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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was thrilled to get this book from Wunderkind PR when the book was first released about two months ago. The story is about a hard-working couple decide to spend almost a year pursuing their dream. Initially, it was about pursuing the husband, Jason's dream, but as the sabbatical date gets closer. the wife, Nicole, proposes that she be able to go her separate way during the sabbatical. Jason agrees and the natural questions about the strength of their marriage ensue.
I liked this book. It was about so much more than being away from your partner. It was about finding what (and who) make you wake up in the morning, what drives your passions and what is it you ultimately value and love. A good summer read with some very fun content and really likable characters.
I liked this book. It was about so much more than being away from your partner. It was about finding what (and who) make you wake up in the morning, what drives your passions and what is it you ultimately value and love. A good summer read with some very fun content and really likable characters.
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was such an interesting idea— a sabbatical from marriage and time to grow into your own interests and life, with the intention of meeting back together at the end. I liked both of the main characters in this book, though it was definitely more focused on Nicole. A fun read and a new idea!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jason and Nicole met in college when their two, very different worlds collided one fateful night over a shared, musical tragedy. (Like, where were you when…?) Now it’s more than a quarter of a century later and they have made those two worlds into one, survived some real ups and downs (in-laws, careers), renovated a Portland home, and raised two kids. Right after those two kids head off for post-grad experiences abroad, Jason and Nic end up being pinned down for a dinner with their new neighbors and their TMI, which includes the revelation that they have a 500-mile rule: more than 500 miles from each other and they can have sex with whomever they want, no questions asked. Days later, when Jason and Nic find themselves unexpectedly facing nine months on two different continents, they make a deal with each other that is much closer to those ridiculous neighbors than they would have thought possible…
Here’s the thing: the premise is sexy in a seriously modern way. It’s sensational, a draw for the book. But the real story here has little to do with sex and everything to do with a realistic marriage and a pretty average couple. Which means the sex-rule will make people pick up the book and take it home (while causing many people to also pass it over–I am 100 per cent sure). But the whole sex thing literally didn’t even need to be in the book. The couple in question are dealing with other things, entirely: Jason is dealing with grief and simultaneously a much-deserved vacation and mid-life crisis; Nicole is dealing with an empty nest and an identity crisis, discovering who she is without kids (and a husband) and re-discovering her dreams and passions. The sex got thrown in there to make the plot more interesting. It’s so not about that, though.
And then you end up with readers like me, who just wish it wasn’t there. I don’t really get the appeal of opening a marriage and I found myself annoyed at their sexual experiences (or lack thereof) apart, feeling like they needlessly complicated matters, playing with fire when they totally intended not to burn anything down. The only thing in me that wanted this part of the plot to stay was the one that enjoys the challenging of cultural constructs that have been too restrictive. Because they have done a lot of harm, and I enjoyed thinking about how things might be different and how people’s business is none of our business.
But who cares, right? The point is an interesting, fictional book. Which leads me to another reason this book was not my thing: it is so, so very fantastical. Yeah, the characters, places, lives lived were recognizable, even relatable. But there was always a bridge too far. I am also sure that many readers will love all of this, because, yes, romance is often extremely fantastical. It is supposed to be. Romance readers usually want to be whisked away to some other place where things are perfect and sexy and, duh, romantic. But not me, I guess. At least, not in this way. It was more eye-rolling for me than enticing or, well, dreamy.
And it’s true that I said the writing was clear. The book was produced well, too. Edited well. Did all the things. But between the writing style and the lack of drama, I was a little, um, bored. It was too cozy and too straight-forward for me. But other people love cozy. And other people don’t want to read poetry or have to work for the narrative. Sigh. I get it. There is a place where the grass is greener and a happy medium is met. Emily Henry is on the outskirts of this place.
I would recommend Marriage Proposal for plenty of people. I would not recommend it for myself (which is a moot point, at this point, or maybe I mean impossible, or anachronistic).
This book was easy to read. It delivered on several fronts: it was sweet and interesting and went down smooth. I could relate to it in many ways and wanted to know where it was headed and what was going to happen; I mean, even the hook of a premise got me. In the end, it wasn’t my fave. I was a little bored and a little too jaded to get sucked into the story. Also, the open marriage idea was a turn-off for me and for whatever reason I did not find the (few and mild) spicy scenes to be spicy, at all. But I can see how many readers would enjoy this book and it’s a safe investment of your time if this kind of book is what usually speaks to you: a cozy, women’s lit kind of romance without too many literary trappings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lian Dolan is a writer and podcaster. She is one of five sisters who have a women’s, talk-show podcast (that began as a radio show) called Satellite Sisters. She has also written articles for various mags, including O Magazine. Her website can be found HERE.
Her books, which look to be all romance, have reviews that hover right below 4 stars, consistently (which is not at all bad). They are:
Helen of Pasadena
Elizabeth the First Wife
The Sweeney Sisters
Lost and Found in Paris
QUOTES
“This isn’t a midlife crisis; this is a midlife triumph” (p180).
