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Worlds Apart
An emotional and hopeful debut that asks: Can first love survive 18 years, 11,000 miles and a lifetime of misunderstandings?
Eighteen years ago, teenage Amy fled England, pregnant and heartbroken, to start over in New Zealand with her parents. Now Chris, the love she left behind, has walked into her beloved café by the beach and thrown her life into turmoil.
As far as Amy’s concerned, Chris chose to ignore the child she was carrying when they last met. She brought up their daughter alone and created a happy home for them both on the other side of the world. But with Chris suddenly back in her life, she can no longer ignore the past and begins to wonder what really happened all those years ago.
Old secrets and new revelations cast Amy’s world into doubt. What if this is her last chance at something truly meaningful? Can there really be a happy ending for everyone?
Eighteen years ago, teenage Amy fled England, pregnant and heartbroken, to start over in New Zealand with her parents. Now Chris, the love she left behind, has walked into her beloved café by the beach and thrown her life into turmoil.
As far as Amy’s concerned, Chris chose to ignore the child she was carrying when they last met. She brought up their daughter alone and created a happy home for them both on the other side of the world. But with Chris suddenly back in her life, she can no longer ignore the past and begins to wonder what really happened all those years ago.
Old secrets and new revelations cast Amy’s world into doubt. What if this is her last chance at something truly meaningful? Can there really be a happy ending for everyone?
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2023
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6709 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
April 3, 2023
(2.5 stars) This debut contemporary romance by author Jane Crittenden is an Amazon First Read and had me invested and interested in the story for the first 15% or so of the book. The writing is actually very good (except for I/me//subject/object confusion and a bit of a problem with lie/lay tenses) and the setting New Zealand. Now who wouldn't like that?
But as I continued reading, my stress levels due to exasperation kept rising and rising. WTF anyway. I have read this plot before but never written to these heights of drawn-out misunderstanding and miscommunication.
The story is written in alternating NOW and THEN sections. In the THEN sections 17-year-old English girl Amy falls in love with a cute fellow student named Chris. At the same time she is also making friends, or trying to, with a prickly new girl at school named Olivia. Chris likes Amy, Amy likes Chris, and Olivia likes Chris in secret while everyone thinks she is perfect for Chris's best friend.
In the NOW sections, which take place 18 years later, we have a close-to-40 Amy living in New Zealand with her 17-year-old daughter Bea. Before moving to NZ all those years ago, Amy had written a letter to Chris, telling him she was pregnant. Crickets from him, so off to NZ she goes with her parents, all broken hearted, to raise her daughter as a single mother.
When Chris miraculously appears in her life, on a business trip to NZ from London, he doesn't seem all that interested in knowing about Bea. Why not? What kind of callous jerk is he? So, yeah, yeah and all that. Maybe he doesn't know he is the father? Well then, tell him already, stupid Amy. But no, we have to have a dithering, dragging story that takes forever to resolve itself. All the minutia of the Chris/Amy/Olivia dynamic in the THEN sections that I confess to eventually racing through because I couldn't stand any more of these people.
I disliked everyone in this story, except maybe for Amy's Kiwi best friend Shannon. I disliked the story because it made me want to throw my Kindle out the window, under a truck, or into the garbage disposer. And the squicky reveal in Chris's and Olivia's lives in London made me wonder how we could ever have a happy ending to this so-called romance. Well, everybody was happy at the end except for me. Maybe I need to work on my tolerance and forgiveness and acceptance of questionable behavior levels.
I guess I'll give this 3 stars anyway because the author shows promise, writes relatively well, and could write a book I'd like to read if she figured out how much tolerance a reader should have to have for behavior of characters before enjoyment of the story fades.
But as I continued reading, my stress levels due to exasperation kept rising and rising. WTF anyway. I have read this plot before but never written to these heights of drawn-out misunderstanding and miscommunication.
The story is written in alternating NOW and THEN sections. In the THEN sections 17-year-old English girl Amy falls in love with a cute fellow student named Chris. At the same time she is also making friends, or trying to, with a prickly new girl at school named Olivia. Chris likes Amy, Amy likes Chris, and Olivia likes Chris in secret while everyone thinks she is perfect for Chris's best friend.
