Though short, this one was a difficult read simply because
one of the MCs is frankly quite terrible.
Single mom, Monica Sanders, is clearly unable to cope
with her life including her four-year-old son, David, her job and her parents
with whom she has a difficult relationship. It is like her life has always been
a train wreck except for a brief moment in the past (during high school) when
she was involved with Valerie Dawkins. Valerie, who had an equally bad
relationship with her own parents, upped and disappeared on everyone (including
Monica despite having seen forever together). Now, Valerie suddenly reappears
as a new hire in Monica’s organisation. The flame between the two is still
alive but there is too much hurt in Monica about their past. Valerie actually
kisses Monica in their workplace and the fallout is that Monica is upbraided by
their boss. Monica, mindful of her responsibilities and really needing a
promotion, steps back from Valerie. A couple of days later, their boss warns
Valerie also and she reacts aggressively resulting in Monica being demoted. Instead
of taking responsibility, Valerie excuses herself saying that she is not
responsible of the boss’ behaviour and that Monica shouldn’t blame her.
And therein lies the whole problem.
Valerie is constantly and consistently harming Monica (in
the past and present) but has no remorse, no empathy and no consideration. We
just cannot see how this can possibly be a romance. Monica is quite a tragic
character – especially when she’s described as a rebellious girl with fire in
her who has turned into a withdrawn, defeated, resigned and sad person. We don’t
understand Monica’s attraction to Valerie in the present and can only explain
it as Monica never having got closure. Monica’s relationship with David is
another fail in the book. For one, David is described a constantly screaming and
Monica is less than tolerant of him. Though Monica insists that David means the
world to her, the only caring flowing between the two is from son to mother. So
it is not as if Monica is written to be particularly likeable, but she’s still
better than Valerie. In fact, we disliked Valerie so much and the relationship
between the two made such little sense that we entirely skipped the sex scene
towards the end eager to just finish the damn thing.
This one was so totally not for us.
⭐
