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Love Like This
★★★★★ “An exploration of female identity, desire, and the utter unpredictability of love.” Steve Almond, author of All the Secrets of the World
For the first time in a lifetime, Angelina and Will can choose again. After twenty-two years with children at home, she has no idea what she wants and is counting on the empty house to figure it out.
But he already knows—he wants her, all to himself.
Nine days into their child-free life, he quits his job and announces he’s home to stay. So Angelina announces she’s returning to nursing, this time in home health care.
In his new basement workroom, Will enjoys making boxes, but the quiet house sends him in search of music, where he meets Stella who reveals more than the magic of iPods.
Meanwhile, Angelina's first patient is an unpredictable woman named Lucy who reveals a particular magic of her own, as does her billboard-painting son John Milton. As Angelina and Will’s life together becomes increasingly tense and their days apart become increasingly comfortable, it looks like Will may be the one to get the empty house.
Love Like This drops you inside a long-term marriage, where you’ll be screaming either stay or go—as you weigh the value of sticking with the familiar versus the value of venturing into the unknown.
For the first time in a lifetime, Angelina and Will can choose again. After twenty-two years with children at home, she has no idea what she wants and is counting on the empty house to figure it out.
But he already knows—he wants her, all to himself.
Nine days into their child-free life, he quits his job and announces he’s home to stay. So Angelina announces she’s returning to nursing, this time in home health care.
In his new basement workroom, Will enjoys making boxes, but the quiet house sends him in search of music, where he meets Stella who reveals more than the magic of iPods.
Meanwhile, Angelina's first patient is an unpredictable woman named Lucy who reveals a particular magic of her own, as does her billboard-painting son John Milton. As Angelina and Will’s life together becomes increasingly tense and their days apart become increasingly comfortable, it looks like Will may be the one to get the empty house.
Love Like This drops you inside a long-term marriage, where you’ll be screaming either stay or go—as you weigh the value of sticking with the familiar versus the value of venturing into the unknown.
278 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2023
2 people are currently reading
2645 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Newberry Martin
4 books79 followersI grew up in the sixties in the heart of Atlanta, went to college in North Carolina, spent a year teaching English in France, practiced law, and had kids. French was my first passion, but I had a free moment back in late 90's, and when I thought about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, I thought, books are so cool and I decided I wanted to do what they did. Currently, I spend my days in Columbus, GA, with my husband, and in Provincetown, MA, in a little house by the water. Provincetown is my favorite place on earth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 6, 2023
"Love Like This" is a book I won't forget. Quietly compelling, it paints a portrait of live at middle age, the choices, struggles, and deepest longings of men and women. I just finished and am reading it again from the beginning in case I missed one nuanced line. Gorgeous prose and meditative storytelling, I am eager to share this novel with all my friends. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. #lovelikethis #NetGalley
April 1, 2023
From the moment I started reading this book about empty-nesters Angelina and Will, I couldn't put down this riveting novel until I finished the final page. Cynthia Newberry Martin has a knack for offering both the kind of beautiful prose you slow down to reread for the compelling phrasing and suspenseful plot twists that made me wonder if the couple would stay together or not. The pacing is deft and wonderful as is the development of the protagonist.
The novel is peopled with characters who offer insight after insight into the tender vulnerability and surprise connections of middle age. Lucy and her son, John Milton, add their own complications and possibilities to Angelina's days that read authentically and underscore the no-option-is-easy twists and turns when one finds oneself in the midst of compounded changes.
Will's boxes and John Milton's billboard painting offer additional layers to savor in the narrative.
This is a book that resonates with rich questions about hope, personal and couple evolution over time, identity, and the great potential of beginning anew or not. Cynthia Newberry Martin has written a page-turner!
The novel is peopled with characters who offer insight after insight into the tender vulnerability and surprise connections of middle age. Lucy and her son, John Milton, add their own complications and possibilities to Angelina's days that read authentically and underscore the no-option-is-easy twists and turns when one finds oneself in the midst of compounded changes.
Will's boxes and John Milton's billboard painting offer additional layers to savor in the narrative.
