“Friends First”, by Angela Lam (Wild Rose Press), features a 52-year-old wounded hero affected by PTSD and night terrors, and a heroine with self-esteem issues.
In the beginning, I liked the older wounded hero with real mental issues affecting his daily routines, but afterwards I felt that things were thrown into the plot just to see whether they would fit. His frequent breakdowns and tears seemed unbelievable, exaggerated and sometimes pathetic, and the dialogue felt often farfetched. Some things were absurd.
Greg is full of contradictions, but I wasn’t moved by his internal turmoil. The sleeping around and delaying the marriage aren’t developed enough to make sense, and the psychological reasons for it are thin.
Greg’s physical issues seemed well handled.
Maddy is a relatable character, her struggles believable. The way her boyfriend and her siblings treat her is disgusting.
I was curious to see how the story would end but didn’t feel convinced by the resolution. As a story with a lot of characters who act like jerks (even the hero), people who you wouldn’t want to be friends with in real life, where unkindness is often the rule, it was an entertaining read, even if in a twisted sort of way.