As many of you may know, I am no longer a New Yorker, so please check out my new blog A Library of My Own. If you are just reading Life and Times, you are missing out. Thanks!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Life After Yes - Aidan Donnelley Rowley (and giveaway!)


Last year I was asked to read book called Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley. Since it wasn't published yet, I was asked to wait to review it until a much closer publication date (May 18th). Then I heard TLC Book Tours was promoting this book and I asked to be part of the tour since I wanted to review it as well.

The story revolves around Quinn (actually Prudence Quinn O'Malley) who is a young attorney living in New York City. She is living the life and is dating an attractive man who whisks her away to Paris. He then proposes, she accepts...and then she starts to doubt.

Now let me say right here that this is not normally my type of book. In fact, after the first page or two I was asking my self "Why did I decide to read this? It's so cliche!". But then something odd happened. Quinn thought the same thing. And that got me interested in the story. I wondered what was going to happen to a woman who supposedly has everything she should wish for but who suddenly doubts it all.

While I didn't always like Quinn and often wondered why in the world she was doing the things she was doing, I was sympathetic. I mean, I was never one to imagine my wedding day or dream about bridal dresses so I kind of understood her fight or flight reaction. Another interesting thing is that the story takes places just after 9/11 and Quinn's father was one of the casualties that day. I had lost my father almost ten years before I was married, but I think it's always one of those things a girl will think about: the fact that her father isn't there to walk her down the aisle.

So this wasn't a typical romance/chick-lit type of book. It had it's dark moments but there was a surprising amount of fun moments as well such as the witty best friend (cliche as well but hey...).

**Side note: Harper Collins asked me and Nicole from Linus's Blanket to come and chat with Aidan Donnelley Rowley and other Harper employees who had read the book. Aidan was a wonderful host and answered all our questions and chatted away with us. She was born in Manhattan, is a lawyer, mom and also has a great blog called Ivy League Insecurities if you want to check her out more.

**Another side note:
I have an extra copy to give away to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open internationally through May 25th and all you have to do is:
1) Leave a comment with your email or blog for contact purposes
2) Tell me what about this story interests you.

For more reviews check out the TLC Book Tour:

Tuesday, May 18th: Life and Times of a “New” New Yorker
Thursday, May 20th: Confessions of a Bookaholic
Monday, May 24th: Books Like Breathing
Wednesday, May 26th: Luxury Reading
Thursday, May 27th: Rundpinne
Tuesday, June 1st: Crazy for Books
Wednesday, June 2nd: Cindy’s Love of Books
Thursday, June 3rd: Write Meg
Tuesday, June 8th: Heart 2 Heart
Wednesday, June 9th: Thoughts From an Evil Overload
Thursday, June 10th: Book Club Classics!

More reviews:

17 comments:

  1. This story sounds like something that should be on my bedside table. Like you (and the main character), I hadn't dreamed about/planned out my wedding before I got engaged. I always feel like the odd ball out, because so many girls say that they played out their wedding since they were little. Anyway, I'd love to win a copy of this book!

    Oh, and our blog is http://sojoandco.com

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  2. It does sound a little bit more than your usual chick lit book, though I feel the 'chick lit' label isn't always flattering and so many books gets labelled with it.

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  3. Great review! I'm looking forward to reading this for my tour stop!

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  4. This one sounds like it could be interesting. Plus I'm a sucker for anything that takes place in NYC.

    Thanks!

    lisa.2713 at gmail dot com

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  5. Oh I'm totally interested in reading this now, especially when the characters realize that what they're doing is cliche. I'd love to win this giveaway!

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  6. That's so cool that you got to chat with the author! And I love it when I start a book and have a sinking feeling but end up really liking the book. Such a treat! :)

    Thanks for being on the tour!

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  7. I saw this on BookClub Girl today and thought it looked great - thanks for the review! As a NY-er, I love to read books set in NYC!

    booksncity@gmail.com

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  8. Awesome review. You can read what I posted at Win a Book about this review (that's a hint!).

    So... no need to enter me, as always. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

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  9. Thanks for this thoughtful review, Amanda. I also really enjoyed Aidan's book and agree with many of your observations here. I'm very interested in your point about the chick-lit label. I wonder why almost any book by a 20- or 30-something woman about 20- or 30-something women is saddled with the label. It's not really helpful, I don't think, of the publishing industry to paint with such a broad brush.

    Thanks again for your thoughts on Life After Yes. And nice to "meet" you here.

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  10. As a NYC dweller, I like that this addressed post 911 NYC.

    pokeybear1@nyc.rr.com

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  11. I'd love to read Aidan's book. I'm lying in bed reading her blog right now, and I imagine reading her book in the same manner would be even better.

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  12. What a great review, Amanda! My dad actually passed away 8 years before I was married. I have to say that, before saying "yes", I spent a lot more time thinking about him not being there than I did planning the dream wedding.

    It sounds like an interesting book (I just put it on order from the library, so no need to enter me--I've recently discovered that I need the discipline of borrowing in order to actually finish books!).

    Have a great day!
    Margaret

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  13. i'm interested in reading this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  14. I would love to read this book and I think what interests me is the main character.

    Christa

    My e-mail is christat27 at gmail dot com. My blog is http://mtqt.wordpress.com/

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  15. I would like to read this book because it is set in NYC and the main character is a lawyer (things I can relate to) as well as because it is a mix of dark, troubling moments and light, fun ones which is the kind of book I really enjoy in between heavier, more complex books!

    It's terrific that you had the opportunity to speak with the author and other readers!

    Thank you for the giveaway!
    ~ Amy
    Aimala127@gmail.com

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  16. Same as many others - would like to read as its set in NYC and this is alien country to me!!!!

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

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  17. This sounds like a great book and I love how its not the typical chick lit romance book.

    toothybooks@gmail.com

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