This is a book that resonates with rich questions about hope, personal and couple evolution over time, identity, and the great potential of beginning anew or not. Cynthia Newberry Martin has written a page-turner!
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October 5, 2023Well, not sure what to say about this one. First, I love the cover! And, finally, I totally related to this married couple, but only because I’m at the same point in my life they are. BUT I do NOT agree with their actions! And then sadly, the ending fell flat for me. Sounds awful, but I would not recommend this book to someone in their 20s and single. Lol. Fun to BuddyRead this one and discuss! 2.5⭐️
April 2, 2025
Какая-то она растрепанная
April 10, 2023
This is an intimate psychological portrait of two people in a marriage at a tipping point. Please note I say "two people" and not "a couple", and that is intentional. Angelina and Will have just sent their last child off to school, and now have to reckon with the next phase in their life. Turns out they've been on autopilot, fulfilling the needs of the family, doing what is expected of them, and now are suddenly confronted with getting to choose what they want, and questioning if it's still each other.
The prose is beautiful and vividly paints a picture of the settings. Each of the mobile homes, Angelina and Will's home, the porch, the closets, how billboards are built, the clothing worn by other people at Angelina's gym -- I can call these into mind even now. It's some of the best scene establishment I've read. There's some fantastic symbolism underpinning the whole thing too. Agoraphobia, the close relationship between feeling safe and feeling trapped when it comes to containment, the peril of birds and the "empty nesters", Will's boxes, etc. Great use of motifs.
Despite its technical proficiency the book still didn't do it for me, and I think I've narrowed it down to two reasons why.
Reason number one: wayyyy too many maggots
Reason number two: I can appreciate a book that's almost claustrophobically inside of the characters' heads, but I expect it to make me understand those characters. Maybe it's an intentional choice meant to indicate that these characters don't understand themselves either, but it was just totally opaque. Angelina's passion for nudity, her deep connection with Lucy, her love for and irritation with Will -- these are all presented as facts to be accepted. In the classic writer's craft adage of showing rather than telling, this does a lot of telling about the characters but not enough showing to convince me.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC.
The prose is beautiful and vividly paints a picture of the settings. Each of the mobile homes, Angelina and Will's home, the porch, the closets, how billboards are built, the clothing worn by other people at Angelina's gym -- I can call these into mind even now. It's some of the best scene establishment I've read. There's some fantastic symbolism underpinning the whole thing too. Agoraphobia, the close relationship between feeling safe and feeling trapped when it comes to containment, the peril of birds and the "empty nesters", Will's boxes, etc. Great use of motifs.
Despite its technical proficiency the book still didn't do it for me, and I think I've narrowed it down to two reasons why.
Reason number one: wayyyy too many maggots
Reason number two: I can appreciate a book that's almost claustrophobically inside of the characters' heads, but I expect it to make me understand those characters. Maybe it's an intentional choice meant to indicate that these characters don't understand themselves either, but it was just totally opaque. Angelina's passion for nudity, her deep connection with Lucy, her love for and irritation with Will -- these are all presented as facts to be accepted. In the classic writer's craft adage of showing rather than telling, this does a lot of telling about the characters but not enough showing to convince me.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC.
June 9, 2023
”Over the years, what she told herself was that marriage required compromise, and compromise required that people soften their edges. But softening her edges meant she was less herself.”
A friend of mine recently received a copy of this book from the publisher and her review of it immediately made me want to read it. Middle-aged couple adjusting to a surprise retirement: yes, that interests me. I am at the stage of life myself and I enjoy reading books which provide parallels to my own experiences.
At the beginning of the story, Angelina and Will have just taken their youngest of three daughters to college. On the verge of 50, Angelina is looking forward to having the house to herself. She wants privacy, the opportunity to stretch out; she needs some space and time to reclaim herself. She wants to figure out who she is and what she wants after all of those years of service as a wife and mother. But then, after only a week of this fledging freedom, Will decides to walk out of his job. He looks forward to being at home and spending more time with Angelina; she is totally stricken at the thought.
