LET’S CURL UP WITH “NOVEMBER 9”

Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by A Daily Rhythm.

Today’s featured book is a relatively new download for me, and a novel that has been getting quite a bit of positive attention.  November 9, by Colleen Hoover, is an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

 

 

 

Intro:  (Fallon)

I wonder what kind of sound it would make if I were to smash this glass against the side of his head.

It’s a thick glass.  His head is hard.  The potential for a nice big THUD is there.

I wonder if he would bleed.  There are napkins on the table, but not the good kind that could soak up a lot of blood.

“So, yeah.  I’m a little shocked, but it’s happening,” he says.

His voice causes my grip to tighten around the glass in hopes that it stays in my hand and doesn’t actually end up against the side of his skull.

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Teaser:  (Ben – Second November 9)

So…where the hell are you, Fallon?

She’s almost two hours late.  The waitress has refilled my drink four times.  And five glasses of water in two hours is a lot for my bladder, but I’m giving myself half an hour before I go to the restroom, because I’m worried if I’m not sitting here when she walks in, she’ll think I didn’t show and she’ll leave. (28%).

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Synopsis:  Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

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What do you think?  Would this story capture your interest?  Would you keep reading?

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REVIEW: THE ROSIE EFFECT, BY GRAEME SIMSION

 

 

 

In the sequel to the original journey of Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman, their newest adventures take the reader on another rollicking ride.

Don is still a genetics professor and Rosie is working on her Ph.D. and getting ready to enter medical school.

Many unexpected events seemingly derail the two of them, but they are temporarily back on track when Don finds them a new apartment. His friend Gene’s marriage woes have led to him being a houseguest for a while.

In typical “Don fashion,” we see what happens to him after Rosie announces her pregnancy. He approaches it all like a scientific study, learning about pregnancy and parenthood. But some of his explorations have drastic consequences, and soon he is facing all kinds of problems.

What will Don do to extricate himself from the tricky situation in which he lands? How will he keep the secrets from Rosie, the ones he feels are necessary for her well-being? And what will a social worker named Lydia add to the mix?

There were times in this book that I was annoyed with Don’s inability to react “normally,” but I also found Rosie frustrating. The two of them seemed determined to destroy their marriage. What would finally change everything for them?

Another fascinating journey into the unique world of these characters, The Rosie Effect: A Novel was unputdownable. I give this one 4 stars, primarily because the journey could have been smoother for me, but others might love all the ins and outs of how Don approached everything.