A review by hangryforfiction
Don't Make Me Turn this Life Around: A Novel by Camille Pagán

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

5.0

Do you ever read a book and love it so much that you never want to stop reading about what those characters are up to? Never stop getting updates? Like make friends with them on social media and turn on the notifications. I got that feeling when I read Life and Other Near Death Experiences back in 2017. Much to my heart's surprise, one of my favorite authors delivered! Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around (isn't that a genius title?) by Camille Pagán is the sequel my heart desired but my brain never thought I'd get. Even though I read the first book years ago, I never forgot Libby & Shiloh. They never left. Camille's writing makes sure of that. Her characters are rich with personality and history and the setting for these two books, the small island of Vieques in Puerto Rico, where the author herself vacations frequently, seeps off the page and right into my senses. These books are a love letter to PR and that love enriches the story so much. The stories carry heavy topics and bring the tears, but the characters are charming and so relatable making the books impossible to put down. Libby & Shiloh are mature adults, have been married a while and I need more romance like that! Camille has written characters like this before and I love her for it. I recommend all her books, but this may be a new favorite!
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 All the stars for one of my most anticipated releases coming May 11th! Thanks so much to lakeunion & amazon publishing for the ARC and the beautiful finished copy.
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 (CW: cancer, death of a parent/grief, chronic illness) 🔎