Although the word “menopause” is never mentioned in this novel, Angelina has all of the physical and emotional symptoms of it. She is going through a profound change, and it’s not just the “empty nest” rite-of-passage. Her restlessness and newfound recklessness spur her to make all sorts of changes in her life - everything from taking a new job as a home-care nurse to embarking on a love affair. She begins to test the rules and boundaries that she felt compelled to obey, and she starts to abandon some of the old fears which kept her hemmed in to certain routines and rituals.
Will is a part of the story, too, and the reader is also privy to his own tentative steps towards figuring out what he is going to do next. He’s not an unsympathetic character at all, and he and Angelina have had a mostly happy and successful marriage, but it’s easy enough to imagine why Angelina wants some breathing space.
A mother and son pair called Lucy and John Milton are the secondary characters in the novel, and when Angelina’s life becomes intertwined with theirs, she begins to recognise that people who she might judge (or pity) are actually living more authentic lives than she is.
The novel doesn’t completely resolve, and the reader is left to guess at what might happen in this marriage. Although I didn’t love the writing style, it was likeable enough - and certainly compelled me to read on.
February 27, 2024
Completely relatable characters in a well-paced story that kept my interest and often surprised me.
March 16, 2023
I was drawn to Love Like This because in so many ways my life parallels that of Angeline, it almost felt like I was reading my memoir. The plot was so relatable. Especially in the beginning of the book when Angeline’s children flew the nest and she had to figure out who she was without her children at home to define her. I admired how Angeline took charge of her new life and explored her new identity. At times I was frustrated with Angeline and her husband Will when I felt that they were wandering down new paths that could destroy them as a couple. But that only added to the authenticity of the story. When we are faced with options and choices, which path will we take and what will the implications be?
I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much to Booksirens for an advanced review copy for free. This is the first book I’ve read by Cynthia Newberry Martin and I am happy to say I was thoroughly impressed.
I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much to Booksirens for an advanced review copy for free. This is the first book I’ve read by Cynthia Newberry Martin and I am happy to say I was thoroughly impressed.
September 9, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. It’s very well-written. However, this is not one of those books that had me on the edge of my seat, constantly wondering what would happen next. If I’m being honest, I didn’t want to know what might happen next because I was afraid I might not like it. It’s not exactly a happy story, although it does have happy moments. And much like in real life, there’s no clear ending. I felt like it could have gone on longer. I wanted the author to tell me the resolution, not leave me pondering the many ways things could have happened after the story ended. That’s just a personal preference. The fact is, this is a thought-provoking story and I understood and empathized with Angelina and Will equally. I don’t want to give a synopsis of the story, especially for a story with an unclear conclusion, and I don’t want to give my interpretation of it because I don’t want to color someone else’s experience.
There were fascinating observations throughout the story. Those I will share because I think they’re note-worthy.
When Will hears an old hit song, he muses, “Song lyrics stayed with you so long. Longer than the people you’d listened to the songs with.”
As Angelina reflects on her life and how it has revolved around everyone else—her husband, her children—following the rules, and doing what was expected of her, she realizes something about her relationship with her husband: “He was a mirror she looked into every day, and each time she looked there was less of her there. She was so much more than Will knew. But she couldn’t see that person anymore—the image was too faint. What she needed was a new mirror.”
Although Angelina wants to change, she realizes that Will wants things to remain the same and that’s their main conflict. She was looking forward to an empty nest because she would finally have time to herself. Then, Will decided to retire so he could spend more time at home with her. She wanted to expand while he wanted to contract, and by retiring and being home all the time, Will made it impossible for Angelina to explore who she really was deep inside. “She grabbed her jacket off the coat rack.” Will had put these by the back door for the two of them and their three daughters. “Five hooks, as if he could freeze time. As if by nailing exactly five hooks by the back door he could keep them all nailed to his house.”
The entire story has a very dreamlike quality to it. I almost wondered if I had imagined it. Or maybe the characters were imagining it and sharing it with me. Much of the time, both characters were stuck in their heads, unable to communicate their needs and desires to the other. At one point, they talk and Will wonders why he didn’t tell her he wanted to spend more time with her at home, without the kids, while she wonders why she didn’t tell him she had looked forward to their departure as a time to spend time in solitude. They both love one another and reflect on that throughout the story, so even when one does something that bothers the other, they never attribute bad intentions to it. Sometimes love isn’t enough, though. In the end, the reader is left wondering whether it is. I suppose, if you’re like me, you choose to believe it is and provide your own HEA. For others, perhaps freedom and independence are more important. A nebulous ending like this has the ability to fit anyone’s perspective and provide the happy ending they desire.
