Monthly Archives: December 2017

This is the second book I have read by Jennifer Joyce. She has a wonderful imagination for situations and a real knack for dialog. I enjoy reading her books and the characters are life-like even when they are put in impossible situations (such as in this book.) It’s best to put aside reality and just enjoy the flow of the story.

Joyce and Calvin Neil are a couple with two children. Like most couples, they have begun to take one another’s efforts for granted. Each of them are so involved in their own daily grind and situations, that they don’t see what the other has to contend with.

Things come to a head just as the book starts. When Calvin doesn’t take Judy’s mince pies out of the oven in time (and they burn slightly), it is the start of a story which involves a Freaky Friday element.

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I’ve been a fan of Kristan Higgins for many years. I’ve enjoyed her various books, both stand-alone novels and series. Those books were primarily romances but they always made me laugh and made the characters come alive to me so that I rejoiced as their tales ended happily.

In recent years, Ms. Higgins has moved away from romantic comedies and have ventured into the land of fictional literature. Her stories have taken on a depth that was lacking in her earlier, shorter novels.

“Now That You Mention It” is just such a novel. From it’s opening line “The first thought I had after I died was: How will my dog cope with this?”, it grabbed my attention and I found myself reading it in segments and then, at odd times of the day when I was alone, I would think through what I had read and than apply it to my own life.

I shared a lot of similar past events with Nora Stuart, the main character of the story. From abandonment issues, to being the smart but not well loved teenager, relationship issues and much more, I could relate to this character. As she progressed through her issues, I did as well. I was even in the hospital recovering from literally the point of death (from a severe pneumonia) as I started reading the book. So, coming back from the brink of death was something very much on my mind.

I laughed a lot (as I always do with Ms. Higgin’s books.) I cried even more as Nora went on her own road of discovery by searching into her past. Her relationships with mother, her sister, her niece, her father and others in her current life and in her past were explored and held up to the test of her life in the present.

To say I enjoyed this book is not enough. It made an impact on my life in a positive way. I’ve been changed by reading it. For a novel to have that kind of effect on me is unusual and is a bar that very few books have risen to. I recommend it highly.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Reading this book was both an enjoyment of the writing style and a real desire to talk some sense into the main character. It was almost painful to read as Jane (the main character of the story) careened from bad decision to bad decision without reflecting on the reality of her life goals.

Jane has decided that it is time to begin dating again after having broken up (one year ago to the day) with her long-term relationship with her high-school sweetheart. Having been involved with Bob for nine years (since she was 16), now at 26, Jane isn’t too sure of how she will find “the one” that she feels will be out there waiting for her beck and call. Her focus is narrowed onto this and all other individuals and goals in her life are set aside as she is sure she will end up with her partner within months if not weeks.

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I discovered Elizabeth Cadell’s books as a teenager years ago. I loved her gentle slice of life stories and quickly read every book our small library had in stock.

As an adult, I found that Ms. Cadell’s books were out-of-print and very difficult to find. I obtained the ones that I could but others, such as this book, remained too far out of reach for me to buy.

I was thrilled to find this title available on Kindle and purchased it and waited for the right time to read it (when I could enjoy the author’s delicate humor.) The story is right in line with the rest of her books. A lovely slice of life of a family and events that one is allowed to peek into.

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