Review by ArielJMartin -- Looking Glass Friends by E L Neve
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Review by ArielJMartin -- Looking Glass Friends by E L Neve
[Following is a volunteer review of "Looking Glass Friends" by E L Neve.]
3 out of 4 stars
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When I initially started reading Looking Glass Friends, by E. L. Neve, I worried I would be bogged down by all the wordiness, but as I continued on, I found myself captivated by the story of Ellie and Neil. I felt the love and the weight of their experiences as the two soulmates coped with a life-changing dilemma. A dilemma that meant leaving the comfort of their current marriages and accepting their love for one another
Ellie and Neil meet at a local bakery, though their encounters are strictly business, until one day Ellie gives Neil her favorite book. From that point on, their lives are completely changed through a string of emails. Even though they are both married, they quickly realize they are intellectual soulmates. Over time, they feel a shift in their relationship and must come to terms with what that means for their families. Ellie is worried about her son and fearful to leave the comforts her husband has given her. Neil is guilt stricken over having to confront his wife. They must decide if their happiness is selfish or necessary.
I would rate this book a 3 out of 4. If it were an option, I would have given the book a 2.5 out of 4, due to the muddled flow of the book. As a reader, I struggled to follow the sudden transitions. It was difficult to understand if the abrupt changes were intentional and I found them disruptive to the flow of the story. I did not want to give it a 2 out of 4, because I felt the story line was well thought out and beautifully written. I appreciated how raw and unique the book was. The author used engaging metaphors to describe character emotions and was able to navigate hard topics. I also enjoyed how the author was able to incorporate classic novels into the story, although these nuances may not be understood by readers who are unfamiliar with the works referenced in this book.
I would recommend this book to an audience that enjoys bittersweet romances. While the overall story is very engaging, there are dark moments and hard topics. This book does include some steamy scenes, and there is a sexual assault scene that could trigger trauma. Overall, the scenes were not explicit and were respectful.
I enjoyed reading Looking Glass Friends. I was touched by the emails between the characters and I felt many of the emotions portrayed in the book. However, I wish the transitions were more obvious. For example, the transitions could be improved with a clearer indication of when the character is in thought during conversation. I often found myself confused, although that may have been intentional, as throughout most of the book the characters are torn and addled. All in all, I was content with how the book ended and I would recommend the book to my fellow readers.
******
Looking Glass Friends
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
When I initially started reading Looking Glass Friends, by E. L. Neve, I worried I would be bogged down by all the wordiness, but as I continued on, I found myself captivated by the story of Ellie and Neil. I felt the love and the weight of their experiences as the two soulmates coped with a life-changing dilemma. A dilemma that meant leaving the comfort of their current marriages and accepting their love for one another
Ellie and Neil meet at a local bakery, though their encounters are strictly business, until one day Ellie gives Neil her favorite book. From that point on, their lives are completely changed through a string of emails. Even though they are both married, they quickly realize they are intellectual soulmates. Over time, they feel a shift in their relationship and must come to terms with what that means for their families. Ellie is worried about her son and fearful to leave the comforts her husband has given her. Neil is guilt stricken over having to confront his wife. They must decide if their happiness is selfish or necessary.
I would rate this book a 3 out of 4. If it were an option, I would have given the book a 2.5 out of 4, due to the muddled flow of the book. As a reader, I struggled to follow the sudden transitions. It was difficult to understand if the abrupt changes were intentional and I found them disruptive to the flow of the story. I did not want to give it a 2 out of 4, because I felt the story line was well thought out and beautifully written. I appreciated how raw and unique the book was. The author used engaging metaphors to describe character emotions and was able to navigate hard topics. I also enjoyed how the author was able to incorporate classic novels into the story, although these nuances may not be understood by readers who are unfamiliar with the works referenced in this book.
I would recommend this book to an audience that enjoys bittersweet romances. While the overall story is very engaging, there are dark moments and hard topics. This book does include some steamy scenes, and there is a sexual assault scene that could trigger trauma. Overall, the scenes were not explicit and were respectful.
I enjoyed reading Looking Glass Friends. I was touched by the emails between the characters and I felt many of the emotions portrayed in the book. However, I wish the transitions were more obvious. For example, the transitions could be improved with a clearer indication of when the character is in thought during conversation. I often found myself confused, although that may have been intentional, as throughout most of the book the characters are torn and addled. All in all, I was content with how the book ended and I would recommend the book to my fellow readers.
******
Looking Glass Friends
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti
