Someone Else’s Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson is the She Reads Book Club selection for November. This is my first book, well technically my second by Joshilyn Jackson as I listened to the prequel to this novel My Own Miraculous the other day and it was awesome especially with Jackson narrating it herself. What I will say is how crazy am I to have waited this long to read the work of this amazing writer! Someone Else’s Love Story is a mix of love, destiny, and of learning who you are and what you ultimately want from life.
Shandi makes the decision to move to her father’s condo in Atlanta and finish up college and her father has promised the best schools for her son Nathan – nicknamed Natty. Natty is three years old and he’s a genius. She’s excited at the prospect of a new future until, on the way there, she and Natty find themselves in a store during a robbery. Also in the store is one of the most amazing men Shandi has ever seen who ends up getting shot in the process of trying to protect everyone. Shandi is already imagining a future with William and when he’s laid out on the floor and whispers destiny to her she’s hooked…but did this destiny involve her or someone else?
The one thing the robbery did for Shandi was make her realize that she had to stop being weak and face her own life head on. She still has so many questions about the night Natty was conceived. She tries to take charge of William’s care but his best friend Paula keeps shoving her away, telling her that William could never love her. On the flip side her best friend Walcott has started to act strange. They have been best friends for forever and it’s not like him to be so angry and discouraging of her friendship with William. As we all know though things are never as they seem and that most certainly fits for all these characters. There are a number of things going on in the background of everyone’s lives and it’s just a matter of time before it all explodes in one big emotional heap.
There were a few characters in this novel that I absolutely adored with the first being Natty. Hearing his little three year old self say adult things was the cutest thing and I just felt this need to protect this little guy myself. The men in this novel, both Walcott and William, were awesome. Walcott is the poetry spouting type while William is the big strong man, yet each is attractive in his own way. I liked Shandi but she grated on my nerves a bit although I very much admired that even at a young age she protected her son with everything she had. Then there was Paula, Williams’s best friend who just made me laugh.
Someone Else’s Love Story is full of great characters and a story that really made me think about love stories. It doesn’t have to be a man/woman type of love. There are many others … parent/child, furbabies/parents, the relationship we may have with God and likely many more. It also makes us think about whether love is just destiny or does it all boil down to some scientific explanation? For me, I don’t think so. I still like to believe in destiny and miracles. Someone Else’s Love Story is a great pick for book clubs and for anyone else looking for a charming, heart felt story that has some unexpected twists in it!
Check out other thoughts on the book over at She Reads
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Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada, and B&N
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.
It’s on my list of books I want to read, Dar. I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by Jackson. Glad you liked this one!
I hope you’ll enjoy it Mary. I’m looking forward to reading or listening to more of her books.
I love Joshilyn’s writing style. I think her blog was one of the first writer’s blogs I ever subscribed to. This sounds like a fresh take on a love story.
Janel, it was a fresh take on a love story. Kind of like you never know where love might be. I only wish I could have listened to this one on audio but it wasn’t out yet.
I cannot wait to read this – I adore Jackson and her work!
I know you do Kathy! I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it!
I love Joshilyn Jackson’s style and she is hands down my favorite audiobook narrator. I liked this novel but I think “A Grown Up Kind of Pretty” is still my favorite. Great review. Paula cracked me up too. Fierce!
Rhiannon, I read that she narrates all her own books. She’s great. I really enjoyed listening to her on My Own Miraculous and I know I have a few others of hers on audio as well. Can’t wait to listen to them now! Paula cracked me up so many times. I wouldn’t want to cross her! LOL.
I’ve never read this author but your review makes me want to very much. I have A Grown Up Kind of Pretty on my bookshelf.
Laura, I have A Grown Up Kind of Pretty as well and I’ll definitely be picking it up soon. I have a few others of hers as well on audio with her as the narrator so I’m looking forward to them.
I am visiting fellow She Reads postings tonight now that I have done the same. Really enjoyed your post. You have convinced me to pick up one of Jackson’s audiobooks.
I loved reading this for the SheReads book club and agree completely about its suitability as a book club choice. There would be so many interesting issues to discuss! Natty and William were by far my favorite characters in this story. I enjoyed how scientific William’s perspective was and Natty completely stole my heart 🙂