Review of Looking Glass Friends

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Courtnee Redeaux
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Latest Review: Looking Glass Friends by E L Neve

Review of Looking Glass Friends

Post by Courtnee Redeaux »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Looking Glass Friends" by E L Neve.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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Hireath is a Welsh word meant to describe that indescribable feeling of missing something that isn’t yours to miss. Longing for the home you’ve never been to or the soul that you’ve never loved. Neil and Ellie find themselves falling victim to this in Looking Glass Friends. Both characters have a chance meeting in the bakery where Neil works. Quickly finding themselves enamored with one another, Neil gives Ellie the last cream puffs typically reserved for his wife. Ellie, in-kind, offers Neil a copy of one of her favorite books. An immediate connection is spawned and grown through letters, emails, and phone calls. Within each other Neil and Ellie find kindred souls, friends, and several types of love. However, they are quickly confronted with their realities. Ellie is married with a son, her life completely entwined with her husband as she’s a stay-at-home mother who has never worked. Neil has to combat whether he is staying in his marriage for love or for loyalty. Simultaneously, the two of them must reconcile their relationship with each other and those around them. Written with a unique lyrical style E. L. Neve beautifully crafts a heart-wrenching love story while weaving in poetic, literary, and philosophical references and does so seamlessly.

The unique diction used by Neve allows this story to flow like a long-form poem and creates imagery that is wholly unique to this story. Both the plot and the dialogue utilize deeply romantic word choice and imagery. Additionally, the story captivates you with the perspectives of not only Ellie and Neil but the members of their families as well. Allowing for the internal monologue of characters to be seen gives you an all-encompassing perspective. The word choice, the perspectives, the internal monologues, and the letters all combine to make this flow in a way that makes it difficult to put down.

If you’re a fan of a plot-driven storyline, this may drag on for you. The story progresses and there is a plot but it heavily relies on the characters and their thoughts and feelings. A lot of time is spent on discussions and emotional responses. If this isn’t enough to captivate you on its own, be aware.

Looking Glass Friends easily gains 4 out of 4 stars. Romance is not a new genre and it can often feel like everything has been done before but this story asks a question that not many are willing to: what happens when you meet your soulmate after you’ve started a life with someone else. It uses poetic language, literary references, and philosophical discussions to explore this concept and keeps you wanting more from everyone involved.

If you are a romance reader this is a refreshing take. If you are not a romance reader this is the perfect introduction to the genre as it is a love story that consistently gives the reader some questions to ponder. This book will serve the poet, the bookworm, the philosopher, the logical thinker, and the contemplative personalities all.

******
Looking Glass Friends
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