this book at all, unfortunately, but at least it was free through kindle first reads. I’m just glad to be done with it FINALLY.
May 1, 2023
When Maggie is granted permission to interview the author of her favorite book ever, she learns more than she bargained for.
After loving the author's last book, I was so excited when Halfway To You was an option from Kindle First Reads. I thought the premise and beginning of the story held promise, but I soon lost interest as it dragged on without much of anything happening. Perhaps I was frustrated by Ann and Todd's love story as it was so fraught with difficulties and separation. I did enjoy the virtual travel to so many different locations. Keep Me Afloat (5 stars) remains my favorite by this author, and her debut, The Ingredients of Us (3.5 stars) was also enjoyable.
Location: Colorado, California, Italy, Greece, Tahiti, and Thailand
Kindle First Reads - March 2023
After loving the author's last book, I was so excited when Halfway To You was an option from Kindle First Reads. I thought the premise and beginning of the story held promise, but I soon lost interest as it dragged on without much of anything happening. Perhaps I was frustrated by Ann and Todd's love story as it was so fraught with difficulties and separation. I did enjoy the virtual travel to so many different locations. Keep Me Afloat (5 stars) remains my favorite by this author, and her debut, The Ingredients of Us (3.5 stars) was also enjoyable.
Location: Colorado, California, Italy, Greece, Tahiti, and Thailand
Kindle First Reads - March 2023
March 10, 2023
This was a solid "okay" book for me. I loved the travel descriptions (Rome, swoon) and the premise is intriguing -- a podcaster is set to interview a famous author but in the process, uncovers that their stories intersect in ways the podcaster (Maggie) has no idea about. A few of the characters seemed very cliche to me and yet there was enough interest for me in how it would end that I was motivated to keep reading. It was a bit slow and bogged down in details in some spots, but those were easily skimmable.
Overall, I didn't love it and didn't hate it but I was ready to see how it ended and move on.
Overall, I didn't love it and didn't hate it but I was ready to see how it ended and move on.
May 1, 2023
This felt way too long and bogged down. I struggled with both Ann and Todd’s personalities and relationship. They just aggravated me! Lol. Super repetitive, argumentative and feeling unsatisfied as this finally wraps up.
March 30, 2023
I've seen this type of plot done well before (Evelyn Hugo, The Thirteenth Tale) so this just felt stale to me. I didn't feel the love between the main characters. This didn't do it for me, but I think I'm in the minority so please just ignore me if you want to. :)
March 19, 2023
One of my favorite books I’ve read in a while. I have always been a big believer in listening to those gut feelings, and I love the gut feeling moments that led to the stories in this book playing out. I kept looking it up while reading to see if it was a true story because it was so clever and creatively written I thought it must be true. I loved every page and didn’t want it to end. A beautiful book with beautiful imagery. Cannot wait to read her other two novels now. Sad that I am done. Definitely will have a book hangover after this one.
March 8, 2023
The book’s interesting premise and the promise of finding out how the podcast interviewer Maggie and the author Ann she was interviewing were connected drew me in. The parts about the author’s travels and companions in Italy and Greece were cliche ridden and predictable but I stuck with the book because the character Maggie was kind of a mess and a little intriguing. Over the course of the storyline and the interview many secrets and coincidences emerged, most of which felt contrived and far fetched. The ending was pretty much telegraphed pages before and the main and extraneous character were neatly bundled into a nice set of resolutions and solutions. So, it was sometimes way too slow and always just a bit cliched. I didn’t love it but because I’m good at skimming I didn’t hate it either. I only wish I could have believed it more than I did.
March 21, 2023
Finally finished this book! I couldn't put it down, but kept wishing it would end. So many twists and turns and details. It had some suspense, but did not flow.
April 5, 2023
fantastic book
I’m not sure what else I can say except that this was a truly fantastic book. To give you any kind of synopsis would be doing you a disservice—the beauty of this book is that there is so much to discover. There are layers and layers of emotions, and I felt every one of them deep in my heart. This wonderful novel is filled with gloriously imperfect characters, who make mistake after mistake, coming from places of grief, confusion, loneliness, and always always love. This is not a romance but it is a story of great love; love between romantic partners, love between friends, and familial love.
