Review : Reunion

Posted by kay on May 20, 2009 11:49 am in 3.5 stars reads | 2 comments

Reunion by Therese Fowler
Pages : 313
Genre : Fiction
My Rating : 

First, I want to quickly thank Dororthy from Pump up your book promotion for giving me the occasion to read this book! It is officially my first review of a book this way, and I’m glad for it; it was a nice change of pace from my usual reading. Reunion was a good read, even though I had a hard time connecting with the characters. But first, what is the story about?

Celebrity talk show host Blue Reynolds is the queen of daytime television—she is smart, funny, and as down-to-earth as her adoring fans. In the eyes of the world, she has it all. But no one knows about the secret she has harbored for the last twenty years—a secret that could destroy her image, her reputation, and her career. Twenty years ago, she gave birth to a son and put him up for adoption through illegal channels. And every day since, she’s been filled with regret. Now Blue has hired a private investigator to find her son, knowing full well the consequences.

A week in Key West to do her show on location brings Blue a much-needed change of pace—and an unexpected reunion with an old flame, Mitch Forrester. Helping him launch a television series may help her recapture the kind of genuine romance and affection long missing from her life. But it also means having to deal with Mitch’s disapproving son, Julian, who is only nine years younger than Blue. Emotionally battered from his years as a war photographer in the world’s most dangerous hotspots, Julian struggles to get close to his father while making his disdain for Blue crystal clear—which makes his desire for her all the more shocking.

First, I think Reunion offers a great escape to Key West to the reader. I loved the setting, and you jump into the story from the start, intrigued by the prologue that takes place in the past. This is not a fast-paced story, but I did think it moved along at the right pace.

I liked the story and I enjoyed the characters, even though I had a hard time connecting with them. In some parts, I thought the author spent too much time listing the events and characteristics of the characters’ past, instead of putting them along the story a little more subtly. With that being said, I must say I enjoyed how the author moved between present and past, giving you the occasion to really understand what happened. Another good point of the book was that you follow other characters than Blue, mainly Mitch and Julian. This, added to the narration in the past, really gives you a clear view of different aspects of the story.

Ironically, I warmed up quicker to the male characters – I say “ironically” because the book is presented as being mostly Blue’s story, from her point of view. By the end of the book though, I enjoyed Blue’s personnality. I thought the author made a good job of making her “normal” despite her celebrity status, making it easy to understand her despite her different lifestyle. 

Having never read Souvenir, Fowler’s previous book, I cannot compare. What I can say, is that Reunion offers a good insight in the characters mind, their decisions and their consequences on their lives.