LandlineΒ by Rainbow RowellΒ β 310 pages β ARC from St. Martinβs Press
Book Blurb:
Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That itβs been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply β but that almost seems beside the point now. Maybe that was always beside the point. Two days before theyβre supposed to visit Nealβs family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she canβt go. Sheβs a TV writer, and somethingβs come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her β Neal is always a little upset with Georgie β but she doesnβt expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her. When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if sheβs finally done it. If sheβs ruined everything. That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. Itβs not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like sheβs been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . . . Is that what sheβs supposed to do? Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?
My Review: 3 stars
Click here to order on Amazon!
I liked the premise of this book, a lot. I mean who wouldnβt want to go back to the early, euphoric stages from the start of a relationship? The protagonistβs quandary of not being able to share her situation without seeming full on crazy was done well by the author. I liked the main character Georgie; she was fully developed by the author.
However the rest of the characters were a little off point for me. They didnβt stay in focus (does that make sense) and the daughters seemed far too young for their ages. The mom and her boyfriend were made up to look like parodies in my opinion and who knows if that was the authorβs intent. I also found the ending a little too canned; yet Iβm in the minority on that amidst other reviewers. Eleanor and Park, also by Rainbow Rowell, has been on my TBR of some time now and I will definitely still read it. If youβre looking for a light, easy, quick, chick-lit read, then this one is for you.
Quotes I liked:
Kids took a fathomless amount of energyβ¦. And they took it first. They had right of first refusal on everything you had to offer.β
Almost done with this one and it’s just okay really. Wanted to love it but didn’t.
Glad you’re in agreement Elaine! Happy Reading!