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472nd out of 1,391 books
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1,675 voters
Not To Us
by
Katherine Owen (Goodreads Author)
Relationships are tested in all kinds of ways...
Ellie's perfect world unravels.
A best friend's betrayal ends her marriage.
An alarming diagnosis threatens her life.
Yet.
It all leads to Michael...
But, fate soon tests their perfect union.
And, begs the question: if you get a second chance, do you take a different path?
Ellie's perfect world unravels.
A best friend's betrayal ends her marriage.
An alarming diagnosis threatens her life.
Yet.
It all leads to Michael...
But, fate soon tests their perfect union.
And, begs the question: if you get a second chance, do you take a different path?
ebook, 366 pages
Published
April 26th 2011
by The Writing Works Group
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I began reading this but I just can't continue. The premise of this book is excellent but the more and more time I invest in it the angrier I get. I understand every individual is different and people deal with stress, loss, sickness and tragedy in their own unique way, but I just don't find this believable at all. I have intimate knowledge of the hardships Ellie faced and how she reacts to her cancer and to her husband and best friend's betrayal just pissed me off.
Just about every line written...more
Just about every line written...more
I've been stuck in the paranormal/young adult genre for a while now, but my good friend told me this was a must read. She was so excited about it so I bought it instantly. I was not disappointed! I loved the story and the writing was fantastic! I spent the better part of my day today, at work, reading. I didn't get anything done except for the occassional phone call. I went through the range of emotions with Ellie and for her. One minute I was happy, then I was crying, and then I was angry. I wa...more
Isn’t it true that when horrible things happen to others, we are quick to think that it won’t happen to us? That’s exactly what “Not To Us” is centered on.
Friends since college, Ellie, her husband and their mutual friends had it all. Each with successful careers, children and living comfortable lives, when out of the blue divorce, infidelity, breast cancer, death and betrayal swoops down on all of them, especially Ellie - cutting a swathe of destruction on many levels through her life.
At one poi...more
Friends since college, Ellie, her husband and their mutual friends had it all. Each with successful careers, children and living comfortable lives, when out of the blue divorce, infidelity, breast cancer, death and betrayal swoops down on all of them, especially Ellie - cutting a swathe of destruction on many levels through her life.
At one poi...more
Review by Judy: crafted flawlessly in first-person present tense, a difficult mechanism. Ellie’s emotional journey is explored in depth; readers will recognize and identify with many of her thoughts and feelings. However, the overall plot strains belief.
Ms Owen writes well. The story has tremendous possibilities, but in the opinion of this reviewer the characters’ actions and reactions to the situations in which they find themselves seem unrealistic. The topics of surviving cancer, divorce, and...more
Ms Owen writes well. The story has tremendous possibilities, but in the opinion of this reviewer the characters’ actions and reactions to the situations in which they find themselves seem unrealistic. The topics of surviving cancer, divorce, and...more
This author weaves a gripping, and emotionally taut story. Robert & Ellie's perfect marriage is suddenly destroyed by infidelity. Ellie's world comes toppling down on her as she battles breast cancer, anger, resentment and betrayal.
If that wasn't enough, more things come at Ellie that shake her to her very core. Ellie's breast cancer is not the main issue here. It's about healing, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. This story is not predictable by any means and there are several twis...more
If that wasn't enough, more things come at Ellie that shake her to her very core. Ellie's breast cancer is not the main issue here. It's about healing, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. This story is not predictable by any means and there are several twis...more
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
“Not To Us” by Katherine Clare Owen is unquestionably a roller coaster ride. The reader goes on this ride with Ellen Kay “Ellie” Bradford as she discovers that her husband Robert is having an affair with her best friend Carrie. Shortly after this discovery, Ellie, mother of three children, is diagnosed with breast cancer. Carrie’s husband Michael, an accomplished surgeon, is determined to save Ellie’s life in view of the fact that he’s...more
“Not To Us” by Katherine Clare Owen is unquestionably a roller coaster ride. The reader goes on this ride with Ellen Kay “Ellie” Bradford as she discovers that her husband Robert is having an affair with her best friend Carrie. Shortly after this discovery, Ellie, mother of three children, is diagnosed with breast cancer. Carrie’s husband Michael, an accomplished surgeon, is determined to save Ellie’s life in view of the fact that he’s...more
Definitely a roller coaster... When I saw a tagline that has that phrase, I tend to think that it wouldn't be that effective. However, it was! I bought this book months ago and I finally had a chance to read it. This author is new to me.
But I'm glad that I got the chance to try her out. This book... It starts with this woman who was trying to keep her life together after finding out that her husband was cheating on her with her own best friend. How dare she do that to this woman? And worst of al...more
But I'm glad that I got the chance to try her out. This book... It starts with this woman who was trying to keep her life together after finding out that her husband was cheating on her with her own best friend. How dare she do that to this woman? And worst of al...more
To be honest, the premise of this book is really far-fetched even for a fictional account. BUT...I really liked the gist of it anyway.