In the NOW sections, which take place 18 years later, we have a close-to-40 Amy living in New Zealand with her 17-year-old daughter Bea. Before moving to NZ all those years ago, Amy had written a letter to Chris, telling him she was pregnant. Crickets from him, so off to NZ she goes with her parents, all broken hearted, to raise her daughter as a single mother.
When Chris miraculously appears in her life, on a business trip to NZ from London, he doesn't seem all that interested in knowing about Bea. Why not? What kind of callous jerk is he? So, yeah, yeah and all that. Maybe he doesn't know he is the father? Well then, tell him already, stupid Amy. But no, we have to have a dithering, dragging story that takes forever to resolve itself. All the minutia of the Chris/Amy/Olivia dynamic in the THEN sections that I confess to eventually racing through because I couldn't stand any more of these people.
I disliked everyone in this story, except maybe for Amy's Kiwi best friend Shannon. I disliked the story because it made me want to throw my Kindle out the window, under a truck, or into the garbage disposer. And the squicky reveal in Chris's and Olivia's lives in London made me wonder how we could ever have a happy ending to this so-called romance. Well, everybody was happy at the end except for me. Maybe I need to work on my tolerance and forgiveness and acceptance of questionable behavior levels.
I guess I'll give this 3 stars anyway because the author shows promise, writes relatively well, and could write a book I'd like to read if she figured out how much tolerance a reader should have to have for behavior of characters before enjoyment of the story fades.
May 26, 2023
Spoilers! I kept waiting and waiting for Amy to reveal to Chris that he was Bea's dad. First I thought it would happen near the beginning, then she kept dragging it out and dragging out. And then she started dating him and STILL hadn't told him, which felt VERY morally wrong. And then at like 60% of the way into the book, I thought surely she'll tell him now. But then, literally, at the end of the last chapter, she hands him the letter to tell him, and boom, it ends. Like....we literally NEVER get to see her tell him!! Which we've been waiting for the ENTIRE book. So we don't get to see his reaction, the fallout, literally nothing. And she's super judgy of him for keeping secrets from her, but she seemingly doesn't care that she still hasn't told him a pretty major secret, that he has a literal child???? And then the whole book is like Bea will be home soon, Bea will be home soon—and we don't get to see her meet her dad for the first time or anything, nothing til the epilogue.
The epilogue was super lame too. Yipee, she has another baby with him. We don't even see Amy. What about her business that she spent pages and pages blathering about? Can we at least hear about the reno and how her business is doing? No, too much to ask?
Also, this is seemingly set in present day, and I am the same exact age as the characters, which is why I found it bizarre that in the teen sections that they don't have cell phones or seemingly use email. Like Amy wrote a LETTER to tell him she was pregnant?? Girl, call him, text him, send him a damn email!! Pretty sure they have email in NZ. Amy uses a literal payphone at one point.
All the miscommunication drama felt overwrought and overly complicated. This is a book whose entire premise could be resolved by a single email.
The epilogue was super lame too. Yipee, she has another baby with him. We don't even see Amy. What about her business that she spent pages and pages blathering about? Can we at least hear about the reno and how her business is doing? No, too much to ask?
Also, this is seemingly set in present day, and I am the same exact age as the characters, which is why I found it bizarre that in the teen sections that they don't have cell phones or seemingly use email. Like Amy wrote a LETTER to tell him she was pregnant?? Girl, call him, text him, send him a damn email!! Pretty sure they have email in NZ. Amy uses a literal payphone at one point.
All the miscommunication drama felt overwrought and overly complicated. This is a book whose entire premise could be resolved by a single email.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2023
4.5*
A brilliant debut novel. Read it in one day because I just could not put it down. I enjoyed the storytelling, the angst, and all the secrets. I love a book that keeps me guessing almost to the very end.
** Available in April via "Amazon First Reads."
Prime members enjoy a FREE pre-release Kindle book each month
A brilliant debut novel. Read it in one day because I just could not put it down. I enjoyed the storytelling, the angst, and all the secrets. I love a book that keeps me guessing almost to the very end.
