Almost Like Being in Love

by Andrea Renee Cox

Has life gone the way you planned?

Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt brought laughter to my lips and tears to my eyes. It was a beautiful look at how wrong “perfect” can be... and often is. Though this novel didn't beat out Wish You Were Here as my favorite Vogt book (must be those llamas!), it did rise to the top in her Destination Wedding series. This book captured a sweet complexity that intrigued me at every turn. If you like a good, clean romance with lots of humor and some “accidental” dates, Almost Like Being in Love is the summer read for you!

One thing that stood out to me was the way Beth handled the tough topic of alcoholism. The afflicted character might have been in the supporting cast, but the affects spread like a Colorado wildfire through the story. Yet there was a brutal honesty about it that was so poignant it almost made me weep. Sometimes life is a whole lot tougher than we ever dreamed it could be, and we don't always react well. When that happens, whether we choose to adopt a poor attitude or an even harsher bad habit, the people around us are often hurt deeply, simply because they care about us. I appreciate Beth's sharing her take on that hurt. It's raw and messy and real... and that's what makes it so heartbreaking and such a great read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for this honest review.