Libby, feeling uncharacteristically dissatisfied with her life, decides to take her family to Puerto Rico, where she and her husband met and fell in love. However, an incoming storm puts her family in danger. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Libby. On paper, it seems like she has it all - a great marriage, two amazing kids, a fulfilling career, and her cancer has been in remission for a decade. But, that doesn't tell the whole story about how her husband has been distant, her daughter is dealing with a diabetes diagnosis, and she feels stagnated in her job. Even though Libby is normally the eternal optimist, lately she can't muster her typical happiness. She thinks a trip to Puerto Rico will help, but a big storm will threaten everything. I expected a bit more humor from Pagan, and this story definitely had a more pessimistic tone, but I still enjoyed it. It was a quick read that had me turning the pages to see how the family would fare. 4 stars
Annie is having a rough time - she was forced to resign from her job due to something that was totally not her fault, and her fiance Jon has decided to jet off to Paris by himself for a month. She decides she needs space from people in general, but a new neighbor and a private investigator might change her mind. I didn't love this one as much as I thought I would. I love that Annie is a chemist, but unfortunately, we never really get to see her in practice. She has a very clinical, analytical personality that I couldn't always relate to or enjoy. I sometimes felt like the story was going nowhere, and the ending was way too abrupt. I wasn't sure if I was meant to hate or like her fiance Jon. However, I did enjoy the format of the story, told in emails and journal entries. I liked Annie's growth throughout the story and the story arc of her new neighbor, Harper, which was kind of surprising. 3.5 stars
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I would only be ok with a pessimistic tone, if there was a 180 towards the end, and I get that infusion of hope and happiness.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I don't want to spoil anything...
DeleteI would probably like Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around. I am very pessimistic so it's fine if my characters are lol. I would think she would be more positive as she spends more time with her family.
ReplyDeleteThe time together definitely does help them reconnect and remember, but there are struggles along the way!
DeleteThat's a shame that Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around has a pessimistic tone. I was expecting it to be a funny book. Glad to see it was still a good read for you even with that though.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a bit different from her previous books, but still a good read!
DeleteDon't Make Me sounds good even if could have used a little more humor. Sounds like a nice story about the twists and turns of life!
ReplyDeleteThe author has a really great talent for making wry observations about life!
DeleteI don't think that I have read anything by this author before. I really need to change that! Don't Make Me Turn This Life Around sounds like it will be a very emotional book.
ReplyDeleteHer books are a little quirky but very entertaining!
DeleteDon't Make Me Turn This Life Around sounds like a book that could indeed be very relatable, though sorry it could have used some more humor.
ReplyDeleteYeah, based on her previous books, I was expecting something a little different!
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