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Andi Cutrone #2
Ordinary World
Six years after leaving New York, Andi has everything she a tenured professorship at Northampton University in Massachusetts, a published collection of essays, good friends, and a blissful relationship with her husband. But what happens when tragedy strikes and the world as she knows it changes in an instant?
Author Elisa Lorello reunites us with Andi and has created a story of love and loss, joy and sorrow, and heartbreak and hope, all the while keeping us hooked through the laughter and tears.
Author Elisa Lorello reunites us with Andi and has created a story of love and loss, joy and sorrow, and heartbreak and hope, all the while keeping us hooked through the laughter and tears.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2009
160 people are currently reading
627 people want to read
About the author
Elisa Lorello
18 books212 followersElisa Lorello was born and raised on Long Island, the youngest of seven children. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and launched a career teaching rhetoric and composition. She has been teaching first-year writing to university students since 2000, but went on sabbatical in fall 2012. Elisa spent six years in North Carolina, where she split her time between teaching and writing, and returned to the northeast in October 2012.
Elisa is the author of the Kindle best-selling novels "Faking It" and "Ordinary World", "Why I Love Singlehood" (co-authored with Sarah Girrell), and "Adulation".
Some of Elisa's favorite pastimes include chocolate, reading, and walking. She is also an avid fan of Duran Duran, pop tarts, and finding the perfect shade of lipstick.
Elisa is the author of the Kindle best-selling novels "Faking It" and "Ordinary World", "Why I Love Singlehood" (co-authored with Sarah Girrell), and "Adulation".
Some of Elisa's favorite pastimes include chocolate, reading, and walking. She is also an avid fan of Duran Duran, pop tarts, and finding the perfect shade of lipstick.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
August 26, 2019
This book had me revisit a conundrum which I've had in the past: "is it possible to like a book when you dislike one of the MCs?" Sometimes the answer has been YES, particularly when there's another to balance it out or the story is particularly riveting. Sadly, in this case, the answer is a no. Not an ALL CAPS no, but a no nonetheless.
This is a sequel to Faking It. It picks up 5 years after the events in that book, and I can't really recommend it as a standalone. Andi's husband, Sam, has died and practically the entirety of this book is a journey from paralyzing grief to living again. So not really a romance. Thankfully I haven't lived through such an experience, but most of the stages Andi goes through seem pretty authentic. My problem is that, besides her mourning, Andi comes off pretty much as selfish and unempathetic to anything but her own feelings.
David, her 'tutor' from the last book, unexpectedly comes back into her life, and they sort of start up a relationship. A very unequal one in which David is willing to lay everything on the line, but Andi can't even pay him the courtesy of addressing him by his name. I know many, and clearly the author too, will pull out the "Andi is grieving" card, but it goes beyond that. Grief can be an all consuming thing, which something Andi has always resented her mother for, how she shut down after Andi's father died. If she knows this, if she's not ready to be open to anyone else, why string David along when she knows he wants so much more? To make matters worse, in this outing of Andi and her world, reiterated what I felt about her in the last book. She's one of those women, written by the author as wonderful, though she doesn't know it (super coyly), but I don't know. Andi seems more like the girl who has always been pampered and cared for by men: her father, her brothers, her husband, her male friends. Not her fault, and I'm not complaining, but it makes her define her life (and most of the women in this series are characterized the same) by the men in it. She has a PhD, she's a published author, she's a well regarded professor, and yet she's still holding a gripe over a boyfriend who broke up with her over six years ago (frankly I thought he had good cause), obsessed over her body, snippy about other women, particularly if they flirt with men she's claimed as hers, (but not really) etc. Save for two female friends, Andi's attitude towards other women can only be described as catty, even with her own mother. In her perception all women look down on her, or are trying to flirt/steal her man du jour.
Wore is Andi's/the author's double or triple moral stance on sex, specifically slut shaming. David/Devin can never overcome having been an escort, it's something Andi never wastes anytime throwing in his face whenever she's feeling pressured. She's a "bring a gun to a knife fight" kind of girl. In her mind David is always "Devin The Escort", and she's not being charitable when she says it. The women who used David's services where either taken advantage of by an escort, or shameless hussies, not grown women with agency and sexual urges or fantasies of their own, which they acted on. The fact that Andi herself used David, and has him to thank for her "sexual liberation" is irrelevant. She's downright cruel and selfish when it comes to David, to the point of telling him , but the narrative is meant for us, the readers, to be on Andi's side. She's the heroine of this story. I didn't buy that ticket. I understand sorrow, loss, and grief but it doesn't exempt you from being a decent human being. If you find you can't manage those things maybe it's best to not socialize, much less romantically tether someone to you.
As always YMMV and I'll probably listen to the 3rd book in the series, because I like Cynthia Barrett's narration, and I'm a completist nut.
This is a sequel to Faking It. It picks up 5 years after the events in that book, and I can't really recommend it as a standalone. Andi's husband, Sam, has died and practically the entirety of this book is a journey from paralyzing grief to living again. So not really a romance. Thankfully I haven't lived through such an experience, but most of the stages Andi goes through seem pretty authentic. My problem is that, besides her mourning, Andi comes off pretty much as selfish and unempathetic to anything but her own feelings.
David, her 'tutor' from the last book, unexpectedly comes back into her life, and they sort of start up a relationship. A very unequal one in which David is willing to lay everything on the line, but Andi can't even pay him the courtesy of addressing him by his name. I know many, and clearly the author too, will pull out the "Andi is grieving" card, but it goes beyond that. Grief can be an all consuming thing, which something Andi has always resented her mother for, how she shut down after Andi's father died. If she knows this, if she's not ready to be open to anyone else, why string David along when she knows he wants so much more? To make matters worse, in this outing of Andi and her world, reiterated what I felt about her in the last book. She's one of those women, written by the author as wonderful, though she doesn't know it (super coyly), but I don't know. Andi seems more like the girl who has always been pampered and cared for by men: her father, her brothers, her husband, her male friends. Not her fault, and I'm not complaining, but it makes her define her life (and most of the women in this series are characterized the same) by the men in it. She has a PhD, she's a published author, she's a well regarded professor, and yet she's still holding a gripe over a boyfriend who broke up with her over six years ago (frankly I thought he had good cause), obsessed over her body, snippy about other women, particularly if they flirt with men she's claimed as hers, (but not really) etc. Save for two female friends, Andi's attitude towards other women can only be described as catty, even with her own mother. In her perception all women look down on her, or are trying to flirt/steal her man du jour.