** Available in April via "Amazon First Reads."
Prime members enjoy a FREE pre-release Kindle book each month
May 16, 2023
arc provided by netgalley and lake union publishing
warning: this isn’t a review, it’s just a rant. the mc (amy) is insane, her severe mommy issues stunted her growth so much she believes her own 18 yr old daughter going on a three month solo trip around the world after graduating is equivalent to being abandoned and also almost upends her entire life when she is damn near 40 years old after finding out her high school boyfriend (chris) cheated on her two decades ago. the other storyline is of her absolutely unhinged ex best friend (olivia) who is the third person in this love triangle and the way her irrationally possessive crush on chris is described I am shocked either amy or chris end up still alive at the end of the book. I was honestly hoping this would turn into a romeo and juliet-esque murder suicide by then as none of these horrible people deserved a happy ending. also, miscommunication is a plot device but should not be the entire plot. you can’t just divulge the mc’s biggest secret on page 1 and then let her keep it from the other mc for the entire book and not expect me to be angry??
warning: this isn’t a review, it’s just a rant. the mc (amy) is insane, her severe mommy issues stunted her growth so much she believes her own 18 yr old daughter going on a three month solo trip around the world after graduating is equivalent to being abandoned and also almost upends her entire life when she is damn near 40 years old after finding out her high school boyfriend (chris) cheated on her two decades ago. the other storyline is of her absolutely unhinged ex best friend (olivia) who is the third person in this love triangle and the way her irrationally possessive crush on chris is described I am shocked either amy or chris end up still alive at the end of the book. I was honestly hoping this would turn into a romeo and juliet-esque murder suicide by then as none of these horrible people deserved a happy ending. also, miscommunication is a plot device but should not be the entire plot. you can’t just divulge the mc’s biggest secret on page 1 and then let her keep it from the other mc for the entire book and not expect me to be angry??
February 1, 2026
I was a little disappointed with this one because based on the cover I thought it was going to have something to do with different worlds or alternate universes. This was not the case. It was a romance but there was a love triangle going on as well as lots of heartbreak. I hesitate a little to call this a romance. There were two different points of view. Our main character Amy, tells her story in present day. The other story is that of Olivia, best friend to Amy. Her story is told about the past when they were 18 years old. I was a little frustrated with events and wanted the story to move on. I didn't get the resolution I wanted until the very end. This is not a bad story, it was just not at all what I was expecting.
December 23, 2022
What happens when everything you thought you knew about your past—and the great lost love of your life—turn out to be all wrong? Jane Crittenden explores that question in this dual POV, dual timeline debut about second chance romance. I loved the complexity of each character, particularly the protagonist, Amy. You can’t help but root for her happiness even as the life she’s built begins to unravel with each new (and surprising) revelation from her past. But each twist is matched only by the book’s huge heart. It’s an epic love story, but it’s also a touching story of family, friendship and forgiveness.
March 8, 2023
How I loved this story. That delicious angst of first love magnified beautifully by something misunderstood and, finally, comprehension and the chance to set things right. It has it all - an evocative setting, complicated characters and a tale that keeps you turning those pages. Super!
April 19, 2023
Thanks to Amazon first reviews for allowing me to read this.
I was very frustrated reading this. It went back and forth way too much. Like, many of the plot that happened did not need to happen. Also the ending was way too abrupt. Usually the epilogue is suppose to be an add on to the ending. However, it seemed to be the ending itself. Anyways I would not really recommend this to anyone but the reason why it’s not a 1 is because the writing style was easy to read just the plot was frustrating.
✿e-book source: Amazon first reviews
I was very frustrated reading this. It went back and forth way too much. Like, many of the plot that happened did not need to happen. Also the ending was way too abrupt. Usually the epilogue is suppose to be an add on to the ending. However, it seemed to be the ending itself. Anyways I would not really recommend this to anyone but the reason why it’s not a 1 is because the writing style was easy to read just the plot was frustrating.
✿e-book source: Amazon first reviews
April 3, 2023
This was a great read, set in New Zealand in a dual time-line this sweet story I dealt with a couple who fell in love and drifted apart only to find each other again after a long time. I enjoyed the way this story came together.
