I'll start with a positive: The writing is good, with moments that shine with promise.
But I didn't like the book.
This story is written in first person, from John Coleman's perspective. His character is not the least bit likable. He's a womanizer, a cheat, a drunk, and he's a pro at shirking responsibility. He has an excuse for all of this and more. He treats his wife like crap and, despite proclamations of love, is never around for his daughter. The worst part, perhaps, is that it doesn't feel like the author's intention was to create such a jerk of a character, but more like we're supposed to feel some compassion for this loser.
The female characters are ridiculous. John's wife Cathy is little more than a squawking mouthpiece. Jennifer is the stereotypical male fantasy, and John's blindness to her manipulation is maddening.
Then we have the plot, or plots, which lack focus. The story is all over the place. What is supposed to be the main plot actually ends about midway through the book. This weirdly early climactic scene didn't move me at all, because the main character elicits no sympathy for his situation. The subplot then takes over, which is way too obvious from the start. Mostly, this story is about John's bad decisions, his indecision, his cheating, his drinking, and his incessant justification for his behavior.
*I received an ebook copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
But I didn't like the book.
This story is written in first person, from John Coleman's perspective. His character is not the least bit likable. He's a womanizer, a cheat, a drunk, and he's a pro at shirking responsibility. He has an excuse for all of this and more. He treats his wife like crap and, despite proclamations of love, is never around for his daughter. The worst part, perhaps, is that it doesn't feel like the author's intention was to create such a jerk of a character, but more like we're supposed to feel some compassion for this loser.
The female characters are ridiculous. John's wife Cathy is little more than a squawking mouthpiece. Jennifer is the stereotypical male fantasy, and John's blindness to her manipulation is maddening.
Then we have the plot, or plots, which lack focus. The story is all over the place. What is supposed to be the main plot actually ends about midway through the book. This weirdly early climactic scene didn't move me at all, because the main character elicits no sympathy for his situation. The subplot then takes over, which is way too obvious from the start. Mostly, this story is about John's bad decisions, his indecision, his cheating, his drinking, and his incessant justification for his behavior.
*I received an ebook copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*