Ellie married Bobby. Carrie, Ellie's best friend from college, married Michael. They've been friends forever and Michael is Ellie's doctor. On the day he tells her she has cancer, she tells him...well, you soon find out.
I cried a good portion of the way through this book once I got to Chapter 14, which I did NOT SEE COMING AT ALL, MS. OWEN. If you can make your...more
Ellie married Bobby. Carrie, Ellie's best friend from college, married Michael. They've been friends forever and Michael is Ellie's doctor. On the day he tells her she has cancer, she tells him...well, you soon find out.
I cried a good portion of the way through this book once I got to Chapter 14, which I did NOT SEE COMING AT ALL, MS. OWEN. If you can make your...more
With friends like this, who needs enemies? Apparently this woman did as I'm sure they would have treated her better than her supposed best friend. Hell, even better than her husbands, first AND second.
This book left me drained and depressed. For a h touted as being so strong and extraordinary, I wished she had even more backbone to walk away.
Seriously. If I was surrounded by only these people, death would have been merciful.
The writing was actually good; but the storyline was unbelievable... at...more
This book left me drained and depressed. For a h touted as being so strong and extraordinary, I wished she had even more backbone to walk away.
Seriously. If I was surrounded by only these people, death would have been merciful.
The writing was actually good; but the storyline was unbelievable... at...more
This book was the epitome of an emotional rollercoaster, and I say that with a smile on my face. I love when I'm able to read a book and realize that part of it seems realistic, while the other part has that hint of unrealistic behavior. That is how I would describe Ellie. In many cases, I believe that she personifies the type of person many of us long to be. Of course, we would never tell anyone this dirty little secret. I read through this book rather quickly, because it captivated me so much...more
Loved the book and can't wait to read more books by this author!
I received a free copy of this book to review and I have to say I loved it. It is the story of how a woman's life falls apart from one day to the next and how she keeps it together. Or not. It brought tears to my eyes more that once but also made me laugh a few times. The only bad thing I can say about it is there were many errors/misuses in wording and punctuation throughout the book that made me have to reread to try to figure out what is trying to be said. I'm not sure if that is because I re...more
I loved this book, I have just finished it. I found myself lost in the characters and there feelings, of how Ellie deals with cancer. I cried so many times. It's one of the best books I have ever read. I loved how court always came up somehow after Ellie meeting, and falling in love with. Even thought she denied her lover for him.
I loved little Emily the sassy 7 year old who; always somehow made a dark moment funny or happy and made them all laugh. Michael who was always looking out for his mom...more
I loved little Emily the sassy 7 year old who; always somehow made a dark moment funny or happy and made them all laugh. Michael who was always looking out for his mom...more
2.5 stars... but as usual, i am generous and bumping it up not down... I am completely torn... I hated it and I loved it. Up until about 50% through I thought about not finishing it, but I am not one to do that... So I finished it. For me, the book kind of picked up and I was able to continue... The writing was good, the storyline, well it was different... With this story line, I will not make any recommendations to read it or not to read it. I think this is a book that each person has to make t...more
Mar 21, 2012
Booklover
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
cheating-grovel,
baby-children,
divorce-separated-reunion-2nd-chanc,
dead-child-miscarriage-abortion,
emotional-tear-jerker,
engagement-marriage-on-rocks,
fatal-disease-fertility-problems,
chicklit,
hospital,
journalist-hoteliers,
love,
obssessed-jealous-exes-ow,
pregnancy-surrogacy,
sibblings-best-friends
PHEW!This was my reaction by the time i completed this book,it was a roller coaster ride for my emotions from being so so pissed(towards all four of them) to feeling sorry for Ellen Kay cause she is the one who suffered so much pain may it emotionally or physically cause of treatments but all in all i can surely say this "Ellen Kay is not perfect,she may be weak at times but she is a brave character who withstood all the tragedies thrown at her by fate and hurt,pain,humiliation thrown at her by...more
4 likes
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I really enjoyed reading "Not To Us". Katherine is a brilliant writer. Ellie who is married to Robert, they have 3 kids Nick, Matthew, and Emily. Michael is married to Carrie and they have 1 child Elaine. Ellie learns she has breast cancer. Michael says that he will take care of her. Robert has an affair with Carrie, while Michael and Ellie have an affair. Robert ends up marrying Carrie in Vegas. Michael and Ellie get married later on. Then the unthinkable happens Nick dies in a car accident, w...more
1 like
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Mar 19, 2012
Dinjolina
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
To cheater romance lovers
Shelves:
hero-that-broke-my-heart,
evil-women-give-me-headaches,
evil-previous-wife,
evil-other-woman,
15-tissues-later,
2nd-chance-at-love,
angst,
bipolar-alert,
book-that-has-my-heart,
cheating-jerk,
chick-lit,
hero-in-need-of-spermicide,
horribly-wrong-ending,
married-couple,
maybe-i-should-not-try,
moronic-male-alert,
older-but-cool-woman,
omg-eeeewww,
out-of-this-world-revelations,
penis-on-the-run,
plots-i-hate,
pretty-cover-pulled-me-in,
realistic,
ripped-my-heart-out,
slut-alert,
stress-inducer,
superb-heroine,
thers-a-bun-in-the-oven
You know those movies where some journalist, writer, reviewer or critiq stares at the blank screen trying to write something, but can not? That little line is just blinking at you and nothing else is happening? Your fingers are suspended over the keyboard not because you do not have anything to write but because you have TOO MUCH and you have no idea where to start?
