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A review by caughtbetweenpages
Consequences (Of Defensive Adultery) by M. Jane Colette
3.0
I got this book through Goodreads giveaway hosted by the author and I liked it so much I wanted to leave a review.
Consequences Of Defensive Adultery follows Elizabeth (not Liz unless she loves you), a lawyer whose tumultuous relationship with her husband and his family pushes her into... well, "defensive adultery." As she navigates her way though her relationships with the men and women who have become important in her life - some by choice, most by circumstance - Liz ends up confronting her own past and allowing herself to grow as an individual and learn to love the most important person of all: herself.
I did not expect to like Liz as much as I do. She's a cheater. You know that going into the story - it's literally written on the book's face. But as she talks to her unnamed, faceless lover-of-the-moment, you begin to feel for her. The way she relates to people, her little quirks, the men she chooses to cheat with, all of these things paint a vivid picture of a woman you can't help but empathize with.
If you've been following my reviews, you know that characters make or break a story for me, especially leads. MJ Colette KNOWS how to write characters. The motivations, the actions following the motives, and the reactions to the actions of the whole cast of characters (1) were so distinct from one another and (2) made PERFECT sense based on the development I as a reader saw for each character. This isn't a 2-dimensional character erotic novel. These people feel real, you will feel like you could step right into their world. You can't help but root for them.
When, at the end, I felt a surge of pride for Liz - who I feel I know well enough that I can use the nickname - I knew I wouldn't be able to get this book out of my head.
Now, the aforementioned faceless lover. The book opens with a chapter of dialogue between him and Liz, and I was thrown at first by that. Not enough to DNF (not that close to the beginning; I'm no quitter) but perhaps jarring enough to cause someone else to DNF it. I understand that his sections were to push the story along, but when I read them I didn't really get much out of them. They offered explanations of things that I felt were obvious at times and they did more to draw me out of the overarching story. That said...
(SPOILER-ish)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
when he holds Liz while she cries after the scene with Zia and Brian and the painting
.
.
.
.
(END SPOILER)
...I felt that moment with him was a strong enough addition to the text that the rest make sense, if only to keep that emotional breakthrough scene in the novel.
I gave Consequences 3.5/5 stars, though I'm leaning towards a 3.75... You guys read it and let me know what you think!
Consequences Of Defensive Adultery follows Elizabeth (not Liz unless she loves you), a lawyer whose tumultuous relationship with her husband and his family pushes her into... well, "defensive adultery." As she navigates her way though her relationships with the men and women who have become important in her life - some by choice, most by circumstance - Liz ends up confronting her own past and allowing herself to grow as an individual and learn to love the most important person of all: herself.
I did not expect to like Liz as much as I do. She's a cheater. You know that going into the story - it's literally written on the book's face. But as she talks to her unnamed, faceless lover-of-the-moment, you begin to feel for her. The way she relates to people, her little quirks, the men she chooses to cheat with, all of these things paint a vivid picture of a woman you can't help but empathize with.
If you've been following my reviews, you know that characters make or break a story for me, especially leads. MJ Colette KNOWS how to write characters. The motivations, the actions following the motives, and the reactions to the actions of the whole cast of characters (1) were so distinct from one another and (2) made PERFECT sense based on the development I as a reader saw for each character. This isn't a 2-dimensional character erotic novel. These people feel real, you will feel like you could step right into their world. You can't help but root for them.
When, at the end, I felt a surge of pride for Liz - who I feel I know well enough that I can use the nickname - I knew I wouldn't be able to get this book out of my head.
Now, the aforementioned faceless lover. The book opens with a chapter of dialogue between him and Liz, and I was thrown at first by that. Not enough to DNF (not that close to the beginning; I'm no quitter) but perhaps jarring enough to cause someone else to DNF it. I understand that his sections were to push the story along, but when I read them I didn't really get much out of them. They offered explanations of things that I felt were obvious at times and they did more to draw me out of the overarching story. That said...
(SPOILER-ish)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
when he holds Liz while she cries after the scene with Zia and Brian and the painting
.
.
.
.
(END SPOILER)
...I felt that moment with him was a strong enough addition to the text that the rest make sense, if only to keep that emotional breakthrough scene in the novel.
I gave Consequences 3.5/5 stars, though I'm leaning towards a 3.75... You guys read it and let me know what you think!