April 12, 2023
“This is a book whose entire premise could be solved by an email.” review made me lol. She’s not wrong.
August 25, 2024
i wish to be worlds apart from this book
April 24, 2023
Second chances come full circle involving young love, young friendships and unknown meddling of profound secrets changing the course of all involved until a reconnection years later.
May 21, 2023
kind of shit but it made me cry so
April 1, 2023
So close & yet so far...
A story of a romance separated into puzzle pieces which are finally put back together many years later.
It's an intriguing, albeit improbable, premise - a woman left to raise her child alone encounters the sperm donor 18 years later. Not surprisingly, she's hostile, but he seems to be clueless. What happened & why?
It hooked me in right away & kept me reading to see the final picture once all the pieces were assembled, though admittedly it did frequently feel overly drawn out. The story is complex - miscommunications & secrets are uncovered, and there's a friend, Olivia, who has a lot to do with them
There are themes of forgiveness, healing & found family with humor sprinkled in to keep things from getting too angsty
*** CONTENT ***
Casual, recreational sex - PG-13 level description, no graphic details
Moderate-level swearing + 28 f-bombs
Some 100 trivial (vain) uses of the Lord's Name, none as curses at least, fwiw
(Dear author, just a point to ponder - you lose potential readers by being inconsiderate of their beliefs, but lose no one for leaving the abuse out)
A story of a romance separated into puzzle pieces which are finally put back together many years later.
It's an intriguing, albeit improbable, premise - a woman left to raise her child alone encounters the sperm donor 18 years later. Not surprisingly, she's hostile, but he seems to be clueless. What happened & why?
It hooked me in right away & kept me reading to see the final picture once all the pieces were assembled, though admittedly it did frequently feel overly drawn out. The story is complex - miscommunications & secrets are uncovered, and there's a friend, Olivia, who has a lot to do with them
There are themes of forgiveness, healing & found family with humor sprinkled in to keep things from getting too angsty
*** CONTENT ***
Casual, recreational sex - PG-13 level description, no graphic details
Moderate-level swearing + 28 f-bombs
Some 100 trivial (vain) uses of the Lord's Name, none as curses at least, fwiw
(Dear author, just a point to ponder - you lose potential readers by being inconsiderate of their beliefs, but lose no one for leaving the abuse out)
September 3, 2023
This ENTIRE book is about miscommunication. While it was written very well and had me so drawn into the world, I HATE that trope and it caused all of these characters to waste so much time in their lives! Olivia absolutely had a messed up thought process, but Amy was also very blind to those around her, and freaking Chris??? Men, I tell you. Communication is key people!!!!
May 21, 2023
Miscommunication as a plot device is totally ok. Miscommunication as the entire plot is super frustrating.
The story and writing were engaging enough to keep me reading, but I had so many complaints throughout (mostly about the story and characters, but there were also a few grammar issues).
I got this one as an Amazon first read, and it reminded me why I don't often choose a book from their selections each month.
The story and writing were engaging enough to keep me reading, but I had so many complaints throughout (mostly about the story and characters, but there were also a few grammar issues).
I got this one as an Amazon first read, and it reminded me why I don't often choose a book from their selections each month.
May 30, 2023
3,5 ⭐️
Having devoured this debut novel pretty quickly (which rarely happens), I can say I look forward to read her next books. That isn’t without saying that the ending fell short since important parts of the plot were left out, unanswered, ignored. However melodramatic at times, I loved the incoherence in the characters. I feel as though it made them more real.
P.S.: I swear my review isn’t biased by the fact New Zealand is my dream destination.
Having devoured this debut novel pretty quickly (which rarely happens), I can say I look forward to read her next books. That isn’t without saying that the ending fell short since important parts of the plot were left out, unanswered, ignored. However melodramatic at times, I loved the incoherence in the characters. I feel as though it made them more real.
P.S.: I swear my review isn’t biased by the fact New Zealand is my dream destination.
January 17, 2024
Well told story!