Wore is Andi's/the author's double or triple moral stance on sex, specifically slut shaming. David/Devin can never overcome having been an escort, it's something Andi never wastes anytime throwing in his face whenever she's feeling pressured. She's a "bring a gun to a knife fight" kind of girl. In her mind David is always "Devin The Escort", and she's not being charitable when she says it. The women who used David's services where either taken advantage of by an escort, or shameless hussies, not grown women with agency and sexual urges or fantasies of their own, which they acted on. The fact that Andi herself used David, and has him to thank for her "sexual liberation" is irrelevant. She's downright cruel and selfish when it comes to David, to the point of telling him , but the narrative is meant for us, the readers, to be on Andi's side. She's the heroine of this story. I didn't buy that ticket. I understand sorrow, loss, and grief but it doesn't exempt you from being a decent human being. If you find you can't manage those things maybe it's best to not socialize, much less romantically tether someone to you.
As always YMMV and I'll probably listen to the 3rd book in the series, because I like Cynthia Barrett's narration, and I'm a completist nut.
July 5, 2011
I was depressed and bored through the entire book. Yes it had a happy ending but too much trouble to get there.
STORY BRIEF:
This is the sequel to Faking It. They need to be read in order. In Faking It Andi became close friends with Devin a male escort who helped her get over her sexual inhibitions. She then met Sam and fell in love. She and Sam married. Five years later Sam is killed by a drunk driver which is where this story begins. For almost the entire book Andi is grieving the loss of Sam. Because of grief she lashes out at her students and takes a leave of absence from her teaching job. Throughout the book she is selfish, critical, and mean to people who care about her. She takes a trip to Italy and accidentally runs into Devin again. He still cares for her and helps her while she grieves.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Someone experiencing personal grief might like this more than I did. I want to be entertained with books. This was no fun. It was depressing. I wanted it to be over. Devin was so likeable. He treated her so well. I didn’t like her, and I felt she didn’t deserve him. Yes I know she was grieving, but she was so mean. For example, one time she got mad at him and left just because he called her sweetheart which was something Sam used to do. My feeling was why is he putting up with her? After reading both books, I could never understand why he liked or loved her. What did he see in her? I never knew. The books are told in first person by Andi, which was part of the problem. We never saw Devin’s point of view.
The author states the song “Ordinary World” by Duran, Duran was her inspiration for this book. Returning to the “ordinary world” was Andi’s goal – to come out of her depression. So when you hear her saying that life with Sam was fabulous and life with Devin was ordinary, ordinary is a good thing, not an inferior thing.
I did like the thoughts on page 292. Andi is quoting “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl. “Frankl says that between stimulus and response, one is free to choose. Do you know what that means? It means I can choose the way I respond to Sam’s death, to my mother’s behavior, to my students’ writing… In the face of powerlessness, that was my ticket to freedom. I could choose to be eaten alive by grief, to spend the rest of my life living in fear of that powerlessness and the unknowable; or, I could respond differently. Not react – respond. I could either keep Sam alive in me and others, or bury him along with his physical body.”
DATA:
Story length: 310 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2 (told not shown). Total number of sex scene pages: 2. Setting: current day Massachusetts, New York, Italy, and Peru (with some traveling to other places). Copyright: 2010 (first published in 2009). Genre: women’s relationship fiction, chick lit.
DISCLOSURE:
This book was provided to me free of charge through the Amazon Vine Program in return for my writing a review.
STORY BRIEF:
This is the sequel to Faking It. They need to be read in order. In Faking It Andi became close friends with Devin a male escort who helped her get over her sexual inhibitions. She then met Sam and fell in love. She and Sam married. Five years later Sam is killed by a drunk driver which is where this story begins. For almost the entire book Andi is grieving the loss of Sam. Because of grief she lashes out at her students and takes a leave of absence from her teaching job. Throughout the book she is selfish, critical, and mean to people who care about her. She takes a trip to Italy and accidentally runs into Devin again. He still cares for her and helps her while she grieves.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Someone experiencing personal grief might like this more than I did. I want to be entertained with books. This was no fun. It was depressing. I wanted it to be over. Devin was so likeable. He treated her so well. I didn’t like her, and I felt she didn’t deserve him. Yes I know she was grieving, but she was so mean. For example, one time she got mad at him and left just because he called her sweetheart which was something Sam used to do. My feeling was why is he putting up with her? After reading both books, I could never understand why he liked or loved her. What did he see in her? I never knew. The books are told in first person by Andi, which was part of the problem. We never saw Devin’s point of view.
The author states the song “Ordinary World” by Duran, Duran was her inspiration for this book. Returning to the “ordinary world” was Andi’s goal – to come out of her depression. So when you hear her saying that life with Sam was fabulous and life with Devin was ordinary, ordinary is a good thing, not an inferior thing.
I did like the thoughts on page 292. Andi is quoting “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl. “Frankl says that between stimulus and response, one is free to choose. Do you know what that means? It means I can choose the way I respond to Sam’s death, to my mother’s behavior, to my students’ writing… In the face of powerlessness, that was my ticket to freedom. I could choose to be eaten alive by grief, to spend the rest of my life living in fear of that powerlessness and the unknowable; or, I could respond differently. Not react – respond. I could either keep Sam alive in me and others, or bury him along with his physical body.”
DATA:
Story length: 310 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2 (told not shown). Total number of sex scene pages: 2. Setting: current day Massachusetts, New York, Italy, and Peru (with some traveling to other places). Copyright: 2010 (first published in 2009). Genre: women’s relationship fiction, chick lit.
DISCLOSURE:
This book was provided to me free of charge through the Amazon Vine Program in return for my writing a review.
November 5, 2013
Another exceptional read. Another wonderful interpretation of learning to find and love yourself amidst a very tragic personal experience, losing the one you love.
This book, again, had me fall in love with the main character, Andi, and how "real" her character felt. There was no hidden perfection in her character. She was flawed and realistic, her reactions not censored by the author, but in fact written to evoke a natural emotion. Her revelation in this book was awe-inspiring. She goes thru a roller coaster of emotions and takes you along for the ride: anger, sorrow, happiness, regret, confusion, self-realization, and inevitably self-acceptance. The key take-away from this story was to love yourself in your current state, rather than try to go back to the way things used to be.
The story enforces the idea that only you can take control of your life and it's up to you to determine how to deal with the pain and move on. Although an extreme circumstance, this logic holds true to any painful experiences in life. The author supports a very clear message that I embrace whole-heartedly, YOU are in charge of yourself and the firmer a grasp you take on accepting yourself, the easier your transition back to the "Ordinary World" will become. You have to let go of the past and love yourself for the future.
