Review: Outstanding Debut From This New Author!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 5, 2013
REVIEWED FOR: Sinfully Sexy Book ReviewsPhoebe Lane, I am at a loss. I absolutely adore this story. Adore it!! I can be very hard to please, almost obnoxiously so at times. I always aim to be fair and remember how much work authors put into pouring their souls onto paper, but...not every book is always a 5-Star or even a 4-Star read for me. Recently, though, it feels like there might be someone guiding my hand toward stories that are special and memorable. Cursive is both of those things, and it is so much more.There are so many aspects of this story that I love, that make it shine for me. But, it all begins with the characters. The first few chapters of Cursive will almost make you think you're reading a cute, lighthearted, romantic comedy. Or, to be more specific, those first few chapters will make you think that's all you're reading. Aislynn is funny, warm and yet closed off, and hiding enough secrets to fill a circus tent. I'll be honest, I didn't click with her immediately. But, there were moments, and I saw that the potential was definitely there if I gave her story time to unravel. Jace is...well, Jace is wonderfully real, decent, honest and SEXY. Lord have mercy. He also proves himself to be immensely romantic and charming. He is everything you could want in a man. Like Aislynn, Jace is full of complexities, as well. He has his very own story to tell. So, what bonds these two souls together? You think I'm going to say something really deep and profound, right? Well, they get there, but in the beginning...it's coffee. Good God, do these two LOVE their expensive, barista-prepared coffee!Aislynn and Jace aside, Phoebe Lane gives us fully fleshed-out secondary characters, as well. And, that? That is one of my greatest loves in a story! Aislynn's best friend Ellie and Jace's best friend Evan, as well as all of the assorted family members, combine to make this such a full and rich story.Here's another aspect of Cursive that made me fall in love: an almost absurd mix of lighthearted humor and deeply-felt pain. I told you that in the beginning you might mistake this book for a romantic comedy. Well, to my astonishment and Phoebe Lane's credit, Cursive actually is a romantic comedy. It's a romantic comedy. It's an emotional, character-driven contemporary romance. It's a sexy, sultry romp. It's a deeply agonizing personal journey. Cursive is so many things, and, yet, somehow, they all come together perfectly and miraculously to make this uniquely-told and, at times, very surprising story. Honestly, I would never have imagined this could work. This author did imagine it, though. She imagined it, and she more than made it work! That is what leaves me so impressed with Cursive and with Phoebe Lane.For me, what makes Cursive truly unforgettable is the depth and complexity of emotion. There is a terribly important aspect of this story that I refuse to spoil for you. But, you have to trust me that it is so well done (no matter if it remains a surprise or not) and so intensely felt. The feelings that situation engenders positively permeates the entire story. The realism with which both Aislynn and Jace face the personal fall-out of Aislynn's greatest revelation is so powerful to me. Their conversation toward the end, when everything finally comes to a head, is simple and yet profound. Love and commitment are, without any doubt, cemented in that moment.To be honest, I could probably continue discussing this story for another three or four paragraphs. So many scenes, seemingly inconsequential or not, are still stuck in my head. The epilogue is, as you would expect, funny and emotional, and it's one of my favorite parts of the book. I want so badly to include a quote from the epilogue, my very favorite. But, it will mean so much more after you've traveled this journey with Aislynn and Jace.In the end, I have to tell you that if you miss out on Phoebe Lane's debut, you will honestly regret it. I'm pretty sure this one will capture a piece of your heart just like it did mine. If it does, please let me know. Let Phoebe know. Let your fellow readers know by writing a short review of your own. Share your experience. That's the best part of reading, after all :-)