Happy Monday, Bookworms!
You know what my favorite thing is? No? I don’t really know either, I have so many favorite things. One of the things I do happen to love, though, is when I pick up a book by an author I’ve not read before and upon finishing it want to add said author’s entire back list to my TBR pile. Loving new-to-me authors is a blessing and a curse, the never ending TBR list makes me shake my fist toward the heavens. I took a little road trip to visit some friends and family recently, nothing huge, just a weekend away, but as I was driving solo I simply had to have an audio book to keep me company. I was lucky in that a copy of Someone Else’s Love Story
I’ve actually had a paper copy of Someone Else’s Love Story
I should probably tell you about the book, shouldn’t I? Shandi Pierce is a 21 year old single mother of a precocious 3 year old with a genius level IQ. Her life consists of juggling college, motherhood, and attempting to keep her long divorced parents from all out warfare. As she’s moving from her mother’s house into a condo her father owns (much to her mother’s chagrin) Shandi finds herself in the middle of a gas station holdup. Because she obviously didn’t have enough going on.
It is inside this gas station where her path crosses with geneticist William Ashe, who, in addition to being brilliant, looks fantastic in a pair of jeans. His entire world fell spectacularly to pieces a year previously, and Shandi feels their destinies have collided for a reason. It’s a charming book full of heart, humor, and a cannily crafted plot.
Two things stick out to me about this book. First. William Ashe is on the autism spectrum. This is easily one of the best portrayals I’ve ever read about someone on the spectrum, and it seemed very authentic. I’m no expert on Asperger’s or autism, but my reading experience leads to polarized portrayals; either a quirky, humorous angle or a desperately tragic one. William Ashe had a good dose of both, he was a masterfully drawn character.
The second thing that sticks out to me is a less awesome one. Shandi came to have her son under some pretty upsetting circumstances. I don’t want to hit y’all with spoilers, buuuuuuut I think that Jackson may have done better to take a different angle on Natty’s paternity… I’m all for understanding the shades of gray in a situation, but I wasn’t super keen on how she dealt with it.
Still, that’s not enough to keep me from plowing head first into Joshilyn Jackson’s collected works. You can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be checking those out. In short? Someone Else’s Love Story
Talk to me, Bookworms. Have y’all read this book? Or anything else by Joshilyn Jackson? I want to talk about all the things. In code, probably, because I like to pretend I’m a spy sometimes.
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Jayne
That sounds veeeeeery similar to the plot of the TV show Scorpion, which is supposed to be based on the real life of Walter O’Brien. Interesting…
Words For Worms
LOL, we watch Scorpion on occasion, but I’m a big cynical grump who is always rolling her eyes at the action hero bits.
Megan M.
I have read two of Joshilyn’s books – Gods in Alabama and The Girl Who Stopped Swimming. They were both good but I liked Gods in Alabama a lot more.
Have you seen the film adaptation of “Room”? I have not but I hear it excellent and I’m excited that Brie Larsen is getting award noms for it because she is fantastic.
Words For Worms
Thanks for the recommendation, Gods in Alabama will probably be my next Jackson. I have not seen the film adaptation of Room but I loved Brie Larson in United States of Tara so I’m jazzed to see her kicking ass and taking names.
Christi
I haven’t read Someone Else’s Love Story, but I have run across Gods in Alabama before and always been curious.
Words For Worms
Take the plunge, I think you’ll enjoy yourself.
Michelle
This was by far my favorite of Joshilyn’s novels. There was something about it that just left me breathless. I read this a few years ago, so the details of the book are fuzzy but my reaction to it is not. It was one of those books that made me so glad I love to read.
Jennine G
I think I have this ones paperback too. But I’ve come to the sipame conclusion as you with ebooks. Easier at night without needing a nightlight. Also, when I’m at work, I can just carry my iPad and not have to carry the iPad and a book.
Andi M. (@estellasrevenge)
I think I’ve only read one of her books, but boy was I addicted to her blog for the longest time. I really should branch out and try some others from her backlist.
Jenny @ Reading the End
I’ve never read anything by Joshilyn Jackson, but I have always heard good things. One of these days I will get to her for sure! She sounds maybe a bit like Jojo Moyes a little bit? And I love Jojo Moyes.
DoingDewey
I really loved William’s character and I especially enjoyed the fact that he was a scientist. I wasn’t bothered by how the author handled Nate’s paternity, but I know a lot of people did find it problematic and I can understand why that would be the case.
Words For Worms
William was such a great character!