Angela Lam

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed the evolution of the main character, Trina. She starts off as a hard driving, materialistic, self-centered power realtor. Her boyfriend seems to be her male equivalent... putting Trina's legs on a billboard to advertise their business. At first I didn't entirely understand Trina's strong reaction to the billboard, but as you read further into the book, it all comes in to focus.

The relationships and the way they are written really make show more this book. Trina's interactions and conversations with her parents, her best friend Val, her boyfriend Tom, a woman who eventually becomes her boss, and even smaller characters are so believable.

I look forward to reading more from this author! show less

You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews

The Divorce Planner revolved around Darcy who was 50 something, professionally divorce planner trying to mend relationship with her daughter by planning her wedding. In between juggling the divorce planning and wedding planning, she found someone who changed her belief, made her to think about love again. The book was about divorce vs wedding, love vs logic and realism, second chance to love, and midlife and married life show more crisis.

What i liked-

I loved many things in the book. Writing and plot was fabulous and gripping. It was third person narrative from Darcy’s POV. Her voice was charming that pulled me into the story right from the beginning. Humor, romance, drama, conflicts, and insights everything was there to make the book enjoyable.

Book started with Joyce calling her mother Darcy to plan her wedding. But the thing is Darcy was the divorce planner not wedding planner who was against marriage. She vowed not to marry ever. Darcy was so sure of no true love, no happy ending, no fairy tales and no forevermore and adamant all things related to love and marriage end disastrously. But when she met Victor at gala event and later for business, all her beliefs threatened to go wrong. Things got even worse when they attended Darcy’s ex-husband wedding as fake madly-in-love couple.

I was curious to see how they will get out of their lie, what they will experience once their fantasy ended and were forced to come back in reality, will Darcy break her vow and give love a second chance, and how they will confess their true feelings. There were little surprises here and there that kept the story gripping and exciting.

The best part was characters, especially Darcy. She was my favorite character in the book. Like her name she was man in women’s body- realistic, cynical, and practical. Darcy’s story of her previous marriage, how it ended horribly that affected her relation with her daughter, how she failed to mend it ever since the divorce, and how a party planner Darcy turned to divorce planner. It showed endurance, patience and strength. I liked her cynical thoughts on marriage, love and divorce. The way she handled her clients, work life, social Life and daughter’s wedding all at once was admirable. Darcy’s emotions throughout the book were perceptible. I could feel her exasperation, confusion, fear, and struggle. As a mother I could see how difficult it might be to cope with Her ex-husband, Nathan and daughter, Joyce who were irritating and blamed Darcy for anything that went wrong with them. Many times I put down the book to think how Darcy might have dealt with them for so many years.

First chapter and I already hated Nathan. He repeatedly blamed Darcy for their divorce. He was liar who turned everyone against Darcy even their daughter. And now that she is planning Joyce’s marriage he called her a bad luck for their daughter’s marriage! No wonder Darcy is a divorce planner.

Joyce was no better than Nathan. She loved her dad more than Darcy even though he cheated Darcy. She was Bridezilla who wanted her mother to put her work and clients on sidelines to organize her perfect wedding and she didn’t even appreciate all Darcy did for her till date. Not just that she threatened to fire Darcy!! She was petulant, controlling and spoiled person. But things changed by the end of the book and I liked the way both father and daughter realized their mistake, it was realistic.

Here comes my second favorite character of the book. Victor, 37, so younger than Darcy that he could be her eldest son. Handsome divorce attorney at Darcy’s best friend’s firm, workaholic, sensitive and romantic. He was such a gentleman, sweetheart, and perfect marriage material, it was surprising he never married or didn’t have life outside work. I loved him when he asked Darcy to take him as a date to her Nathan’s wedding and his logics for it were fabulous.

All characters were relatable, I could understand their feelings and emotions. I felt like I was part of their story. Those Books and Booze club discussion were fun to read. All members of the book club were interesting and unique. I even loved their little stories after climax and their discussion on Darcy’s love life. It made me want to find a book club with regular meet to have that kind of fun.

So many things happened between climax and end. This portion was felt longer but was filled with humor, drama and lots of emotions. I loved the way characters realized their mistakes and tried to make things right between them. End was good and fun. Another good book-to-screen kind of story. I would love to see this as a movie.

why 4 star-

Everything about the book was enjoyable but it was little predictable. Sometimes characters acted childishly. Joyce telling all private details of Darcy to everyone, Victor sharing things to Tyler before consulting Darcy, Nathan and Tanya’s friend belittling Darcy and Victor! They were all adults and I wished they acted accordingly.