I’m not sure what else I can say except that this was a truly fantastic book. To give you any kind of synopsis would be doing you a disservice—the beauty of this book is that there is so much to discover. There are layers and layers of emotions, and I felt every one of them deep in my heart. This wonderful novel is filled with gloriously imperfect characters, who make mistake after mistake, coming from places of grief, confusion, loneliness, and always always love. This is not a romance but it is a story of great love; love between romantic partners, love between friends, and familial love.
March 13, 2023
This book is transportive in the best way. An emotional journey of love, loss, and family that spans decades and continents. Absolutely worth the journey
November 13, 2024
Книгата започна увлекателно и тайнствено. Жанрово е семейна книга с драматични обрати, в която проследяваме живота на известна писателка в продължение на 30 години. Маги трябва да вземе интервю от нея за подкаста си. Тя е притеснена, понеже Ан Фокс е свързана с нейното семейство, а то не я обича по някаква причина. Ан ѝ обещава открито интервю, само ако не я записва с диктофона. Оказва се, че историята на писателката е тясно преплетена с историята на Маги. Нейното семейство е известно с това, че умее да крие тайни. Докато Ан разказва за своята любов с Тод и приятелството си с Кийт, журналистката разбира, че има тайна около нейното раждане. Постепенно пред очите ни се разкрива драматичната любовна история между Ан и Тод, а Маги разбира коя е в действителност.
Никой от героите не ми допадна напълно, особено Тод. Човек, който живее в миналото, не може да изгради бъдещето си. Това важи в пълна сила за любовта му към Ан и отричането му от щастливата среща с нея. Двамата не могат да намерят пътя към себе си и да заживеят щастливо. На страниците между тях се вихрят драматични раздели, неразбирателство и нежелание да създадат стабилна връзка. Тридесет години героите се борят с чувствата си. Драмата ми дойде малко повече. Интересът ми се поддържаше от тайната на Маги, но не мога да кажа, че я харесах напълно. Тя ми се видя много нестабилна, несигурна и нерешителна.
Авторката има хубав стил на писане. Пътувах заедно с Ан, която обикаляше по света в търсене на стабилност и лично щастие, но по-скоро бягаше от тях. В тази книга драмата ми дойде повече, аз предпочитам по-романтични истории с щастлив край. Препоръчвам на хора, които обичат семейни тайни и четат семейни саги.
Никой от героите не ми допадна напълно, особено Тод. Човек, който живее в миналото, не може да изгради бъдещето си. Това важи в пълна сила за любовта му към Ан и отричането му от щастливата среща с нея. Двамата не могат да намерят пътя към себе си и да заживеят щастливо. На страниците между тях се вихрят драматични раздели, неразбирателство и нежелание да създадат стабилна връзка. Тридесет години героите се борят с чувствата си. Драмата ми дойде малко повече. Интересът ми се поддържаше от тайната на Маги, но не мога да кажа, че я харесах напълно. Тя ми се видя много нестабилна, несигурна и нерешителна.
Авторката има хубав стил на писане. Пътувах заедно с Ан, която обикаляше по света в търсене на стабилност и лично щастие, но по-скоро бягаше от тях. В тази книга драмата ми дойде повече, аз предпочитам по-романтични истории с щастлив край. Препоръчвам на хора, които обичат семейни тайни и четат семейни саги.
March 26, 2023
4.5/5
I just loved the premise here, if there’s a podcast element I’m in but add in some secrets and and unknown connection between characters and I’m really intrigued. Maggie and Ann were both well crafted characters and I was dying to hear Ann’s story almost as much as Maggie was. This was such an immersive and evocative read, as Ann detailed her past travels I was transported all around the world and the author did such a wonderful job at bringing various cities alive. Part family drama and part tragic love story this one really did captivate me. If you like stories about messy situations, long buried secrets and gorgeous settings try this!