I dropped one star only because the ending was a bit predictable. However, still a wonderful journey to personal revelation and self-realization and acceptance.
This book, again, had me fall in love with the main character, Andi, and how "real" her character felt. There was no hidden perfection in her character. She was flawed and realistic, her reactions not censored by the author, but in fact written to evoke a natural emotion. Her revelation in this book was awe-inspiring. She goes thru a roller coaster of emotions and takes you along for the ride: anger, sorrow, happiness, regret, confusion, self-realization, and inevitably self-acceptance. The key take-away from this story was to love yourself in your current state, rather than try to go back to the way things used to be.
The story enforces the idea that only you can take control of your life and it's up to you to determine how to deal with the pain and move on. Although an extreme circumstance, this logic holds true to any painful experiences in life. The author supports a very clear message that I embrace whole-heartedly, YOU are in charge of yourself and the firmer a grasp you take on accepting yourself, the easier your transition back to the "Ordinary World" will become. You have to let go of the past and love yourself for the future.
I dropped one star only because the ending was a bit predictable. However, still a wonderful journey to personal revelation and self-realization and acceptance.
March 8, 2013
I thought this book was absolutely heartbreaking. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one but I still found this book very interesting. I felt so bad for David/Devin throughout the whole book. I though Andi was awful to him, I understand she was grieving but I just felt so bad that David had to suffer a lot too. However, in the end I like how she was a different person and she made up with David.
May 28, 2015
3.5 I'm torn with my feelings for this story for several reasons. First, I really, really enjoyed Faking it; I could relate to Andi and her insecurities, her past failed romance, her love and closeness with her brothers, and her strained relationship with her Mother. She was successful in her profession, but somehow, it didn't translate into her personal life; that is until she met Devin/David. David helped instill trust and confidence in areas where she had only known fear; and that helped Andi move on to find true love in her life, yet in the process, she hurt Devin/David deeply. Ordinary World picks up with Andi and Sam happy and ready to celebrate their 5th Wedding Anniversary; little did she know, that she would become a widow that evening.
The second reason for my mixed feelings, is this sadness and pain in the overall theme of this book; now that is not a bad thing, in fact, the author did a brilliant job of illustrating Andi's grief and how she dealt with it. It was so brilliant in fact that I found myself so very frustrated with Andi, and how she treated people, especially David during this time. Yes, he re-enters her life in an unexpected way, and his feelings are as strong as ever, yet he is patient, giving and kind to the grief that Andi is experiencing. Please know that I respected and appreciated the fact that Andi was devastated over Sam's senseless death, and that she needed to grieve and heal in her own way; I just did not like her very much in the process, as she came across as selfish and sometimes down right mean. I found myself hoping that David would find love elsewhere and move on, but the heart wants what it wants, and he wanted Andi. The author was able to engage and engulf me into the spiral of Andi's emotions, and I was vested in her recovery, even as I was frustrated with her; to me, this speaks to the wonderful writing ability of her work. It is a good addition to the Faking it story, but I'm hoping that the next book will have Andi appreciate what she had in David, and for her to truly show him what he means to her. I hope that he won't always feel that he is in Sam's shadow, which I know some of that is inevitable, but Andi doesn't have to throw it in his face all the time (ok, I'm venting). I never want to make light of the fact that loosing a spouse and moving on are trivial and easy; because of course it is just the opposite, and I really respected Andi for taking that time apart from David to heal. So with that, if she wasn't ready to date and commit to David, then don't; but please don't constantly compare him to Sam and belittle him in that way. WOW, this one really evokes some strong feelings from me, which again speaks to this author's gift. I really can't wait to see what happens next.
The second reason for my mixed feelings, is this sadness and pain in the overall theme of this book; now that is not a bad thing, in fact, the author did a brilliant job of illustrating Andi's grief and how she dealt with it. It was so brilliant in fact that I found myself so very frustrated with Andi, and how she treated people, especially David during this time. Yes, he re-enters her life in an unexpected way, and his feelings are as strong as ever, yet he is patient, giving and kind to the grief that Andi is experiencing. Please know that I respected and appreciated the fact that Andi was devastated over Sam's senseless death, and that she needed to grieve and heal in her own way; I just did not like her very much in the process, as she came across as selfish and sometimes down right mean. I found myself hoping that David would find love elsewhere and move on, but the heart wants what it wants, and he wanted Andi. The author was able to engage and engulf me into the spiral of Andi's emotions, and I was vested in her recovery, even as I was frustrated with her; to me, this speaks to the wonderful writing ability of her work. It is a good addition to the Faking it story, but I'm hoping that the next book will have Andi appreciate what she had in David, and for her to truly show him what he means to her. I hope that he won't always feel that he is in Sam's shadow, which I know some of that is inevitable, but Andi doesn't have to throw it in his face all the time (ok, I'm venting). I never want to make light of the fact that loosing a spouse and moving on are trivial and easy; because of course it is just the opposite, and I really respected Andi for taking that time apart from David to heal. So with that, if she wasn't ready to date and commit to David, then don't; but please don't constantly compare him to Sam and belittle him in that way. WOW, this one really evokes some strong feelings from me, which again speaks to this author's gift. I really can't wait to see what happens next.
July 2, 2011
This book kept coming up on my radar as I was researching my own books on Amazon.com. I bought Ordinary World after Amazon reminded me that I had bought FAKING IT when I was doing research online for my own novel, Seeing Julia. (The premise is similar: young widow finding her way back to life.)
Elisa Lorello is a prolific writer, deft at first person, and effectual at drawing readers into Andi's world as she struggles with her loss and rediscovers her life. As with Lorello's first novel, FAKING IT (which you should, absolutely, read first) readers learn even more about the world of art, literature, Italy, and even Peru. At times, the story seemed a little rushed, a little glossed over as there were lots of starts and stops for Andi in her relationships with those around her and readers may a little impatient in wanting the heroine to just get on with it. I do believe that is how grief works; there are lots of false starts for a person in getting over a death of a loved one, but there were a few instances with Andi that might leave the reader wondering where the story was going or where Lorello was trying to take readers. I won't say more than that because I don't want to give away too much of the story. As usual, Lorello's word choice is extraordinary and her descriptions (overall) of time, place, and works of art are amazing. The story is charming and heartbreaking at the same time. The book draws you in and you have to keep reading to find out how things turn out for Andi.
