The Opposite of Love
by Julie Baxbaum
Random House, 2009
320 pages
Summary: Emily's life begins to unravel the day she breaks up with her boyfriend just as he is about to propose. So she throws herself into her job only to be sexually harassed by her boss, starts spending quality time with her grandfather as he memory slips away, and tries to connect with her father who is still grieving the death of her mother.
Review: Even with the substantial plot, The Opposite of Love is a light and quick read. Emily is an interesting character, whose life is complex and funny. At the same time, Emily can be a difficult character to understand and empathize with. Her choices are sometimes hard to swallow even though they eventually lead her to a happy conclusion. Baxbaum's writing is clear and flows nicely keeping the reader entertained. Many of the supporting characters are wonderful, such as Ruth -- the retired judge that takes Emily under her wing. While other characters are not as clear, such as Emily's father -- a man who seems to be unable to communicate with his own father and daughter. Rating:*** out of 5.
1 comment:
I was very interested to read this review because I recently read Buxbaum's second novel, After You, and I really enjoyed it.
This one sounds good, too - thanks for the review.
Sue
Post a Comment