I would not usually lead with an image of a book I didn’t enjoy very much but I typically love any and all things B.A. Paris (she’s up there with Greer Hendricks + Sarah Pekkanen for fun, read in a day thrillers) so my photographer shot it pre-emptively. They are cute photos so I am using them anyway. This was just.. not good. In theory I liked the plot (a couple each knows something bad that they need to tell the other one but they want to preserve the other person’s happiness), but the characters were so unlikeable. Livia has been planning her 40th birthday for the past 20 years (yes seriously – sorry but what the heck!?) but she’s hiding a secret from her husband that could unravel the whole family. Meanwhile, her husband learns terrible news the day of the party… so he is hiding that from her. It is fast-paced and had potential (I like that it is told hour by hour, in alternating perspectives) but the characters were so unlikeable (and unrelatable) that I found myself bored and annoyed throughout most of it. I read it in a single day, but that doesn’t mean it was any good. You can skip this one (still, love this author. If you haven’t read Behind Closed Doors, it’s such a good one!). Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org
Author: B.A. Paris