Enjoyed this novel about two friends. Told from the past and the present and via two different perspectives, this plot moved quickly and engagingly to its conclusion. The central idea is perhaps we never understand life fully as we are living it, especially when we are young and emotionally all over the place. I loved the friendship between Amy and Olivia particularly because neither of them had the “ideal” life. This was worth reading and satisfying!
Enjoyed this novel about two friends. Told from the past and the present and via two different perspectives, this plot moved quickly and engagingly to its conclusion. The central idea is perhaps we never understand life fully as we are living it, especially when we are young and emotionally all over the place. I loved the friendship between Amy and Olivia particularly because neither of them had the “ideal” life. This was worth reading and satisfying!
April 25, 2023
What just happened?
I found this type of " now and then" writing a little weary at first, but I hung on simply to find out why ! The descriptions of the characters and the realness of life's challenges over the decades was riveting. I have to admit, I really enjoyed the journey, with all it's uncertainty, since this is really how life unfolds for all of us, isn't it?
I found this type of " now and then" writing a little weary at first, but I hung on simply to find out why ! The descriptions of the characters and the realness of life's challenges over the decades was riveting. I have to admit, I really enjoyed the journey, with all it's uncertainty, since this is really how life unfolds for all of us, isn't it?
December 14, 2022
Debut author Jane Crittenden is certainly going to become an auto-purchase author for many readers! I truly could not put this book down. The story of Amy and Chris was beautifully written, and I ripped through each page dying to find out what happened between them. The author’s lovely depiction of the seaside New Zealand town transported me there and the community of minor characters all contributed splendidly to this warm and heartfelt story. Not to mention the character of Olivia (Amy’s friend) was so complex, I empathized for her all while questioning her choices. If you love JoJo Moyes or Liane Moriarty, you will absolutely love Jane Crittenden!
December 20, 2022
This book transported me to New Zealand a - country it's clear the author knows well. I loved experiencing it along with the characters! The book has a then and now structure, so we gradually discover the secrets that led to the main character's situations in a very satisfying way. I was rooting for Ivy and Chris to reconnect after so many wasted years, but it was hard to see how this could happen - a sign of an excellent romance, because who wants it to be easy? The author made me care for her characters as well as to despair and worry and celebrate right along with them. A highly enjoyable read, and I can't wait to read Jane Crittenden's next book!
January 3, 2023
This gorgeous book whisks you to the other side of the world, to a waterfront cafe in New Zealand... and then back to the UK, 18 years before, where Amy and Chris first met. The power of first love with all its faltering, shy and unsure moments is captured brilliantly by Jane Crittenden. Likewise, the way that, even as so-called grown-ups, unfortunately we continue to miss the right moments to speak the truth and put things right.
I was rooting for her characters and so invested I wanted to reach into their world and help straighten out the tangled strands of Amy and Chris's love story. But the course of true love never did run smooth and there are plenty of surprises and twists in store for our star-crossed lovers. You're kept guessing until the very end in this lovely debut about forgiveness, families, mistakes and misunderstandings. Worlds Apart takes us on a journey around the globe but centres on the fundamental emotions that forge - and sometimes thwart - our most important relationships.
I was rooting for her characters and so invested I wanted to reach into their world and help straighten out the tangled strands of Amy and Chris's love story. But the course of true love never did run smooth and there are plenty of surprises and twists in store for our star-crossed lovers. You're kept guessing until the very end in this lovely debut about forgiveness, families, mistakes and misunderstandings. Worlds Apart takes us on a journey around the globe but centres on the fundamental emotions that forge - and sometimes thwart - our most important relationships.
January 25, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Amy moved to New Zealand with her parents 17 years ago because she was expecting a daughter. She tried contacting the father but he ignored it so she realized she was on her own. Now he appears seventeen years later as if that didn’t happen, still charming and handsome as ever, as if that didn’t happen. The more Amy interacts with him the more she wonders what secrets have been kept both from her and from him and a lot of it stems around their friend Olivia.
I tore through this book! It was such an addicting story and I wanted to see what happened. I also loved that the story took place in Auckland, a city I’m familiar with and have enjoyed visiting, so it brought back good memories. The characters were well-written and it felt like I was in their environment. Very happy I got to read this book ahead of time and can’t wait to see what the author writes next! Highly recommend this book.
