Afterwife | Book Review

Afterwife by Polly Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"So I get run over by a bus and I am wearing my worst knickers. Huge banana-yellow knickers."

With these hilarious first words, I was completely hooked to Polly Williams' ghosty romance novel Afterwife. I read it in two short sittings in the library two days in a row. That said, it's not a perfect book. Here's the review breakdown:

Writing Technique: ★★★★ I love Williams' way with words. I found her hilarious and emotional and addicting to read. Like a grittier Cecelia Ahern - she blends comedy and drama very well. And what made me read this book cover to cover in two sittings was the writing style. It was spot on for me (although beware of a lot strong language and sexual content).

Character Development: ★★1/2 Agh. This is where the book lacked for me. The richest character was of course the dead wife/ghost, Sophie. But she didn't change through the book. And while the blurb makes it sound like Sophie plays matchmaker for her husband, (minor spoiler????) she actually doesn't contribute to the plot of the living characters at all. So I was puzzled in the end of the book as to the purpose of her character. Jenny and Ollie were the other protagonists, but they didn't change much either. Perhaps Ollie's perspective would have shown the most character growth as he is the widower who must cope with being without his wife and learn to move on etc. But we don't get a peek into his head. So :/

Plot/Story Development: ★★ While I looooved the language and style of the author, the actual plotting was subpar. The world is huge with possibilities at the prospect of a ghost wife setting up her living husband and best friend, and I think all the best opportunities were wasted. I strongly disagreed with most of Williams' writing choices here. The romance between Ollie and Jenny was weak. The Big Secret That You Wait Forever To Find Out wasn't that big of a deal. The Guy You Just Know Is The Absolute Worst really was the worst and there was no twist or anything, just the waiting for the other characters to catch up. I dunno, in the end, the plot was where I was really disappointed. Bottom line: it's a love story lite with a haunty undertones.

Message/Theme: ★★★ life, death, family, friendship, lies, betrayal, soulmates, urban v suburban lifestyles, grief, closure...you know, the usual.

Rating: R for sexual content and strong language.

Overall: ★★★1/2 I was addicted to this book because the writing was funny and intriguing. Sadly the plot was predictable and uninspiring. For a light, feel-good, escapist read, look no further.



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Arranged | Book Review

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I heard about this book from my husband actually. A conversation about love and marriage and friendship naturally led to one about arranged marriages and how "falling in love" and then getting married is a fairly new custom. For centuries people were matched and marriage and learned to love each other without the fading infatuation, the lust, the emotional roller-coaster. As an American girl in the 21st century, that idea sounds completely alien and undesirable. Anyway, he said there was a new novel about this from a modern perspective that might help me see the benefits of marrying someone compatible to you without the dating or drama. So I checked it out.

This book is about Anne Blythe - unlucky in love - when she contacts a private marriage broker to arrange a stranger husband for her. Her adventure into an arranged marriage is the direct result of her shallow, lusty interest in Men of a Certain Type and her jealous, self-indulgent Need for a Fairy Tale Ending. She meets and marries her match Jack. And of course everything is great... until it isn't.

(Sidenote: Her name is Anne Shirley Blythe! I'm not gonna lie, her name and her mother's obsession with all things Anne of Green Gables was definitely a warm fuzzy for me. Ann Shirley is the reason I became a reader and a writer, and she gave me my obsession with red hair.)

Writing technique: ★★ McKenzie's writing is simple. I'd recommend this for a vacation/beach read. Lit lite. I found the beginning fairly tedious and obvious. But it picked up pretty quickly and my interest in the plot overshadowed by disinterest in her actual words.

Character development: ★★★ Anne has a lot to learn. About men, but mostly about herself. I don't know that she learns her lesson though. But she does get over her shallow, looks-mean-everything ideas, but not really the fairy-tale-endings-are-realistic ideas. So... hmm.

Plot/Story development: ★★★ Most of the beginning I found pretty simplistic and predictable. But the one twist in the middle I did not see coming! The end was very rom-com paint-by-numbers obvious, but it was a cute read all in all.

Message/Theme: ★★★ Attraction and lust do not make a good relationship. Friendship and respect are a better foundation for a marriage. Liars and cheaters suck.

Overall: ★★★ This is good chick lit with a twist on what we consider normal marriages. Nice for a quick summer/beach read.



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