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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
2.0
Missing You by Louise Douglas is a typical romance novel with a very small mystery (not really) element. Sean comes home from work to find his wife waiting for him at the door with his belongings. She wants him to move out. They have been married for eleven years and have a daughter named Amy. Belle has met and fallen in love with another man (an older man who is a writer). After staying in tacky motel rooms, Sean is told about a room to let by his colleague, Lina.
Fen Weller lives on her own with her son, Connor. Connor has mild cerebral palsy. Fen works in a bookstore called The Gildas Bookshop. Fen is constantly looking over her shoulder and does not live her life to the fullest. She has put her life in a holding pattern since an accident occurred ten years ago. She needs more income so she decides to rent out her extra room. The room used to belong to her brother, Tomas. Fen has not seen Tomas in years. He has a drug addiction.
Sean moves into Fen’s room and the two start to slowly get to know each other. Sean has to come to reality that his wife, Belle has moved on with her life and so must he. Just when things are working out between Sean and Fen, Belle starts calling. Belle has broken up with the Other (as Sean called her boyfriend). Belle now wants what she cannot have. Belle keeps calling needing help and then she takes too many pills. Sean is forced to go back to his old home and help her out. Sean feels he needs to be there for their daughter, Amy. But is this what he really wants? Fen has to face up to what happened ten years ago. Fen cannot move on with her life until she acknowledges what happened and makes things right. Will Sean and Fen get back together? What happened with Fen ten years ago?
When I picked this book, I thought there would be more mystery in it. The so-called mystery or secret that Fen was keeping was so easy to figure out. I knew what the ending of this book would be as soon as Fen decided to let her extra room (British novel). I give Missing You 2.5 out of 5 stars. It was just an okay book. It was nothing new or exciting or different (I need to be more careful when picking books)! If you are looking for a romance book, then you will enjoy Missing You. If you are looking for something more, than this is not the book to read. Missing You was nicely written and the flow was not bad. I felt that there were some areas that could have been left out completely and would not have made a difference in the story.
I received a complimentary copy of Missing You from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/08/missing-you.html
Fen Weller lives on her own with her son, Connor. Connor has mild cerebral palsy. Fen works in a bookstore called The Gildas Bookshop. Fen is constantly looking over her shoulder and does not live her life to the fullest. She has put her life in a holding pattern since an accident occurred ten years ago. She needs more income so she decides to rent out her extra room. The room used to belong to her brother, Tomas. Fen has not seen Tomas in years. He has a drug addiction.
Sean moves into Fen’s room and the two start to slowly get to know each other. Sean has to come to reality that his wife, Belle has moved on with her life and so must he. Just when things are working out between Sean and Fen, Belle starts calling. Belle has broken up with the Other (as Sean called her boyfriend). Belle now wants what she cannot have. Belle keeps calling needing help and then she takes too many pills. Sean is forced to go back to his old home and help her out. Sean feels he needs to be there for their daughter, Amy. But is this what he really wants? Fen has to face up to what happened ten years ago. Fen cannot move on with her life until she acknowledges what happened and makes things right. Will Sean and Fen get back together? What happened with Fen ten years ago?
When I picked this book, I thought there would be more mystery in it. The so-called mystery or secret that Fen was keeping was so easy to figure out. I knew what the ending of this book would be as soon as Fen decided to let her extra room (British novel). I give Missing You 2.5 out of 5 stars. It was just an okay book. It was nothing new or exciting or different (I need to be more careful when picking books)! If you are looking for a romance book, then you will enjoy Missing You. If you are looking for something more, than this is not the book to read. Missing You was nicely written and the flow was not bad. I felt that there were some areas that could have been left out completely and would not have made a difference in the story.
I received a complimentary copy of Missing You from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/08/missing-you.html
saralulu's review against another edition
5.0
Very engaging and intersting. There is no way of stopping love
apriljbeckler's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, I tend to read a lot of books that are fast paced and it was lovely to read a book that is at a slower, gentler pace..
This book is a lovely story about the two main characters Fen, single mum of Connor, and Sean who has just found out his wife has been having an affair. Sean having to leave the family home chances upon a room that is for rent in Fen's home. As the two become more familiar with each other their relationship grows into more than a land lady and a lodger.
As always though, nothing is that simple. Fen has a guilty secret from her past and Sean's ex, Bella, threatens to break up the happy couple. There is a sense of a will they won't they going through out the book and I honestly thought I knew how it was going to end. Have got to say I loved the ending and was glad I had guessed wrong.
The characters were all very strong in their roles even though some didn't appear in the story much. I loved Sean's sister in particular and I really cared for Fen and Sean and am quite sad now that the story is over.
Missing You is the first book I have read by this author and I certainly look forward to reading more by her.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
This book is a lovely story about the two main characters Fen, single mum of Connor, and Sean who has just found out his wife has been having an affair. Sean having to leave the family home chances upon a room that is for rent in Fen's home. As the two become more familiar with each other their relationship grows into more than a land lady and a lodger.