Amy moved to New Zealand with her parents 17 years ago because she was expecting a daughter. She tried contacting the father but he ignored it so she realized she was on her own. Now he appears seventeen years later as if that didn’t happen, still charming and handsome as ever, as if that didn’t happen. The more Amy interacts with him the more she wonders what secrets have been kept both from her and from him and a lot of it stems around their friend Olivia.
I tore through this book! It was such an addicting story and I wanted to see what happened. I also loved that the story took place in Auckland, a city I’m familiar with and have enjoyed visiting, so it brought back good memories. The characters were well-written and it felt like I was in their environment. Very happy I got to read this book ahead of time and can’t wait to see what the author writes next! Highly recommend this book.
January 10, 2024
2.5 stars - predictable and filled with tropes/storylines I just don’t care for. It’s a good clean romance which I appreciated but not my cup of tea personally!
September 6, 2023
She worked off all those delicious cakes by constantly jumping to conclusions.
April 29, 2023
Frustratingly Realistic & Flawed Characters
I don't usually write reviews, but this was such a lovely debut novel that here I am writing one, the morning after I cried my way through the final chapters.
Amy was 18 when she found herself pregnant, just before her parents were set to move from the UK to New Zealand. She writes a letter explaining everything to the baby's father, Chris -- her first serious boyfriend -- but he never answers or comes to find her and the baby in NZ.
Fast-forward 19 years and her daughter, Bea, is traveling abroad when Chris shows up unexpectedly in the cafe Amy owns on the beach in NZ. Amy wrote him off years ago and wants nothing to do with him, but her best friend Shannon points out that she should get some closure and talk things out with him. Not only that, but Amy is torn about what this will mean for Bea, who's never met her father.
The book has shifting narrators -- some chapters are Then (narrated in 3rd person by Amy's self-destructive best friend Olivia) and some are Now (narrated by Amy in the 1st person). I dreaded the Olivia chapters -- she was in a toxic downward spiral during the worst year of her life -- but as the novel went on, it became more and more clear why we needed Olivia's perspective.
Likewise, Amy isn't in a great place either, since the novel literally begins with the sentence, "He's here." These might not be the worst months of Amy's life -- that would be her first year in NZ as she waits for Chris -- but they might be the second-worst, as all the stability she's worked hard to create falls apart around her. It's fortunate that the Olivia chapters show a completely different side of Amy, without the resentment she has toward Chris.
Amy's impulsive and quick to react, fiercely loyal to friends and her found family, and when she feels, she feels fully. These can be positive qualities -- like when college-Amy refuses to give up on Olivia, who clearly needs a friend. But it also drives some of the most frustrating scenes with NZ-Amy.
I was really confused in the first Olivia chapter -- especially given that we'd already met Amy and Chris in chapter 1. Fortunately, I enjoy shifting narrators, particularly when there are gaps to puzzle out. I also admit that I wasn't really committed to any of these characters (or the book itself) until chapter 11, when the first of uncountable misunderstandings becomes clear (although I suspected earlier).
I'm not one for romantic meet-cute novels (or in this case, meet-not-cute), so it's possible the plot didn't feel as obvious to me as it did to some reviewers. I, too, was so frustrated with Amy. Why didn't she just write another letter (or call)? Why is she taking so long to talk the whole thing out with Chris?
If we had reasonable, rational characters, this would have been an extremely boring short story. But we don't -- both narrators are in emotional turmoil and act irrationally because of it. I read this in two nights -- I was really reluctant to put it down the first night and eager to get back to it the next day. But the interval gave me a chance to think through the characters instead of being frustrated with their missteps, and it was the distance I needed to realize that the author had actually done a really good job with the characters' psychology. They could hardly have behaved any differently given their circumstances. Amy (now) is emotionally overwrought at Chris's sudden appearance, and she's had time to build up 19 years of anger and resentment. Olivia (then) is hardly a sympathetic character because her current home life has brought out her self-destructive streak.
