Book Review and Giveaway: The Ever After

By Melissa Amster

Josie and Frank Moore are happy…at least Josie thinks they are. As parents of two young girls in the Chicago suburbs, their days can be both busy and monotonous, and sometimes Josie wonders how she became a harried fortysomething mother rather than the driven career woman she once was. But Frank is a phenomenal father, he’s handsome and charismatic, and he still looks at his wife like she’s the beautiful woman he married more than a decade ago. Josie isn’t just happy—she’s lucky.

Until one Saturday morning when Josie borrows her husband’s phone to make a quick call—and sees nine words that shatter her world.

Now Josie feels as if she is standing at the edge of a sharp precipice. As she looks back at pivotal moments in the relationship she believed would last forever, she is also plunging ahead, surprising everyone (especially herself) with how far she will go to uncover the extent of her husband’s devastating secret.

With her “conversational writing style and a knack for making readers care about her characters” (The Washington Post) bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen paints a vivid, kaleidoscopic portrait of a marriage before and during a crisis—and of a woman who fears that the biggest secret of all may be the one she’s hiding from herself. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I've probably said this before, but I want to say it again for those of you new to this blog: Sarah Pekkanen had me at The Opposite of Me (2010) and hasn't let go since. The Ever After is her latest domestic drama. While it has a different feel from her previous novels (perhaps the cover contributes to this in a way), it's every bit as good!

Josie is instantly a sympathetic character and I found myself feeling the way she felt each time a new aspect of the secret was revealed. I could easily relate to her in regards to the stresses (and joys) of motherhood. The dialogue and emotions were genuine throughout. Even though Frank deeply hurt her, it's easy to feel bad for him too. I found myself hoping that things would get resolved between them. I think because Frank reminded me of my husband in a lot of ways (aside from the secret).

The only thing that didn't work as well for me was that a sense of place wasn't established. I know that it took place in the Chicago suburbs, but given that I grew up in that area, nothing really stood out to me as being unique. Perhaps if they had gone to Portillo's or Lou Malnati's for dinner? In any case, the story might as well have taken place in the DC suburbs, like in most of Sarah's previous novels.

Overall, it was a great story with a well-defined arc. I sometimes forgot I was reading a book, as I became so absorbed. Off to check my husband's phone now...  Just kidding!

Suggestions for the big screen:
Josie: Marley Shelton
Frank: Ed Helms
Karin: Kathryn Hahn
Amanda: Bonnie Somerville
Dana: Leslie Bibb
Sonya: Mary Lynn Rajskub
Mike: Dermot Mulroney

Thanks to Atria for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have TWO copies for some lucky readers!

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends June 12th at midnight EST.

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