As always though, nothing is that simple. Fen has a guilty secret from her past and Sean's ex, Bella, threatens to break up the happy couple. There is a sense of a will they won't they going through out the book and I honestly thought I knew how it was going to end. Have got to say I loved the ending and was glad I had guessed wrong.
The characters were all very strong in their roles even though some didn't appear in the story much. I loved Sean's sister in particular and I really cared for Fen and Sean and am quite sad now that the story is over.
Missing You is the first book I have read by this author and I certainly look forward to reading more by her.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
robyncourtney's review
4.0
I just finished reading this simply lovely and haunting novel. From the opening paragraph I was hooked till the end. This is the type of novel which stays with you and tugs at your heart. I cannot wait to start on her debut novel, The Love of My Life.
mumtwogirls's review
3.0
I have had this book on my kindle since I first was bought it back in 2013. Finally decided to read some books that have been waiting for quite some time. This story was enjoyable, sometimes I found it a bit predictable. Also there were a few times within the book that swearing was involved within the text. In my opinion swearing is unnecessary and doesn't add anything to a story. Although the swearing was brief and the reader was able to skip over it.
vicki_cosy_books's review
5.0
I read and adored Louise Douglas' debut novel, The Love Of My Life and so when I saw she had a new book coming out this month, it went straight to the top of my wish list. I wasn't disappointed, as again Douglas delivers a story that will take you on an emotional roller coaster and keep you completely absorbed.
The development of the relationship between Fen and Sean is stunning, but what I really loved reading was the relationship between Sean and his daughter Amy. She is only six when her parents separate and struggles to understand it. Sean also struggles to adapt to the new relationship with his daughter, fighting against the resentment and anger he feels for his wife and his determination to protect his child. I've read countless books on relationship break ups from a woman's perspective, but can't think of many that are from a man's. I think Louise Douglas handled this beautifully and sensitively; the feelings and emotions Sean goes through are so vivid. I admit to feeling that I wanted to protect him myself, maybe even falling a little bit in love with him.
Throughout the book, Fen's secret is a shadow, and I had no idea where this was going. It is hinted at from quite early on, but it's not until the final quarter of the book that it begins to be revealed. By the time it was I was completely engrossed, and there is a scene where Fen confronts the past that had me holding my breath, being unexpected and incredibly sad. If I have one tiny criticism of the book it would be that after Fen's guilt is exposed, the other characters seem a little blasé about it, as if it really didn't matter that much. This didn't really strike me as a true reaction. I didn't mind too much and I don't think it spoils the book, but it is in contrast to the realism of the rest of the book
This isn't a fluffy read. While it's not heavy going and is easy to read, it's more serious than light chick-lit. That's not to say it doesn't have some lighter moments. A chapter that saw Sean getting as drunk as he could after a particularly messy meeting with his ex wife made me laugh. It's a disgustingly accurate portrayal of drunkenness that is both cringe worthy and funny. The book is very emotion driven and I felt all the ups and downs along with the characters. Louise Douglas writes relationships so very well and isn't afraid to show their bitter, jealous and manipulative sides while still showing the characters to be good people. What I love about the characters in Louise Douglas' books is how absolutely real they are. She never tries to dress them up, and writes them with all the complexities and flaws humans have, so they become completely believable and easy to relate too. Another hit for me from this author and I'll be watching out eagerly for a third book.
The development of the relationship between Fen and Sean is stunning, but what I really loved reading was the relationship between Sean and his daughter Amy. She is only six when her parents separate and struggles to understand it. Sean also struggles to adapt to the new relationship with his daughter, fighting against the resentment and anger he feels for his wife and his determination to protect his child. I've read countless books on relationship break ups from a woman's perspective, but can't think of many that are from a man's. I think Louise Douglas handled this beautifully and sensitively; the feelings and emotions Sean goes through are so vivid. I admit to feeling that I wanted to protect him myself, maybe even falling a little bit in love with him.
Throughout the book, Fen's secret is a shadow, and I had no idea where this was going. It is hinted at from quite early on, but it's not until the final quarter of the book that it begins to be revealed. By the time it was I was completely engrossed, and there is a scene where Fen confronts the past that had me holding my breath, being unexpected and incredibly sad. If I have one tiny criticism of the book it would be that after Fen's guilt is exposed, the other characters seem a little blasé about it, as if it really didn't matter that much. This didn't really strike me as a true reaction. I didn't mind too much and I don't think it spoils the book, but it is in contrast to the realism of the rest of the book
This isn't a fluffy read. While it's not heavy going and is easy to read, it's more serious than light chick-lit. That's not to say it doesn't have some lighter moments. A chapter that saw Sean getting as drunk as he could after a particularly messy meeting with his ex wife made me laugh. It's a disgustingly accurate portrayal of drunkenness that is both cringe worthy and funny. The book is very emotion driven and I felt all the ups and downs along with the characters. Louise Douglas writes relationships so very well and isn't afraid to show their bitter, jealous and manipulative sides while still showing the characters to be good people. What I love about the characters in Louise Douglas' books is how absolutely real they are. She never tries to dress them up, and writes them with all the complexities and flaws humans have, so they become completely believable and easy to relate too. Another hit for me from this author and I'll be watching out eagerly for a third book.
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