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Virginia Clan #2
Imagining Reality
Book by Galli, Lynn
287 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2007
26 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Galli
19 books267 followersLynn Galli calls the Pacific Northwest home even though she's never written any software code, built an airplane, worn socks with sandals, or slung coffee. For the most part, she enjoys her real job but absolutely lives for the time she gets to spend writing.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 10, 2017
Excellent read! dramatic storyline that had very intense emotions the appreciation of friendships and never lacks chemistry..highly recommend
February 20, 2018
I think this is my favourite of all the books I've read by Lynn Galli. Jessamine is a really strong character with a wonderful layering of depth to her. Her story is told both in first person and third person and I didn't notice that until I was halfway through the novel and I thought it was done fairly seamlessly. Lauren was a nice enough character but I wasn't as drawn to her as I was to Jess until quite late in the novel.
Jess is known as the player of the group of friends but combined with her mother's illness and a sense that there must be more to life she stops her one night stands. I liked that she came to this decision for her own personal growth rather than because she had met "the one". None of her friends really notice and her reputation continues without any basis in fact. Jess' personality unfolds little by little with each of her friends seeing a small part but no-one sees her as a whole.
It feels weird to be rooting for a single character in a romance novel but I found it didn't really matter to me who her counterpart was as long as they respected the person that Jess was and that they be worthy of her.
Jess is known as the player of the group of friends but combined with her mother's illness and a sense that there must be more to life she stops her one night stands. I liked that she came to this decision for her own personal growth rather than because she had met "the one". None of her friends really notice and her reputation continues without any basis in fact. Jess' personality unfolds little by little with each of her friends seeing a small part but no-one sees her as a whole.
It feels weird to be rooting for a single character in a romance novel but I found it didn't really matter to me who her counterpart was as long as they respected the person that Jess was and that they be worthy of her.
November 14, 2017
Part two of the Virginian Clan focuses on best friends Jessie and Lauren.
Jessamin Ximena, the stunningly beautiful southern belle and the most lusted after lesbian in Charlotsville has changed her philandering ways. The player lifestyle does no longer hold any appeal. Running her own business has her working long days and the worry and care for her cancer stricken mother is keeping her up at night. So that’s where her focus lies these days; her work, her family and her friends. Not that she lets her friends know she has taken herself out of the casual dating game.
Lauren Aleric is a tall, red-headed lawyer who is looking for love but is not really the dating kind. She wishes she could be more like her best friend Jessie in that way. Or better yet, find something like what Austy and Elise have together.
Imagining Reality was a good story, but for some reason this couple didn’t grab me as much as Austy and Elise did. The chemistry was different and their failure to communicate was maddening. I know it’s a well used trope in romance novels but it was really milked to the max here. The story about Jesse’s mom was sad and had me tearing up. The friends really go above and beyond here. The moustache twirling bad guys here were Jesse’s three brothers from a different father. What a bunch of haters. I also thought that stone butch rival of Jessie, Jordan, was so over the top bad she almost became a charicature.
Maybe I should stop reading the epilogues as they are spoilerish. They reveal stuff about couples I would rather find out on my own.
f/f explicit
Themes: again we have a failure to communicate, seems to be the favorite trope in this series, I could have lived without that epilogue, diabetics please don’t read it, you might keel over in sugar shock.
4.0 stars
Jessamin Ximena, the stunningly beautiful southern belle and the most lusted after lesbian in Charlotsville has changed her philandering ways. The player lifestyle does no longer hold any appeal. Running her own business has her working long days and the worry and care for her cancer stricken mother is keeping her up at night. So that’s where her focus lies these days; her work, her family and her friends. Not that she lets her friends know she has taken herself out of the casual dating game.
Lauren Aleric is a tall, red-headed lawyer who is looking for love but is not really the dating kind. She wishes she could be more like her best friend Jessie in that way. Or better yet, find something like what Austy and Elise have together.
