This book is definitely well-suited for readers of Emily Giffin. It was a wonderful tale of love, loss, and rekindling. It was well-written and easy to follow. I enjoyed the entire story and had a tough time putting it down. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Ugh. No. Besides the over the top dramatics of everyone having cancer, dying in a plane crash, having ALS, this book was not well written. There were too many subplots that never got answered and were confusing. What was the point of Nicola? Was Meredith's cousin's relationship a set up for another book? Where was a follow-up on Moe since there was a lot of time spent explaining the intricacies of his situation? I didn't like the characters. Meredith was really annoying and treated everyone poorly. She thought that Aaron's agreeing to have Wesley live in their apartment was a test she failed. And that's ok he was testing her? Why was he pressuring her to move in if he felt like Wesley was an issue? Why was her moving in such a big deal if they were already engaged? I get that people can have lingering feelings for their exes-even when they do stuff like Wesley did and leave Meredith for no reason and not contact her, but the whole plot was too much. All three of the main characters should have gone their separate ways.

4.5 stars - This could have easily been a 5 star review and was what I anticipated giving it as it reached its climax.
But when you realise that you've just read the very last page, it is such an anti climax.
Even though we can assume what happens to Wesley, it would have been nice to have a short epilogue to wrap up some of the character's storylines, other than Meredith's and Aaron's.
It was frustrating not to find out what happened with Lana and Reese, Moe and his asylum case, Aaron's mother, etc.
Having said that, I was rooting for Meredith as the story progressed. It was also nice to flashback to how she and Wesley met and how everything went wrong the first time around.
This isn't your standard bit of chick lit set in NYC in the slightest and I found the development of each main character more than enough to keep me reading.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a breath of fresh air compared to all the romances I've read in the last period. It was a warm book, maybe not a completely light read but enough to warm your soul. It was balanced good.

Meredith is engaged to Aaron when she runs into her ex fiance Wesley who she hadn't see in years. That leaves Meredith confused about these two men and her love for them.

I really thought this story will go in most obvious direction but it did suprised me in a positive way. The characters were layered and they dealt with some complex situations. It was raw and emotional and a bit dramatic which I always enjoy in a romance novel. I really liked the flashbacks to the past and those work good with actions of the characters in the present.

Meredith is definitely not my favorite heroine, she was a bit all over the place but give me more of Wesley, he had me swooning! He was so damn hot.

It did left me with some questions and maybe it I would gave it more stars if the ending was developed better but overall I enjoyed it. And I did finished in a day so that says a lot about it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are many good reviving your old self women's fiction books, and That's not a thing by Jacqueline Friedland is one of them. The story revolves around Meredith, her previous engagement, her breakup, her new self, and her new life. When all is good in paradise, there is an unexpected hate-love twist. This book spoke with me and was relatable in many ways. Emotional, lovely, feel good and a fast read. The author has done a wonderful job with the characters. You really won't regret reading this book. Thank you NetGalley and Sparkpress for this beautiful read.

I'm not quite sure where to start with this one. Meredith is just a bit of a train wreck, honestly. It seems like her family was kind of a mess, and she just didn't really get ahead herself.

I felt like the pace was really off here. Not just because of the flashbacks vs. current times, but also within each of those it seemed like there would be big gaps where maybe some details would have been helpful.

The relationships just did not develop much, in my opinion. It made it hard to believe. And most of the characters lacked any real growth, which was disappointing.

I ended the book with a lot of questions. What happened with Lana/ Reese? What about Moe and his case? What's up with Nicola? How does Wes's story line really end? I felt frustrated with the lack of endings here.

This novel is a true testament to the difference between true and perceived love. What Meredith had with Wes was lust driven by the past and it was never fully resolved. He pushed her away when he actually needed her the most and chose a lonely life coupled by a disease of which his life rapidly deteriorated. Aaron was perfect both on paper and his actions but I felt for a while that Meredith didn't appreciate him and would tell him she loves him but her words felt forced. It is only when she actually acted did it become real and strong. I loved the ending!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for letting me read this book.
I had no idea how this book was going to end. There were a few moments where I disliked the main character Meredith, and her choices, but it definitely made it a heart wrenching plot.
The two love interests were well developed also, and the dialogue between all characters kept me engaged throughout the story.
I kept wondering how they all could have such bad luck, but sadly (as evidenced through the asylum seeker case) many people have worse stories than this.
The happiness factor concerning Meredith's employment was written well, and the ending was quite lovely.

This book wasn't quite what I expected in a good way. Meredith is engaged to Aaron and they are out to dinner with her cousin and her cousin's boyfriend to celebrate. Then who shows up as the chef of the restaurant, no other than Wesley, Meredith's ex. But not just an ex boyfriend, but her ex fiance. Awkwardness ensues.

After they leave the dinner Meredith is reeling from seeing someone she was once so close to, but hasn't had contact with in years. Slowly through some flashbacks we learn how things ended with Wesley and it makes sense why it leaves Meredith so confused about her feelings for both men in her life.

