A Song in the Daylight (2009)

Really disappointing after reading all her other works. My least favourite of her books. ( )

I consider myself an open minded person, so when I picked this book up I was ready to understand Larissa, to empathise with her. Because all humans have hidden desires, secret passions which can make us go crazy, lose direction, forget right or wrong. So I started this story full of good intentions, ready to follow Larissa and struggle with her until the end, whatever it had to be.
I won't spoil nothing for you, don't worry, you know that she leaves with her lover on the first chapter, so that being said, I thought it'd all be a matter of seeing HOW that happened. Right, all seemed good.
But the thing is that I HATED, really HATED this book. The further I read the further I wanted that the story didn't come out right for Larissa. I didn't like her. She was a spoiled, rich, bored, middle aged woman, conceited, shallow, whose only worries were when to have an appointment to have her nails done or how many Armani jackets had she bought that month or if she would have time enough between shopping and meeting her posh friends for lunch to lead an amateur theatre company. Oh, and by the way, is it normal that when you turn 40 your hubby gives you a Jaguar as a present? Because in this book it seemed like if buying a Jag was the most natural thing in the world to do. Oh come on, that's not real life, isn't it?

I would have never expected a novel like this by Paullina Simons, I read her Bronze Horseman trilogy and I loved it. This novel wasn't engaging, it wasn't convincing, the characters lacked force. Larissa, such a weak personality. Jared, the poor husband, so bland and unbelievably blind. Ezra, the smart friend, so full with himself and his existential questions, their conversations so unnatural. Che, the hippie friend living la vida loca in Mexico. Kai, the hot and mysterious guy, temptation with legs. Everything was so obvious and so cliched that I couldn't believe it.
I will only say that after they leave together, the story gets even worse. The end is not even rewarding, it feels so unreal that you don't care one way or the other, you just want it to finish. That detached and estranged was I from the story and from its characters.
Don't lose your time with this monstrous 800 hundred pages book, honestly, it's not worth it. ( )

Well written but DEPRESSING ( )

Nothing much ever seemed to happen in this over-long novel. Boring storyline, unlikeable characters and way too long. I've really enjoyed Simons other books and find it hard to believe she actually wrote this rubbish. ( )

A very disappointing read. Certainly not worth the effort. 767 pages! I did not like the main character, Larissa. Found elements of the story implausible. Her kids got over her departure with little stress. I won't be reading anymore by this author! ( )