Imagining Reality was a good story, but for some reason this couple didn’t grab me as much as Austy and Elise did. The chemistry was different and their failure to communicate was maddening. I know it’s a well used trope in romance novels but it was really milked to the max here. The story about Jesse’s mom was sad and had me tearing up. The friends really go above and beyond here. The moustache twirling bad guys here were Jesse’s three brothers from a different father. What a bunch of haters. I also thought that stone butch rival of Jessie, Jordan, was so over the top bad she almost became a charicature.
Maybe I should stop reading the epilogues as they are spoilerish. They reveal stuff about couples I would rather find out on my own.
f/f explicit
Themes: again we have a failure to communicate, seems to be the favorite trope in this series, I could have lived without that epilogue, diabetics please don’t read it, you might keel over in sugar shock.
4.0 stars
May 20, 2015
I really had a hard time deciding between 2-3 stars on this one. Probably my least favorite so far of Lynn Galli's books. I felt as though a lot of time was focused on the main characters separately, with little-to-no interactions suggesting a romance between them would be likely. When something finally does happen, it's kind of shocking, as I didn't see much build up to that. Then all these feelings suddenly appear where there was only friendship previously. I did enjoy learning more about Jess and Lauren, but aside from that, I think it fell short from letting me really believe it.
September 11, 2014
While Jessie is one of the best characters in the Virginia Clan, her story fell very short. Thing is, nothing interesting happens for the first 25 chapters. Excluding the part with her mother, it was mostly filled with bullshit stories with boring things happening in Charlottesville. (where, it seems, thousands of lesbians are living).
The thing about Wasted Heart was that while there is a large group of friends, the story focussed on Austy and Elise. And while we were given a glimpse of metric tons of peer pressure from that group, it didn't really play a significant role. Imagine Reality drops those tons firmly on the reader, and frankly, I found it incredibly annoying. And we get 25 chapters of that. There's nothing there that shows any interest between Jessie and Lauren besides some furtive glances, some stares and confusing monologue. Yet, in chapter 26 (or thereabouts, I lost track) a spark as large as a massive coronal mass ejection, from which 21st century earth would need 2 centuries to revive from were we to be hit directly, hits both of them, and finally, finally, we get to the romance part.
And that's sad, because Jessie (and to a lesser point Lauren) is such an interesting character. She is the anchor of the clan, and no one sees that. It was really too bad I had to suffer through endless pages of crap before we got there. To be fair, Lynn Galli knows how to write interactions and dialogue between characters.
Just the bullshit between that. It killed me.
The thing about Wasted Heart was that while there is a large group of friends, the story focussed on Austy and Elise. And while we were given a glimpse of metric tons of peer pressure from that group, it didn't really play a significant role. Imagine Reality drops those tons firmly on the reader, and frankly, I found it incredibly annoying. And we get 25 chapters of that. There's nothing there that shows any interest between Jessie and Lauren besides some furtive glances, some stares and confusing monologue. Yet, in chapter 26 (or thereabouts, I lost track) a spark as large as a massive coronal mass ejection, from which 21st century earth would need 2 centuries to revive from were we to be hit directly, hits both of them, and finally, finally, we get to the romance part.
And that's sad, because Jessie (and to a lesser point Lauren) is such an interesting character. She is the anchor of the clan, and no one sees that. It was really too bad I had to suffer through endless pages of crap before we got there. To be fair, Lynn Galli knows how to write interactions and dialogue between characters.
Just the bullshit between that. It killed me.
January 14, 2014
It might not be fair for me to review this, since I was only able to endure 25 pages, but I would have appreciated a warning about how infantile it is so others might as well. Strikingly beautiful Jesse and her strikingly beautiful friends look for strikingly beautiful love when they aren't completely absorbed in catfights and really tedious drama amongst themselves. Mom fighting cancer thrown in to try to make Jess more sympathetic. Giant yawn.
May 11, 2016
Enjoyed it. Liked the main characters. My eyes got a good cleaning at one point.
July 6, 2020
You read these stories of friendship and love and you have a longing to wish and appreciate the ones you have. Once again Lynn Galli does a great job and despite each book in series could stand on their own, the interactions between these friends will be more appreciated when one reads each book in series.
