This story is a romance novel with the older generation, but
it didn’t dampen or dull the senses due to the age of the characters; it woke
them up. I felt it was sometimes patronizing of the elderly, as if age mattered
concerning emotions. We put the limits on what people of certain ages can or
should do, so I wasn’t in favor of that subtle nuance.
The main character was lovable and fun, but almost too much.
Her new companion was a great person, and a little too perfect. Together, they
were fun to follow, but left me doubting it could ever be true, believable,
which taints the story a bit. I want happy endings, fun lives, and exciting
adventures, but real life just doesn’t walk that easy path. So I wavered. My
faith in the story, the characters, and the path became questions and doubts.
Olivia was strong-willed, but without the confidence to venture forth alone, no
matter what she thought about it. Some of the steps in the story were left
unresolved, which piled onto the already questionable actions. Ash, the
compliment to Olivia, was a little too perfect. With no flaws, he became a
fairytale, one you couldn’t even see in the ending as real.
I did enjoy the story mostly, but I was disappointed in the
holes and doubts the characters' personalities created. I think it should be
tweaked and revised to bring the reader into the story to root for and hope for
their great moves to successful growth, not just happiness because of others. I
felt as if the character couldn’t have accomplished this on her own; she needed
the perfect Ash to get her there. It was a dependent resolution, and that was unfortunate.
The writing, overall, was good, though, so I still gave it 4 stars out of 5.