There were fascinating observations throughout the story. Those I will share because I think they’re note-worthy.
When Will hears an old hit song, he muses, “Song lyrics stayed with you so long. Longer than the people you’d listened to the songs with.”
As Angelina reflects on her life and how it has revolved around everyone else—her husband, her children—following the rules, and doing what was expected of her, she realizes something about her relationship with her husband: “He was a mirror she looked into every day, and each time she looked there was less of her there. She was so much more than Will knew. But she couldn’t see that person anymore—the image was too faint. What she needed was a new mirror.”
Although Angelina wants to change, she realizes that Will wants things to remain the same and that’s their main conflict. She was looking forward to an empty nest because she would finally have time to herself. Then, Will decided to retire so he could spend more time at home with her. She wanted to expand while he wanted to contract, and by retiring and being home all the time, Will made it impossible for Angelina to explore who she really was deep inside. “She grabbed her jacket off the coat rack.” Will had put these by the back door for the two of them and their three daughters. “Five hooks, as if he could freeze time. As if by nailing exactly five hooks by the back door he could keep them all nailed to his house.”
The entire story has a very dreamlike quality to it. I almost wondered if I had imagined it. Or maybe the characters were imagining it and sharing it with me. Much of the time, both characters were stuck in their heads, unable to communicate their needs and desires to the other. At one point, they talk and Will wonders why he didn’t tell her he wanted to spend more time with her at home, without the kids, while she wonders why she didn’t tell him she had looked forward to their departure as a time to spend time in solitude. They both love one another and reflect on that throughout the story, so even when one does something that bothers the other, they never attribute bad intentions to it. Sometimes love isn’t enough, though. In the end, the reader is left wondering whether it is. I suppose, if you’re like me, you choose to believe it is and provide your own HEA. For others, perhaps freedom and independence are more important. A nebulous ending like this has the ability to fit anyone’s perspective and provide the happy ending they desire.
March 31, 2023
I received a free digital copy of this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5/5 but rounding up to 3.
Understated, intimate character study that just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I found the dialogue (John Milton’s, often) and sentence structure slightly clunky and stilted in a handful of places, and as much as I liked Angelina’s character, I wish we’d gotten just a little more insight into her inner monologue.
Will, to me, was obtuse and largely unsympathetic, and I had trouble connecting with him or rooting for him. His narrative felt so secondary to Angelina’s that I felt like it should have either been fleshed out more or removed entirely.
I really wanted to like this much more than I did, since I read it as an ARC, and moreover, it’s the first ARC I’ve read in years—that’s why I’m rounding up to a full star on Goodreads when I normally wouldn’t. I also recognize that I’m definitely not the target demographic here: this is a novel about the complexities of marriage and family life and making sense of things in middle age. I, however, am a single person in my twenties, and I’m just not necessarily the audience this is meant for. I can see this resonating much more with someone who connected with it thematically or who has had those life experiences. You can definitely feel how much of the author’s own heart and life experience she put into this, especially with Angelina's character, and that was wonderful.
2.5/5 but rounding up to 3.
Understated, intimate character study that just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I found the dialogue (John Milton’s, often) and sentence structure slightly clunky and stilted in a handful of places, and as much as I liked Angelina’s character, I wish we’d gotten just a little more insight into her inner monologue.
Will, to me, was obtuse and largely unsympathetic, and I had trouble connecting with him or rooting for him. His narrative felt so secondary to Angelina’s that I felt like it should have either been fleshed out more or removed entirely.
I really wanted to like this much more than I did, since I read it as an ARC, and moreover, it’s the first ARC I’ve read in years—that’s why I’m rounding up to a full star on Goodreads when I normally wouldn’t. I also recognize that I’m definitely not the target demographic here: this is a novel about the complexities of marriage and family life and making sense of things in middle age. I, however, am a single person in my twenties, and I’m just not necessarily the audience this is meant for. I can see this resonating much more with someone who connected with it thematically or who has had those life experiences. You can definitely feel how much of the author’s own heart and life experience she put into this, especially with Angelina's character, and that was wonderful.
