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It Doesn't Have To Be That Way
Molly keeps rushing into relationships with the wrong men, brought about by a violent incident during her teen years, which skewed her judgment. Now she's drinking too much, taking foolish risks, and allowing a predatory male to sexually harass her at work.
A chance encounter with Fred Flaherty, her 72-year-old divorced neighbor, leads to a tentative friendship. Fred, a Cold War veteran and ham radio operator, has suffered considerably over the decades, but also dreams of a better future. As summer becomes autumn, the two neighbors share stories of personal loss, bond over their passion for Jim Croce's music, and develop trust and mutual respect.
This is fortunate, because winter is about to bring on challenges neither could have predicted.
A chance encounter with Fred Flaherty, her 72-year-old divorced neighbor, leads to a tentative friendship. Fred, a Cold War veteran and ham radio operator, has suffered considerably over the decades, but also dreams of a better future. As summer becomes autumn, the two neighbors share stories of personal loss, bond over their passion for Jim Croce's music, and develop trust and mutual respect.
This is fortunate, because winter is about to bring on challenges neither could have predicted.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2020
11 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Mary Rowen
6 books37 followersMary Rowen is a Boston area mom with a wonderful family that allows her time to write almost every day.
She grew up in the Massachusetts Merrimack Valley and graduated from Providence College. She has worked as a writer, teacher, salesperson, and political canvasser.
She grew up in the Massachusetts Merrimack Valley and graduated from Providence College. She has worked as a writer, teacher, salesperson, and political canvasser.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 15, 2020
Molly Dolan dreams of a steady relationship. At twenty-five, she’s floundering, drinking too much and making poor decisions. The only good thing going is Molly’s job. She got in on the ground floor at FSI as senior marketing writer, but she’s just learned of a big a change.
Molly’s relationship problems began in high school. When her one close friendship ended tragically, she tried to suppress her feelings, but the burden of loss and regret led to reckless decisions and she has carried that burden into adulthood.
Molly’s neighbor Fred Flaherty is alone at seventy-two. Divorced for many years, he listens to Jim Croce records and talks to buddies on his ham radio. But his failed marriage and the recent death of his younger brother, Davey weigh heavy on him.
When Davey was born, Fred’s awkward and lonely childhood turned happy. The twelve-year difference didn’t matter because they adored each other. Now Fred looks back at how Davey’s once promising future dissolved when he returned from Vietnam.
With seemingly little in common, Molly and Fred strike up a friendship that, despite many unforeseen obstacles, may help them find happiness and direction in their lives.
Mary Rowen’s charming new book, It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way, is due out this fall. It’s a hopeful and touching story about how people make mistakes and get caught up in bad situations, even when they’re trying to do the right thing. Set outside Boston, in Arlington, Massachusetts, the story begins in 2012 and begins with Molly’s first-person narrative. Alternating third-person chapters provide details about both characters’ lives, framed by chapters named after Jim Croce’s music. Readers will like how Rowen’s flawed characters navigate modern and realistic situations. She introduces serious themes of family problems, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault, harassment and mental health and buffers them with everyday examples of kindness and humor.
I recommend this women’s fiction story about difficult relationships and hopeful friendships and look forward to more books by Rowen.
Molly’s relationship problems began in high school. When her one close friendship ended tragically, she tried to suppress her feelings, but the burden of loss and regret led to reckless decisions and she has carried that burden into adulthood.
Molly’s neighbor Fred Flaherty is alone at seventy-two. Divorced for many years, he listens to Jim Croce records and talks to buddies on his ham radio. But his failed marriage and the recent death of his younger brother, Davey weigh heavy on him.
When Davey was born, Fred’s awkward and lonely childhood turned happy. The twelve-year difference didn’t matter because they adored each other. Now Fred looks back at how Davey’s once promising future dissolved when he returned from Vietnam.
With seemingly little in common, Molly and Fred strike up a friendship that, despite many unforeseen obstacles, may help them find happiness and direction in their lives.
Mary Rowen’s charming new book, It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way, is due out this fall. It’s a hopeful and touching story about how people make mistakes and get caught up in bad situations, even when they’re trying to do the right thing. Set outside Boston, in Arlington, Massachusetts, the story begins in 2012 and begins with Molly’s first-person narrative. Alternating third-person chapters provide details about both characters’ lives, framed by chapters named after Jim Croce’s music. Readers will like how Rowen’s flawed characters navigate modern and realistic situations. She introduces serious themes of family problems, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault, harassment and mental health and buffers them with everyday examples of kindness and humor.
I recommend this women’s fiction story about difficult relationships and hopeful friendships and look forward to more books by Rowen.
September 19, 2020
I made the mistake of starting this book at night and thinking I would read a couple of chapters before bed. I received a free version of It Doesn't Have To Be That Way in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this. I started this book, was drawn in after only a few pages and was unable to stop reading. Mary is a masterful writer whose characters were so vivid, rich and compelling. I became very quickly invested in the outcome for young Molly and her older endearing neighbor Fred. I found the characters so relatable, and Molly invoked so many fond and emotional memories of my life as a young 20 something woman. I was enthralled by the in-depth characters and impactful dialogue. At times I was laughing, and at times I was brought to tears. It has been a very long time since a book has taken me on such an emotional roller coaster. I was in suspense from beginning to end with this story which is why I was unable to put this book down once I started reading. Mary expertly tackles some big issues we all face or encounter at some point in our lives, including mental illness, violence, harassment, and the confusion of being young and finding your worth and your way. I was equally compelled by the much older Fred's story and the hardships and circumstances that shaped his life, and by the way their stories intersected. I highly recommend It Doesn't Have to be That Way to anyone who wants a read that is suspenseful, skillfully written, and that makes you think, reminisce, and that engulfs you with emotion.
December 6, 2020
––Jim Croce––now that's a name I haven’t heard for a bit, but one that always draws a notable smile.
Mary Rowen’s, It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way is a complicated but important novel. The story demonstrates how the legacy of systemic policing of women’s bodies has left way too many young women, like the main character in this story, in a relentless search for acceptance, even if it means ricocheting from one failed relationship to the next.
The story is fast-paced and engaging as it draws the reader into the main character, Molly Dolan’s cringe-worthy risky exploits. I must add here that I respect how the author peeled away many of the misunderstood layers surrounding sexual abuse––everything from the first seemingly innocuous but undeniably uncomfortable failed flirt to the all-out aggressive assault and character assassinations which often accompany any woman [regardless of age] battling for her right not to be victimized.
While Rowan unabashedly shows the risky sexual exploits of a young woman socially conditioned to accept mistreatment as normal behavior, she also is quick to throw Molly a lifesaver in the form of a neighbor, Fred Flaherty. A kind, older gentleman who offers Molly a no-strings-attached but much-needed friendship. This is where the story blossoms as their bond over music––Jim Croce––and friendship expose the kinder, more compassionate side of humanity.
A highly enjoyable and thoughtful read.
Mary Rowen’s, It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way is a complicated but important novel. The story demonstrates how the legacy of systemic policing of women’s bodies has left way too many young women, like the main character in this story, in a relentless search for acceptance, even if it means ricocheting from one failed relationship to the next.
The story is fast-paced and engaging as it draws the reader into the main character, Molly Dolan’s cringe-worthy risky exploits. I must add here that I respect how the author peeled away many of the misunderstood layers surrounding sexual abuse––everything from the first seemingly innocuous but undeniably uncomfortable failed flirt to the all-out aggressive assault and character assassinations which often accompany any woman [regardless of age] battling for her right not to be victimized.
While Rowan unabashedly shows the risky sexual exploits of a young woman socially conditioned to accept mistreatment as normal behavior, she also is quick to throw Molly a lifesaver in the form of a neighbor, Fred Flaherty. A kind, older gentleman who offers Molly a no-strings-attached but much-needed friendship. This is where the story blossoms as their bond over music––Jim Croce––and friendship expose the kinder, more compassionate side of humanity.
A highly enjoyable and thoughtful read.
October 15, 2021
Molly Dolan is a twenty-something woman who jumps from unhealthy relationship to unhealthy relationship – even her relationship with some of her male coworkers is unhealthy. Her neighbor, Fred Flaherty, is 72 years old, divorced, a ham radio enthusiast, and recovering from the death of his brother David whom Fred was devoted to even though his brother may have killed someone. On the surface, they seem like unlikely friends but as time goes by they do indeed become friends and are there for each other when they need each other the most.
“It Doesn’t Have to be That Way” is a very nicely done novel about two unlikely friends. I wanted to read this book because it is set in the town I live in and while author Mary Rowen does an excellent job of capturing the setting, I admit that at first I didn’t like Molly – I hated the way she let men walk all over her – but as Rowen slowly revealed more and more about Molly’s background I grew to like her and understand her. On the other hand, I liked Fred from the start – perhaps because I am closer to his age than I am Molly’s. His devotion to his late brother is heartbreaking especially as we learn more about the brother and the cost of that devotion in his personal life. Rowen takes her time slowly building the friendship between the two and it is very well done. There are some twists and turns in both Molly and Fred’s stories and a major twist in the story involving the two of them – very well done. In the end, I hated saying goodbye to these two characters whom I had come to care about.
“It Doesn’t Have to be That Way” is a very nicely done novel.
“It Doesn’t Have to be That Way” is a very nicely done novel about two unlikely friends. I wanted to read this book because it is set in the town I live in and while author Mary Rowen does an excellent job of capturing the setting, I admit that at first I didn’t like Molly – I hated the way she let men walk all over her – but as Rowen slowly revealed more and more about Molly’s background I grew to like her and understand her. On the other hand, I liked Fred from the start – perhaps because I am closer to his age than I am Molly’s. His devotion to his late brother is heartbreaking especially as we learn more about the brother and the cost of that devotion in his personal life. Rowen takes her time slowly building the friendship between the two and it is very well done. There are some twists and turns in both Molly and Fred’s stories and a major twist in the story involving the two of them – very well done. In the end, I hated saying goodbye to these two characters whom I had come to care about.
“It Doesn’t Have to be That Way” is a very nicely done novel.
August 6, 2024
The book would have been better had it not been for the self-centred and boy obsessed main character.
A few scenes didn’t sit right with me, such as her wanting to be the one assaulted instead of her friend, so that people would be sympathetic towards her?
Felt like the author was trying to go for a “A Man Called Otto” elderly man character in the book, too, but didn’t quite manage it.
A few scenes didn’t sit right with me, such as her wanting to be the one assaulted instead of her friend, so that people would be sympathetic towards her?
Felt like the author was trying to go for a “A Man Called Otto” elderly man character in the book, too, but didn’t quite manage it.
Want to read
September 1, 2021Thanks for making me a lucky winner of this book through the First Reads program, and I look forward to reading and reviewing.
September 22, 2021
Once I started reading this book I could not put it down.
September 15, 2023
3 1/2⭐️
Good story.
Interesting characters but something was missing.
Good story.
Interesting characters but something was missing.
October 17, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews