A review by shelleys_book_nook
In Every Life by Rea Frey

dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The thought of a current partner finding you a new partner doesn't sound romantic to me at all, it sounds controlling and manipulative. I know Ben was supposedly doing it from his heart but it seemed to me he was doing it for himself because he has to know Harper's okay before he dies. Like she can't be okay without a man in her life? And him wanting her to do her art was because HE wanted to see one of her shows before he goes. It just pissed me off to no end. Everything just sounded like manipulation disguised as love and for her benefit.

All the secrets Harper's been keeping drove me mad as well. She too was only thinking of herself by not revealing the truth about her and Leo. The whole plot just seemed to go round and round in circles and the repetitiveness of it all was boring. This was another almost DNF for me but it has such rave reviews I wanted to give it a chance. It was just too unbelievable where Ben's health worries were concerned. One minute he can't go in the sun because of his treatment and the next minute he is out feeling the sun on his face and doing hikes. He had stage four pancreatic cancer and is supposed to be in hospice.

It was so damn slow getting the plot to go forward, the characters were all one-dimensional and the ending was just too much for me to take. It was so implausible and outlandish that it made me want to barf. (spoiler) All that new age "your mind can cure stage four cancer" bullshit. (end spoiler) I can't believe all the five-star reviews for this one. This is my first and my last book by this author.