A review by fiction_aficionado
Everything Behind Us by Jennifer Rodewald

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
Jennifer Rodewald’s books always clench my heart in a fist—sometimes gently, other times not so gently!—but this story has a particularly poignant quality of vulnerability and tenderness due to both the situation and the personalities of the characters. Marriage of convenience is one of my favourite tropes, and until recently it’s been almost exclusively the domain of historical romance, but this story is a shining example of how well it can work in a modern setting.

I formed an attachment to Connor Murphy the first time I met him. He fits right in to his family of jokesters but also quickly impressed me as the Murphy brother you would want behind you in a crisis. And that’s exactly where Sadie is at the beginning of this story: A single mother facing the fact that she may not be around to see her four-year-old son grow up. Is it any surprise Connor steps up with a literal proposal to support her through her crisis?

The beauty of this story lies in Connor’s absolute commitment to Sadie and his love and care for her even before that developed into a romantic attachment. It’s also in the way Sadie and Connor worked through the very real and complex emotions that came with their situation—both their current circumstances and the history that lay between them. As is so often the case with Rodewald’s stories, this isn’t just a romance; it’s a love story. And it’s a beautiful antithesis to the dominant narratives about romance and marriage found in our contemporary culture.

The Murphy Brothers series is quickly becoming one of my all-time favourite romance series!

I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion. 

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