The Monthly Spotlight: An Indie Review Group discussion
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Yes, Kevin is the devil incarnate, and even though Abi has convinced herself that she is to blame, it’s hard to fathom why she would stay with him. There’s literally nothing redeeming about him at all.So on to the other characters. I didn’t feel like they were developed enough. The first half of the book is mostly Abi and Henry sneaking peeks at each other’s backside and going back and forth about whether they should act on their impulses. This made it hard for me to like either of them, because of the whole adultery thing. Henry, at least is lovable in that he dotes on Abi and makes her feel good about herself. But he knows full well that she’s married, so … I still don’t like him.
I have to address the head-jumping in the writing. It feels weird to me to be in Abi’s head, then suddenly jump into Henry’s head, and back and forth like whiplash. I’d prefer a multi-POV story where the viewpoints are in separate chapters. Or written in all first-person from just Abi’s POV.
I struggled to connect and didn’t fall in love with this story at all.
Mod
I agree with many of your points! Thank you for sharing :)
Kevin has no redeeming qualities, I think the story alludes (briefly) that he wasn't that way when they first started dating/were married, but it is really sad to see Abi with him.
I think that's why, for me, it was easier to root for Abi/Henry even though I do not condone infidelity. There was also quite a bit of Abi and Henry trying not to give in to their impulses and struggling with Abi's marriage. This gave them a bit of leeway in my mind, but I can see why that wouldn't be the same for everyone.
I completely agree there were times the multi-POV was a bit confusing, and separate chapters would have made it cleaner. I liked having both POV, I think from just Abi wouldn't be enough.
I found the way the author chose to introduce us to the main characters was pivotal to the overall success of the story. Kevin is immediately defined as an abusive jerk. We sympathize with Abi and desperately want her to see what is happening within the confines of her marriage. Henry is a catalyst perfectly placed in the story to serve as someone to open Abi’s eyes to what could be. No one cheers on infidelity, but we want Henry and Abi to be together. I like that their relationship is not all about the physical attraction and really focuses on the emotional connection the two share. In many ways, that is so much more intimate.
The multi-POV was difficult to follow at first, but once I fell into the pace of the story, I completely agree that the telling from just one perspective would not be enough.
I have reached half way in this book which is very much not the kind of story I am interested in and to the author’s credit, so far, overall, I have enjoyed this story. The tantalising prospect of romance has been carried well and I didn’t mind the two-person POV technique which I think works nicely for the story. The general tone is quite light, which I find in keeping with the airiness of new romance, that moment when question marks over character are ignored in the bloom of excitement, that giddiness of falling in love. So I think it has worked - to this point. The pace, if not brisk - the lovers attraction has hardly passed ‘first base’ of one regretted verbal tryst - does hold the attention and I do find myself invested in poor Abi, who’s abuse, subtly inflated over time by husband Kevin, is well imagined and realistically described including her own powerlessness in being able to defend herself, psychologically and (perhaps) physically. I have found some of the dialogue a bit stiff and too much backstory contained within explanatory monologue (for example the history of the decline of Abi’s abusive marriage described to Henry in a long outline by one of her friends, at a children’s party, without the slightest interruption) which is far from convincing.
Sometimes I felt there was a gloss over details which maybe kept the story ticking along but didn’t feel they were handled well - Henry discovering his ex-wife and best friend were dating, and hadn’t been told, for example, was a shock that paled him for all of 5 seconds, it seemed to me, and then with a shrug of the shoulders it was ‘oh well, back to the romance’. I also wonder, so far, how little Emma has not spilled the beans about her new best friend who she hangs around with a lot, and who’s dad spends a lot of time with her mum. This would surely come out naturally and cause great suspicions for the husband - perhaps this develops in the second half of the book. If not, I’d have to say that would be another too-convenient gloss-over.
Henry I find most irritating and I sincerely hope he is not being elevated to knight in shining armour status. His disrespect for Abi’s marital status, before he even knows of the abuse, puts him very much in the bad guy column.