June 10, 2016
My fourth book by Galli that I've read. Second series book. It's possible I'm sappy or something. At least judging from the other reviews for this book. I mean, I got all teary-eyed in places. While others apparently were super bored. Ah well.
So. The third book wherein I find people from this "Virginia Clan", though the first book I read that contained some of these characters, maybe most, in a cameo, wasn't a Virginia Clan series book. Nothing from that cameo would have made me want to read a Virginia Clan book. And to a certain extent the same problem there, has followed in each of the books I've read. The problem being that there's too bloody many humans in it/a member of it. Most of whom I still feel like I've barely meet, and/or not sure I've actually meet. And the next book in the series involves someone that wasn't even in the clan when this series stared.
Oh. That reminds me. These epilogues are killing me. Book flows along. A month, a day, a year passes. Depending on the books. Then epilogues. Set between 3 and 4 years into the future. Then next book in the series. Set . . . in between the "end" of the last book, and the "epilogue." Which is annoying on several levels. I'll mention two: 1) it kind of reveals stuff about the next book. 2) one of these days it might actually be neat to actually read a book wherein a couple is involved (as a reader is teased with in these epilogues). Instead of one wherein a couple hook-up/start.
It's a massive cliche, therefore is it a spoiler? To mention that the conflict point is yet again Seriously. Are there no other possible paths that can be followed. Do all lesbian romance books have to fall down this trap/pathway/cliche? I know they don't actually. I just keep reading them in my most recent reads. mmphs. If the next lesbian romance book that I read has that cliche yet again, I'll probably just stop reading this genre. It's too bloody painful.
So. The third book wherein I find people from this "Virginia Clan", though the first book I read that contained some of these characters, maybe most, in a cameo, wasn't a Virginia Clan series book. Nothing from that cameo would have made me want to read a Virginia Clan book. And to a certain extent the same problem there, has followed in each of the books I've read. The problem being that there's too bloody many humans in it/a member of it. Most of whom I still feel like I've barely meet, and/or not sure I've actually meet. And the next book in the series involves someone that wasn't even in the clan when this series stared.
Oh. That reminds me. These epilogues are killing me. Book flows along. A month, a day, a year passes. Depending on the books. Then epilogues. Set between 3 and 4 years into the future. Then next book in the series. Set . . . in between the "end" of the last book, and the "epilogue." Which is annoying on several levels. I'll mention two: 1) it kind of reveals stuff about the next book. 2) one of these days it might actually be neat to actually read a book wherein a couple is involved (as a reader is teased with in these epilogues). Instead of one wherein a couple hook-up/start.
It's a massive cliche, therefore is it a spoiler? To mention that the conflict point is yet again Seriously. Are there no other possible paths that can be followed. Do all lesbian romance books have to fall down this trap/pathway/cliche? I know they don't actually. I just keep reading them in my most recent reads. mmphs. If the next lesbian romance book that I read has that cliche yet again, I'll probably just stop reading this genre. It's too bloody painful.
July 31, 2020
I hate books which prolong the length for sake of drama but this book even though it's overdramatic I loved it.
My only complaint is we don't get much of Lauren and Jess interaction in the first half of the book.
Other than that it's good read with an wholesome epilogue.
Can't wait to read willas and quinns book probably my favourite supporting characters.
My only complaint is we don't get much of Lauren and Jess interaction in the first half of the book.
Other than that it's good read with an wholesome epilogue.
Can't wait to read willas and quinns book probably my favourite supporting characters.
July 24, 2022
3.5/5 blue cheese?
September 21, 2023
Just could not get into this. Calling the women she dates "doll", not being able to follow who she's talking about from one page to the next, it just wasn't a book that I could get involved with.
April 20, 2015
I was torn between giving this a 3 or 4 stars, considered more than first half of the book actually bored me, while the last couple chapters near the end is what makes the whole thing worth it.
This is probably the first book of Lynn Galli that I forced myself to continue to read. I was anticipated for further events, hoping I could see more interaction between Jessie and Lauren. Luckily, my anticipation is not wasted. Yes, the ending is satisfying for me.
