Review: So Glad to See These Characters Again
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 5, 2014
Sometimes Never was such a gem, so I was thrilled to hear Cheryl McIntyre had written a follow-up novella about two favorite characters Hope and Mason. The author does a wonderful job of accurately portraying psychology and therapy.Hope and Mason are trying to make their relationship work but Hope's demons and Mason's mother don't make it easy. Hope bravely faces therapy in an effort to stop injuring herself.Mason is so wise. His mother questions him staying with a girl who cuts herself, and Mason asks her if she would judge him for staying with Hope if she had cancer. "That's different," his mother says, "because nobody asks for cancer." Mason patiently explains that Hope didn't ask to be sexually abused and cutting was the only way she knew how to deal with it. I've used the cancer parallel when trying to help family members understand their loved one's eating disorder or depression or other mental illness.It's awesome to witness Hope healing from pain, like when she bravely calls Mason's mother:"I'm in therapy. I go every week. I've only missed one session.""Well that's good, Hope. I'm glad."I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "But it doesn't matter to you. Does it? I'll just always be the crazy girl that stole your son."She laughs dryly and the sound resembles Mason's laugh. My stomach twists. "You can't understand -- you're not a mother. We have a fierce protectiveness for our children.""Not all moms," I say quietly. I feel the tears sting my eyes and I blink them away.Gah! Poor Hope.Hope's bff Guy continues to steal the show with his hilarious one-liners like:"If I wasn't gayer than a Christmas sweater, I'd steal you away from this joker in a heartbeat."This novella fills in the blanks between the end of Sometimes Never and its epilogue in a sweet and satisfying way.