April 14, 2025
Every once in a while an author perfectly captures the reality of marriage at a specific, precipitous time in a couple’s life together, and Cynthia Newberry Martin has done just that in LOVE LIKE THIS.
The story takes place at the naturally precarious time when parents finally get their kids off to college and take a long, slow look at each other while wondering if this is the person they want to spend another few decades with.
This story starts when Angelina waking up to hear her husband leave for work on the very first day she officially has the house all to herself now that the last of her three kids has been safely deposited at university. Angelina roams the house as she pleases, understanding this is just the beginning of a thorough life evaluation to determine whether change is necessary to again become the person she used to be before marriage.
But then her husband gets laid off. Having already saved for retirement, he’s ready to stay home and enjoy being with his wife. Resentful at having her journey truncated, Angelina begins finding any excuse to get out of the house. She loves her husband, but not the constrained box their life has become.
What I like best is the author's realistic portrayal of this marital depiction. There are conversations left unsaid; awkward and hurtful moments; and many thoughts of love and how that can change. And blessedly, nowhere are their Hollywood histrionics!
The story takes place at the naturally precarious time when parents finally get their kids off to college and take a long, slow look at each other while wondering if this is the person they want to spend another few decades with.
This story starts when Angelina waking up to hear her husband leave for work on the very first day she officially has the house all to herself now that the last of her three kids has been safely deposited at university. Angelina roams the house as she pleases, understanding this is just the beginning of a thorough life evaluation to determine whether change is necessary to again become the person she used to be before marriage.
But then her husband gets laid off. Having already saved for retirement, he’s ready to stay home and enjoy being with his wife. Resentful at having her journey truncated, Angelina begins finding any excuse to get out of the house. She loves her husband, but not the constrained box their life has become.
What I like best is the author's realistic portrayal of this marital depiction. There are conversations left unsaid; awkward and hurtful moments; and many thoughts of love and how that can change. And blessedly, nowhere are their Hollywood histrionics!
April 1, 2023
This was an intriguing look at marriage after many years of parenting. Angelina and Wiil are finally empty nesters, with their last daughter off to college. Angelina is thrilled to have some freedom she has missed for twenty-two years. Will wants to spend more time with Angelina and leaves his job. The following story shows their reactions to a new life with some POV chapters.
Most people who have been married can identify with the peaks and valleys of many years spent raising children and building a life together. Angelina reveals feelings and thoughts she has pushed down for a long time. She takes up nursing again and finds interesting people to engage with, giving her more perspective on where she has been and where she might want to be.
Both characters are somewhat unlikeable, but CNM lays out the entire story in a most creative and revelatory way. I enjoyed reading and relating to a look at a long marriage.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.
Most people who have been married can identify with the peaks and valleys of many years spent raising children and building a life together. Angelina reveals feelings and thoughts she has pushed down for a long time. She takes up nursing again and finds interesting people to engage with, giving her more perspective on where she has been and where she might want to be.
Both characters are somewhat unlikeable, but CNM lays out the entire story in a most creative and revelatory way. I enjoyed reading and relating to a look at a long marriage.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.
April 6, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley and Vine Leaves Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this new novel by Cynthia Newberry Martin - 4.5 stars!
Angelina is looking forward to an empty nest for the first time in decades. She stopped working as a nurse to raise her three girls while her husband, Will, worked outside the home. Now she wants to spend time figuring out her new life and looks forward to her empty house. But nine days after they dropped their youngest off at college, Will announces that he quit his job and is looking forward to spending time at home with Angelina.
I can relate to this couple and their feelings of figuring out their lives after so long being mostly associated with being someone else's parent. The author's writing style pulled me in and made me feel the longing and struggles this couple felt, even while they were still in love. The ending is left open just like our own endings are still to be told. Great book!