I am there now. I am in that scene. And I am loosing my mind!
Let me tell you…this is chick lit, in a way. And it is also a cheater r...more
I am there now. I am in that scene. And I am loosing my mind!
Let me tell you…this is chick lit, in a way. And it is also a cheater r...more
7 likes
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Those who know me know my love for all things paranormal and supernatural. It is my favorite genre of books and movies alike. On occasion though, I do enjoy great chick-lit or women’s fiction. I usually find myself nearly through with the book, realizing that I am still anticipating some supernatural creature to jump out from around the bend. It makes it difficult for me to change gears when switching to a different genre. This, however, is never the case when it comes to Katherine Owen’s superb...more
4 likes
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Ms. Owen is a remarkable writer. That said, I will admit to liking this book, but found it a little too unrealistic to take serious. Yet, it was under very serious circumstances that the background was laid. We have to deal with cancer, betrayal, love, love lost,death of a child, friendship broken, too many serious problems to wrap my head around. I wish she would have only dealt with a few of these issues.
I will say again, I liked it.
I will say again, I liked it.
I Love love loved this book!!!!! I have to say that I chose to read it because I share the same name as the author, if she has my name the book HAD to be good, right?! I read it in a day, i could not put it down, i just had to see what was going to happen in the tangled mess the characters had created for themselves! It mad me laugh, cry, and so sad when I came to the end!
2 likes
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Over all this wasn't a bad story,but for me this would get only 2.5 stars. I felt like Ellie's friendship with her so called best friend was unbelievable! For me after all the times this so called friend betrayed her,only Ellie suffers again and again! I hated how Ellie protected Carrie over and over again,and for me Bobby deserved to know the brutal truth.
The first half of the book, I was so in love w/Ellie & Michael, but then Ellie behaviors started irritating me. Honestly how many women would react the way Ellie reacted to not one betrayal, but two.
I was going to rate this book a 4, but after thinking about it, it deserves a 5, just for getting me pissed off.
I was going to rate this book a 4, but after thinking about it, it deserves a 5, just for getting me pissed off.
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Didn't like this book at all. Waste of my time. Poor characters and highly unrealistic storyline. Wives sleeping with best friend's husbands, husbands sleeping with best friends wives and then they are all still best friends afterwards with each other as if the infedilities were no big deal. Come one, give me a break! Got 60% in and decided it was no longer worth my time.
A well written novel, written in present tense, which I love. With Ellie's life unraveling, she becomes a true to life character. When faced with betrayal and illness, I found myself cheering Ellie on throughout. Look forward to reading Katherine Owen's other works.
I really enjoyed this book. Ellie is a sympathetic main character that makes you want to turn the pages. The twists that are thrown at her throughout the course of the book will make you route for her and even make you want to smack her at times. The sign of a good, real, character. :)
I wrote it! "Not To Us" takes readers on a roller coaster ride with Ellen Kay "Ellie" Bradford whose perfect live is unraveling with her best friend Carrie's betrayal with her husband Robert and finding out she has breast cancer in the first three pages, but her misfortunes lead her to Michael Shaw (Carrie's soon-to-be-ex). Before long, things seem to be working out perfectly for Ellie and Michael, but then their newly-formed bond is tested like never before. This book isn't for everyone, but if...more
I couldn't even finish it. It was not believable. Who deals with problems like that? I felt that Ells was so self-absorbed and self-centered. I couldn't even waste another minute.
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This book is the definition of a roller coaster. I hated it, I loved it. I struggle with its believability. But I couldn't put it down. So, make of that what you will.
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Katherine Owen has written three novels, Seeing Julia, Not To Us, and When I See You. Owen is also featured in the anthology, Indie Chicks 25 Women Writers 25 Stories, which features an excerpt of Seeing Julia. Owen's writing delves into the complexities of relationships, often from both love and loss perspectives, because, as an author, she enjoys the unpredictability and uniqueness she finds th...more
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“There are all kinds of ways for a relationship to be tested, even broken, some, irrevocably; it’s the endings we’re unprepared for.”
—
109 people liked it
“I’ve told too many lies. I hold too many secrets. Who can I really trust? Who can trust me when I don’t even trust myself?”
—
10 people liked it
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21 mar. 13:55
22 mar. 16:52