I was not expecting to like all of the characters, but I enjoyed their complex reactions to the complex situation they find themselves in. It was nice to see them all experience hardship and take time to process that instead of glossing over it. This is not your run of the mill romance novel, but it would still be a light enough read for the beach this summer.

Huge thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Just finished this book, almost didn’t though. It started really good up to the part when Wesley said Meredith killed his parents. If you keep read you know what he really means. The part that made me mad was toward the end of the book when there are no more flash backs and Meredith and Wesley almost made Aaron the fiancé a fool. I’m glad I kept reading but I never would have predicted the ending. If you know anyone with cancer or ALS I’m not sure I would recommend this for a light easy read.

This is a book without a real ending and without a lot of direction other than how many poor life choices can one person make and still have a happy ending. The attempt is to have a person reflect on the past and wonder if it has a future . . . even if the past has a deadline for demise. Plane crashes, cancer, and trendy NYC life make for a soap opera of sorts, but behind the sensationalism, there isn't much left.

One note: the pro bono law case about seeking asylum was a highlight of the book.

when I initially read the description for That’s Not A Thing, I had a feeling I knew which way the story would go, and I’m so glad I was proven wrong! Meredith is engaged to Aaron and about to have a picture perfect life, until she runs into her ex-fiancé Wesley. When she finds out Wesley has been diagnosed with ALS, her world is turned upside down.

It’s a great book with just the right amount of flashbacks include to help the reader understand the heartbreak Meredith has gone through. I thought Aaron was going to be my least favorite character, but he turned out to be me favorite. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Jacqueline Friedland since I enjoyed this book so much!

That's Not a Thing by Jacqueline Friesland

10/5 Stars!!!!!!!

Wow! Beautiful, Touching Tribute to the power of True Love, Warms the Soul, Pulls at every possible heartstring!!

"Meredith Altman’s engagement to Wesley Latner ended in spectacular disaster—one that shattered her completely. Years have passed since then, and now she’s about to marry Aaron Rapp....."

That's the intro to what I can most certainly says is by far my favorite book of 2020!
The story of Meredith, Wesley and Aaron will have you cheering for everyone. It's a story of truebdeep love and realizing that sometimes as much as you hope and pray things don't always work out the way you think they should but more as they were always meant to be. The character development in this story is too notch and had me feeling for everyone involved.
Please do yourself a huge favor, grab a box of tissues and give this book the only time it deserves!
Thank you #NetGalley #SparkBooks for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A warm hearted book about love lost, heartbreak and what it takes to move on. What is closure? When do you know if you have it? This book explores Meredith's past and current loves and what they bring to her life. When she runs into her ex, Meredith encounters feelings bubbling to the surface about what might have been. Anyone who has felt conflicted over a past love could get a lot out of this book the emotions perfectly.

Wonderful books with alternating timelines of Meredith in college with her first love Wesley and current fiancé Aaron. All is well with Aaron, until she is at a new hip restaurant and Wesley is the chef and owner.

Great book with wonderful characters. I couldn't put this one down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

I have to say I'm a bit puzzled as to what to think about this one.. I liked it ...i did, i iliked it, but I would have wanted more to happen. I tought the story was highly improbable...I tought the décisions taken in the story were to much to be probable. It still deserves a good read, the characters are interesting, but for me, it was not my favorite type of book

This book was such a good read, I couldn't put it down! The story and the characters were so well written it felt as if you were actually in the story!

That's Not a Thing by Jacqueline Friedland, published by SparkPress, is a full length, stand alone romance novel. The story is high on drama, fast paced and slow burn at the same time.
A story full of twists and unexpected turns that kept me in suspense from start til the end.
I loved Wesley, Meredith and Aaron's heart wrenching, raw and gritty story.
That's Not a Thing is told in a single pov, excellent written and beautifully thought out and beautifully told.
4,5 beautiful stars.

That’s Not a Thing takes you on the roller coaster ride of narrator Meredith Altman’s life as she deals with the aftermath post-breakup of her first love and former fiancé, Wesley Latner, all while also meaning to walk down the aisle with her current fiancé Aaron Marr.
Meredith is introduced in the novel as a tightly wound professional attorney who means to make her mother happy by marrying a Jewish man.
Her present-day fiancé, Aaron, is a handsome doctor that her Jewish mother adores, who loves her fervently. From the very beginning Meredith seems to lack vigor in her relationship— as though she’s only going through the motions— while Aaron is passionately bound to her. Because of Meredith’s wan and doubtful behavior towards Aaron I thought Aaron could do better as he deserved better. I never got a sense of why Aaron was so drawn to her as there was no real insight into Aaron other than he is a neonatal surgeon that was a linebacker and is exceedingly handsome and all women think he’s swexy.
Meredith, from the offshoot has to continuously remind herself that she (thinks) she loves Aaron and she’s marrying him because it’s what her mother wants and marriage to him is the safe option in her life.
Enter Wesley, Meredith’s effervescent college love and the man who devastated her world after a [dramatic] tragic event unfolded that he [immaturely and unreasonably] held her accountable for. This event, along with all of the ill health diagnoses in this novel were excessively placed, which to me felt like manufactured sadness with a heaping of drama.

I received an ARC from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.