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A review by donnareadathon2021
How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz
4.0
The story
Claire is a 30 year old Filipina American who works part time in an LA bookstore and is building up her cookie decorating business. She spends time with her 93 year grandmother who is in a assisted living facility as her Alzheimer’s has worsened. Sadly, Claire seems to be the only family member who is able to help her when she becomes overwrought. But this is a modern-day fairy tale, and one day while trying to fit into an awkward parking space, Claire nearly drives in Nate, who she later realises a famous tech billionaire. The two fall into love (with plenty of passion) and surprise trips in private jets and swanky hotel suites follow soon after.
My thoughts
We like to think of fairy tale stories as having happy endings but many have dark and sad parts. In this story, the part that struck me as being the most “modern” is that as much as Claire loves the good side of Nate, she realises that he didn’t get to where he is in his self made career by being only nice. Things in their relationship move really quickly really fast and the criticism Claire experiences from her family worries her and deepens her anxiety and self doubt. There is a lot of anxiety and self doubt in this story unfortunately. But the dark side is that the world and this supposedly perfect, handsome billionaire comes with the issue, maybe the expectation, that Claire will forgo her own dreams and ambitions in favour of his world and reality. At first she rebels and later makes peace with this compromise. It’s interesting, for in most relationships, even really good ones, we all need to make some sacrifices for the relationship to work. Sometimes it’s a case of trying to work out that fine line between what you are prepared to compromise on that makes or breaks the relationship. The underlying messages in this story are what make it a special read from this debut own-voices author. ❤️
I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
Claire is a 30 year old Filipina American who works part time in an LA bookstore and is building up her cookie decorating business. She spends time with her 93 year grandmother who is in a assisted living facility as her Alzheimer’s has worsened. Sadly, Claire seems to be the only family member who is able to help her when she becomes overwrought. But this is a modern-day fairy tale, and one day while trying to fit into an awkward parking space, Claire nearly drives in Nate, who she later realises a famous tech billionaire. The two fall into love (with plenty of passion) and surprise trips in private jets and swanky hotel suites follow soon after.
My thoughts
We like to think of fairy tale stories as having happy endings but many have dark and sad parts. In this story, the part that struck me as being the most “modern” is that as much as Claire loves the good side of Nate, she realises that he didn’t get to where he is in his self made career by being only nice. Things in their relationship move really quickly really fast and the criticism Claire experiences from her family worries her and deepens her anxiety and self doubt. There is a lot of anxiety and self doubt in this story unfortunately. But the dark side is that the world and this supposedly perfect, handsome billionaire comes with the issue, maybe the expectation, that Claire will forgo her own dreams and ambitions in favour of his world and reality. At first she rebels and later makes peace with this compromise. It’s interesting, for in most relationships, even really good ones, we all need to make some sacrifices for the relationship to work. Sometimes it’s a case of trying to work out that fine line between what you are prepared to compromise on that makes or breaks the relationship. The underlying messages in this story are what make it a special read from this debut own-voices author. ❤️
I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.