Since I discovered Elisa Lorello "late" with her novel, ORDINARY WORLD, as a follow-up to FAKING IT coming out, I stayed up until two in the morning to read both novels one right after the other. What a delectable treat that was! If you enjoy contemporary fiction, the world of literature and art, and characters trying to find their way in a chaotic world, you'll love ORDINARY WORLD. I truly did!
And, if after reading ORDINARY WORLD, you're looking for another novel in contemporary fiction - women's fiction and a story line that draws you in, read mine, SEEING JULIA.
Elisa Lorello is a prolific writer, deft at first person, and effectual at drawing readers into Andi's world as she struggles with her loss and rediscovers her life. As with Lorello's first novel, FAKING IT (which you should, absolutely, read first) readers learn even more about the world of art, literature, Italy, and even Peru. At times, the story seemed a little rushed, a little glossed over as there were lots of starts and stops for Andi in her relationships with those around her and readers may a little impatient in wanting the heroine to just get on with it. I do believe that is how grief works; there are lots of false starts for a person in getting over a death of a loved one, but there were a few instances with Andi that might leave the reader wondering where the story was going or where Lorello was trying to take readers. I won't say more than that because I don't want to give away too much of the story. As usual, Lorello's word choice is extraordinary and her descriptions (overall) of time, place, and works of art are amazing. The story is charming and heartbreaking at the same time. The book draws you in and you have to keep reading to find out how things turn out for Andi.
Since I discovered Elisa Lorello "late" with her novel, ORDINARY WORLD, as a follow-up to FAKING IT coming out, I stayed up until two in the morning to read both novels one right after the other. What a delectable treat that was! If you enjoy contemporary fiction, the world of literature and art, and characters trying to find their way in a chaotic world, you'll love ORDINARY WORLD. I truly did!
And, if after reading ORDINARY WORLD, you're looking for another novel in contemporary fiction - women's fiction and a story line that draws you in, read mine, SEEING JULIA.
October 23, 2012
I didn't know there was a sequel to "Faking It" and was thrilled to get another go at Andi and Devin. However, after reading some of the reviews before purchasing "Ordinary World", I was worried that I may not like it and may not like the direction the story would take. I knew it was going to be depressing with the death of Sam, of course. Some of the negative reviews be damned, I went for it...and I'm so glad I did!
OF COURSE, Andi was depressed, and negative, and all the things someone is after losing a great love like Sam. If she WASN'T all of those things she would have been a heartless bitch. I didn't find her grieving tiring. It was reality. She felt how she had felt. She had to work through that. So, it took her a couple of years. That's realistic!
The biggest thing I had to get over was David's change. He had changed so much since "Faking
It." It was like he and Andi changed roles a bit. He was so in love with Andi that he would put up with whatever she was willing to give him...and he said so when he stated that only 10% of her was more than 100% of any other woman. He lost her once and was never going to do so again. Some times I thought he put up with more than he should but he was madly in love and his heart knew what it wanted.
I enjoyed being witness to Andi's growth and healing. She came around full circle to become who she needed to be, on her own, in an ordinary world. Because Andi had the strength and independance to go out on her own, she became a stronger person, able to love and live to her full capability. Andi and David could live happily ever because she had the strength to let herself heal and learn to love herself.
I would enjoy reading David's side of this story, both in "Faking It" and "Ordinary World", and maybe even a new story of what happens afterwards. A girl can only wish...I should go find that fountain. :)
OF COURSE, Andi was depressed, and negative, and all the things someone is after losing a great love like Sam. If she WASN'T all of those things she would have been a heartless bitch. I didn't find her grieving tiring. It was reality. She felt how she had felt. She had to work through that. So, it took her a couple of years. That's realistic!
The biggest thing I had to get over was David's change. He had changed so much since "Faking
It." It was like he and Andi changed roles a bit. He was so in love with Andi that he would put up with whatever she was willing to give him...and he said so when he stated that only 10% of her was more than 100% of any other woman. He lost her once and was never going to do so again. Some times I thought he put up with more than he should but he was madly in love and his heart knew what it wanted.
I enjoyed being witness to Andi's growth and healing. She came around full circle to become who she needed to be, on her own, in an ordinary world. Because Andi had the strength and independance to go out on her own, she became a stronger person, able to love and live to her full capability. Andi and David could live happily ever because she had the strength to let herself heal and learn to love herself.
I would enjoy reading David's side of this story, both in "Faking It" and "Ordinary World", and maybe even a new story of what happens afterwards. A girl can only wish...I should go find that fountain. :)
September 30, 2011
I thought the previous book, Faking It, was all right. It had its flaws, but I was interested enough in the sequel. I thought the sequel would be better because Andi had finally grown up. Sadly, she was the weakest part of the book. Again.
I didn't like her in Faking It because she was very insecure and that's the number 1 turnoff for the guy. But that was part of the plot so it made sense. I actually hated her more here because she was a such a bitch to Dev/David. I got that her husband died but stringing David along and playing with his heart was totally fucked up. 6 years or not, David should have left her neurotic ass.
Also, she was very emo through the entire book but especially the first 30%. I have no experience with losing someone close. In fact, like David and most people, I don't open up. The grieving aspects of the book I found very realistic but going on a little too long.
Some things were improved upon. Andi's family had a far bigger part even if I still think they weren't in it enough. The same went for Sam, who wasn't in the last book all that much either. His presence played a huge role here. It's just a shame that not much was shown with him in it, be it this book or the last book.
Despite me not liking the emo character, the tone of the book, or not entirely relating to what happened, it still made me feel for things and for my past experiences, which is saying a lot. There is one last thing. I wished it was brushed upon why Andi and Sam didn't have a kid. I thought they would have and she was far older in here than what I expected.
I didn't like her in Faking It because she was very insecure and that's the number 1 turnoff for the guy. But that was part of the plot so it made sense. I actually hated her more here because she was a such a bitch to Dev/David. I got that her husband died but stringing David along and playing with his heart was totally fucked up. 6 years or not, David should have left her neurotic ass.
Also, she was very emo through the entire book but especially the first 30%. I have no experience with losing someone close. In fact, like David and most people, I don't open up. The grieving aspects of the book I found very realistic but going on a little too long.
Some things were improved upon. Andi's family had a far bigger part even if I still think they weren't in it enough. The same went for Sam, who wasn't in the last book all that much either. His presence played a huge role here. It's just a shame that not much was shown with him in it, be it this book or the last book.
Despite me not liking the emo character, the tone of the book, or not entirely relating to what happened, it still made me feel for things and for my past experiences, which is saying a lot. There is one last thing. I wished it was brushed upon why Andi and Sam didn't have a kid. I thought they would have and she was far older in here than what I expected.
April 30, 2012
I jumped straight into this book after finishing Fake it, which I read in one sitting. I, too, read this sequel in one sitting either. Two books in one day is UNHEARD of for me, so you must know how gripping these stories were for me! I'll admit, I loved Faking It more than this one - but was so happy to have the story continue for me.
This book was completely, completely different than the first. It was so emotional and so deep. I know many other reviewers felt the struggle between Andi and Dev was tiresome, but I understood it. As someone who has lost a person I love deeply, I know every stage of that grief that Andi went through. I couldn't believe how accurate and real the emotions that Andi felt were, and how the author was able to bring those feelings across to the reader.
I was slightly frustrated with Andi, don't get me wrong. I was glad to see her take charge of her recovery and make herself get better. I was also sad that Dev wasn't more involved in the book. I love him, so I wanted to hear more about his journey and his feelings. I wanted him to be more active in Andi's life.
The ending was fabulous and I would love to read another book about life after this one? Probably won't happen though!
This book was completely, completely different than the first. It was so emotional and so deep. I know many other reviewers felt the struggle between Andi and Dev was tiresome, but I understood it. As someone who has lost a person I love deeply, I know every stage of that grief that Andi went through. I couldn't believe how accurate and real the emotions that Andi felt were, and how the author was able to bring those feelings across to the reader.
I was slightly frustrated with Andi, don't get me wrong. I was glad to see her take charge of her recovery and make herself get better. I was also sad that Dev wasn't more involved in the book. I love him, so I wanted to hear more about his journey and his feelings. I wanted him to be more active in Andi's life.
The ending was fabulous and I would love to read another book about life after this one? Probably won't happen though!
March 9, 2013
I really enjoyed this sequel, probably even more than the first book. Although it is sad, and sometimes frustrating, to see Andi take so long to pull her life back to "ordinary", I really like the way this author writes. It was realistic. I also LOVE that this is a book about a woman in her 40's and the subject matter is not about kids/empty nest/lack of kids/OMG did I make the biggest mistake of my life in not having kids, and that she is not obsessively career-focused. Too many books with women in this age group paint them into the "I was a mommy, what do I do now?" or "I gave up everything for my career and only became sucessfuly because I stepped on everyone along the way because I'm a driven bitch". I appreciated that the author just made her a woman, trying to balance life and love. I also loved that she was not magically GREAT at everything she tried to do. What I didn't love was the push/pull relationship with Devin (and that she kept calling him Devin, but I understood why the author used that device), and the overly simplistic "I need to love me" way the book's ending started out. Too much reminiscent of Kelly from 90210, "I pick me". But, all that said, I would read more books by this promising author, and I'm glad I found these two.
January 24, 2013
I really hated Sam (ok, hate is strong word but I really disliked him) in book one for getting in the way of Andi and David. But now I feel guilty ...
I haven't cried this much while reading a book in probably ever. This was an incredibly sad and emotional jorney. I really hope the author didn't have to go through something like this because you could really feel the anguish Andi's character is feeling as you read this book.
I know this was Andi's story but I felt like we should have gotten more David.
I also felt really disappointed with the last quote of the book until I came across author's explanation of it in reply to one of the reviews on Amazon.com and now I feel a bit better knowing that it didn't mean what I thought it did.
I was also kind of hoping for an epilogue of some sort or at least another book about these two wonderful character who finally end up together.
All in all, this was a fantastic duet. I really do envy Andi who got to be loved by two wonderful men in her life when other people don't get to experience that even once in their lifetime.
I haven't cried this much while reading a book in probably ever. This was an incredibly sad and emotional jorney. I really hope the author didn't have to go through something like this because you could really feel the anguish Andi's character is feeling as you read this book.
I know this was Andi's story but I felt like we should have gotten more David.
I also felt really disappointed with the last quote of the book until I came across author's explanation of it in reply to one of the reviews on Amazon.com and now I feel a bit better knowing that it didn't mean what I thought it did.
I was also kind of hoping for an epilogue of some sort or at least another book about these two wonderful character who finally end up together.
All in all, this was a fantastic duet. I really do envy Andi who got to be loved by two wonderful men in her life when other people don't get to experience that even once in their lifetime.
June 29, 2014
I really struggled through this book. Let me tell you why. It was such a departure from Faking It and the tone that was set there. Faking It was a fun, coming into her own, sexy book. I became invested in the characters of Andi and Devin/ David. This book took all of the good feelings I had about that couple and tossed it out the window. It did not meet my expectations of what the sequel would be like. It was dark and a bit depressing and really lacked what I liked so much about book one. There was more than enough angst to go around between the main characters and at times it felt drawn out. I will say I was happy with the conclusion of this story but I'm hesitant to read the final book.
July 15, 2010
You have to read Faking It first to completely relate to this book. The story took a sharp turn and I was hooked. Faking It & Ordinary World are perfect vacation reads one right after the other.
January 13, 2018
Healing is process
I love the way the loss, grief and broken heart is written. Healing is a process and out will happen if you allow it...but even so, ones heart will know in time.
I love the way the loss, grief and broken heart is written. Healing is a process and out will happen if you allow it...but even so, ones heart will know in time.
February 25, 2018
I read this book primarily because I liked the way the first book ended. Andi, who had annoyed me throughout most of the book, seemed to grow and be content with herself. I kind of liked that the protagonist had ended up with someone other than the main male character, even if I couldn’t really understand how this insipid woman was attracting so many eligible men.
What I didn’t like:
1. The exploration of Andi’s grief. When I started this book, I knew right away that it was going to be a struggle to get through. The book is set six years after the first book ends, and Andi’s husband has just passed away. Now, I don’t mind books dealing with grief. I understand that when someone experiences loss, the grieving process can takes many shapes. My problem is that this book and the characters within it lack subtlety. It was a problem in the first book in scenes talking about intimacy, insecurities, and sex. In this book, it is a problem when exploring Andi’s grief. Also, there is a whole lot of telling, not showing in this series. There are long passages that sound like they could’ve come from a textbook about grief where Andi is talking about grief as if it’s something she’s studying from afar, not something she is wallowing in herself. It just made it very difficult to connect with her.
2. Andi. Andi as a character backslid from the end of the first book. Now, I understand she lost her husband tragically, but she is even more insufferable in this book than she was in book one. The way she treats David (yes, Andi. His name is David. Call him by his proper name, you twit!) is just awful. He is there, being caring, loving, and supportive. And she’ll flip out because he refers to her as ‘sweetheart’ because that’s what her husband used to call her. As if ‘sweetheart’ is a totally rare endearment that her husband had trademarked or something.
Also, her insecurities reach hypocritical levels in this book. She gets jealous at every woman in David’s orbit, even asking if one of them used to be a client of his when he was an escort. He mostly takes this is stride in his attempt to appease her. Later, she is going out to coffee with a man she admits is good looking and says that if she weren’t seeing David, she would be interested in him. When David sees them together and questions her, she blows up at him and says, “Jealousy doesn’t become you, David.” As if she has the high ground where that is concerned. As if her insecurities aren’t on full display at all times.
3. The ‘romance’. I honestly do not understand what David sees in her. We are supposed to believe that he loved her at first sight; loved her even after she moved on with another man, to the point that he moved to the same city that she was living in just to be in the same vicinity; loved her the entire time they were apart. And after the horrible way she’s treated him, he still supposedly loves her. Why? I don’t get it. She is selfish beyond reason. She is insecure, petty, and emotionally closed off. Honestly, she’s just plain mean! What on Earth does he get from that relationship?
4. Dialogue. I still find the dialogue atrocious in this second installment. People don’t talk the way these characters talk to each other. If I was to attempt to give examples I would have to cut and paste pretty much all the dialogue. It’s not good. I find the instances where the characters swear a perfect example. I don’t have a problem with swearing. At all. But when these characters swear, it feels so clunky and awkward and disingenuous. The scenes of intimacy struck me in the same way and I just didn’t like it at all.
Other odds and ends:
-I liked the idea of Andi going to exotic locations trying to find herself, but I didn’t really feel like I was transported. It just didn’t work for me. Especially when we get lines like: ‘The Sistine Chapel was a shitbox compared to the Incan remains of Machu Picchu.” That one sentence actually represents many of my issues with this book.
-I wish we’d seen something of David’s perspective in this book. The first showed a couple of his journal entries which were probably my favorite parts of the book. This book was strictly from Andi’s perspective, and since I don’t like Andi, I had a hard time enjoying this.
-I will say that I did appreciate the ending of this book. I won’t say exactly what happens, but it did feel like Andi actually did what she needed to do in order to be content with herself and move on with her life. But I thought the same thing at the end of book one, so who knows if it will stick?
-One last thing...this book asks the reader from the beginning to suspend disbelief to an unreal level when it asks us to believe that it’s possible that Andi and David would be in Italy at the same time and then just randomly bump into each other when Andi walks into a men’s room by mistake. Seriously? That’s a little much.
What I didn’t like:
1. The exploration of Andi’s grief. When I started this book, I knew right away that it was going to be a struggle to get through. The book is set six years after the first book ends, and Andi’s husband has just passed away. Now, I don’t mind books dealing with grief. I understand that when someone experiences loss, the grieving process can takes many shapes. My problem is that this book and the characters within it lack subtlety. It was a problem in the first book in scenes talking about intimacy, insecurities, and sex. In this book, it is a problem when exploring Andi’s grief. Also, there is a whole lot of telling, not showing in this series. There are long passages that sound like they could’ve come from a textbook about grief where Andi is talking about grief as if it’s something she’s studying from afar, not something she is wallowing in herself. It just made it very difficult to connect with her.
2. Andi. Andi as a character backslid from the end of the first book. Now, I understand she lost her husband tragically, but she is even more insufferable in this book than she was in book one. The way she treats David (yes, Andi. His name is David. Call him by his proper name, you twit!) is just awful. He is there, being caring, loving, and supportive. And she’ll flip out because he refers to her as ‘sweetheart’ because that’s what her husband used to call her. As if ‘sweetheart’ is a totally rare endearment that her husband had trademarked or something.
Also, her insecurities reach hypocritical levels in this book. She gets jealous at every woman in David’s orbit, even asking if one of them used to be a client of his when he was an escort. He mostly takes this is stride in his attempt to appease her. Later, she is going out to coffee with a man she admits is good looking and says that if she weren’t seeing David, she would be interested in him. When David sees them together and questions her, she blows up at him and says, “Jealousy doesn’t become you, David.” As if she has the high ground where that is concerned. As if her insecurities aren’t on full display at all times.
3. The ‘romance’. I honestly do not understand what David sees in her. We are supposed to believe that he loved her at first sight; loved her even after she moved on with another man, to the point that he moved to the same city that she was living in just to be in the same vicinity; loved her the entire time they were apart. And after the horrible way she’s treated him, he still supposedly loves her. Why? I don’t get it. She is selfish beyond reason. She is insecure, petty, and emotionally closed off. Honestly, she’s just plain mean! What on Earth does he get from that relationship?
4. Dialogue. I still find the dialogue atrocious in this second installment. People don’t talk the way these characters talk to each other. If I was to attempt to give examples I would have to cut and paste pretty much all the dialogue. It’s not good. I find the instances where the characters swear a perfect example. I don’t have a problem with swearing. At all. But when these characters swear, it feels so clunky and awkward and disingenuous. The scenes of intimacy struck me in the same way and I just didn’t like it at all.
Other odds and ends:
-I liked the idea of Andi going to exotic locations trying to find herself, but I didn’t really feel like I was transported. It just didn’t work for me. Especially when we get lines like: ‘The Sistine Chapel was a shitbox compared to the Incan remains of Machu Picchu.” That one sentence actually represents many of my issues with this book.
-I wish we’d seen something of David’s perspective in this book. The first showed a couple of his journal entries which were probably my favorite parts of the book. This book was strictly from Andi’s perspective, and since I don’t like Andi, I had a hard time enjoying this.
-I will say that I did appreciate the ending of this book. I won’t say exactly what happens, but it did feel like Andi actually did what she needed to do in order to be content with herself and move on with her life. But I thought the same thing at the end of book one, so who knows if it will stick?
-One last thing...this book asks the reader from the beginning to suspend disbelief to an unreal level when it asks us to believe that it’s possible that Andi and David would be in Italy at the same time and then just randomly bump into each other when Andi walks into a men’s room by mistake. Seriously? That’s a little much.
June 21, 2017
I had "Faking It" downloaded to my Kindle for quite some time before I actually got around to reading it. I stumbled across "Ordinary World", and when I realized it was the second book in the series, I finally went back thru my library to start it. I'll be honest, if I hadn't already purchased "Ordinary World", I may not have continued the series after finishing "Faking It". I understood Andi's personal growth and development throughout the story, but I was so disappointed by the ending with Devin/David that I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep going. Then after the first chapter of this book, I was in such shock at the turn of events that had taken place over the gap in time that I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen. This book made me feel so many emotions, I couldn't put it down. I finished it almost in one sitting. I feel so good about it that now I don't know if I want to even bother with the 3rd book, or just be satisfied with this as the end of Andi's story.