Overall, it was entertaining, romantic and relatable chick-lit with interesting characters and their views on marriage and divorce.

*** Note: I received e-copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. *** show less

You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews

4.5 Stars

Friends First was contemporary fiction set in Atlanta that revolved around Maddy and Greg. It was about excessive eating and drinking habits, struggle in weight loss, PTSD but mainly it was about friendship, helping and supporting each other in friendship, living for yourself and your loved one, and giving second chance to love and life.

That synopsis said it all so I’m not going to repeat it in this review. I’m also show more not sure how much should say in this review as I want to discuss characters and in doing so I fear I might include more than I should.

First of all, the writing was engaging and easy to follow. Story was told in third person narrative from both Maddy and Greg’ perspective, alternatively. It was character driven and author did wonderful job with both these characters.

Both Maddy and Greg were flawed, damaged and lost, made wrong decisions and were escaping their problems. They needed somebody to lean on even though they both were engaged, they needed somebody to understand their problems and help them. You would be thinking why they need each other if they had fiancé. For that you need to know characters. Let me start with 34-yr-old Maddy.

From the very beginning I didn’t understand why Maddy was marrying Darren. Clearly they had many issues. She couldn’t live alone or eat alone but Darren had job that required traveling. If she had problem with his traveling, why would she commit to relationship or agree to marry was beyond me. Maddy didn’t like cleaning or any physical work out while Darren was well built and preferred cleanliness. Darren sometimes ignored Maddy but kept constant contact with her siblings while she couldn’t get along with them. Result of these differences were, Maddy eating and drinking excessively to suppress her feeling, sadness and unhappiness that ultimately caused weight gain.

Now I didn’t like the way Darren was pushing her, nicknaming her porky, and threatening her to reduce her weight. She shouldn’t let him control her but thing was she wasn’t comfortable or happy with her body. She felt jealous of her sister who was slim and rich. She envied all who had fit body. Moreover, her habits were unhealthy to the limit that it could harm her. She had no control over her behavior after drinking. She was also a bit selfish. She asked Darren to leave his dream job so he could stay home with her, even when there was fear of losing her job.

As I read more I could see why she disliked her siblings. They were obviously were not easy to get along. They were really controlling and treated her like a baby. They didn’t trust her to take her own decisions. As I read more of her and Greg’s conversations I saw why she was with Darren as well. Greg brought out the best in her. She could see and accept what she was doing wrong and how she should come out of it, learned to face her problem, draw boundaries in relationships, and express her feelings more openly. She saw what true love is and that made her question her relationship with Darren. I was curious to see whom she will choose or if she would marry Darren?

Greg was 50-yr-old, escaping his home, his family and life. His father’s contemptuous remarks left deep scar in his soul. Losing leg, returning from war without accomplishing his mission was failure him. He was suffering from PTSD for years. His lack of confidence, will to live, panic attacks and nightmares kept him wondering, doing temporary jobs in different states, cheating his fiancée by giving into his new addiction, lust. He was going through a lot for long time and that too alone. I felt for him but at the same time I didn’t like his infidelity to Amy, his fiancée who was really saint and was waiting for him for 30 years! Who can have this much patience? He was fool really.

Maddy made him see how selfish he was and what he was losing by his behavior. I wasn’t sure if he really loved Amy. When his and Maddy’s friendship developed, it really confused me whom he loved and at the same time made me curious to find out who he will choose at the end.

Both character’s development was great. I loved their friendship and how they evolved throughout the book. Along with this friendship and drama, author talked about PTSD and panic attacks and some people’s prejudice and behavior with person suffering from trauma, how much support, love and patience they need to come out of it through Greg’s story; and danger of eating and drinking disorder and how strong will and determination can help to overcome it through Maddy’s story. I loved the message of giving a second chance to whom you love and it might surprise you.

Climax was good. I could see what will happen next and thought I would rate it 4 but I liked what characters decided and the way story ended. It was different from clichés or what I predicted.

Why 4.5 stars-

There was nothing wrong with the story and I actually enjoyed it. But when I gave a thought later, I was skeptical about characters’ decision at the end. If it happened to me in both the cases I wouldn’t have taken that decision. I kept thinking, is it that easy to forgive?

Overall, it was interesting, engaging contemporary dealing with good topics and characters that gives you so much to discuss over.

*** Note: I received e-copy this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to author. *** show less

Another new story in time for the holidays! Romance, old-flames, midlife crisis, and discovery haunt this timely short story.