The first half of the book includes some very minor exchanges between Jessie and Lauren. The main romance ain't even begin until chapter 24 (which is close to the end). The two main characters actually dated other people before they realize their feeling for each other. The story concentrates a lot toward details regarding random events, like Jessie's mother, Lauren's date, Jessie's date, how the dates ended, how the date hurt them, none-main couples like Austy/Elise and Willa/Quinn are being include quite a bit, as well as those Virginia friends being describe very vividly in their separate relationships- No wonder why the story takes more than half of its length before it could actually concentrated toward the two main characters' romance. Jessie and Lauren acted like friend most of the time (which is helping each other out, and console each other), the only hint that suggest they might develop romantic emotion toward one another is the lust gaze that Jessie gave to Lauren during their hug, or how they checking each other out, and of course, the last half chapters.
If I were to compare the author's work to her previous books, the romance in this one is missing significantly in term of its developments. Especially since the only clue as to why Lauren slept with Jessie during their first time is due to the alcohol, and very little hints prior to that. Especially it happened just right after Jessie broke up with her date recently.
Despite those criticism, I think some of the main couple's moments are pretty good, their emotions being describe pretty well, the writing is well done, but sometimes, it just irk me about the rush of their romance development, and their miscommunication did aggravated me. Still, both the main characters intrigued me in their own way.
This is probably the first book of Lynn Galli that I forced myself to continue to read. I was anticipated for further events, hoping I could see more interaction between Jessie and Lauren. Luckily, my anticipation is not wasted. Yes, the ending is satisfying for me.
The first half of the book includes some very minor exchanges between Jessie and Lauren. The main romance ain't even begin until chapter 24 (which is close to the end). The two main characters actually dated other people before they realize their feeling for each other. The story concentrates a lot toward details regarding random events, like Jessie's mother, Lauren's date, Jessie's date, how the dates ended, how the date hurt them, none-main couples like Austy/Elise and Willa/Quinn are being include quite a bit, as well as those Virginia friends being describe very vividly in their separate relationships- No wonder why the story takes more than half of its length before it could actually concentrated toward the two main characters' romance. Jessie and Lauren acted like friend most of the time (which is helping each other out, and console each other), the only hint that suggest they might develop romantic emotion toward one another is the lust gaze that Jessie gave to Lauren during their hug, or how they checking each other out, and of course, the last half chapters.
If I were to compare the author's work to her previous books, the romance in this one is missing significantly in term of its developments. Especially since the only clue as to why Lauren slept with Jessie during their first time is due to the alcohol, and very little hints prior to that. Especially it happened just right after Jessie broke up with her date recently.
Despite those criticism, I think some of the main couple's moments are pretty good, their emotions being describe pretty well, the writing is well done, but sometimes, it just irk me about the rush of their romance development, and their miscommunication did aggravated me. Still, both the main characters intrigued me in their own way.
January 25, 2011
Imagining Reality
Part of her series on a group of friends. Two of the group take forever to find out that they are in love. Some of the twists and turns are painful to read in that they are cliche, but the lead character, Jessie, is really worth reading about. Painful to read as well, as her mother is dying of cancer, as did my father, so that hit close to home.
***
As a collective reaction to all books, I would say that she is a great storyteller, but her books could use some work. The ones listed in this post also all contained errors of the incorrect word usage type that could be typos (mixing up arraignment and arrangement, for example), and questionable comma choices. On her website she also states that part of her reason to reissue some of her books as special editions was to give them another edit and remove glaring errors. I don't want to know what errors were removed if those that are still there were missed in this round of editing.
The couples 'crisis' often stem from one moment of miscommunication/non-communication that seems very fabricated just to set up the crisis. That breaks the flow of otherwise engaging stories and is very predictable if it happens in every book. I also noticed the point of view. Without going back to check every book, they are written in a mix of first person narrative for one character and third person for the other. I find that mix odd, and sometimes it annoyed me. Also, especially in Waster Heart, the first person narrative is used to have that character's inner monologue sort of address the reader. Meant to be funny I'm sure, but if every chapter ends with such a comment, it's annoying. It just shows to me that a) first person is hard to do and it takes a lot of skill to do right and b) first person is not the best POV to tell a story. (I'm still amazed at how well it worked for me in Hunger Games).
