Review: Not your typical romance novel...which isn't a bad thing
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2013
REVIEWED BY KINDLE GAL & EMILYKINDLE GAL: So Em, I have to say that MAKING IT LAST is a story that has stayed with me long after I read it. This is not your typical romance. This is the story of a couple nearly fourteen years after they fell in love with a marriage on the rocks. Thankfully, neither of us have rocky marriages like this one, but we both share some similarities to the characters: we're both celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary this year, and we both have three kids that we are home with more often than not.I found that there were definitely moments in this book that I could relate to. Being preoccupied with raising kids and paying the mortgage, for one. It's so easy to get caught up in the everyday part of life! And I don't know about you, but this line is golden: "Three kids wasn't fifty percent more than two. It was this whole other stratosphere of parenthood. Outnumbered. Outgunned." Right??EMILY: I TOTALLY agree with the third child comment. Who knew one little body could throw that much additional chaos into our lives? That so aligns with how Amber and Tony's marriage evolved. You start out with hot "sexy time" and complete self-indulgence, then somehow end up in yoga pants that you've worn 3 days straight at midnight at some chain retailer buying baby formula. Ummm...not that THAT has happened to me or anything. Just sayin'.I agree that there were many common themes in the day-to-day life that Amber leads and my own. She does piles of laundry, I do piles of laundry. She plays taxicab to 3 kids, I play taxicab to 3 kids. But...I wouldn't be honest, blunt me unless I admitted that MAKING IT LAST is totally fiction and certain parts were not typical of my life (or many people I know). Like Amber being left suddenly ALONE with no kids in Jamaica so she can sort some things out. I can't get left alone to buy groceries, people. I also thought Amber was a little bit of a drama queen. Don't want Tony working so much? Then get a job. Tired of doing all the cleaning? Make the kids help. The "answers" to her problems did not seem all that complex to me. What did you think? Am I too harsh?KINDLE GAL: No, not too harsh at all. And I think this is where I struggled with the story. Instead of it being about a marriage in trouble, it was more about Amber and her issues, especially for the first 2/3 of the book. I mean, we ALL have low moments and can relate to some of the thoughts and feelings she had. But Amber's seemed more pervasive and made her appear borderline depressed. Obviously that would take its toll on a marriage too, so I'm not saying that they are two separate, unrelated things. But the story wasn't framed in this way, and I felt like it was a tad misleading. To me, the thing that was paralyzing Amber from feeling fulfilled and happy in her marriage and her life wasn't simply housewife issues...it was much, much deeper than that.This brings me to Tony. Poor Tony! I feel like I'm always siding with the hero in romances. Sometimes it's in a oh you poor, stupid-yet-adorable man way, but mostly, I think loving us women in spite of our roller coaster of emotions is almost saintly. I don't know about you, but my heart ached for Tony in this story. He was doing what he thought was best for his family and taking care of them in the only way he knew how. And the moment he realized Amber was struggling, he was in agony and lost as to how to help.EMILY: I know - I loved poor, frustrated Tony too. When reading a romance, you can read/hear in the hero's head why he works long hours, misses kid activities, and suffers quietly. DUH! In the most primal part of his brain, he thinks he is the provider...that is his job! In real life, I may not be as understanding when my hubby works his "grueling long hours" (his words). Is it funny how I love Tony in this book but can still be feisty and cranky at my hubby when he does the same things? Wait, don't answer that! Let's just leave it at I think Tony was a serious keeper!KINDLE GAL: Most definitely. I think you're on to something, though, and that's the whole idea of being privy to the hero's thoughts. Now don't get me wrong...I'm not saying I want to actually hear ALL of Kindle Guy's thoughts. (Definitely not.) But a big part of making a marriage work is having open communication. When things irk us, we let each other know. And that is what Amber didn't do and is at least part of the reason why she was wallowing in loneliness and emptiness. Same goes with Tony. He was stressed at work but didn't tell Amber about it. Everyone was just too damn proud and stubborn for their own good!Once they finally opened up and started communicating, things really turned around. But I have to be honest...I felt that this, too, was a place in the story where it wasn't very realistic. Amber's change in attitude wasn't gradual enough for me. She had been so lost, so distant. But when they returned home, she seemed like a completely different person.EMILY: Hee hee...so you're saying my harassment, whining, and bit%$ing is really just good communication?? Love it! I'll make sure to tell my hubby that you said so!I agree that the turnabout at the end was abrupt and somewhat unrealistic. And yet, it ended up where I wanted it to - so there is something to be said for giving ME what I wanted. Oh, and I got a kick out of the scenes between Tony and Amber's mom. I loved how artfully awkward they were written!So overall, this wasn't my typical "escape" romance book, and yet it was a thought-provoking read. Unlike a lot of other romances, it actually made me appreciate a lot of things that me and the hubs are doing right! But...it is really kinda crazy that Ruthie Knox decided to "go there" and tell us about the rocky road for a couple she had previously ended us on a HEA, huh?KINDLE GAL: Yes, definitely tell your hubby I said that! But don't give him my number to call and complain...I agree, those scenes between Tony and Amber's mom were fantastic! I'm a HUGE fan of awkward, and they were written to perfection.So yeah, definitely not the usual romance read, but I have an amazing amount of respect for what Ruthie Knox tried to do with this story. It takes guts to write a story about the not-so-lovely parts of love when you're writing romance. I think my favorite aspect of MAKING IT LAST was showing the different stages--both good and bad--that a marriage goes through. Where I wished it would've been stronger is in Amber's character arc, although I loved where she ended up. This one might hit too close to home for some, but I think it's a worthwhile read. Besides, it doesn't matter where Ruthie goes...I will always follow.KINDLE GAL'S RATING: BEm: I, too, enjoyed this read and agree Ruthie is quite masterful. I did think it hit a little close to home, but that can be subject to my reading "mood" and what type of escape I want at any given time. Sometimes I want complete and utter FICTION (that is capital F fiction, mind you), and sometimes I want a dash of realism interjected within. For the times you want the latter, MAKING IT LAST is a great choice. Oh, and dude, you totally stole my rating! Not fair that you got to disclose first!!EMILY'S RATING: BNote: We received a review copy of this title courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.