The Blurb:
I have a boyfriend, but he was never just my friend
I have a best friend, but he never became my boyfriend and he also has a girlfriend.
My heart is split into two parts where each part beats for a different person
I want to spend most of my time with my boyfriend-Linden
But, every second spent with my best friend- Brandon, feels like a lifetime.
I want to see my Linden always smiling
But, Brandon always brings a smile on my face.
Linden breathes life into me
But, Brandon makes my heart to beat
I am Jennifer Collins. This is the story of my life. It's ugly, it's beautiful, it's filled with angst but the end is worth the turmoil.
You might like me, hate me, despise me or understand me
But you will get to live my story.
At the last I will ask you - Will you be able to choose between the two?
ARC generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a different sort of read for me, for a lot of reasons. First of all, the English is very formal (a la I am going to go to the place, with the thing, because at that place, with the thing, there is x), which took some getting used to. I had to adjust to the format a bit before I could get into it, because I’m a crass English user and lover of contractions. Once I did, it was smooth sailing.
Jennifer “Gem” is a career-minded woman in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Linden. Linden is a basketball player and…well, I’m not sure what else. Neither is Jennifer, I don’t think.
He’s a super great boyfriend, by Jennifer’s own admission, but let’s not mince words, she is getting bored. Something is clearly missing from the relationship for her. What I really like about this story is the honest portrayal of the cheater’s dilemma: Linden isn’t a bad boyfriend. The sex isn’t bad. He loves Jennifer. Jennifer loves him. Yet Jennifer is still feeling emotionally unfulfilled. Along comes Brandon, her best friend, offering to uh…fill the void. On the side, that is. Because, ya know, he also has a girlfriend.
This also saves Jennifer from having to take the extreme measure of just dumping Linden and moving on. Even her friends think she shouldn’t:
“If you are thinking of breaking up with Linden for his sake, then I don’t think he is worth it. You had reasons which pushed to you give into him, for him, though, it was just a sexual drive.”
The author makes no secret of the fact that readers may not find the leading characters particularly likeable. The emphasis is rather that people, taken as a whole, are flawed and still have stories to tell. I liked that about this book. Did I like Jennifer? Not really. I couldn’t identify with her because I don’t condone cheating and didn’t really feel sorry for her plight. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate the story and I wanted to know how on earth everyone was going to dig themselves out of this ginormous trench.
“Since that day I have always imagined how life with Brandon as my boyfriend would be like. It would be crazy, I know! Do you think he would cheat on me like he cheated on Rosie with me? Something tells me he wouldn’t, he would treat me differently, but I can’t justify my statement.”
This conversation with her friend is a huge deal, in my opinion. There is a certain level of cognitive dissonance for Jennifer, refusing to acknowledge the likelihood that the man she is having an affair with would cheat on her if she were the girlfriend rather than the other woman. And what does her friend say?
“You so remind me of that good for nothing chick Bella from Twilight.”
The book doesn’t end at all how I thought it would. I was pretty shocked at everyone’s choices when all was said and done. I’m curious to see how the second installment tackles the new status quo. And Linden? Yikes!!! My vibe for Jennifer?
Four stars because it was refreshing to read about characters I didn't necessarily have to sympathize, empathize, or project onto like a lot of contemporary romance Mary Sues. Plus I did NOT see that ending coming!
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