Angelina is looking forward to an empty nest for the first time in decades. She stopped working as a nurse to raise her three girls while her husband, Will, worked outside the home. Now she wants to spend time figuring out her new life and looks forward to her empty house. But nine days after they dropped their youngest off at college, Will announces that he quit his job and is looking forward to spending time at home with Angelina.
I can relate to this couple and their feelings of figuring out their lives after so long being mostly associated with being someone else's parent. The author's writing style pulled me in and made me feel the longing and struggles this couple felt, even while they were still in love. The ending is left open just like our own endings are still to be told. Great book!
April 19, 2023
After dropping their youngest child off at college, stay-at-home mom, Angelina, cannot wait to have an empty house. Her disappointment is palpable, however, when her husband walks in the door after losing the job he has held for decades.
At first, I was able to understand her frustration; a little time to herself is not too much to hope for, is it? But the level of her dissatisfaction - the ongoing pouting and unpleasantness - got ridiculous. Surely, there are worse things than a husband who wants to spend time with you?
Near the end of the story, when her behavior becomes even more drastic, she lost me completely. I hope the author doesn’t expect this to be a character that we’re supposed to like.
Thanks to #netgalley and #vineleavespress for this #arc of #lovelikethis in exchange for an honest review.
At first, I was able to understand her frustration; a little time to herself is not too much to hope for, is it? But the level of her dissatisfaction - the ongoing pouting and unpleasantness - got ridiculous. Surely, there are worse things than a husband who wants to spend time with you?
Near the end of the story, when her behavior becomes even more drastic, she lost me completely. I hope the author doesn’t expect this to be a character that we’re supposed to like.
Thanks to #netgalley and #vineleavespress for this #arc of #lovelikethis in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2023
A story about how people change as their lives enter new stages. Will and Angelina had different expectations for how their lives would be when their kids were all out of the home. But neither of them really talked to each other about those expectations. It was an interesting journey to see how much they both tried to make their new lives work, and how much they actually wanted the other one to be a part of their future. I was struck by Will wanting what he had always relied upon, and Angelina wanting something more. Something less a compromise and more for herself. While the story overall was good, I did feel like I was watching things happen from afar, and almost felt detached from the characters.
* I received an advance copy from Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
* I received an advance copy from Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 18, 2023
Love Like This
By Cynthia Newberry Martin
Angelina and Will have been married for a long time. They have raised three daughters – and have just sent their "baby" off to college. Then the "empty nester"/middle-aged crisis sets in.
Just at the moment that Angelina finally feels she will have the house – and time - all to herself, Will announces he has lost his job. He wants to retire to spend more time with her. She wants to be free – and he wants to be joined at the hip!
For anyone who has experienced this stage of life, the book rings very true to life. How this couple – both individually and as a couple – decide what they want going forward, makes for a though-provoking read.
By Cynthia Newberry Martin
Angelina and Will have been married for a long time. They have raised three daughters – and have just sent their "baby" off to college. Then the "empty nester"/middle-aged crisis sets in.
Just at the moment that Angelina finally feels she will have the house – and time - all to herself, Will announces he has lost his job. He wants to retire to spend more time with her. She wants to be free – and he wants to be joined at the hip!
For anyone who has experienced this stage of life, the book rings very true to life. How this couple – both individually and as a couple – decide what they want going forward, makes for a though-provoking read.
February 9, 2024
Well this was a find - a true hidden gem. It's a quiet story of a marriage - the theme I love best - with a fresh voice and twist. Angelina and Will have been married for 23 years and are finally empty nesters. Angelina can't wait to have the house to herself and figure out what she wants next in her life but her quiet time doesn't last long - 9 days later Will has left his job and retired and he is always there with the same predictable questions and no time for her to think and be. I loved how Angelina both "loved Will to pieces" and also needed space - she realized she had adapted her life to his preferences and forgot what made her feel alive. The book becomes a journey of self-discovery for Angelina - and even for Will.
February 3, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m not sure I will ever be able to truly describe this book. The characters and the story spoke to me.
I will admit that parts of the story felt painfully slow, but overall the pacing was good and the story did not feel like it was too long.
Angelina was such a dynamic character and felt very relatable!
This story about making choices and finding yourself after years of marriage and motherhood will stick with me for a long time.
