Review: Charming and Melancholy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 3, 2012
Richard is a college student grappling with how to come out from behind his successful and artistic parents' shadows. Becca is the mother of one of Richard's friends and is roundabouts 20 years his senior married to an unfaithful man. The two are drawn to each other and quickly begin a secret affair. Fate intervenes and drastically alters their lives and their relationships with each other and other people.The cover is gorgeous and after the book is finished, it's appropriate and better appreciated. The story itself seemed well paced and I didn't feel like I was reading filler at any point. It seemed very purposefully and conscientiously written.I had expected the Mrs. Robinson vibe and it's there a twinge, but to be honest with this kind of age difference with the woman being the elder, it's hard NOT to give off that vibe. However, Becca, while seductive, was a vulnerable character which makes her much more likable and sympathetic than a harsher Mrs. Robinson type.Not every story can have the ending I want but sometimes some endings are just more realistic than others. The ending of this story was the natural one for it to have from my perspective, despite what I may have wanted to happen instead. I like realism in my books and I appreciate authors who try to be as realistic as possible.Thanks to the author for the great read!