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Although this book is the third in the Lainey Tidwell series, I had no trouble following this story. While there are some references to characters or events I can only assume appeared in the previous stories, this book easily works as a stand-alone novel. It even made me curious as to what exactly happened earlier on in the series. Before reading this book, I knew next to nothing about golf, but the story is surprisingly gentle regarding golf references. Even the idea of “looping” was easy to understand after the first time it was mentioned.
Looping to the Limit is a great example of how how art imitates life. I love how the characters are so realistic. They go about their normal lives, have real conversations, deal with real problems, engage in believable activities, and show understandable human emotions without any over-the-top, unrealistic nonsense. You won’t find any fantasy or action in this story. It’s very mellow, with a little bit of drama and suspense thrown in for good measure.
The author of this book is obviously very intelligent; she knows what she wants to say, and she says it flawlessly and effortlessly. Even the summary of the book is full of witty golf puns that were way over my head. This intelligence is projected into the story through the characters, who are sophisticated, yet easy to relate to. Our protagonist, Lainey, is especially easy to understand, and I feel like I could put myself into her shoes without hesitation.
The downside of this story is the pacing. It’s very slow-paced. Though the many conversations, whether recapping previous events of the story or an intellectual discussion about golf course landscaping, are interesting, I feel that they often slow down the progression of the story. It actually took me quite a while to figure out exactly what the plot of the story was.
I am officially rating this book 3 out of 4 stars. It’s smart, sporty, believable, and even a bit funny at times. Plus, there is a nice ethical lesson revolving around workplace equality sneaking around in there; no harm in getting a little reminder about that. While golf lovers, especially female golf lovers, will enjoy this book, even those of us who couldn’t point out a golf club in a sporting goods store, will find the book amusing. If you’re in the mood for a relaxing, slow-paced story at the end of a stressful week, I recommend giving this book a shot.
And don’t forget to tip your caddie.
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