I’m not sure I will ever be able to truly describe this book. The characters and the story spoke to me.
I will admit that parts of the story felt painfully slow, but overall the pacing was good and the story did not feel like it was too long.
Angelina was such a dynamic character and felt very relatable!
This story about making choices and finding yourself after years of marriage and motherhood will stick with me for a long time.
March 11, 2023
This was a delightful book that explores what happens in a marriage when empty nest occurs. Angelina and Will's exploration into what they both need on their different paths was an engaging story line that kept me wanting more. Angelina's re-entry into nursing and her relationship with Lucy was well developed. This was a great story and one I recommend as a good read.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to review this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to review this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 31, 2023
Finally reaching empty nest status, Angelina and Will have differing ideas on what it means. To Angelina, it is freedom away from all the pressures of motherhood and a time, at long last, to breathe. To Will, it is a time to spend time with Angelina to be together without kids. He quits his job and learns of their different needs. Such an interesting and involving story of finding true north amid a time of confusion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 22, 2023
A thoughtful, realistic and unsentimental look at a long-term marriage at a turning point, that has the reader flip-flopping loyalties between what is best for Angelina, what is best for Will and what is best for their family, until the very end. Love Like This is an exploration of what we give up and gain from relationships, what we loose and we find in ourselves and the deeper meaning of longstanding love, longings and friendship. The perfect book to discuss with your girlfriends while sitting on the porch sipping wine and contemplating life.
November 3, 2024
The weaving of a woman's craving for beauty and ambivalence about commitment to a man, even a good one, are two of the threads that ran throughout this compact and beautifully-written novel. The third important one for me is Martin's simple, elegant prose with words chosen as carefully as a painter chooses their brush or color.
I loved the questions it raised about how motherhood and marriage are impacted when a woman loves both her partner and her work. The introduction of a health issue draws it all into sharp relief for the main character. A bonus: I learned a bit about art!
I loved the questions it raised about how motherhood and marriage are impacted when a woman loves both her partner and her work. The introduction of a health issue draws it all into sharp relief for the main character. A bonus: I learned a bit about art!
May 1, 2023
I loved this book. There was so much quiet, gentle tension that kept me turning the pages. I was riveted and I read the book in less than a week (fast for me). It was well plotted, filled with tons of symbolism and meaning. I felt like I was in safe and trusted hands with this author. The end was a surprise but also, I felt, exactly right. I found the whole experience to be terribly satisfying and I kind of want to read it again.
August 27, 2024
Seems like I am in the minority here, but as someone going on 30 years of marriage, I thought I would find a lot to relate to here. Instead, I felt like the main characters were simplistic and under-articulated and I had no sense of them as real people, at all. I didn’t understand their motivations and therefore did not understand or appreciate the arc of the story.
May 26, 2023
AHHH I love this look into the mind of an empty nester woman. My favorite chapter was when she ate the candy bars right in her husbands face!! Ha. This felt so relatable in a weird way because I am not an empty nester. But I could still feel what she was feeling. I really really loved this book.
July 4, 2023
I love the movement of this novel and the protagonist. From her living a life “inside the lines” towards one filled with vivid colors and possibilities. The lines are not so much erased but no longer boundaries, just suggestions that were useful in another life.
August 25, 2023
Loved this surprising take on the next phase empty nest phase of life within a marriage. Loved the scenes of aloneness and togetherness. Loved the important strangers who shake up the status quo. For readers who love Anne Tyler and Anne Patchett.
October 14, 2023
I loved this novel for both its subject matter and characters. I felt that Lucy was the perfect disruptor for Angelina, the main character whose three daughters have left home and afforded her time to question who she is. The mix of characters and the desire that drives Angelina lead to some surprising situations. And I love how this novel allows her to find her own voice. Not that I didn’t feel sympathetic toward her husband, Will. This is all to say that the author manages the complexities of Angelina’s situation masterfully. Love Like This is a beautiful novel.
October 12, 2023
This tale of mature relationship rings true and doesn't fall into the trap of a formulaic ending -- even if it's not the ending I wanted!
March 7, 2025
This one captivated me. It's a fascinating exploration of desire vs obligations and the impacts they have on relationships. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
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