Part of her series on a group of friends. Two of the group take forever to find out that they are in love. Some of the twists and turns are painful to read in that they are cliche, but the lead character, Jessie, is really worth reading about. Painful to read as well, as her mother is dying of cancer, as did my father, so that hit close to home.
***
As a collective reaction to all books, I would say that she is a great storyteller, but her books could use some work. The ones listed in this post also all contained errors of the incorrect word usage type that could be typos (mixing up arraignment and arrangement, for example), and questionable comma choices. On her website she also states that part of her reason to reissue some of her books as special editions was to give them another edit and remove glaring errors. I don't want to know what errors were removed if those that are still there were missed in this round of editing.
The couples 'crisis' often stem from one moment of miscommunication/non-communication that seems very fabricated just to set up the crisis. That breaks the flow of otherwise engaging stories and is very predictable if it happens in every book. I also noticed the point of view. Without going back to check every book, they are written in a mix of first person narrative for one character and third person for the other. I find that mix odd, and sometimes it annoyed me. Also, especially in Waster Heart, the first person narrative is used to have that character's inner monologue sort of address the reader. Meant to be funny I'm sure, but if every chapter ends with such a comment, it's annoying. It just shows to me that a) first person is hard to do and it takes a lot of skill to do right and b) first person is not the best POV to tell a story. (I'm still amazed at how well it worked for me in Hunger Games).
February 17, 2017
Really weird how the narrative kept changing perspectives. First and third books were much better about that.
September 9, 2011
Product Description:
“Considered Charlottesville’s most eligible lesbian, Jessie Ximena has recently grown tired of that status and has stopped dating entirely. She’d rather focus on the important things in life like her job, her family, and her friends. There will always be plenty of time for relationships when she feels like jumping back into the fray. If she finds someone to hold her interest, that is.
Lauren Aleric has been searching for Ms. Right since she began dating, but no one has yet filled the role. Her friends think that she’s too much of a romantic mush to settle. She wishes she could be more like her good friend Jessie, who seems perfectly happy dating casually. But mostly, she wishes she could be like her best friend, Austy, who’s just found her forever love.
Imagining Reality is the story of these two friends and how they discover that what they’re both looking for isn’t as far apart as they might think.”
This is the second book in the Virginia Series and of the entire series. This is primarily Jesse’s story and I’d have to say that she is definitely one of my favorite characters. On the surface she is a woman who is self centered and not looking for any type of commitment. Even her friends act as if she is nothing more than the image she projects because they don’t take the time to step back and notice that things have changed.
“Considered Charlottesville’s most eligible lesbian, Jessie Ximena has recently grown tired of that status and has stopped dating entirely. She’d rather focus on the important things in life like her job, her family, and her friends. There will always be plenty of time for relationships when she feels like jumping back into the fray. If she finds someone to hold her interest, that is.
Lauren Aleric has been searching for Ms. Right since she began dating, but no one has yet filled the role. Her friends think that she’s too much of a romantic mush to settle. She wishes she could be more like her good friend Jessie, who seems perfectly happy dating casually. But mostly, she wishes she could be like her best friend, Austy, who’s just found her forever love.
Imagining Reality is the story of these two friends and how they discover that what they’re both looking for isn’t as far apart as they might think.”
This is the second book in the Virginia Series and of the entire series. This is primarily Jesse’s story and I’d have to say that she is definitely one of my favorite characters. On the surface she is a woman who is self centered and not looking for any type of commitment. Even her friends act as if she is nothing more than the image she projects because they don’t take the time to step back and notice that things have changed.
October 26, 2015
This was.... well. Maybe if I didn't like the first one of Virginia clan (Wasted Heart), I'd like it better.
But I've read Wasted Heart, I liked it and then I was greatly disappointed with this one.
