Comeback Love

Finally a love story where the aching questions "Why did they break up in the first place?" and "Did they ever get back together?" are answered in one book! Peter Golden's Comeback Love is a love story about second chances and the one that got away. As his debut novel I'd say it is an excellent work.

The book begins in present day when Gordon Meyers decides to look up his lost love Glenna Rising. She is surprised to see him but agrees to join him for a drink. As they catch up with each other and reminisce over the past the author takes us back and forth from their previous life to present day as he tells this story. We are brought back to the 60's when the two meet in a time when they were passionate about their ideals which defined them show more as well as drew them together. Gordon is a journalist trying to write a book but remains a college student semester by semester whilst avoiding the draft for Vietnam. Glenna is a med student and caught up in women's rights specifically abortion. While they are very much in love, their relationship is emotional and intense. Upon meeting again thirty years later it seems their lives resemble the past.

I would describe this as a grown-up love story that feels more believable than most. It had substance and depth so it did not feel sappy or foolish whatsoever. I would highly recommend this book to readers who want to graduate from Danielle Steele and/or Nicolas Sparks. I have put this author's current release "Wherever There is Light" on my wish list.

How I acquired this book: Barnes & Noble clearance shelf

Shelf Life: Two and a half years show less

I am conflicted about this book. I really, really wanted to love it because I love stories that involve second chances and taking risks. But as much as I love those, I was discouraged because I felt as if Comeback Love flirted with the potential for a really good story and just fell a little bit short.

That's not to say it wasn't good story, because it was. It was just hugely ambitious and all of the back and forth, historic events, life-changing events and roller-coaster emotions made me feel as if I was caught in a churning washing machine and put through the ringer by the end of the story.

For me, the best part of the story was the beginning - when the promise was so strong and kept my attention, when the anticipation began to build. show more The opening scenes had me almost trembling with anticipation (I'm a book nerd like that) so I think I may have built my expectations up just too high. That said, the premise was an ambitious one, and I think if it had just been a little less grandiose it would have worked.

Still, I'd recommend this book just because there were moments that it did work, and work well. It's a great picture of a real relationship, in all its flaws and glory. show less

Comeback Love is a debut novel by Peter Golden and is a story of the love affair between Gordon Meyers, a journalist / college student and wannabe novelist and Glenna Rising, med student in the late 60's and present day where Gordon is a consultant and Glenna is a physician.

In the late 60's, in the time of the Vietnam war, peace, love and drugs, Gordon meets Glenna and is immediately taken with her beauty and intelligence. They move in together and because of certain circumstances break up and lose touch with each other. Thirty plus years later, Gordon shows up in Glenna's office wanting to reconnect. Gordon is divorced and has a son and Glenna is a widow and they both have great careers but found that something was missing in each of show more their lives. Each other, we can never correct the mistakes of the past but we can only hope to try again. That is what Gordon and Glenna eventually do.

This is a very riveting and poignant story that will transport the reader into a bygone time where peace and love is the norm but tensions are high because of war and civil rights for women. I absolutely loved this book and didn't want it to end. This is not just women's fiction, although there were a few spots that had me teary eyed. I highly recommend it. show less

Gordon was immediately drawn to Glenna when they met. Drawn in by her passion, Gordon had a tumultuous and emotional relationship with Glenna. Things gradually begin to go wrong though, and soon something that seemed very right is very wrong. Thirty-plus years after a horrible end, Gordon is once again seeking Glenna. As the grasp to figure out what went wrong in the past, they also work together to figure out their futures. Can you relive the past?

I found this story very interesting. The book begins in the present, and cuts between the past and present to tell the story of Gordon and Glenna. What happened to them is very relevant to what is happening to them now. They were a pair of passionate people who found support with each other. show more This attachment and support though is one of the things that helped drive them apart. I really found myself drawn to these characters even though I didn't really relate to them. I didn't really understand why they were doing what they were doing at times, but I couldn't help but like them. They sucked me into their relationship much the same way they drew each other in.

The parallels between what was going on in the past and what is going on now was somewhat astonishing. I really admired Glenna's work in the past and present, but sometimes I found Glenna's personality a bit too tempestuous for my liking. I couldn't really decide what I thought of Gordon. Together though, I think they were a very interesting pair. I found myself wanting desperately to know what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. Luckily I got answers along with a few surprises. I think this is one of those books that can really suck people in, and before they know it they've read a whole book without moving. It holds your attention well and ultimately leaves you feeling good.

Galley provided for review. show less

To say I liked this story is an understatement. This novel is for all of us that at one time or another questioned ourselves about our first love, and how come we let it slip through our fingers.

There’s so much to recommend this story that I honestly don’t know where to begin!

This is well written, character driven and very moving story that will grab you from the first page. It will then take you on a journey of love lost and love found, while in the background past and current events will eerily remind you of what our country went through in the 60’s and what it is still going through today.

The hero of this tale is Gordon Meyers; a man who at present needs to connect with the past in order to sort out his deep feelings for a show more woman that he could never forget, even through all the years of his marriage, consequent divorce and many years of loneliness.

The novel opens a few days after Christmas and Gordon is on his way to see his sister, stopping by his hometown cemetery. As tears are freezing in his eyes while talking to the gravestones, he decides to drive to Manhattan,and soon after he’s checked into Grand Hyatt.

As he sits in his hotel room and ponders his lonely existence, he’s looking over a piece of paper with Glenna Rising’s information on it and wonders if he should call or just surprise her at her office, after all, it has been over thirty years since they’ve seen each other. The first time they see each other, after so many years and life lived apart, that scene was so tender and real, it brought tears to my eyes…

*EXCERPT: “Having imagined seeing Glenna again for so long, I viewed myself as ready for anything-anything, that is, except entering the waiting room and actually seeing her with UPS box in her hands, standing amid the tube-framed chairs and low, laminate-topped tables that made me think that all doctors shopped at the same discount-furniture outlet.

‘Can I help-‘ Glenna said, For the rest of this review, please visit us at..

http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/comeback-love-by-peter-golden/


Melanie

*This review posted on Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews eZine* show less

I enjoyed how this romance novel travelled between the past and present. It was a fresh point of view from the mans side of a romance, and very enjoyable to see how a man handles dating, love, cheating, break-ups, family, being reunited, and pain. The characters personality stayed true throughout, and it was a very entertaining read.

Comeback Love by Peter Golden
This book is about Gordon Meyers who is a writer and going to college, to keep out of the war.
Glenna Rising is studying to be a doctor and they get wrapped up in the rallies/marches/protests that deal with abortions. She is able to perform abortions where you suction out the cells. She doesn't feel it's a fetus till after 12 weeks.
They start dating and go to the rallies and protest marches in the city.
This love story goes in a different direction and they each move on in their lives. They do meet up later in life and I love how the book just goes to a certain point then goes back in time so you are then able to understand what transpired.
It follows both of their living arrangements and travel and work til show more they meet again. Their families, husband, children and work.
Love the travels and the work they've each done over the years.
I can recall sitting in front of a TV listening to the lottery for the war with my brother. It's one of the only times I ever saw him cry.
Love the memories of Woodstock and other mentions of musical groups of the times.
Not only did I like the travel but the learning of new things in this book. I had just read a war type book where it mentioned the listening posts so that was familiar to me.
Although this is mostly about the two of them, others pop into their lives but it's not overpowering, keeping the focus on the two main characters. Love touching scene at his sisters'.
Loved the ending also, brought it all together...
To me this is the Love Story of the 70's. This book got a 5 out of 5, excellent read! show less