Review of The Objection of My Affection

[Stephanie Runyon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Objection of My Affection" by Cynthia A. King.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Cynthia A. King’s The Objection of My Affection addresses how holding onto the past can keep you from moving forward in life. Mary Margaret Welch was a divorcee with an adult daughter. She was searching for her missing dog, Stella, when she heard a voice call out to her. John Adams was jogging when he found a dog carrying the loose end of a leash attached to a collar. He brought Stella home to Mary Margaret. She started to walk around her car to thank John; however, Mary Margaret slipped and fell on the concrete floor. John took charge of the situation, driving her to the emergency room to get stitches for the bleeding gash above her eye.

John took care of Mary Margaret by bringing her food and walking her dog. However, Mary Margaret was rude when John attempted to ask her on a date. Mary Margaret had a secret that led her to avoid any involvement with men. Several days later, John returned with a treat for Stella and to talk to Mary Margaret. She asked him if he would help her with transporting her paintings from the community center, The Warehouse, to a realtor. After the delivery, John took Mary Margaret for a drink, and they spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening talking about The Warehouse's various events. However, Mary Margaret ended the evening by telling John to leave her alone.

The Objection of My Affection gave the views of Mary Margaret, John, and the people they interact with over the summer. John traveled for work, as he was an IT technician. He was leaving Harpersville in October. Mary Margaret felt that if she gave him a chance, she would just be setting herself up for heartbreak when he left. John was very patient with her; I understood his confusion with her mixed signals. One minute she would hold his hand, while the next she would become closed off again. I enjoyed seeing the world through each character’s view, making it easy to understand their actions.

I encountered over ten errors in the book. Another round of editing would be beneficial. Therefore, I rate The Objection of My Affection four out of five stars. Refining the editing would enhance the reading quality. The unpredictable plot twists captivated my full attention, so there was no reason to lower the score further.

I believe this book would be beneficial to therapists who counsel people who have experienced domestic violence. It would show them that holding onto past pain is unhealthy and can lead to feelings of loneliness. Being able to move forward and not judge yourself because you have experienced trauma is a major theme that readers will find in The Objection of My Affection. Sensitive topics such as infidelity, domestic violence, sexual assault, and emotional abuse may overwhelm some readers.

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The Objection of My Affection
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[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

It must be awfully hard to trust again after experiencing domestic violence. I especially liked your recommendation: it's not the same for therapists or counselors to read about it in textbooks than to engage with a personal narrative.