First of all, the first 30% of book was nothing else, just how every single woman, gay, straight, whatever was throwing herself at Jessie. I get it, she's this gorgeous woman, the writer mentioned her beauty A LOT, but I just didn't get it. Also I didn't really care, I cared about their chemistry with Lauren, not with other women.
Then that's the thing. The chemistry between them. I didn't really see it? I mean, Jessie spent more time with Quinn than with Lauren. Then they and suddenly were head over heels? What?
And don't even get me started with one particular scene, . Just, no.
Also I found the crew really annoying and felt like there were too many of them.
I hope the next one of the Virginia Clan will be better.
But I've read Wasted Heart, I liked it and then I was greatly disappointed with this one.
First of all, the first 30% of book was nothing else, just how every single woman, gay, straight, whatever was throwing herself at Jessie. I get it, she's this gorgeous woman, the writer mentioned her beauty A LOT, but I just didn't get it. Also I didn't really care, I cared about their chemistry with Lauren, not with other women.
Then that's the thing. The chemistry between them. I didn't really see it? I mean, Jessie spent more time with Quinn than with Lauren. Then they and suddenly were head over heels? What?
And don't even get me started with one particular scene, . Just, no.
Also I found the crew really annoying and felt like there were too many of them.
I hope the next one of the Virginia Clan will be better.
July 28, 2019
The next In Galli's series about her VA characters and this one focuses on a character that intrigued me from Wasted Heart, so I was happy that Jessie was getting her own book. This one switches between first person for Jessie's scenes and third person for Lauren's story, so Lauren's a bit more fleshed out than Elise from the previous book. However the book suffers from the leads spending most of their time dating other people, and then pushing and pulling with each other for the last third of the book. Also Lauren's known Jessie for 11 years, but doesn't seem to know her at all and finds out most of her new info about Jessie from other people and not from talking to Jessie, so it was hard to see why Jessie liked Lauren so much. It's not the best in the series but it's ok.
February 26, 2015
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I wanted the story the book provided, but ten chapters in I was unsure if I wanted to work so hard for it. The first 2/3 of the book I struggled to remain interested. This is a new author for me, (I tend to binge read books by one author) and as the second book I was a bit worried. I pushed through and was very pleased with the end result. I think if you plan to continue reading the other books you should read this one. From the reviews the next in the series will be excellent, much like the first. A little bitter sweet... glad I did it but kind of glad it is over too.
November 1, 2016
Turned up the heat in this one
Love the pairing, Lynn Galli turned up the heat, loved the characters once again setting up for a future book.... already started book 3 in the Virginia Clan series. Only minus for me was the fact that it didn't start where the first ended... and it gives too much into the next int the 3 years later section.
Still a huge fan and will keep reading.
Love the pairing, Lynn Galli turned up the heat, loved the characters once again setting up for a future book.... already started book 3 in the Virginia Clan series. Only minus for me was the fact that it didn't start where the first ended... and it gives too much into the next int the 3 years later section.
Still a huge fan and will keep reading.
November 6, 2015
Sweet story
Ms. Galli has created a charming sweet story with good character development. This second book of the series of five stories is funny, sweet, sad when Jessie's mother passed away demonstrating the fact that you can create your own family, (in this case the Virginia clan).
Ms. Galli has created a charming sweet story with good character development. This second book of the series of five stories is funny, sweet, sad when Jessie's mother passed away demonstrating the fact that you can create your own family, (in this case the Virginia clan).
September 19, 2016
Very entertaining series
I'm enjoying a lot the Virginia Clan saga. I like how the author shows American lives of common people and how she explores the past of her characters to explain their presents. Not too cheesy either,although sometimes it seems it could be. Very easy to fall forma some characters!
I'm enjoying a lot the Virginia Clan saga. I like how the author shows American lives of common people and how she explores the past of her characters to explain their presents. Not too cheesy either,although sometimes it seems it could be. Very easy to fall forma some characters!
July 19, 2013
Another great book by Lynn Galli. :)
September 1, 2015
I think I liked Wasted Heart better, but nevertheless, I enjoyed the continuous friendship among the Virginia clan.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews