Zapata, Mariana - Dear Aaron - Informal buddy read starting August 1st, 2018

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This thread is open to discuss Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata



Synopsis
Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas.

The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional.

Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect.

What she didn’t count on was falling in love with the guy.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Tati]

I've started this, and so far, it's pretty interesting.

(view spoiler)[ I do wonder what took him so long to reply? (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

I'm currently at 22% and all this writing back and forth is getting a tad old

[Nicole]

I only got to chapter 4 and the writing back and forth is starting to get annoying 🙈 I hope this isn't for majority of the book.

I was also wondering why he took so long to reply. Maybe he was on active duty/out fighting?

What do you think about Ruby? I like her so far. She has a good sense of humor.

[Tati]

I have some bad news for you: the writing back forth only stops halfway through the book... And I got pretty annoyed by it too.

About Ruby, I think she does have a good sense of humor, but she is a tad bit too insecure, and a pushover at times.

(view spoiler)[ when she gets really sick and her aunt fires her? She should have stood up for herself (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

I'm dying! I got up to the end of chapter 11 (about 35%) and I'm annoyed. I don't see how Zapata thought this would be a good thing.

You're right about Ruby. She apologizes quite a bit. And definitely does seem to be a pushover.

[Nicole]

You have a better tolerance than I do. This book is driving me insane! I find myself skimming parts 🙈

[Tati]

I skimmed too :)

[Nicole]

I got to the end of chapter 14. And thank goodness! There is light at the end of the tunnel. Sheesh. IM was brutal.

[Tati]

I thought so too. Some people didn’t like it when the texting was over. I was relieved. Otherwise, I don’t know if I’d have finished the book

[Nicole]

I'm up to chapter 19. Ruby is very insecure. I hate that she apologizes for everything. And she's also very emotional. Tears up very quickly. I feel like she should start pushing him for answers. She has all these questions and becomes a mouse. Doesn't ask or make an attempt to find out.

There are clearly things going on with Aaron. I'm guessing his father is pressuring him into coming to work for him. Or maybe he is having difficulty adjusting to normal life again

[Nicole]

I finished and I was thoroughly disappointed! That was just an utter shit ending. Happened so fast and left me feeling pissed off and annoyed. I read all those stupid effen emails and IM's for the ending to be like that? I'm supposed to infer. No! I would have much rather read about how they figured things out. What did Aaron land up doing after he left the military? How did Ruby's parents and siblings react to Aaron? What happened in the end with Aaron and his mother? His father?

And Ruby got annoying with her insecurities and apologies. Also her obliviousness and scaredy cat tendencies. I didn't feel that there was enough character growth. Yeah she laid down the law with Aaron that one time but so what. She still seemed like a pushover.

I just wasn't impressed with this.