This Is Not How It Ends

Genre: Contemporary / Chick Lit / Romance

Book Type: Physical

Author: Rochelle B. Weinstein

Pages: 351

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (January 1, 2020)

Book Description:

From USA Today bestselling author Rochelle B. Weinstein comes a moving novel of hearts lost and found, and of one woman torn between two love stories.

When Charlotte and Philip meet, the pair form a deep and instant connection. Soon they’re settled in the Florida Keys with plans to marry. But just as they should be getting closer, Charlotte feels Philip slipping away.

Second-guessing their love is something Charlotte never imagined, but with Philip’s excessive absences, she finds herself yearning for more. When she meets Ben, she ignores the pull, but the supportive single dad is there for her in ways she never knew she desired. Soon Charlotte finds herself torn between the love she thought she wanted and the one she knows she needs.

As a hurricane passes through Islamorada, stunning revelations challenge Charlotte’s loyalties and upend her life. Forced to reexamine the choices she’s made, and has yet to make, Charlotte embarks on an emotional journey of friendship, love, and sacrifice—knowing that forgiveness is a gift, and the best-laid plans can change in a heartbeat.

This Is Not How It Ends is a tender, moving story of heartbreak and healing that asks the question: Which takes more courage—holding on or letting go?

Thoughts:

Ok, for those of you who know me personally, this book was going to be slightly triggering but I knew I needed to read it and I’m so glad that I did.

While I may have been yelling at Charley for most of the book, there were numerous sentences that made me pause and brought me to tears. This was an extremely reflective book regardless of your stance on infidelity (as I have no patience for it, but this book was written in a way that focused more on the big picture of what Love is and how it can change and evolve as we grow and change ourselves).

There are a number of reasons I both loved and hated (in a way of being mad at the character, but also understood her position – which I was NOT expecting to feel). While this is not a typical review for me, the best way to summarize this book is through the author’s own words. These are just a few of the sentences that stood out to me. While the story itself was predictable, I was deeply moved by the words in this book (yes, I know that sounds corny, but you’ll understand why when you read it).

“He couldn’t reach me, but his words found me.” (Pg 41)

“I asked myself if I was being difficult, remembering how our close relationship had always been about space. And that became our great contradiction. The further I dove, the deeper I plunged, the very things I spent my life avoiding became the ones I craved. I was changing, but I thought we would change together. So how could I be upset with him for being who he always was?” (Pg 131)

“If we planted ourselves beneath a curtain of delusion, we would never have to face the heartache of what was right in front of us.” (Pg 146)

“That’s the thing about betrayal. It is convoluted and malleable, changing to fit an individual story. It doesn’t always mean you love one person more than another. For some, it means your heart is cracked in two.” (Pg 243)

“Forgiveness is the greatest act of love you can give another human being. With forgiveness comes the ability to fully love – yourself and others. And when I say love, I mean all that comes with it.” (Pg 305)

Simply put, I enjoyed this book and am very glad I read it!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