📘 Loving the Missing Link
by Julia Asel Thomas
Genre Fiction
Format & Source Print ◦ For review
Publication 2013
Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
📚 What It's About
Cheryl has grown up in small town Missouri, and after a lifetime of being pushed by her mother to accomplish big things with her musical talent, she decides to run off and marry her high school sweetheart instead. Tossing aside her potential to live an unfulfilled life in a small trailer with her new husband, Jerry, Cheryl must find her own way. Finding a job at a used bookstore, Cheryl meets people who will change her world and outlook on life, as well as reigniting her passion for music while struggling with her marriage.
📝 My Review
I really enjoyed this story and seeing the ups and downs of a young marriage. Cheryl at times seemed to really love and care for Jerry, while at other times, she seemed confused and hesitant about him, even taking an interest in another man. At times, I was confused as to how Cheryl really felt about him, but I think that was a direct reflection of her feelings towards him. She often seemed selfish and hard to like, but her feelings were real and I respected that.
I also think Cheryl was constantly searching for meaning in her life after she initially left home and gave up a potential music career. She was seeking something more out of her life than being a housewife, and when she landed the job at Sid’s Shelves, a used bookstore, her life began to turn around. She developed a passion for reading, made a wonderful friend in Sid, and eventually found her way back to music. Watching Cheryl search for meaning and start to find it made this a really enjoyable read for me.
One small complaint I have is that the writing is sometimes stiff and formal (“It is” or “does not,” for example). This sometimes made the dialogue seem unrealistic and awkward. However, the story itself is well done and interesting. I’d recommend this one!
Note: this review originally included a giveaway, which has since ended.
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