Review of The Look

Michelle Menezes · Post by **Michelle Menezes** » 26 Oct 2021, 07:43

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Look" by Maria Pryor Herndon.]

2 out of 4 stars

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Have you ever been in love? Have you ever had someone look at you with love and longing in their eyes, and it made your heart skip a beat? Melissa's first love as a young woman ended in heartbreak. Later, both her marriages failed due to abusive husbands. She vows never to get into a relationship again and finds contentment in taking care of her grandchildren. When she plans a final visit to her favorite place, Paris, the last thing she expects is to be swept off her feet by a man. All it takes is one look from him, which has her feeling things she didn't know she could feel anymore. The only problem is that they're from different countries and neither of them is ready to move. Will the relationship work, or will Melissa experience another heartbreak?

The Look: Paris For The Last Time by Maria Pryor Herndon is a Christian romance novel with a simple plot. At first, I couldn't understand the meaning behind the title, but the beautiful poem in the beginning by Sara Teasdale and the explanation provided later in the book regarding "the look" cleared things up. It's something I have experienced in the past and liked but hadn't given much thought to until now. The fact that the protagonists are senior citizens of African-American ethnicity made me like the book even more, as I've rarely come across such diversity in the romance genre.

The characters had depth, especially Melissa, whose life was explored from the time she was a young woman to her old age. Her experiences and actions gave me an insight into the person she was and helped me connect with her character. I also liked the way her sons responded when she told them that she was in love. Usually, I come across books where adults crib and complain when their parents find someone as if they're meant to spend the rest of their life alone just because they're old. The support that Melissa's family gave her was refreshing.

Unfortunately, there were things that I didn't like about the book. I'm not a fan of love at first sight, so Melissa and Philip's relationship seemed rushed. Philip wanted to be with her since he first saw her and followed her around, which gave me stalker vibes. On their second encounter, they introduce themselves, then she gives him all her personal details and shows him pictures of her grandchildren. Five minutes later, she claims that he could be a murderer running from the law. Why would she share her information with him if that was the case?

The thing that put me off the most was the number of errors in the book. Each page had at least five errors, from punctuation to formatting errors. On two occasions, the protagonist's name was wrongly written as Marissa instead of Melissa. I also found spelling mistakes. Additionally, the excessive use of the word "had," at least three in every sentence, and unnecessary exclamation marks annoyed me. It was distracting because, after a point, that's all I could see. Therefore, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. The author needs a professional editor for the book. While the book can be enjoyed by everyone who likes the romance genre, Christians may feel more inclined to read it, as it talks about Christian beliefs regarding divorce, pre-marital sex, praying, etc. I recommend the book to readers above 16 years of age due to the conversations regarding physical intimacy.

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The Look
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Primrose Mhlanga · Post by **Primrose Mhlanga** » 31 Oct 2021, 08:32

It is really refreshing to have diverse characters portrayed in a good sense but I think it would need to get as much attention, along with professional editing. Thanks for the review

markodim721 · Post by **markodim721** » 01 Nov 2021, 04:46

I like that the plot is simple because it helps to better understand the book. Thanks for the unbiased review.

Timi opadere · Post by **Timi opadere** » 01 Nov 2021, 20:08

Judging from the title, the narrative would have been different and imprecise but looking in depth. The picture became clearer. It became perfectly clear because it could be related to my past experience. "The look" is profoundly the best of it's kind

Asfiya Z · Post by **Asfiya Z** » 03 Nov 2021, 02:20

This review gives a perfect overview of the book. I like how the book includes diversity in romance. I've never read about two old people in love, so I would love to read this book. Thank you for such a great review.