August 14, 2023
I really love how Elisa Lorello knows her characters, and so is able to continue their story in a real and gripping way.
This one is all about grief and I found it so compelling, while also pithy and funny. I read one review that was basically — ugh, Andi needs to move on. But I couldn’t disagree more. Andi’s character has lots of starts and stops as she comes to terms with her husband’s death. Of course she does. She pushes people away, has some cringeworthy destructive behavior, rethinks her whole life, despairs, heals some, relapses into despair, heals some more...
It felt so realistic to me and I was all in for her journey, particularly because I know Lorello ultimately has healing and love in store for her MC. Looking forward to the next place the story goes.
This one is all about grief and I found it so compelling, while also pithy and funny. I read one review that was basically — ugh, Andi needs to move on. But I couldn’t disagree more. Andi’s character has lots of starts and stops as she comes to terms with her husband’s death. Of course she does. She pushes people away, has some cringeworthy destructive behavior, rethinks her whole life, despairs, heals some, relapses into despair, heals some more...
It felt so realistic to me and I was all in for her journey, particularly because I know Lorello ultimately has healing and love in store for her MC. Looking forward to the next place the story goes.
January 3, 2018
It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t amazing either
This story has its predictable moments between the characters. You just know that Andi and David are going to keep finding each other and their fights are continuously about the same topics half the time. I’m happy it only took me a day to read this and get it over with but sadly there’s another book in the series so apparently I’ll have to finish it out.😝
This story has its predictable moments between the characters. You just know that Andi and David are going to keep finding each other and their fights are continuously about the same topics half the time. I’m happy it only took me a day to read this and get it over with but sadly there’s another book in the series so apparently I’ll have to finish it out.😝
May 27, 2023
une histoire de résilience
Je pensais que ce livre était absolument déchirant. Je n'ai pas autant aimé que le premier mais j'ai quand même trouvé ce livre très intéressant. Je me suis senti tellement mal pour David/Devin tout au long du livre.
Encore une lecture exceptionnelle. Une autre merveilleuse interprétation d'apprendre à se trouver et à s'aimer au milieu d'une expérience personnelle très tragique, perdre celui que l'on aime.
Je pensais que ce livre était absolument déchirant. Je n'ai pas autant aimé que le premier mais j'ai quand même trouvé ce livre très intéressant. Je me suis senti tellement mal pour David/Devin tout au long du livre.
Encore une lecture exceptionnelle. Une autre merveilleuse interprétation d'apprendre à se trouver et à s'aimer au milieu d'une expérience personnelle très tragique, perdre celui que l'on aime.
January 30, 2019
So wonderful
Ordinary World is a beautiful description of what it's like to dive deeply into grief and crawl back out into the ordinary. I think of this story every time I hear the Duran Duran song by the same name.
Ordinary World is a beautiful description of what it's like to dive deeply into grief and crawl back out into the ordinary. I think of this story every time I hear the Duran Duran song by the same name.
April 26, 2020
Skimmed the book until 30% when Devin/David is finally mentioned and basically a skimmed the rest until it finally got to what the readers were wanting-which was basically the last chapter. This book is hardly a romance but more on coping with grief. I was really bored with it.
June 26, 2018
Emotionally heavy
This book was emotionally heavy from the first. Although this second book leaves you wanting more... I look forward to starting book three!
This book was emotionally heavy from the first. Although this second book leaves you wanting more... I look forward to starting book three!
June 15, 2019
KindleU/Audiobook
October 28, 2019
It started off too mundane and morbid for me, then it got progressively better. Good sequel to faking it. I felt every character’s emotions.
January 4, 2023
Great book! By the end of it both of the main characters became stronger together and apart.
January 28, 2024
Darkness turns to light
I jumped straight into this book after finishing Fake it and loved it!
Yes there is heartbreak and my heart absolutely ached for Andi, although I have never experienced what Andi went through I could still understand and relate to parts of her story!
I loved the emotions I felt with this book, again I could not put it down and am now looking forward to book 3!
I jumped straight into this book after finishing Fake it and loved it!
Yes there is heartbreak and my heart absolutely ached for Andi, although I have never experienced what Andi went through I could still understand and relate to parts of her story!
I loved the emotions I felt with this book, again I could not put it down and am now looking forward to book 3!
August 23, 2011
**Suggestion: do not read review if you like going into a book having absolutely NO any idea on what it's about. I tried to keep this as vague as possible, but it's quite difficult as the "twist" is known immediately in the story. I knew the twist (read a review, whoops) - but it didn't ruin anything for me.**
You have been warned.
"Ordinary World" is the follow-up to "Faking It", by Elisa Lorello. Andi is abruptly shaken with tragedy immediately in the story. The book follows her journey through the grieving process, as well as her relationships following her loss. Andi's mind is tangled and twisted as she strives to maintain relationships and begin/rekindle anew. Her feelings of sorrow and anger complicate all facets in her life. Slowly, but surely, Andi begins to sort through and make sense of her grief.
I felt torn throughout the entire story. My naive self wanted to shake her and yell "get over it", but my heart ached empathy as I know that I would feel the same way given her situation. This book hit me hard and I was an emotional wreck trying to read it. A close friend of mine is going through a similar situation and I wish I could lend this book to anyone who feels they need to judge how someone mourns. One may look fine on the outside, but no one truly knows how tangled they are on the inside. I digress. This book gives fantastic insight of how complicated the grieving process truly is; it is **cyclical** and no two persons grieve the same way (thank you Kubler-Ross). I just loved this story. As I read the last pages of the book, I felt like the book was not finished. Maybe because grieving is never really over? Maybe there will be a 3rd book in the future? Or perhaps I just fell in love with the characters that I want to keep checking in on them. Either way, I felt "at peace" with the ending. Calm. Almost serene, even.
Gosh. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with these books. Both are on my Kindle, but I am definitely searching for the hardcovers to lend out to my friends that still refuse to purchase an e-reader.
You have been warned.
"Ordinary World" is the follow-up to "Faking It", by Elisa Lorello. Andi is abruptly shaken with tragedy immediately in the story. The book follows her journey through the grieving process, as well as her relationships following her loss. Andi's mind is tangled and twisted as she strives to maintain relationships and begin/rekindle anew. Her feelings of sorrow and anger complicate all facets in her life. Slowly, but surely, Andi begins to sort through and make sense of her grief.