The amazing thing (and what brought on the waterworks) was how, by the final chapters, each character redeemed themselves (or turned out not to be the a****le we assumed them to be). The final chapter and epilogue felt anti-climactic as far as the romance aspect goes, but narratively I think anything more would have been a bit boring after the constant drama of all the preceding chapters.
*I received this book for free via Amazon First Reads.
Content Warnings:
-- Sexual encounters (narrative cuts away)
-- Characters whose default curses are f*** and Chr***
-- Gender slurs like sl** and wh**e
-- Mention of abortion (not acted on)
-- Alcoholism
-- Various unhealthy mother-daughter relationships (overly-controlling & emotionally distant; absentee parent; overly-involved & emotionally smothering)
-- NZ & British spelling and vocabulary usage (e.g., bungy, secondment, manoeuvre, sixth form) /s
I don't usually write reviews, but this was such a lovely debut novel that here I am writing one, the morning after I cried my way through the final chapters.
Amy was 18 when she found herself pregnant, just before her parents were set to move from the UK to New Zealand. She writes a letter explaining everything to the baby's father, Chris -- her first serious boyfriend -- but he never answers or comes to find her and the baby in NZ.
Fast-forward 19 years and her daughter, Bea, is traveling abroad when Chris shows up unexpectedly in the cafe Amy owns on the beach in NZ. Amy wrote him off years ago and wants nothing to do with him, but her best friend Shannon points out that she should get some closure and talk things out with him. Not only that, but Amy is torn about what this will mean for Bea, who's never met her father.
The book has shifting narrators -- some chapters are Then (narrated in 3rd person by Amy's self-destructive best friend Olivia) and some are Now (narrated by Amy in the 1st person). I dreaded the Olivia chapters -- she was in a toxic downward spiral during the worst year of her life -- but as the novel went on, it became more and more clear why we needed Olivia's perspective.
Likewise, Amy isn't in a great place either, since the novel literally begins with the sentence, "He's here." These might not be the worst months of Amy's life -- that would be her first year in NZ as she waits for Chris -- but they might be the second-worst, as all the stability she's worked hard to create falls apart around her. It's fortunate that the Olivia chapters show a completely different side of Amy, without the resentment she has toward Chris.
Amy's impulsive and quick to react, fiercely loyal to friends and her found family, and when she feels, she feels fully. These can be positive qualities -- like when college-Amy refuses to give up on Olivia, who clearly needs a friend. But it also drives some of the most frustrating scenes with NZ-Amy.
I was really confused in the first Olivia chapter -- especially given that we'd already met Amy and Chris in chapter 1. Fortunately, I enjoy shifting narrators, particularly when there are gaps to puzzle out. I also admit that I wasn't really committed to any of these characters (or the book itself) until chapter 11, when the first of uncountable misunderstandings becomes clear (although I suspected earlier).
I'm not one for romantic meet-cute novels (or in this case, meet-not-cute), so it's possible the plot didn't feel as obvious to me as it did to some reviewers. I, too, was so frustrated with Amy. Why didn't she just write another letter (or call)? Why is she taking so long to talk the whole thing out with Chris?
If we had reasonable, rational characters, this would have been an extremely boring short story. But we don't -- both narrators are in emotional turmoil and act irrationally because of it. I read this in two nights -- I was really reluctant to put it down the first night and eager to get back to it the next day. But the interval gave me a chance to think through the characters instead of being frustrated with their missteps, and it was the distance I needed to realize that the author had actually done a really good job with the characters' psychology. They could hardly have behaved any differently given their circumstances. Amy (now) is emotionally overwrought at Chris's sudden appearance, and she's had time to build up 19 years of anger and resentment. Olivia (then) is hardly a sympathetic character because her current home life has brought out her self-destructive streak.
The amazing thing (and what brought on the waterworks) was how, by the final chapters, each character redeemed themselves (or turned out not to be the a****le we assumed them to be). The final chapter and epilogue felt anti-climactic as far as the romance aspect goes, but narratively I think anything more would have been a bit boring after the constant drama of all the preceding chapters.
*I received this book for free via Amazon First Reads.
