6/1/20 THAT'S NOT A THING BY JACQUELINE FRIEDLAND

• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: SparkPress (April 14, 2020)
• Publication Date: April 14, 2020

SYNOPSIS:

Meredith Altman’s engagement to Wesley Latner ended in spectacular disaster—one that shattered her completely. Years have passed since then, and now she’s about to marry Aaron Rapp, a former Ivy League football player and baby-saving doctor. As they celebrate their engagement at a new TriBeCa hotspot, Meredith is stunned to find the restaurant owner is none other than Wesley, the man she is still secretly trying to forget.

When Meredith learns that Wesley has been diagnosed with ALS, her feelings about their past become all the more confusing. As she spends more time with Wesley and is pulled further under his spell, she discovers what kind of man her new fiancé really is—and what kind of woman she wants to be.

THOUGHTS/REVIEW:

I LOVED THIS BOOK. If you enjoy reading stories about the one that got away then this book is for you. The range of emotions I went through with this book - that when I started I could not stop reading until my eyes were strained, and everything else neglected. 

Meredith and Wesley met during college at Columbia and their love story was completely enthralling, until a tragic accident caused their horrible breakup. Years later, Meredith, was now in another relationship with Aaron, a pediatric heart surgeon, and engaged. In their search for a wedding venue, they ran into a TriBeCa chic restaurant owned by none other than Meredith’s ex Wesley. Information about Wesley brings them together in an unfortunate love triangle. 

Friedland’s writing was heartrending, emotional and beautiful. She was able to capture the emotions of old love and new, digging into deep seated emotions that we bury to move on, but never forgetting. It was about forgiveness and being true to yourself. Friedland’s brilliance was her writing of witty and smart dialogue, relatable characters, and fabulous pacing while perfectly unfolding the story in two timelines.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

Jacqueline Friedland holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from NYU Law School. She practiced as an attorney in New York before returning to school to receive her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in New York with her husband, four children, and a couple of crazy dogs.