I found this book to be repetitive and I didn’t particularly the trio of characters, Erin, Adam and Greg. There wasn’t a huge amount of content in this storyline so found it difficult to hold my attention. Unfortunately the wouldn’t recommend

I was intrigued by the blurb because it's sounds promising, but maybe I put my expectation too high. There's nothing wrong with the writing, the past and present narration and the dual POV is actually good and helping us to understand what's happened, how, and why it led to the situation the MCs facing now. I understand that the dilemma or triangle love is to choose one of the male love interests, but it's been dragging for too long to reach a final decision. Though, it's a fair decision to make at the ending.

I also love the premise of finding out your parents' old secrets and find yourself in the same situation and about to make the same mistake. Aside from that, I really love the insight of music therapy and it's connection towards memory to cure memory loss/dementia patient.

Once again Clare has written a book that touches every emotion. Like able characters, who make you feel involved in what they’re going through.
I laughed, I cried and I felt everything that Erin went through.

What would happen if your 1st love suddenly reappears in your life, but has lost his/her memory? Would you risk it all to help?

Is Erin looking back through rose tinted glasses as she remembers the good times?
Told in the then and now format we discover what happened between Erin, Adam and Greg. But also take a look back at her parents marriage.

Erin is a music therapist and uses music to help dementia patients regain lost memories. Can this work on Adam, who has lost his memory following an accident? Should Erin risk her marriage to try?

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title

This book is all about the love triangle between Erin, Adam and Greg. I felt for Erin and her indecision, and the book certainly is emotional. I enjoyed watching Erin grow and learn more about herself and what she really wants in life. I also liked the flashbacks to young teenage Erin as it gave me a good insight into her life and how she felt about Adam and her life during that time. And I liked learning about Erin and Greg’s beginning as it also gave me some insight into their relationship and why they are having problems in the present.

In a Nutshell: Interesting theme. Irritating main characters. Heartbreaking focus on dementia. Nice ending. So if you can tolerate the characters, the journey is worthwhile.

Story Synopsis:
Eighteen years ago, Erin was head over heels in love with Adam. But when he broke her heart, Greg was the one to help her back to normalcy.
Now, Adam is back, but with a difference: he has amnesia and doesn't remember Erin or their time together. However, Erin still has (or at least she thinks she has) feelings for him, despite being happily married to Greg for more than a decade.
Should Erin honour her marital commitment, or should she return to the love of her life?
The story comes to us from Erin's perspective, written in first person in the ‘Now’ timeline and in third person in the ‘Then’ flashbacks.

Where the book worked for me:
😍 Erin's mother has dementia, and the portrayal of how the illness affects a person is depicted realistically. It's heartbreaking to read.
😍 Erin's work as a music therapist provides some wonderful insights on how music is used in recovery and healing.
😍 Every chapter title is the mention of a song and the group it was sung by. For example, ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ by Verve, or ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper. The chapter content reflects the theme or the title of the song. It also helped enhance the musical elements in the story.The music lover in me loved this unusual approach, and enjoyed some lovely nostalgic musical memories.
😍 Erin's dad is by far the best character in the book, probably the only character I truly loved. He is the only one who came across as sensible, despite his tendency to hoard things.
😍 The book explores the dimensions of comfortable or familiar love vs. passionate or lustful love. While this isn’t as in depth as it could have been, the theme comes out well through Erin’s indecision and the romantic situation of another character.
😍 The ending was perfect, and more importantly, justified. Took the character long enough to use their brain, but better late than never!

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😕 A book is so much easier to enjoy if you love at least one of the main characters. Unfortunately, the central trio - Erin, Greg, and Adam - were equally aggravating. No common sense. No sense of integrity or loyalty. Concerned just about their own selves. I do like realistic characters, but these three were probably too realistic to be likeable. Erin was especially annoying as she was judgemental about others but couldn’t see her own errors in judgement.
😕 Erin’s friend Sam is the token homosexual character whose only role is to be the stereotypical gay friend. All he has to do is crack queer jokes (and I mean ‘queer’ in both its meanings), support Erin, and give advice. Such a clichéd portrayal!
😕 The contemporary timeline is quite repetitive, with Erin going back and forth between Greg and Adam in her thoughts and actions.

I had loved this author’s earlier work—How to Save a Life—and was hoping for a similar experience this time around. The story did have great potential, but the annoying characters with their repetitive and self-destructive behaviour were too idiotic for me to ignore. Hence the midway mark. (I was actually stuck on 2.5 stars for most of the book. The ending made me go higher.)