Content Warnings:
-- Sexual encounters (narrative cuts away)
-- Characters whose default curses are f*** and Chr***
-- Gender slurs like sl** and wh**e
-- Mention of abortion (not acted on)
-- Alcoholism
-- Various unhealthy mother-daughter relationships (overly-controlling & emotionally distant; absentee parent; overly-involved & emotionally smothering)
-- NZ & British spelling and vocabulary usage (e.g., bungy, secondment, manoeuvre, sixth form) /s
April 29, 2023
I really did enjoy this book, but the last 20% of it made me feel more frustrated and let down than I cared to. The beginning was great, I loved the premise, and although I found the main character to be annoying sometimes, and was slightly confused about the different perspective in the "then" sections of the book, I went along with it. Not every main character has to be likeable, and I believed that Amy felt the way she was described - even if it was slightly annoying.
All in all, this was a cute book, pretty easy read, and I appreciate the idea behind it, I just personally feel like the ending kind of let down the rest of the book.
All in all, this was a cute book, pretty easy read, and I appreciate the idea behind it, I just personally feel like the ending kind of let down the rest of the book.
March 19, 2024
Terrible Boyfriend and Mate
Wow what an absolutely sugar coated resolution to her cheating scumbag mate and boyfriend who lied to her.
They slipped into each others knickers as soon as they could the vile toxic selfish individuals who performed friendship with her while lying and snogging behind her back.
Ugh i hate chris.
Hes horrible.
He should have spoken up.
I hate olivia.
Shes horrible.
She should have spoken up.
Both of them are assholes.
Bullying sanitisers chasing down the energy sponge.
"Oh I couldn't find you to let you know I was fucking Olivia five minutes after you left. Now accept my love bomb, i was just fucking her, I made love to you."
Boke.
Wheres the resolution?
Olivia and Chris just gets to shrug like that usual toxic bully all "woopsie did we have a life without you?"
Women like Olivia are why people believe men and women can't be mates, when its just people like Olivia, don't know how to be mates. People like Chris, gets to cheat, gets to get two friends pregnant in weeks of each other, gets to lie for almost a whole book about being married, and its all ok because he had strong feelings about it.
Patriarchial Parable.
Wow what an absolutely sugar coated resolution to her cheating scumbag mate and boyfriend who lied to her.
They slipped into each others knickers as soon as they could the vile toxic selfish individuals who performed friendship with her while lying and snogging behind her back.
Ugh i hate chris.
Hes horrible.
He should have spoken up.
I hate olivia.
Shes horrible.
She should have spoken up.
Both of them are assholes.
Bullying sanitisers chasing down the energy sponge.
"Oh I couldn't find you to let you know I was fucking Olivia five minutes after you left. Now accept my love bomb, i was just fucking her, I made love to you."
Boke.
Wheres the resolution?
Olivia and Chris just gets to shrug like that usual toxic bully all "woopsie did we have a life without you?"
Women like Olivia are why people believe men and women can't be mates, when its just people like Olivia, don't know how to be mates. People like Chris, gets to cheat, gets to get two friends pregnant in weeks of each other, gets to lie for almost a whole book about being married, and its all ok because he had strong feelings about it.
Patriarchial Parable.
April 28, 2023
I received a digital copy of this novel as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Plot summary: 18 year-old Amy is pregnant when she leaves England for New Zealand. Eighteen years later, her child’s father arrives unexpectedly at her business.
I liked the writing style. I thought it flowed well. The story is told in a dual timeline which I enjoyed but I know some don’t.
Lack of communication and poor communication seemed to be the major plot drivers which is a device I find very annoying. Just not my thing.
I think character of the child’s father could have been more fleshed out. I would have liked to hear more from him.
Overall, the writing was fine but not a theme that I enjoy or would normally read.
Plot summary: 18 year-old Amy is pregnant when she leaves England for New Zealand. Eighteen years later, her child’s father arrives unexpectedly at her business.
I liked the writing style. I thought it flowed well. The story is told in a dual timeline which I enjoyed but I know some don’t.
Lack of communication and poor communication seemed to be the major plot drivers which is a device I find very annoying. Just not my thing.
I think character of the child’s father could have been more fleshed out. I would have liked to hear more from him.
Overall, the writing was fine but not a theme that I enjoy or would normally read.
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