Tag: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Hello!

There were several heat wave warnings this week. I spent and enjoyed my weekend staying cool.

Here’s my reading highlight:

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5 stars

Yet another Taylor Jenkins Reid book that pulled at my heartstrings. Life and love are fragile.

It was an interesting spin on a romance book about the end of a relationship. Reid did a great job pulling readers into the lives and emotions of the characters, unsure of how the book/relationship should end. It was such a heavily character-driven plot, where, as the reader, I wasn’t fixated on how the story would end but very immersed in the characters (I didn’t spend time rooting for them to get back together like we often do reading a romance book. I wanted the best for them, and I was affirmative that they could be happy apart). Reid does a great job writing such character-driven books. The side characters were also so robust, with exciting storylines.

Hello!

This week was quite eventful. It was Culture Week at my company – the first time– and we had various events.

On Monday, there was a team hike. We had paint and sip Wednesday evening, though the painting was by numbers. Hahaha! Lastly, on Friday, we had a Sports Day. It was a blast, and apart from getting to know the team better, taking breaks from working throughout the week was also lovely.

Here’s my book highlight:

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5 stars

I went into the book without reading the synopsis, so I thought it was a true story/brand written via oral history. It is not – however, it felt very realistic, and I was deeply immersed in the plot. This is quite significant as I do not listen to rock and roll, nor am I curious about how bands work. I recommend listening to the audiobook because you truly get the experience of a documentary/it being based on oral history. A different person plays each character, and you can hear the music/singing how it’s meant to be.

I appreciated how each character was full and diverse, especially the female characters. Taylor did a great job criticising misogyny and the sexism we know existed during that time, especially for female artists trying to make it in a male-dominated industry through the characters. I also really enjoyed Billy and Camille’s relationship. Their love felt raw, hopeful and beautiful – to build a relationship by giving your unwavering faith in them.

I planned on watching the drama after reading the book, but now with such high ratings for the book, I am worried I will be disappointed by the dramatisation (after all, the book is always better than the movie). I will share if I do end up watching the drama.

Have a great week ahead! 😊

Title: One True Loves

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

Pages: 331 pages; 8 hours (audiobook)

Level of difficulty: 3/5 Dictionaries

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Brief Introduction:

Emma Blair married her childhood sweetheart, Jesse, in her twenties. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Years later, after much grief, Emma falls in love with an old childhood friend, Sam and soon gets engaged. However, Jesse is found alive, and what kept him through all these years was trying to get back to Emma. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves

Review:

What is true love?

Are we able to love as boldly as we did after being hurt?

This was a beautiful story about the power of love, and the notion that we have soul mates (instead of only one soul mate). The division of the book between “before Emily got engaged to Sam”, and “after her husband who was believed to be dead returns” was clear and engaging. It was also a lovely listen as an audiobook.

You may get the book here!