Saturday, November 9, 2019

Book Review: For All The Evers

I haven't blogged it yet (I will soon) but this came in my Bookworm Box that I just got. The physical book that we got was by this author, who I wasn't familiar with, and this was the bonus ebook we got. I've been tossing my ebook codes out because reading on a screen is really hard for me and it takes me a really long time, and I don't know what it is about the text but it's wavy and I can't always understand what I just read... if that makes sense? Anyways. This month I thought I would try it and I don't have a device to read on so I was stuck using my phone. Which.. that wasn't fun at all and I had a solid week of migraines but by god, I got through it!

For All The Evers - Debra Anastasia

Fallen Billow should be in college like most of her friends, but instead she’s raising her brother and working as a housekeeper at a vintage local hotel. It’s back-breaking work, but not nearly as challenging as fending off unwanted advances from the hotel’s owner.

Thomas McHugh is fighting for our country, across the globe and decades before Fallen Billow was even born. So there’s no way they’re soul mates. There’s no way he can be desperate to see her, hold her, kiss her. Except there is.

Is it a dream when he inks his name on her skin? Is it a delusion when she puts her hands on his face and says she loves him? Nothing has ever felt more real.

Fate has etched paths for Thomas and Fallen that even time cannot touch. A Purple Heart proclaims Thomas’ valor and bravery. And his death. But Fallen dares to dream of the impossible. She wants Thomas to stay. Just stay.

A tribute to all who have served our country, this novel honors the impossible beauty of love and the endless power of hope. Come open your heart and celebrate the many facets of bravery with Fallen and Thomas.

I feel.... like I didn't get quite the "oh my god, this is AMAZING!" story that a lot of other people on Goodreads got, and that's OK. I got a 3 star book. I liked it, it was definitely interesting and... different, but I don't know that I would re-read it again, so in that respect I'm glad this was an ebook versus a physical one. It isn't one I'd keep for my shelf, I guess is what I'm saying.

We mostly focus on Fallen, who has basically become guardian of her younger brother who is still in high school, so finds herself taking a job at this nearby hotel because they are in financial dire straights. There mom is an alcoholic who comes and goes and is completely unreliable, so Fallen knows that while she might not like the job, she really has no other options at the moment. The job itself isn't awful, she's cleaning rooms and is assigned to the fifth floor. Her mentor at work, Desta, an older woman clearly in ill health, warns her to never ever take a nap in room 514. Just hurry up, clean, and go. The room is never booked so it's basically dusting only, but what a weird thing, right?

Turns out what happens is you have incredibly vivid, life like dreams. Not just your run of the mill dreams, but dreams of your one true love, a soul mate.

Weird, right?

Well that's what happens to Fallen and she meets Thomas. She learns that of course, Thomas died in 1945 during the war, and she spends a large chunk of the book figuring out a way to still be with him beyond room 514. Nothing is ever easy and he creepy boss, Lad, is the complete stereotype of red flag as he's taking provocative pictures of Fallen for blackmail and for whatever reason, decides that THEY are true loves and he "manipulates the room" to try to convince her of that. It's all really weird and I know I'm explaining this and it sounds like I've lost it, but trust me, this is what it is.

Everything goes to hell and there's a weird ending. And an epilogue we so desperately needed because I felt like the author builds us up over a ton of pages and then bam- done. It was weird. I also have SO MANY unanswered questions. I want to know what happens to Fallen/Thomas in the future, Lad, Nora, etc. I felt like the author gave us so many strings of plot and did her best but couldn't really tie them all together at the end. It's like a braid with a bunch of string not really making it to the end. You get hints so you could probably make your own conclusion, but I feel like that's the author's job- give me the conclusion.

Overall, it was alright. It makes me feel more optimistic about the book I got in my Bookworm Box, but not enough to bump it ahead of my other books. Which is kind of the nice thing about a book subscription box, I end up reading a bunch of authors I'm not sure I would have otherwise, and this is a good example of that.

   
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