I just loved the premise here, if there’s a podcast element I’m in but add in some secrets and and unknown connection between characters and I’m really intrigued. Maggie and Ann were both well crafted characters and I was dying to hear Ann’s story almost as much as Maggie was. This was such an immersive and evocative read, as Ann detailed her past travels I was transported all around the world and the author did such a wonderful job at bringing various cities alive. Part family drama and part tragic love story this one really did captivate me. If you like stories about messy situations, long buried secrets and gorgeous settings try this!
March 19, 2023
Overall: ☆☆☆☆(3.6)
Writing style: ☆☆☆☆
Entertainment ☆☆☆☆
Characters ☆☆☆☆
Plot: ☆☆☆
Ending:☆☆☆
"There is nothing more courageous in this world than loving someone—in friendship, in romance, in family."
In Jennifer Gold's Halfway to You, we are introduced to Maggie, a Podcaster, who had the opportunity to interview the reclusive Ann Fawkes. A once in a lifetime opportunity, as she has not given an interview to anyone since her first interview that ended in her being misrepresented.
But when Ann meets Maggie, she knows she needs to give Maggie more answers than what Maggie expected when embarking on her journey.
Ann provides one of her biggest fans with a larger connection that anyone could have guessed. Not only can she provide her more in the way of a connection, but also in the way of closure... because their stories intertwine more than they expected.
I am not one for a romance novel. However, this beautifully written love story was one I could not help but be enthralled by.
So many times, you find yourself in conflict with how you feel about the characters. The story leaves you wondering when they will put aside their own pain and anger and admit how much they need each other.
I suggest this for anyone who loves a romance. And even those, like me, who do not 🥰
Writing style: ☆☆☆☆
Entertainment ☆☆☆☆
Characters ☆☆☆☆
Plot: ☆☆☆
Ending:☆☆☆
"There is nothing more courageous in this world than loving someone—in friendship, in romance, in family."
In Jennifer Gold's Halfway to You, we are introduced to Maggie, a Podcaster, who had the opportunity to interview the reclusive Ann Fawkes. A once in a lifetime opportunity, as she has not given an interview to anyone since her first interview that ended in her being misrepresented.
But when Ann meets Maggie, she knows she needs to give Maggie more answers than what Maggie expected when embarking on her journey.
Ann provides one of her biggest fans with a larger connection that anyone could have guessed. Not only can she provide her more in the way of a connection, but also in the way of closure... because their stories intertwine more than they expected.
I am not one for a romance novel. However, this beautifully written love story was one I could not help but be enthralled by.
So many times, you find yourself in conflict with how you feel about the characters. The story leaves you wondering when they will put aside their own pain and anger and admit how much they need each other.
I suggest this for anyone who loves a romance. And even those, like me, who do not 🥰
June 9, 2023
I would like to give this 3.5 stars, but will round up to 4. It took me until about 25% through this book to really get into it and feel the urge to sit down to read it. But once that happened, I was hooked. Yes the main male character is annoying as others have said, but it's fiction, so he can be. I didn't guess how this ended, but that's why I kept coming back to finish it.
September 15, 2023
I thought this was going to be a crappy, easy to read romance novel. And at first it seemed like it was going to be. I'm especially usually not a fan of the story within a story plot device. And while I'm a fan or unrequited and drawn out a love, I found that the decades of back and forth of the characters was draining. The constant let down of the main characters being too scared to love was over done in the book. The trope of a man being too damaged to love again is a cheap trope for the genre. All this said, I ended up sobbing my way through the resolution. The story pulls itself together nicely at the end and somehow I felt hit by all the right emotions. Therefore 4/5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2023
Todd wasn’t worth the chase
Todd is a POS who doesn’t know how to move on. Ann is a delusional woman who thinks her love is worth giving to him over 15+ years. They both wasted each other’s time and should’ve moved on the first time. This book was just back and forth of making up and breaking up.
Todd is a POS who doesn’t know how to move on. Ann is a delusional woman who thinks her love is worth giving to him over 15+ years. They both wasted each other’s time and should’ve moved on the first time. This book was just back and forth of making up and breaking up.
May 31, 2023
How many times can people make the same mistakes. I found myself losing patience (and interest) in the characters. Keeping secrets, ignoring signs, wallowing in self-pity, interfering in each others lives on endless repeat made this a so-so read.
