Author: Emily Belden
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Graydon House
Publication Date: December 30, 2019
Book Description: A young widow must face the grief she’s always set aside when an unexpected delivery throws her life into disarray
Twenty-nine-year-old Charlotte Rosen has a secret: she’s a widow. Ever since the fateful day that leveled her world, Charlotte has worked hard to move forward. Great job at a hot social media analytics company? Check. Roommate with no knowledge of her past? Check. Adorable dog? Check. All the while, she’s faithfully data-crunched her way through life, calculating the probability of risk—so she can avoid it.
Yet Charlotte’s algorithms could never have predicted that her late husband’s ashes would land squarely on her doorstep five years later. Stunned but determined, Charlotte sets out to find meaning in this sudden twist of fate, even if that includes facing her perfectly coiffed, and perfectly difficult, ex-mother-in-law—and her husband’s best friend, who seems to become a fixture at her side whether she likes it or not.
But when her quest reveals a shocking secret, Charlotte is forced to answer questions she never knew to ask and to consider the possibility of forgiveness. And when a chance at a new life arises, she’ll have to decide once and for all whether to follow the numbers or trust her heart.
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
Review: When I received a copy of this book, I got the impression this was going to be a cute rom-com story. That is the exact opposite of what this story is. The cover of this book, just does not do any justice to this beautiful story about a young widow finally coming to grips with the loss of her husband. I won’t say there are not moments you will laugh, because you will, but there is just so much more to this story.
Our main star is Charlotte, she writes code for a start-up, lives with her roommate Casey. She appears to be on top of the world. However, Charlotte is keeping one huge secret at 29, she has been a widow for 5 years. This is something she has never really had to come to terms with, until an unexpected box shows up which contains her husband’s ashes.
What happens next, is a journey that Charlotte will have to take. After a big whoops moment at work, they give her two weeks to get her life back together. She must re-open the door to her mother-in-law who tries to take control of everything. She is then thrust back into talking with Decker’s (the husband), best friend, Brian. During this time, she has to come to terms with a huge secret she finds out about her husband.
The title of this book, comes from a dating app that she is working on in her spare time. While for most of the book, I thought this was so insignificant, however it does propel this story to a perfect ending.
The author created a very strong female character, who while going through this process that was thrust upon her, was not afraid to ask for help when needed. This was such a great book, and I highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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