Adulting

Oof. I think I got this one free from Amazon Prime, so thank goodness I didn't pay for it. This book reads like a Hallmark screenplay. It's cheesy, predictable, and totally unrealistic. It tries to tackle difficult topics like addiction and sexual abuse, but without any tact or nuance. There's no grittiness to it, so it feels super fake. Also, in what professional world do therapists become besties with their clients, and end up in a relationship with their client's best friend, with no mention whatsoever of ethical misgivings?

Standing Outside The Fire. Ok, so possibly too on point or perhaps even a little cliche with the title of the review there, since Talley explicitly brings that song in late in the book with one character explaining to another that this is exactly what has been happening. But I love that song, it is easily one of my all-time favorites. :)

Anyway, on the book itself: Very fun, but also very deep. The two main characters - Olivia and Chase - are dealing with similar events in their worlds, neither of them realizing at first just how similar they are even if their perspectives on the events in question are very different. Along the way, many, many hijinx are had, including one very scared and borderline feral kitty cat. It is hard to note a particular trigger warning that is relevant enough to probably mention (even though I am not a fan of the practice generally, it is that significant here - though off screen, discussed by the characters as past events). So I'll note that it ties into #MeToo and leave it at that. Truly a very balanced book about taking control of your own life and being open to possibilities that don't seem obvious at first, and a very fun read. Very much recommended.