May 16, 2023
Half Way to You
This review is solely one opinion; I am clearly an outlier if you look at the other Goodreads reviews. While this book was not for me, it doesn't mean it won't be for you. I loved the author's last book and wish I had loved this one as much.
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆.5
Pub Date: 4.1.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
"Life isn't made up of starts and ends—it's a series of and thens."
Two things about Halfway to You kept me from DNFing:
1. I loved the author's vivid details about Ann's travels. They were beautiful and transported me to all the places she visited.
2. I wanted to find out who Maggie's mother was. But, unfortunately, once I found out, I was severely disappointed because (in my opinion) it was glaringly obvious.
Halfway to You is supposed to be a sweeping story that spans decades, but, for me, it was reading along as one woman made sacrifice after sacrifice for a man who constantly let herself down. Ann knew who Todd was from the moment she met him, but she spent decades chasing after a man that was not worth her time. I can't imagine wasting many years of my life pining after one man who obviously doesn't know my worth.
🤬 Todd is the WORST
✈️ Vivid description of travel
🎭 Way too much drama
✂️ Needed to be much shorter than it was
trigger warning: miscarriage
Again, this is just my opinion! I suggest grabbing yourself a copy of Halfway to You from your local library and seeing if it's something you enjoy.
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This review is solely one opinion; I am clearly an outlier if you look at the other Goodreads reviews. While this book was not for me, it doesn't mean it won't be for you. I loved the author's last book and wish I had loved this one as much.
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆.5
Pub Date: 4.1.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
"Life isn't made up of starts and ends—it's a series of and thens."
Two things about Halfway to You kept me from DNFing:
1. I loved the author's vivid details about Ann's travels. They were beautiful and transported me to all the places she visited.
2. I wanted to find out who Maggie's mother was. But, unfortunately, once I found out, I was severely disappointed because (in my opinion) it was glaringly obvious.
Halfway to You is supposed to be a sweeping story that spans decades, but, for me, it was reading along as one woman made sacrifice after sacrifice for a man who constantly let herself down. Ann knew who Todd was from the moment she met him, but she spent decades chasing after a man that was not worth her time. I can't imagine wasting many years of my life pining after one man who obviously doesn't know my worth.
🤬 Todd is the WORST
✈️ Vivid description of travel
🎭 Way too much drama
✂️ Needed to be much shorter than it was
trigger warning: miscarriage
Again, this is just my opinion! I suggest grabbing yourself a copy of Halfway to You from your local library and seeing if it's something you enjoy.
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookendd...
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
March 13, 2023
I cried on and off through this book. For me this was emotional as I would recognize memories of my own love in moments Todd and Ann shared. I am a widow after knowing a near perfect love (married for 24.5 years) before brain cancer came and swept him away. I saw this book perhaps differently because I was noticing a relationship that was not highlighted: Todd was a widower who found love again. I want to believe that is real, possible and for me. And so I was all in for the ride.
Of course I hated his ridiculous clinging to the past, refusal of the whole Whitaker family to discuss Penny. And the baby who died…was she never given a name? I have lost three babies. It hurts. I named them all and had to bury one. That grief is so real. My husband dealt with it far differently than me, meaning didn’t really deal. Todd was interesting to me, but at some point he was just facing backwards and needed to turn away from the past and face toward the future. I was relieved when they finally had their island life in Washington. I was curious what happened to Todd, but it wasn’t necessary for the story.
I would have liked to have Tracey’s character developed more. I wanted to also love her, but I didn’t.
I thought at first the set up of the podcaster was a bit contrived, it felt like the author just wanted to wrote Ann and Todd’s story. However as the tale continued I did like how it tied into Maggie’s life. I strongly did not like Tracey. And was sad that with Keith as the older brother of the Whitaker family and wow what a great guy, he was unable to direct his clan toward truth and forgiveness and dealing appropriately with grief.
I think I loved this book for the emotions I encountered in the romance, deep friendship, finally realizing that Todd always loved Ann and that it frightened him he loved her more than Penny. This made sense to me. The slow reveal of the story was really well done!
