I don’t want to give too much away as to what happens, but it will be difficult to talk about my mixed feelings without revealing some potentially spoilery things. So, if you don’t like spoilers of any kind, proceed with caution.
The story centers on Margaret and her recovery after she is in a plane crash, which was being flown by her fiancé. We learn about her life altering injuries slowly in the days that follow the crash. Margaret has a close relationship with her parents, but is estranged from her sister Kit. So it’s a surprise when Kit shows up at the hospital. Margaret is stubborn at first, and doesn’t let her stay, but Kit is persistent. I liked seeing them reconnect and work through their issues. There were some secrets being kept and when those were brought to light, it brought more understanding to the situation. I do think the catalyst that caused Kit’s abrupt departure and long separation from the family was a little much. Maybe it was just the fact that it was surprising that makes me have this opinion. I’m not sure. I was really surprised by her dad’s actions and the fact he didn’t think about helping Margaret once she was home. It’ll make more sense when you read the book, and I can understand his reasoning, but he is so close and supportive of his daughter, I was surprised he wouldn’t take her wellbeing into consideration. He seemed like the solid rock of the family, and maybe that’s why it felt out of character for him to leave like he did. But under the circumstances, I can understand.
I hated Chip (Margaret’s fiancé) and his mother, which I’m fairly certain you’re supposed. Even Margaret’s mother got my hate for the majority of the book. I couldn’t believe they were more concerned with Chip and Chip’s feelings than Margaret and her recovery.
I know there has been some controversy with the main relationship in this book. That it is unethical. I mean, this is not a difference of opinions. It is technically unethical and against the rules. But that’s not why I had a problem with it. Ian was so rude to Margaret for so long and then when he wasn’t, he was trying to convince her she didn’t love him. That her feelings were due to what she went through. I have a problem with both of these things.
Women have believed and been told for far too long that when a boy or man is mean to you, it means he likes you. I’m calling BS. If you like someone, no matter if it’s a romantic connection or not, you are nice to them. If you don’t know how to express your feelings, and it comes out as being rude or mean, talk to someone. Don’t continue hurting the person you supposedly like.
Secondly, and this has been going on since the dawn of time, men (and women) don’t believe women when they say something. Why is it so difficult to believe a women when she says she’s angry (‘no sweetie, maybe you’re just hungry’), or when she says someone hurt her (‘well, how much did you drink? What were you wearing? What did you say to piss them off?’), and in this case, when the woman says she loves someone (‘no, that’s just because you almost died. You don’t know you’re own feelings.’). Maybe I’m being overly sensitive, but you know, I’m allowed to feel that way.
I also had a difficult time believing Ian in the end due to his previous behavior and actions in the book. And I really really wanted to like him. I did at some points. There just wasn’t enough nice and courteous Ian to outweigh the mean and rude Ian for me.
I did like watching Margaret through her recovery and seeing how even though she’d fall back or get discouraged, she’d eventually find a way to push through. I liked Kit and Margaret’s relationship and seeing how they were able to repair it after all those years.
Overall it was a fine book. It wouldn’t not suggest someone read it (sorry for the double negative). It’s an easy read and there were some things I liked about it. It just wasn’t a favorite.
The story centers on Margaret and her recovery after she is in a plane crash, which was being flown by her fiancé. We learn about her life altering injuries slowly in the days that follow the crash. Margaret has a close relationship with her parents, but is estranged from her sister Kit. So it’s a surprise when Kit shows up at the hospital. Margaret is stubborn at first, and doesn’t let her stay, but Kit is persistent. I liked seeing them reconnect and work through their issues. There were some secrets being kept and when those were brought to light, it brought more understanding to the situation. I do think the catalyst that caused Kit’s abrupt departure and long separation from the family was a little much. Maybe it was just the fact that it was surprising that makes me have this opinion. I’m not sure. I was really surprised by her dad’s actions and the fact he didn’t think about helping Margaret once she was home. It’ll make more sense when you read the book, and I can understand his reasoning, but he is so close and supportive of his daughter, I was surprised he wouldn’t take her wellbeing into consideration. He seemed like the solid rock of the family, and maybe that’s why it felt out of character for him to leave like he did. But under the circumstances, I can understand.
I hated Chip (Margaret’s fiancé) and his mother, which I’m fairly certain you’re supposed. Even Margaret’s mother got my hate for the majority of the book. I couldn’t believe they were more concerned with Chip and Chip’s feelings than Margaret and her recovery.
I know there has been some controversy with the main relationship in this book. That it is unethical. I mean, this is not a difference of opinions. It is technically unethical and against the rules. But that’s not why I had a problem with it. Ian was so rude to Margaret for so long and then when he wasn’t, he was trying to convince her she didn’t love him. That her feelings were due to what she went through. I have a problem with both of these things.
Women have believed and been told for far too long that when a boy or man is mean to you, it means he likes you. I’m calling BS. If you like someone, no matter if it’s a romantic connection or not, you are nice to them. If you don’t know how to express your feelings, and it comes out as being rude or mean, talk to someone. Don’t continue hurting the person you supposedly like.
Secondly, and this has been going on since the dawn of time, men (and women) don’t believe women when they say something. Why is it so difficult to believe a women when she says she’s angry (‘no sweetie, maybe you’re just hungry’), or when she says someone hurt her (‘well, how much did you drink? What were you wearing? What did you say to piss them off?’), and in this case, when the woman says she loves someone (‘no, that’s just because you almost died. You don’t know you’re own feelings.’). Maybe I’m being overly sensitive, but you know, I’m allowed to feel that way.
I also had a difficult time believing Ian in the end due to his previous behavior and actions in the book. And I really really wanted to like him. I did at some points. There just wasn’t enough nice and courteous Ian to outweigh the mean and rude Ian for me.
I did like watching Margaret through her recovery and seeing how even though she’d fall back or get discouraged, she’d eventually find a way to push through. I liked Kit and Margaret’s relationship and seeing how they were able to repair it after all those years.
Overall it was a fine book. It wouldn’t not suggest someone read it (sorry for the double negative). It’s an easy read and there were some things I liked about it. It just wasn’t a favorite.