Jane L. Rosen

It's hard to enjoy a book when the main character is two-dimensional and rather unlikeable. I don't mind unlikeable characters, but when they aren't meant to be unlikeable, when the reader is supposed to feel sympathy for them and want to see them grow, it makes for a frustrating read (listen). Rosen couldn't even give the dog any personality, and the main male lead deserved way better than insipid Esme. Also, please note, I have never met a New Yorker who constantly refers to their home as "NYC" in regular conversation.

This book was annoying on many levels.… (altro)

Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher and the author.

This book was told from Julia, 37 years old, in her afterlife. It was funny and sad at the same time. I didn't know if I wanted to cry or laugh in places and I think I laughed until I cried and cried until I laughed in many places.

I loved that she was observing her husband Ben and her friends on Fire Island and commenting and noone hearing her thoughts and being “there” with them.

Poor Ben was so devastated but he had a lot of support (that's if he accepted it) from Fire Islanders (my word not the authors) and just wanted to be left alone with his grief.

All the characters were good and the author gave ample space to all of them.… (altro)

This is a story of Julia and Ben - who loved each other fiercely, until Julia died. After/during shiva, Julia decides she isn't ready to go into the afterlife, so she (her spirit) follows Ben to their beloved Fire Island and she watches Ben and her friends deal with her passing, and go on with their lives. She reminisces about all the good times and the friendships. She watches the children, the ball games, the friends moving on.
It is a nice way to tell the tale of grief, told from the perspective of the one who dies.… (altro)