Friday, June 22, 2018

Backlist Mini-Reviews: The Bethany Chase Edition

The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase (2015)

Sarina is an architect in a long-term relationship with Noah.  She's sure a proposal is coming soon, but first the two have to get through Noah's year-long work assignment in Argentina.  Right in the middle of that, Sarina's one-night-stand from eight years ago, Eamon, comes back to town.  He hires Sarina to remodel his house, but could there be something more between them?

I enjoyed the writing in this novel; it's easy to read and approachable.  It felt like having a conversation with a friend.  However, I didn't care for most of the characters.  Eamon is presented as too good to be true, and the way Sarina justifies certain things when it comes to him didn't sit well with me.  Also, the way Eamon demanded that Sarina break up with Noah was off-putting.  I felt bad for Noah at times; he was so in love with Sarina and would do anything for her, but at the same time, there were issues in their relationship that couldn't be overlooked.  I was often exasperated with the characters and how they were acting, but then it hit me how realistic it was - so many of us play petty games in relationships, we refuse to talk about our feelings or be honest with someone because we think we know how they will react.  We just don't communicate, and that's exactly what these characters were doing, although it went on way too long.  As much as I disliked Eamon and Sarina sometimes, it was Sarina's stepfather John that made it worth it for me.  He was such a sweetheart of a guy; you could feel how much he loved Sarina and was proud of her.  I loved how close they were, even though Sarina's mother had passed away years before.  3 stars

 
Results May Vary by Bethany Chase (2016)

When Caroline finds out that her husband (and high school sweetheart) Adam has been having an affair with a man, her world is turned upside down.

Finding out your spouse has cheated on you is devastating, and Caroline feels even more betrayed to find out Adam has been sleeping with a man.  Has he been lying to her their whole marriage?  Can she forgive him and move on?  Results May Vary touches on many deep subjects, but it never felt too heavy.  Caroline was a very relatable character.  She is devastated and ready to leave Adam, but on more than one occasion, she thinks perhaps she is being rash.  She and Adam have shared so much of their lives, and does she really want to re-enter the dating world?  Thankfully, she was surrounded by family and friends who helped her.  I loved her sister, Ruby - although she could seem a bit flighty, she also knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to work hard to get it.  I wanted more of Adam in the story; maybe a chapter or two from his POV could have helped me understand him and his motivations better.  As the book went on, and the secrets kept adding up, I liked him less and less.  He seemed like too much of a smooth talker.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, its meditations on marriage and how well anyone can really know their spouse, and the straightforward writing style.  4 stars

16 comments:

  1. These books both sound great but I'm probably more drawn to Results May Vary. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I liked Results May Vary a lot. I still have the other sitting on my kindle that I need to get to. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think she's writing another book as we speak!

      Delete
  3. Results May Vary is one I want to read. I always appreciate when an author can write about heavy things, but keep the book from being to heavy, because I like my books on the lighter side, but I still want them to have depth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly! I want it to be realistic, but not always a downer.

      Delete
  4. Results May Vary does sound like a great story. I am not sure that I would enjoy The One That Got Away as much, but it does sound like it has an interesting concept. I haven't read anything by this author before, so it's nice to see reviews for a couple of her books. I'm glad that you enjoyed the second one so much. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I would recommend Results May Vary!

      Delete
  5. Results May Vary does sound good, I like books that explore issues of how well you can know someone. People are so complicated after all! The One That Got Away sounds good though too, in a different way, even if the MC and Eamon are a bit unlikable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly, it's kind of shocking that someone can keep a secret like that, or maybe you had inklings and ignored them.

      Delete
  6. Oooooh! That cover for Results May Vary!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  7. Regarding the first book - any time an author tackles cheating, it's very dicey. It's hard to make a main character a cheater and likeable at the same time, and I find ery few authors to it well. I'm glad you found something to like in John, though.

    Results May Vary was on my radar when it first came out, but I had forgotten all about it. Thanks for reminding me of it. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

    Great reviews. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! Right, it is hard to be sympathetic for a main character who cheats.

      Hope you enjoy Results May Vary!

      Delete
  8. Results May Vary sounds very good. That theme of how well you ever really know someone always resonates with me. It's a shame the characters in the first book weren't very likable. The premise of the book sounded excellent otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I would definitely recommend Results May Vary!

      Delete

I'm so glad you stopped by, and I would love to hear your thoughts! Comments are always greatly appreciated!