Review by Azdmelissa -- Looking Glass Friends by E L Neve
Posted: 02 Jun 2019, 19:38
[Following is a volunteer review of "Looking Glass Friends" by E L Neve.]
4 out of 4 stars
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I enjoyed reading this book which featured four main characters, with them split into two couples – Neil and Fay, and Ellie and Jake. The book switched between their main perspectives, sometimes overlapping, sometimes picking up where the last chapter left off. Neil and Fay are an average couple, with the exception of Neil facing some mental health issues and Fay being somewhat aloof. The first chapter starts dark with him contemplating suicide. The other couple, Ellie and Jake, are young, wealthy and have one five-year-old son but do not have physical intimacy and sleep in separate rooms. Both Neil and Jake have had at least one extramarital affair; Neil with Fay’s best friend while Fay was sleeping on vacation and Jake with one of his employees at his gallery.
Neil and Ellie meet at the bakery where he works, where he gives her the cream puffs he put aside to take home to his wife. She is so thankful that she follows up with purchasing her favorite book by Ayn Rand and leaving it at the bakery for him. Neil reads this book and considers it life-changing for him. Neil and Ellie begin an email exchange, then phone conversations, which last late into the night. Both of their spouses start to show some concerns with their knowledge of these feelings as Neil and Ellie pull away from their spouses and closer together while they develop stronger feelings through letters, emails, and phone conversations. The rest of the book explores the challenges as they deal with their feelings as well as the thoughts and emotions of their spouses.
I give Looking Glass Friends by E.L. Neve a 4 out of 4 stars. I contemplated a 3 out of 4 stars but decided there wasn’t anything preventing me from giving a 4 out of 4 stars. The thing I liked most was that the story was easy to read and I enjoyed the description and explanations of the characters. I also enjoyed seeing the story between Neil and Ellie develop throughout the book. The main thing that I disliked was the use of poetry throughout the story. I do not enjoy poetry and would have preferred the book free of that. However, someone who likes poetry may really enjoy that part of the book. Some parts of the story were a little far-fetched, as far as the reactions of Fay and Jake. No one can say how they would react if their spouse knowingly developed a relationship like the one in this book, but I have trouble believing they didn’t have a stronger reaction to the inappropriateness of some of the situations.
Readers who enjoy a simple romantic book that can be read over one weekend, with poetry woven throughout the story, would enjoy this book. The book was exceptionally well-edited, as I did not notice any spelling or grammatical errors.
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Looking Glass Friends
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
I enjoyed reading this book which featured four main characters, with them split into two couples – Neil and Fay, and Ellie and Jake. The book switched between their main perspectives, sometimes overlapping, sometimes picking up where the last chapter left off. Neil and Fay are an average couple, with the exception of Neil facing some mental health issues and Fay being somewhat aloof. The first chapter starts dark with him contemplating suicide. The other couple, Ellie and Jake, are young, wealthy and have one five-year-old son but do not have physical intimacy and sleep in separate rooms. Both Neil and Jake have had at least one extramarital affair; Neil with Fay’s best friend while Fay was sleeping on vacation and Jake with one of his employees at his gallery.
Neil and Ellie meet at the bakery where he works, where he gives her the cream puffs he put aside to take home to his wife. She is so thankful that she follows up with purchasing her favorite book by Ayn Rand and leaving it at the bakery for him. Neil reads this book and considers it life-changing for him. Neil and Ellie begin an email exchange, then phone conversations, which last late into the night. Both of their spouses start to show some concerns with their knowledge of these feelings as Neil and Ellie pull away from their spouses and closer together while they develop stronger feelings through letters, emails, and phone conversations. The rest of the book explores the challenges as they deal with their feelings as well as the thoughts and emotions of their spouses.
I give Looking Glass Friends by E.L. Neve a 4 out of 4 stars. I contemplated a 3 out of 4 stars but decided there wasn’t anything preventing me from giving a 4 out of 4 stars. The thing I liked most was that the story was easy to read and I enjoyed the description and explanations of the characters. I also enjoyed seeing the story between Neil and Ellie develop throughout the book. The main thing that I disliked was the use of poetry throughout the story. I do not enjoy poetry and would have preferred the book free of that. However, someone who likes poetry may really enjoy that part of the book. Some parts of the story were a little far-fetched, as far as the reactions of Fay and Jake. No one can say how they would react if their spouse knowingly developed a relationship like the one in this book, but I have trouble believing they didn’t have a stronger reaction to the inappropriateness of some of the situations.
Readers who enjoy a simple romantic book that can be read over one weekend, with poetry woven throughout the story, would enjoy this book. The book was exceptionally well-edited, as I did not notice any spelling or grammatical errors.
******
Looking Glass Friends
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Azdmelissa's review? Post a comment saying so!