I had read this book quite some time back but, due to some unforeseeable turn
of events, I was not able to post the review on this space. As the saying goes –
‘better late than never’ – here I am with the review of Jenny Hale latest book –
Love me For Me. I would like to thank Kim from Bookouture for sending this review
copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
To give you an idea of the plot in the novel, I am quoting the blurb from
the back cover.
“Sometimes
you find perfect where you least expect it...
Libby Potter has just lost the perfect job, the perfect
apartment and the perfect boyfriend. Moving back to the same home town that she
couldn’t wait to escape when she was younger was definitely not on her to-do
list. Especially as it means running into the man whose heart she broke when
she left.
Pete Bennett can still make Libby’s world stop with just the
sound of his voice – even ten years on. Only now, she is the last person in the
world that he wants to see.
As everyone else welcomes Libby home with open arms, she
realizes she’s missed that special closeness that comes from lifelong
friendship. And, as Libby tries to make amends with Pete, she begins to wonder
whether she made the right choice in leaving all those years ago.
When an amazing career opportunity gives her the chance to
leave again, Libby will have to decide what her version of perfect is… and
where she really belongs.”
It was
an easy, somewhat emotional and quite enjoyable read. The author knows how to
get the readers involved in the story. There are many incidences and characters
in the novel that I could relate to. At first, I felt pity for Libby – her great
life in New York is suddenly torn to pieces. She is so unsure about what she
wants in life that, at times I did feel like shaking her up. Then slowly things
change and she begins to doubts her own thoughts, desires and dreams and starts
seeing things in a new perspective. If I had to tell about the story in one
line, I would say it is the story of the self-discovery of Libby Potter. And this
Libby could be any one of us!
Very
often we live our life the way others want us too and in the process, we often
forget what we truly desire. Many a times we think that if we have certain
things or if we meet certain goals, we will be happy. But, that is not true.
Our perspectives, our dreams, our needs often change and if we can understand
and accept that, our lives can be so much simpler and enjoyable.
There
were times when I could not understand why Libby acted the way she did. Of
course, her thoughts seemed quite influenced by her mother, who had her own
demons to fight. Then there is Pete, who tries hard to be nonchalant all the
time and I hated him for that at times. But, then he also had his reasons. All
the characters in the novel gel quite well in the overall story and that makes
it a satisfying read.
This
book gives you an important lesson in life. All that glitters is not always
gold and that grass on the other side is not always greener as it seems.
Sometimes, we do have to take a step back to evaluate things and make important
decisions of life.
I
loved the way the author ended the story – there could not have been a more fitting way.
