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One Day in December
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One Day in December by Josie Silver -- 2.5 stars (round down to 2)
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I think I stopped reading romance because of just your point on the pro-longed "angst"-I had too much real life angst back then, I did not need to read about it!
Dang, I've had this on my radar since it's was Reece's December book. I think One Day was at the beginning of this whole "prolonged wrong timing" trend. I haven't read that one but I remember it getting really polarizing reviews. I actually haven't read many stories using it, so maybe I'll be more keen on this?
I will say that a lot of people liked this book, so I am in the minority on GR!!!
Sounds rather head-bangingly frustrating - but *so* interesting that that type of angst seems to be a current romance trope
I am guessing that the whole “destined to be together” over many years and many different life situations is appealing to some people. I am just not those people.
I prefer my romances quick and dirty with minimal conflict and no cheating.
My exposure to that is limited to ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and I think I’ll stick to that!
Awww, that movie is a classic though!! I do love it. But, now that you mention it, very similar basic concept. But no amazing fake orgasm scene in a diner 😉
Well damn, that’s it - I’m not reading it then 😉
Lol! So many wonderfully inappropriate comments I could make in response...And no I want to watch When Harry Met Sally.
Honestly, it doesn’t sound appealing to me either.
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One Day (other topics)One Day in December (other topics)
The Light We Lost (other topics)
2.5 (rounded down to 2)
I am starting to see a theme in modern contemporary romance that I am not really a fan of: prolonged angst. Maybe it is just the couple books I have read and didn't enjoy—both recommended by Reese Witherspoon through her book club, BTW—but I just cannot get on board with this decades-long stress and anxiety of right man/wrong time.
Laurie is heading home from work one December day in London and sees a man sitting at the bus shelter. Their eyes meet and she instantly falls in love. For the next year, every place to goes both she and her best friend/flatmate Sarah scan the crown in hopes of finding him again. And then, magically, Laurie sees him again. When Sarah introduces him as Jack. Her boyfriend.
From there, we follow Laurie and Jack for the next 8 years. Through their respective relationships and breakups, where they tortuously remain in each other's lives as friends and know deep down that they love each other. And then it ends in a nice neat bow!
This is just not my kind of book. It reminds me of The Light We Lost, which I also didn't like. I can't even put my finger on exactly what it is that I don't like. It is a bit that these people who think they love each other never have the courage to just tell each other. They makes decades of horrible decisions, rationalizing it by telling themselves that they don't want to hurt people they love or ruin their friendship or...whatever other reason they have. But instead, their whole relationship-based life is one big lie and they actually hurt everyone in the process. They cheat—physically and emotionally—and are never capable of fully committing to any other relationship because this "what if?" question niggles the back of their mind.
Ugh, I am getting angry all over again.
But you know what I did like? Laurie and Sarah's friendship. Aside from one instance when I think Sarah drastically overreacted in a very selfish way, I really liked their friendship. And, I really liked Sarah for the most part. I wanted it to be more about them and less about shitty Jack.
Bottom line: I love contemporary romance, but I guess my style is more along the lines of two characters who meet, date, sleep together, have a minor fight, and then live happily ever after all within the span of about six months.