3 stars

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Love to Last a Lifetime”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me and kept me turning pages until I was done. Finished it in two days! The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read.

In this one we have three main characters, Erin, Adam and Greg.
As a teenager Erin adored Adam, was head over heels for him. But as time went on they ended up splitting up and going thier own separate ways.
Soon to follow we are introduced to Greg. Erin and Greg meet at university, and soon form a relationship. Further down the line they tie the knot.
Their marriage isn't always great, the certainly had thier ups and downs, but then who doesn't, I think.
What really puts a strain on it, is years later Adam comes back into the picture.....

I felt myself quite conflicted to be honest. I myself wouldn't really know what to do in Erin's situation 😕
This was, what I call, and easy read. Very easy to flow through it, and very hard to put down.
This is the second book I had read by Clare. The first was Dear Grace, and that one has gone in my forever pile. I can easily say I wasn't disappointed with this one either. 😊

I loved that this book revolved around music and music therapy. Reading about a loved one having dementia was tough, but Erin’s love for her mother (and father) transcended any sadness I felt with this storyline. The fact that every chapter related back to a different song was amazing. 

Unfortunately, as the story progressed, I found myself not rooting for either male romantic lead. Greg seemed wishy-washy and Adam was self-centered. He kept apologizing for coming on to Erin, even though he knew she was married…but then he would keep doing it! 

Rose and Sam were incredible friends who told the truth! Erin’s ending felt unresolved but I hope Sam and Rose find their happily ever afters one day.

3 1/2 stars

Having enjoyed this author's last book, How to Save a Life, I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review her new release. Even though it didn't read as smoothly for me as the last one, it's still a good book. I think the important thing to remember when reading Swatman's books is that she writes women's fiction - - not romance. If you go into these stories, looking for a fluffy romance, you will undoubtedly be disappointed.

A Love to Last a Lifetime follows main character, Erin as she tries to sort out her struggling marriage and the inconvenient return of her first love after not seeing him for eighteen years. She's trying to figure out if it's a sign that Adam has returned right when things with Greg seem to be going so poorly. It's as if she's trying to find reasons for her marriage to fail. Truthfully, Erin wasn't likable and neither were either of her love interests for me. They were all very flawed - - to the point that I didn't feel that they were good people. But, you don't always like the characters you read about.

The redeeming parts of the book for me were Erin's two best friends. They both tried to reason with her when she went 'off the rails' after her first love, Adam came back into town. They constantly tried to remind her that things with him hadn't all been 'sunshine and roses' before the way she was choosing to remember it. They also didn't necessarily support her husband, Greg either as he was messing up things royally as well. They simply tried to point out that she needed to proceed with honesty and be up front - - which she wasn't doing. She was sneaking around behind her husband's back to see her former boyfriend for fear of 'upsetting him.' Yep....that's always going to end up well.

I also felt that the relationship between Erin and her mother was well done. Albeit, it was heartbreaking to read as her mother was suffering from dementia and often didn't remember things clearly but it felt real. The things that she learned about her own parents through some of those discussions with her mother also added to her own personal confusion but maybe helped her to grow as a person. I believe that for a good portion of her life, she simply had been floating along on auto without really putting herself out there. It was obvious that she fell into the relationship with her husband, Greg after Adam and she broke up years before. Whether or not that relationship was one of convenience or love was a big question that lied at the heart of everything for her.

Overall, I appreciated what the author was trying to achieve with this book. It had a good premise. There was just a bit of repetition and things moved slowly for me. I never truly was able to connect solidly with the characters. To really care about the outcome of the book, I at least needed to feel invested in the main character, Erin and I never really did. I think it was just a one off for me. I'll definitely continue to follow this author and pick up her next book. I think this was just a miss for me personally.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

BOOK REVIEW: A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman
2023 Publication Date: January 23

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Best Contemporary Fiction Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2023

CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
"When you have a choice to make, don't forget to include the option to choose yourself..."

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
First Love... Lost Love... Love That Can Last For A Lifetime...
Romance novels are often a treat for anyone looking to get away from the stresses of daily life. But this book dives much deeper which is why I am categorizing it as Best Contemporary Fiction with strong contemporary romance themes.

In A Love To Last A Lifetime, Clare Swatman tells the story of Erin and Greg, a couple who have been together since university. But when Erin's first love Adam re-enters her life in desperate need of help, their relationship is put to the test.

It is a story about first love, lost love, and the kind of unconditional love that can last for a lifetime. It is a compelling read for anyone who has ever experienced the pain of unrequited love or had their heart broken by someone they thought was “the one.”

