Forever, Interrupted

Another great read by a very talented author, one that explores a not-so-well-known type of grief. Hidden grief. Or grief that is considered “less than” by society. The FMC loses her brand new husband whom she’s known only a few months. Her grief is real and deep but discounted by others because he wasn’t in her life very long. We get to see how difficult it is to grieve when society believes you have no right to be grieving.

"My heart didn’t skip a beat. I had no idea he was “it”; it was “he.” He was the man I’d dreamed about as a child, wondering what my husband would look like. I was seeing this face I had wondered about my whole life and it was right here in front of me and I didn’t recognize it. All I thought was, He’ll probably get his pizza before I get mine."Elsie Porter and Ben Ross meet one night when they are both waiting to pick up a pizza. They both fall hard and fast. Within five months they’ve moved in together and eloped. However, their love story is brought to an abrupt end when Ben dies in a bicycle accident. At the hospital, Elsie meets the mother in law (Susan) who she’s never met, and who doesn’t even know she exists. The story of Elsie and Susan’s grieving process is interwoven with Elsie and Ben’s love story.Taylor Jenkins Reid is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. I only discovered her work late last year when I came across her novel “Maybe in Another Life.” I was hooked after that. “Forever, Interrupted” was the last of her novels for me to read, but ironically it was her first novel she published. Boy did it not disappoint. All of her novels have been phenomenal. As a first novel, the level of writing is just as exceptional as her most recent work.This book is a heartbreaker. I can’t exactly say I felt uplifted or even happy when the story ended. But I was satisfied. I was crying within the first couple of pages, and continued to do so throughout various parts of the book. I’m glad Elsie’s grieving process was interwoven with the love story. While it was bittersweet, it broke up the melancholy feeling of grief. Ben is charming, sweet, and so funny. There were times I laughed out loud, and I was grateful for that reprieve from the tears."“Let’s do a little experiment,” Ben said. “What’s Anna Karenina about?”“It’s about a married aristocratic woman who falls in love with a count but she can’t —““I am falling asleep just listening to you. Do you know what this book is about?” he asked me, grabbing the falcon-cover book from my hand. “This book is about a group of kids who are part human, part bird.” He said it plainly, as if the facts spoke for themselves. “This is a better book.”"I was angry at Ben for not telling his mother about Elsie. They discuss his reasons for not doing so, but I don’t know if they were good enough reasons in my opinion. Especially when things got more serious with Elsie. As someone who can relate with Ben and his hesitation to share his good news with his mother, I think he made a mistake. Elsie let her fear get in the way of what I think she knew was right.Of course I was devastated that Ben died, and there wasn’t some magical resurrection, or that it wasn’t just a bad dream. I like happily ever afters. But this book was unique. I love how Jenkins Reid is able to weave two stories so seamlessly together. Whether they are concurrent timelines in different universes, or weaving the past and present, she’s a master of it. All her books are on my to-read again list. And this one is right there alongside the others.“No matter how strong you are, no matter how smart you are or tough you can be, the world will find a way to break you. And when it does, the only thing you can do is hold on.”

I went in hoping for a book that would wreck me emotionally, but instead it just left me feeling quietly melancholy. The premise had potential for deep heartbreak, but it didn’t fully deliver the emotional punch I expected.

This is not my favorite of TJR, but it was still a great book. So sad and heartbreaking, but in a good way, in a way that makes you just think of the loss and grief. As always, the writing style and language was just so easy, so sensitive. I did enjoy this books a lot.

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a poignant exploration of love and loss that masterfully balances heartwarming moments with heartbreaking realities.***Spoiler Alert***The story follows Elsie, who grapples with the sudden death of her husband, Ben, and the unexpected bond she forms with his mother, who didn’t even know she existed.Reid's writing beautifully captures the complexities of grief and the importance of human connection. The character growth is profound; both Elsie and her mother-in-law undergo transformative journeys, learning to confront their shared pain and ultimately finding solace in one another. The emotional depth and relatable struggles make this novel an unforgettable read.Reid's ability to convey the nuances of love—both in its joy and its sorrow—creates a gripping narrative that stays with you long after the last page. Forever, Interrupted is a heartfelt tribute to the enduring nature of love, leaving readers both uplifted and reflective.

I'm not much of a romantic novel fan but for its genre, this book is good. It can be depressing at times and drags in some places but is well-written and has a lot of heart.It's likeable characters and story lines about family, friendship and personal growth make it more interesting than your average romance novel. It also avoids overblown, cheesy bedroom scenes (I don't want to hear about his throbbing manhood and her quivering ...), the author lets you know that there is an active 'physical relationship' without going all TMI.As mentioned above, this book had likeable characters. I especially loved Elsie's bff Ana, everyone should have an Ana in their life. I thought Ben was a believable love-of-your-life character; kind of perfect but not unbelievably perfect, a little goofy yet pretty darn loveable. I even grew to love Susan; as a mom of two boys I can understand why she was so offended by Elsie at first. Who wouldn't be? Mr. Callahan ( an elderly library regular) was great comic relief at times but also had some real words of wisdom for Elsie.My favorite scene in the book was when Elsie over- reacted when the guy at the library asked her out. Super inappropriate response but very entertaining.If you're looking for something to read on airplane or at the pool, this is a good pick. It can hold your attention without requiring serious concentration.