Of course I hated his ridiculous clinging to the past, refusal of the whole Whitaker family to discuss Penny. And the baby who died…was she never given a name? I have lost three babies. It hurts. I named them all and had to bury one. That grief is so real. My husband dealt with it far differently than me, meaning didn’t really deal. Todd was interesting to me, but at some point he was just facing backwards and needed to turn away from the past and face toward the future. I was relieved when they finally had their island life in Washington. I was curious what happened to Todd, but it wasn’t necessary for the story.
I would have liked to have Tracey’s character developed more. I wanted to also love her, but I didn’t.
I thought at first the set up of the podcaster was a bit contrived, it felt like the author just wanted to wrote Ann and Todd’s story. However as the tale continued I did like how it tied into Maggie’s life. I strongly did not like Tracey. And was sad that with Keith as the older brother of the Whitaker family and wow what a great guy, he was unable to direct his clan toward truth and forgiveness and dealing appropriately with grief.
I think I loved this book for the emotions I encountered in the romance, deep friendship, finally realizing that Todd always loved Ann and that it frightened him he loved her more than Penny. This made sense to me. The slow reveal of the story was really well done!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2023
This novel takes the form of a fictional biographical interview between podcaster Maggie and well-known author Ann. For Maggie to gain her exclusive interview she must persuade Ann to speak to her on the record. Ann’s narration is written in the first person with Maggie’s reactions and reflections in the third person. As Ann is narrating her story concerning her life in Italy and how she has travelled the world, it is less of an immersive experience, than if the story had unfolded in real-time. Due to the limits of the first-person narrative, the precarious nature of her relationship with Todd is a little frustrating as we do not get to fully know his side of the story. The question about Maggie’s parentage is interesting although it is treated as a side issue. We learn of the conflict between Ann and Maggie’s mother Tracey and the role Todd played in this rift, but I would question whether this is material to the story. The story ends with Ann being reconciled to Tracey Maggie’s mother and the podcast aired. Written like a celebrity biography I would question whether this has the depth of a novel concerned with human relationships.
April 8, 2023
"It’s strange listening to Ann discuss the feelings Maggie harbored as a teenager when she read the book. Not just the glamour of romance and adventure but the melancholy angst and betrayal that ribboned under the surface of the main character’s story. Chasing Shadows had a nostalgia about it—a nostalgia for things that hadn’t happened. The book resonated because it spoke to that sense of delicate longing for times that never were, a wistfulness that all people experience at one time or another."
I lucked out with another great Kindle First read! It took me a bit to get into this one, but found myself drawn into the story that was Ann and Todd, and how Maggie ultimately fit into it all by the end. I found Gold's writing to be poetic and beautiful, and loved her descriptions of the countries Ann lived and visited.
My only complaint really is that this book was a bit on the long side - while I loved the writing, some passages were long-winded and maybe unnecessary, and a bit repetitive.
Also, f**k Todd. And Tracey. Ugh.
I lucked out with another great Kindle First read! It took me a bit to get into this one, but found myself drawn into the story that was Ann and Todd, and how Maggie ultimately fit into it all by the end. I found Gold's writing to be poetic and beautiful, and loved her descriptions of the countries Ann lived and visited.
My only complaint really is that this book was a bit on the long side - while I loved the writing, some passages were long-winded and maybe unnecessary, and a bit repetitive.
Also, f**k Todd. And Tracey. Ugh.
April 8, 2023
A book about travel, love, heartbreak and relationships with some pretty big twists and turns! This was a page-turner for me, could not put the book down. Ann is the central character in this book, a young woman who leaves her difficult childhood/life in Portland and starts a new life in Europe. She turns to writing and traveling and meets Tom along the way. Fast forward a few decades, and Maggie is a fresh-out of college new employee creating a podcast and convinces her manager to give her the episode about Ann. The travel scenes were beautifully depicted, made me want to be at each of the locations! The characters and their relationships were strong but also flawed. Some of the flaws were hard to connect to, but not in a bad way. It's just that we don't always understand the way others see and do things. I gave it a 5 rating but also recognize that there were parts of the storyline that I sometimes I got lost in. Or, felt like maybe I missed reading something.
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