Let’s take a look at this book and find out if it’s a perfect book match for you...

What Is The Book About?
A Love To Last A Lifetime focuses on the complex relationship and intricate secret history between Erin, Greg, and Adam. Throughout the story, Erin has to figure out what it means to be true to herself while also being faithful to Greg... all while being tempted by the memory of Adam.

It’s an interesting exploration of relationships, how they evolve over time, and how our perspective of memory is diffused by the veil of emotional attachment.

The book also touches on themes such as family dynamics, grief, and loyalty... with a fascinating exploration of the healing power of music. All these themes are explored through the characters in an engaging way that will keep you turning pages late into the night.

The Characters
The main characters of this book are beautifully written and easy to relate to. Even though they are fictional, you can’t help but feel like you know them personally after reading this novel.

Each character has their own unique flaws and strengths that make them realistic and interesting to read about. The author does a fantastic job of showing us how each character has grown and changed over time without losing sight of who they really are at heart.

This is especially true for Erin who is forced to confront her feelings (since she was a young woman) for both Adam and Greg throughout the novel.

Greg is an affable everyman — he isn’t particularly flashy or exciting but he is reliable and devoted to Erin. He loves her with a quiet intensity that is both captivating and heartbreaking.

Adam Bowers is everything Greg isn’t — charismatic and confident with a rock star charm that draws people in like moths to a flame.

Both characters are fully fleshed out and believable — even if you don’t always agree with their choices or understand their motivations. Thankfully, the author makes character choices that create fully dimensional characters. Meaning there are no clear-cut villains or heroes in this love story. Just real people navigating the complexities of love as time goes by.

The Writing Style
Clare Swatman’s writing style captures the beauty of everyday moments as well as the intensity of pivotal moments in this couple's story. She does an excellent job of conveying her characters' emotions without resorting to overly sentimental cliches or purple prose.

Her story flows effortlessly from one emotion-filled scene to another without ever losing momentum or feeling rushed along its course.

I particularly felt like I was on a whitewater rafting adventure as I read. Finding myself often wondering "why am I even in this raft?" while simultaneously knowing how courageously authentic the writing is to explore the characters' journeys with such honesty... and rowing their raft with all their might. So yes... I picked up my oar and rowed as well!

♡ T.I.M.E. TIP ➾ This book is an example of why I love reading books... Just when you find yourself faulting someone's choices, you discover an undeniable honesty. Making you wonder whether you would be brave enough to admit it in your own life.

Thank goodness we have wonderful books and characters who are willing to take us on that journey... until we are brave enough to do so ourselves.

A Love To Last A Lifetime is an engaging read filled with poignant moments, heartbreak, and ultimately hope for those who believe in lasting love even if it comes at unexpected times or under unlikely circumstances... or in a form we least expect.

Perfect for fans of contemporary novels from Sophie Cousens, David Nicholls, or Josie Silver... Highly recommended!...✨😎✨

Pages: 315
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Best Contemporary Novels
Sub-Genre: Women's Fiction | The One That Got Away Romance
Time Period: Present
Location: England
Publisher: Boldwood Books

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Before I Do by Sophie Cousens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️
Movie: Celeste and Jesse Forever

BOOK SYNOPSIS
A Love To Last A Lifetime follows the main characters Greg and Erin as they navigate the tumultuous seas of young adulthood and discover what it truly means to commit yourself to someone.

When Adam Bowers, Erin’s handsome teenage flame, unexpectedly reenters her life after all these years, Greg is forced to confront his own insecurities and confront the idea that he may not be enough for Erin.

The novel offers an intimate look at how people can make it through tough times together (or apart) and come out stronger on the other side.

A Love To Last A Lifetime is an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with complex characters and plenty of twists and turns along the way.

If you’re looking for a modern fiction romance novel that explores relationships in depth then this book is definitely worth checking out!

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION
• Communication is key in any relationship... make sure you take the time to really listen and understand what your partner is saying.
• No matter how complicated things may get between two people, love can be the ultimate source of strength and courage.
• What challenges did Greg and Erin face?... Greg and Erin faced a variety of challenges during their relationship, from trust issues to insecurity to communication barriers. They also had to grapple with the idea that life isn't always fair or simple, as well as how to handle difficult decisions and challenges together. They also had to learn how to balance their relationship with their individual goals and aspirations. Most of all, they had to overcome fear to take the leap of faith toward whatever their future relationship will be.

BOOK QUOTE
"It was a flip of a coin in the end, only this time, the coin didn't fall and show me the answer, but continued to spin, revealing all of its faces and all its endless possibilities as it hung there, suspended..." — A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman
--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

What a predicament! Choosing between the one you want and the one you need. I think most of us have been through this time of triangle at least once in our lives. This book was heartwarming, and I loved the titles as songs!

I do enjoy a story involving the one that got away, and it didn’t disappoint. This one is slightly different with a love triangle, as the one that got away returns.

This was uplifting and emotional. I really felt for Erin as these two supposed loves of hers really weren’t all that nice! She seemed to see things through rose tinted glasses a lot of the time. Her two best friends were great I loved them, they certainly tried talking sense to her.

I loved the past and present chapters and how each chapter had a song title!

Having previously read a couple of books by this author and enjoying them I was excited to read this one.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and the publisher for having me on the tour and for my gifted ebook.

TRIGGER WARNING: Early onset dementia, sudden medical diagnosis, brain injury.

What happens when a past love reappears?

I was really looking forward to this. I did not find the characters very well fleshed-out or very visual though, which is a shame. I struggled to get into this novel, but it grew on me because of the pace and plot.

The plot was good and I loved the way that songs were woven into it and the therapeutic aspect of them in the characters’ lives and as a kind of life ssoundtrack. I remember liking some of the songs, and I have some on CDs. The plot and songs bought me back to my own teen/university years and was nostalgic. There’s so much emotion in this book.

The writing style is easygoing and relaxing and the chapters are a good length. A Love to Last a Lifetime is a great combination of past love, loyalty to the past or present and made me ask who Erin’s true love really was. Her teen love or her husband? I liked Erin’s friend and Erin’s parents, but Erin was hard to like. She seemed self-centred and indecisive.

I felt like maybe this was intentional though, as the other characters were so different. There’s a real feeling of doubt and being hesitant about what you really want in life running through the book as a theme.

Thanks to Clare Swatman and Rachel’s Random or present and made me ask who Erin’s true love really was. Her teen love or her husband? I liked Erin’s friend and Erin’s parents, but Erin was hard to like. She seemed self-centred and indecisive.

I felt like maybe this was intentional though, as the other characters were so different. There’s a real feeling of doubt and being hesitant about what you really want in life running through the book as a theme.

Thanks to Clare Swatman and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5 stars

A Love to Last a Lifetime

Thank you Boldwood Books for inviting me on this Blog Tour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 1/23/23
Author: Clare Swatman
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Pages: 315
GR: 3.74

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: The story is narrated in a dual timeline, past and present tense in first person and third person POV. Erin let her first love go and fell in love with Greg for the last decade. Her first love, Adam, comes back to town after almost two decades. Swatman has a way with words and I really enjoy reading her books. Boldwood Books has some of my favorite authors. The past tense chapters does a great job of filling in the backstory on the characters. Gives a sense of how they got here. Swatman does a superb job at portraying the dementia of Erin’s mother, you can tell she researched this topic well.

The characters were well developed, fleshed out, had depth, were emotional, and creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, humorous, connecting, and keeps you engaged. The author keeps the storyline light and it flows well with a great pace. The subplot with Erin’s parents was a brilliant spin in the book. While I could connect with Erin, I did not like her character. Her best friends, as supporting characters, were fabulous. While I can understand her attraction to her first love, she should have left Greg fully before starting anything with Adam. However, this was likely the author’s intent in writing the book. The book brought about many emotions, from laughing out loud, to sadness, and even tears, all qualities of a well written story.

I would highly recommend purchasing or borrowing this book. The audiobook would probably be really good too, especially with the past and current timelines. This book is already out in both book and audiobook format. The audiobook is listed on Hoopla (library).

This one was a fabulous read, full of ups and downs, heartwarming moments, laughs and tears it had me gripped.

My full review is on my blog.

Description 🔖

The one that she wants…

Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate…

The one that she needs…

Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he’s better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.

The one that got away…

Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin’s help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…

Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?

General Thoughts 🤔

This was such a great book to scratch my romance itch. It was easy to read but had just the right amount of angst to keep me reading. I am a bit of a sucker for a ‘one that got away’ storyline so this did kind of play into my romance needs straight from the off, however it actually ended up being better than I originally thought it was going to be.

When I had read approximately the first half of the first chapter, I thought that maybe I wasn’t going to get along with the characters as I was given the impression that they were in their thirties but they seemed immature to me. That very quickly passed though and I felt like I was one of the gang.

Characters 👫👭👬

I loved the friendship between Erin, Sam and Rose. I appreciate this book is a romance and I should probably be focused on the people caught in this weird past and present love triangle, but I had to mention this friend group. They were there for each other no matter what, but they weren’t frightened to call each other out on their shit either. These are the types of friendships I appreciate in my own life, so I loved following their little group.

The burning question though, is was I Team Adam or Team Greg? Honestly I’m really not sure. I don’t think I was particularly Team anyone; both men annoyed me a little bit. Greg was a bit of a wet blanket in my opinion and definitely not a man I would find myself attracted to. Adam however was the bad boy and we all know that a relationship with a bad boy never ends well. Did I agree with the choice that Erin made in the end? Yes, I think she followed her heart and that’s what all of us should always do.

Writing Style ✍️

This is the first Clare Swatman book that I’ve read and I really enjoyed her writing. The story was easy to follow, engaging and emotive. I wasn’t expecting to shed any tears for this book, however the side plot about Erin’s Mother really hit my heart. I liked that the whole story didn’t centre around Adam vs Greg.

The story was told via ‘Now’ and ‘Then’ chapters and I always really enjoy this structure. I like to see how the past catches up with the present. I do think there was potential to have a little plot twist thrown in towards the end; something that happened in the past we wouldn’t have seen coming maybe, however this wasn’t the case.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it went by in quite a whirlwind. I flip flopped between Team Adam and Team Greg and with any good ‘one that got away’ story, there were pros and cons to either choice. In the end, I think that Erin made the right choice and I was left feeling content for her. If you’re looking for an easy going romance with an emotional family side plot thrown in for good measure, then I definitely recommend this book.

I have to admit I did struggle with this one, but I think it was just me and not the author. I did finish it can't say that I really enjoyed it. Sorry
Emma came across as selfish to me, seeing Adam in secret even though she knows how much her husband doesn't like him, which to me is like cheating but yet she gets angry with Greg her husband when he has been gambling again !

The Blurb :
The one that she wants...
Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate...
The one that she needs...
Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he's better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.
The one that got away...
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…

My Thoughts :
We meet Erin and Greg, struggling to keep their marriage together in the past few months due to Greg’s gambling habit, Erin bumps into Adam, her ex boyfriend and the one that got away all those years ago. Having not seen Adam in eighteen years, she knows she still has feelings for him and seeing him again tugs at her heart strings.
But Adam doesnt remember Erin as he was in a bike accident and suffered a brain injury.
Erin needs to think about what she wants to do, help Adam with his memory or try to rescue her marriage to Greg. With other things going on in her life Erin has a big descion make and one that could change her life forever.
The story was told in a dual timeline by Erin from her younger years to present day, which only added to the premise of getting to know her and her life in much more detail.
I enjoyed watching Erin grow and seeing her learn more about herself and where her future would or should go. Although the ending was a bit rushed, it was still a great read.
Clare Swatman has written a love story with such emotion and entertainment that you cant help but like and enjoy the characters that this love triangle brings.
Its a story that will give you all the feels.
I am looking forward to more from this Author in the near future.

Thank you to my partners: Rachels Random Resources, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books. I appreciate the gifted ecopy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

1. Song Titles As Chapter Titles - I couldn’t love this more. And so many songs that I know and love!
2. Music - Music plays a huge part in this novel. From Adam being in a band to Erin becoming a music therapist, it is a prevalent theme throughout!
3. Amnesia And Dementia - Both are such difficult afflictions to read about and ponder. Swatman broaches both subjects and is able to leave the reader with a sense of hope in both cases.
4. Romance From Many Views - The many romance possibilities that are intertwined within this novel had me hoping for conflicting things to happen. Generally, I am easily able to choose my side, but it wasn’t the case in this book.
5. Confliction - Erin’s husband, Greg, struggles with an addiction and that coupled with his lies sure made me dislike him. On the other hand, Adam sure seems like he needs Erin in the present; however, if we are talking about the past, he can fly a kite!

An easy-reading novel - albeit with some hard topics in the storyline - that is sure to delight romance fans everywhere.

I enjoyed the dual timelines, which offered more insight into the MC's relationship with both love interests. I liked the MC's heart-tugging relationship with her parents and their respective illnesses, especially with her mom's dementia. What I didn't love is that she came across as being selfish, and the old flame she still holds a torch for felt more teenage infatuation than real love based on the chapters in the past, so it was hard to believe she'd be so willing to risk her marriage over him. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75