I felt torn throughout the entire story. My naive self wanted to shake her and yell "get over it", but my heart ached empathy as I know that I would feel the same way given her situation. This book hit me hard and I was an emotional wreck trying to read it. A close friend of mine is going through a similar situation and I wish I could lend this book to anyone who feels they need to judge how someone mourns. One may look fine on the outside, but no one truly knows how tangled they are on the inside. I digress. This book gives fantastic insight of how complicated the grieving process truly is; it is **cyclical** and no two persons grieve the same way (thank you Kubler-Ross). I just loved this story. As I read the last pages of the book, I felt like the book was not finished. Maybe because grieving is never really over? Maybe there will be a 3rd book in the future? Or perhaps I just fell in love with the characters that I want to keep checking in on them. Either way, I felt "at peace" with the ending. Calm. Almost serene, even.
Gosh. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with these books. Both are on my Kindle, but I am definitely searching for the hardcovers to lend out to my friends that still refuse to purchase an e-reader.
September 20, 2011
The story should have stopped at "Faking It." "Ordinary Life" turned out to be a disappointment. This book wasn't as good as "Faking It." Andi's story wasn't as strong or compelling and I didn't feel the need to know what happened as I did in her previous story.
"Faking It" was strong, it was different, and we learned about Andi. In "Ordinary World" I felt the storyline was more preachy and that Andi floundered. While I understand this novel contains a tragedy the previous novel didn't have, Andi's indecision was a turn-off, as was her lack of desire to figure out her life. I suppose when the rug is pulled out from under you, you do absolutely flounder. But what she did to David really wasn't fair. I also think that Elisa Lorello tried to repaint Devin/Andi's relationship a bit, with Andi learning Devin had been in love with her from the beginning. Interested because she was different, yes and offered him a kind of intellectual stimulation he hadn't had before. In love, now where did that come from, because it wasn't apparent at all before.
David, who apparently was always insecure, used his escort service to prove his manhood, and was always in love with Andi -- comes across as shallow here. While this may have been Andi's story, it was also David's and we didn't learn anything about him in this story. Before, we learned about Devin through his writing, and that awesome journal entry. Here, we just see David through Andi's eyes, and her eyes are not paying attention to the world.
Maybe this story is about growth after tragedy, finding a love you thought you lost, and intertwining that with tragedy. If so, ok, but it still could have been a stronger story, not going off in so many different directions and not so preachy. Nobody likes to be preached at.
I understood and appreciated the last line of the novel. Many people didn't like it, but I think the point was pretty clear: she found what she was looking for with Sam. She has to exist in a world now where he's not, so while her life won't be fabulous anymore, she's ok with that and can accept that, and David.
"Faking It" was strong, it was different, and we learned about Andi. In "Ordinary World" I felt the storyline was more preachy and that Andi floundered. While I understand this novel contains a tragedy the previous novel didn't have, Andi's indecision was a turn-off, as was her lack of desire to figure out her life. I suppose when the rug is pulled out from under you, you do absolutely flounder. But what she did to David really wasn't fair. I also think that Elisa Lorello tried to repaint Devin/Andi's relationship a bit, with Andi learning Devin had been in love with her from the beginning. Interested because she was different, yes and offered him a kind of intellectual stimulation he hadn't had before. In love, now where did that come from, because it wasn't apparent at all before.
David, who apparently was always insecure, used his escort service to prove his manhood, and was always in love with Andi -- comes across as shallow here. While this may have been Andi's story, it was also David's and we didn't learn anything about him in this story. Before, we learned about Devin through his writing, and that awesome journal entry. Here, we just see David through Andi's eyes, and her eyes are not paying attention to the world.
Maybe this story is about growth after tragedy, finding a love you thought you lost, and intertwining that with tragedy. If so, ok, but it still could have been a stronger story, not going off in so many different directions and not so preachy. Nobody likes to be preached at.
I understood and appreciated the last line of the novel. Many people didn't like it, but I think the point was pretty clear: she found what she was looking for with Sam. She has to exist in a world now where he's not, so while her life won't be fabulous anymore, she's ok with that and can accept that, and David.
August 31, 2014
This book started out pretty great. In contrast with the prequel, I loved the beginning and the argumentation was excellent. She loses her husband and it doesn't turn out as an excuse to go to David (let's face it, our favorite) but... something happens in the middle. I did not like the development of her relationship with Dave and Sam's presence throughout the book and this made the main characters a bit inconsistent.
Devin/David: So I assumed he fell for her since book 1 (when he asked her out even when they didn't have a session planned). I assumed he kept her away because he couldn't handle his feelings for her. But he says he fell for her after she told him she loved him. Then she walks away and he's ok with that and waits and waits for her so many years... I know the writer worked hard giving him a background but he is so dependant of Andi that it is actually annoying. Besides, he is the rich, handsome guy with psychological problems that our girl hero needs to rescue.
Andi: She was in love with David from book 1. She was in love with him even when he chose Sam. I know the writer did sell her love story with Sam but it's not like she had solved her issues with David when she married Sam. So I was having a hard time when she acted like her past with David didn't exist based in the fact that they were supposed to be "faking it". In the end, I got bored from reading about her whining over and over.
So I finished because I had to finish the book. Is the ending as happy as some other readers claim it is? I don't think so. And I was not expecting one. Besides, Andi is so self absorbed that I'll take a break before I read the sequel.
Devin/David: So I assumed he fell for her since book 1 (when he asked her out even when they didn't have a session planned). I assumed he kept her away because he couldn't handle his feelings for her. But he says he fell for her after she told him she loved him. Then she walks away and he's ok with that and waits and waits for her so many years... I know the writer worked hard giving him a background but he is so dependant of Andi that it is actually annoying. Besides, he is the rich, handsome guy with psychological problems that our girl hero needs to rescue.
Andi: She was in love with David from book 1. She was in love with him even when he chose Sam. I know the writer did sell her love story with Sam but it's not like she had solved her issues with David when she married Sam. So I was having a hard time when she acted like her past with David didn't exist based in the fact that they were supposed to be "faking it". In the end, I got bored from reading about her whining over and over.
So I finished because I had to finish the book. Is the ending as happy as some other readers claim it is? I don't think so. And I was not expecting one. Besides, Andi is so self absorbed that I'll take a break before I read the sequel.
December 23, 2016
my review
i liked the book but found it to about 2 hours too long. she should get right to the point faster.
i liked the book but found it to about 2 hours too long. she should get right to the point faster.
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