I am keen to find out how this develops and eager to read on, so at the half way stage you couldn’t ask much more of a book. I have concerns though. With so much darkness circling poor Abi, will the tone darken with the story? The gloss-overs I’ve mentioned make me concerned that this is a ‘saved by the handsome prince’ narrative and for me, that would mean having to skip over the realities of coercive abuse and the complexities of trying to escape them. We shall see - I read on with enthusiasm, and poised with my review finger somewhere over the 3rd to 4th star…
Mod
I see the point about the dual POV. It’s not a narration style of which I’m overly fond in any case (I prefer free-indirect speech or 3rd person omniscient), but I think the switch to a different POV always seems to make sense. I’m not confused by whose head we’re in or why, and I think the parallel POV (rather than one POV per chapter) does allow a particular type of tension to build. That said, in my limited understanding of contemporary dramas/romance, one POV per chapter is probably expected.
It’s certainly easy to get into. The chapters are nice and short and the writing style is very light, which all comes together to produce a quick read. The structure seems very solid. My only ‘con’, as it were, is the characterisation. Henry, though presently quite unlikable, does seem like a real person. His behaviour and thoughts feel plausibly selfish. Abi and Kevin I’m struggling with.
You know I LOVE a farcical, caricature-type character, but given the sense of realism in this story I was expecting believable and realistic characters. Presently, Kevin feels like a 2D drawing of an abusive husband. I’m very early into the story, so this may all be fleshed out more later, but unlike many ‘charming’ abusers, Kevin doesn’t seem to go through cycles of extreme (nice and horrible) behaviour; he’s just always an asshole. Sure, he’s rich. But I don’t see what attracted Abi to him.
Despite having such an insight into Abi’s head, I’m struggling to understand her. Her passiveness and commitment to her abusive husband makes her seem to be wholly afraid of his wrath, yet she never seems worried that her daughter (who is very capable of talking) would mention her ‘friendship’ with Henry. She seems too confident in herself to stay with a husband who has no redeeming qualities, and yet appears too passive and bullied to account for her pursuit of a ‘friendship’ with Henry when it puts her at such risk. I’m a little unconvinced by her character.
That said, it is very much early days for me in this book, and there’s plenty of time for characterisation. I’m intrigued to see where it’s all leading. Though I can’t say I’m particularly rooting for anyone, except the kids maybe :P
Mod
I think maybe one of the main differences in some of our thoughts is what kind of book are we expecting to read? At 60k or so words, from an author putting out at least one book a year, I went into it expecting something lighter and I think that gave me more leeway mentally with some of the things that are irking some of you.
Because I completely agree, Henry is certainly not perfect. No characters besides Henry and Abi are really 'flushed out.' The ex-wife and his former best friend was an odd choice, that's the only one I wish there was more explanation backstory for. But in general, for me, I don't think the lack of backstory or depth for Kevin takes away from the love story. I got wrapped up in Abi/Henry as I assume was intended. I think the book that's being described here, with the in-depth background and characterization, would be much different and much longer book than the one we are reading.
I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts once they finish the book! I will post a new discussion forum by the end of the week.
Mod
We will focus on the first half of the book with this convo (so no spoilers from our fast readers!) which is approximately Chapter 14. I will open a discussion for the book in it's entirety in about a week.
I'm really interested to hear everyone's thoughts thus far! Including how they feel about our main characters, including Kevin, and how the plot is (or isn't) progressing thus far. I'll start!
As I'm sure everyone will agree, it's easy to tell early on that Kevin is a bad guy, the red flags are obvious and instantaneous. To me, the most heartbreaking part of it is Abi's processing of the abuse. It's gaslighting in its truest form to see Abi think the fault must lie with her. Which is infuriating, and I'm sure is meant to be so.
Enough about Kevin, on to the love story! I enjoyed the meet cute between Henry and Abi. It feels like a very slow simmer romance with Abi very cautious about how close she gets to her new friend, but I found myself obviously pro-henry (as anything is better than Kevin). Even with Abi's hesitations, which do make sense since she's a married woman even though her husband is awful, I am surprised just how slow the "romance" is moving. No kiss in the first half of the book! Barely any physical contact! That was a surprise to me.
I can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts!