Book Review and Giveaway: Emily and Einstein

By Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

Thanks to "P.S., I Love You" by Cecelia Ahern, I've been able to read books about women becoming widows (something I wasn't able to do before reading that story). Every so often, an author's take on the widow theme sticks out and leaves a lasting impression, similar to the one left by Ms. Ahern. "Emily and Einstein" by Linda Francis Lee is definitely on that list, as it is both heartfelt and creative.

Emily Barlow had just received a job promotion...and the worst news of her life. Her husband, Sandy, was killed in a tragic accident and he didn't even leave their apartment to her in his will, forcing her to face eviction. Soon, Emily finds out other things about him that leave her even more distraught. With the help of a dog named Einstein, who knows more than he probably should (for an animal), Emily tries to get her life back on track, even when various complications arise.

I totally loved this story from beginning to end. It's one that I was recommending before I even got to the halfway point. I just had that much confidence that it would stay amazing throughout, and I was correct. Ms. Lee creates vivid characters that stick with the reader long after the story is finished. Her use of description makes the people and places easy to visualize. She adds so much substance to her characters that it's easy to like them or hate them, or sometimes feel both ways. Emily carries the story along really well, making the reader laugh and cry along with her the entire time. And it's almost impossible to resist Einstein, who is more than what he appears. (He even had me at the cover picture.) The best thing about this story is that Ms. Lee fills it with surprises. I didn't know what to expect and that kept me on my toes, making the story very exciting and difficult to put down.

I do have some critiques though. I thought I wouldn't with this one, but some things nagged at me. The first was an issue of time that went along with the age of one of the characters. I won't spoil anything, but I would like to say that the character's story would have made more sense, chronologically, if the year was 2005 and not 2011, as Ms. Lee figured the reader would assume this was taking place. If you read the story and do the math, you'll see what I mean. (Let's just say that this person was in high school when a historical event took place and wouldn't have had a certain job as a result.) The other thing was that there was a lot of psychobabble, especially toward the end. Sometimes it muddied the story for me and I had trouble understanding what the real issue was. That could just be my brain on sleep deprivation, but I felt like Emily had almost too much inner turmoil at times. Finally, I picked up some grammar and spelling errors that should have been caught before going to print. I found this amusing, considering that Emily is a book editor.

Overall, I thought Ms. Lee's take on the topic of "widowhood" was original. I love how all the pieces of the story fit together. Emily is an unforgettable heroine who will inspire all readers. I would enjoy seeing this novel made into a movie. It would be a lot of fun to see on the big screen. (I've been casting it in my head already.) Until then, I hope everyone has a chance to read it. And thanks to Ms. Lee, one lucky reader from the US or Canada can win a copy of "Emily and Einstein" right here!

How to win "Emily and Einstein":

Please comment below with your e-mail address.
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Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: Who is your favorite pet from a fictional novel?
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US/Canada only. Giveaway ends May 4th at midnight EST.

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