“Her friends were here to see her, not judge her” (p187).
“…he found no conversation among his parenting peers more tiresome than college acceptance. There was a place for everyone, even if it didn’t rank in the top ten. Why his generation of parents found their own self-worth in their child’s ACT scores or college acceptance record, he’d never understand” (p205).
“I think it’s so foolish for people to want to be happy. Happy is so momentary—you’re happy for an instant and then you start thinking again. Interest is the most important thing in life; happiness is temporary, but interest is continuous” (p233).
“Those Gen Zers, they don’t care about precedent or hierarchy. It’s relationship anarchy out there” (p256).
“Was that a sign of aging? The desire not to fuss? He was losing his edge” (p257).
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG AS AN ARC***
Here’s the thing: the premise is sexy in a seriously modern way. It’s sensational, a draw for the book. But the real story here has little to do with sex and everything to do with a realistic marriage and a pretty average couple. Which means the sex-rule will make people pick up the book and take it home (while causing many people to also pass it over–I am 100 per cent sure). But the whole sex thing literally didn’t even need to be in the book. The couple in question are dealing with other things, entirely: Jason is dealing with grief and simultaneously a much-deserved vacation and mid-life crisis; Nicole is dealing with an empty nest and an identity crisis, discovering who she is without kids (and a husband) and re-discovering her dreams and passions. The sex got thrown in there to make the plot more interesting. It’s so not about that, though.
And then you end up with readers like me, who just wish it wasn’t there. I don’t really get the appeal of opening a marriage and I found myself annoyed at their sexual experiences (or lack thereof) apart, feeling like they needlessly complicated matters, playing with fire when they totally intended not to burn anything down. The only thing in me that wanted this part of the plot to stay was the one that enjoys the challenging of cultural constructs that have been too restrictive. Because they have done a lot of harm, and I enjoyed thinking about how things might be different and how people’s business is none of our business.
But who cares, right? The point is an interesting, fictional book. Which leads me to another reason this book was not my thing: it is so, so very fantastical. Yeah, the characters, places, lives lived were recognizable, even relatable. But there was always a bridge too far. I am also sure that many readers will love all of this, because, yes, romance is often extremely fantastical. It is supposed to be. Romance readers usually want to be whisked away to some other place where things are perfect and sexy and, duh, romantic. But not me, I guess. At least, not in this way. It was more eye-rolling for me than enticing or, well, dreamy.
And it’s true that I said the writing was clear. The book was produced well, too. Edited well. Did all the things. But between the writing style and the lack of drama, I was a little, um, bored. It was too cozy and too straight-forward for me. But other people love cozy. And other people don’t want to read poetry or have to work for the narrative. Sigh. I get it. There is a place where the grass is greener and a happy medium is met. Emily Henry is on the outskirts of this place.
I would recommend Marriage Proposal for plenty of people. I would not recommend it for myself (which is a moot point, at this point, or maybe I mean impossible, or anachronistic).
This book was easy to read. It delivered on several fronts: it was sweet and interesting and went down smooth. I could relate to it in many ways and wanted to know where it was headed and what was going to happen; I mean, even the hook of a premise got me. In the end, it wasn’t my fave. I was a little bored and a little too jaded to get sucked into the story. Also, the open marriage idea was a turn-off for me and for whatever reason I did not find the (few and mild) spicy scenes to be spicy, at all. But I can see how many readers would enjoy this book and it’s a safe investment of your time if this kind of book is what usually speaks to you: a cozy, women’s lit kind of romance without too many literary trappings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lian Dolan is a writer and podcaster. She is one of five sisters who have a women’s, talk-show podcast (that began as a radio show) called Satellite Sisters. She has also written articles for various mags, including O Magazine. Her website can be found HERE.
Her books, which look to be all romance, have reviews that hover right below 4 stars, consistently (which is not at all bad). They are:
Helen of Pasadena
Elizabeth the First Wife
The Sweeney Sisters
Lost and Found in Paris
QUOTES
“This isn’t a midlife crisis; this is a midlife triumph” (p180).
“Her friends were here to see her, not judge her” (p187).
“…he found no conversation among his parenting peers more tiresome than college acceptance. There was a place for everyone, even if it didn’t rank in the top ten. Why his generation of parents found their own self-worth in their child’s ACT scores or college acceptance record, he’d never understand” (p205).
“I think it’s so foolish for people to want to be happy. Happy is so momentary—you’re happy for an instant and then you start thinking again. Interest is the most important thing in life; happiness is temporary, but interest is continuous” (p233).
“Those Gen Zers, they don’t care about precedent or hierarchy. It’s relationship anarchy out there” (p256).
“Was that a sign of aging? The desire not to fuss? He was losing his edge” (p257).
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG AS AN ARC***
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes