Review: Honest portrayal of second chances at love and life.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 8, 2013
Read this and other reviews at [...]I decided to pick this book up this past weekend because I was in the mood for a quick read before diving into deeper books where I'm prepared to be gutted. Of course, I didn't expect to have this book affect me so much either. Fix You, while a novella, doesn't feel at all rushed or lacking when it comes to story development - or emotional appeal. It's moving, sad, uplifting, and sexy.Fix You is the story of Zoey, a 35 year old paralegal, ready to start the new year right - she's going to FINALLY tell her best friend of 25 years/roommate that she's in love with him. And that she's basically always been. Then she finds out she has breast cancer. When she calls Robbie (he's on tour with his band - they're finally about to make it big), she realizes she can't risk ruining everything he's worked so hard for, and so she keeps quiet.Robbie knows something's up when he gets the call from Zoey. For so long he's been going back and forth on telling her how he's truly felt for her. And after her weird phone call, he decides to fly home from his tour, and tell her once and for all how he feels. What he doesn't expect is the news she has for him. He decides there and then, though, that he's wasted enough time not being with Zoey and now they're finally going to get it together.{{From now on, she'd acquired a six foot two shadow. Zoey wasn't going to do any of this alone.}}While facing the horrible strains that cancer puts her life, Zoey is also dealing with the emotional turmoil regarding Robbie giving up his dream of being on tour with his band. Of course, she doesn't realize he was never as in love with the idea of being on tour, as he was with being with her. They deal with their fair share of ups and downs, individually and together, but overall, the history they share holds them strong. I loved how we got glimpses of their past through a series of flashbacks. It was great to see how their relationship evolved over time, without feeling forced or awkward to read.{{He'd spent a lifetime running the wrong race. He didn't want to be a rock star. He wanted to be hers.}}I absolutely loved Robbie. He was beyond sexy (there were some SERIOUSLY steamy moments), but oh my gosh, he was SO sweet. I can't imagine ever having cancer, but having known plenty of people that have dealt with it, I know how it can affect those around you, and Robbie was nothing but incredibly supportive of Zoey. Speaking of those around her, Zoey had an amazing circle of girlfriends, as well. I loved the dynamic they had with each other, and I can only hope that the other Second Chances books will focus on each of them.I think this is the perfect 4 star book for those looking for something super sexy and sweet, but also emotionally moving. The cancer aspect drives home the ugly realities that many people, and couples face, daily. This story had it all in terms of feeling - heart racing steam, profound sadness, fear, confusion, but of course, also happiness and then sense that everything was going to be all right. You can get a second chance. At love. And at life.{{"Life moves fast, things change. Sometimes I think our only job on this planet is to hold on so we don't get thrown off the ride."}}