He Loves Her Always
I found genuine enjoyment in this book, whether due to my unabashed romantic tendencies or the engaging writing style. The exploration of the timeless Romeo & Juliet narrative takes a captivating twist as it delves into the profound question of how deeply one can love when confronted with the limitations of time. This unique approach, inspired by the author's real-life circumstances, adds a personal and touching dimension to the story, fostering a stronger connection for readers.

The tale unfolds in a charming Alaskan town amidst winter's embrace, introducing our main character, Helene, as she stumbles upon a woodsy, bustling pub adorned with mounted moose heads, lumberjacks, and welcoming locals. This cozy setting immediately establishes a comforting ambiance that persists throughout the narrative, despite the looming threat of death and despair.

While the book may not boast revolutionary concepts, it offers a straightforward yet endearing romance that refrains from reinventing the wheel. The sweetness and wholesomeness of the story, coupled with its cute and almost cheesy vibes, contribute to its undeniable charm. The adorable pairing of Helene and Sebastien, their seamless complementarity, and the consistent joy evoked in every shared scene had me smiling from start to finish.

As someone who endured fifteen weeks of Shakespearean studies in college, this story served as a delightful departure from the structured norm, infusing a sense of fun into the familiar narrative. The low-key world tour embarked upon by Helene and Sebastien added an exciting international flavor to the plot, making it a joy for enthusiasts of globally set books.

The prose, refreshingly devoid of pretentiousness, maintains a lovely and accessible quality that enhances the overall reading experience. In essence, while not groundbreaking, this book offers a heartwarming escape into a world of love, warmth, and adventure—a sweet and delightful read that leaves a lasting impression.

The worst part of this book was far and away the writing style. It was painfully obvious the author was used to writing books meant for teen readers and was taking her first venture into adult fiction. The use of exclamation marks outside of dialogue was incredibly cringe and the incessant need to use parentheses to explain things within the story took away from a plot that had the potential to be magical.

Now on to the plot. This was a truly wonderful idea for a book but was executed poorly. First, the many characters mentioned who were initially made out to seem as important - Adam anyone? - and then we’re forgotten. What happened to the Mom and sister being so vital? Adan’s died with Sebastian is just… mute? And the idea that we are to believe the ex-husband would want to go to such lengths to blackmail just to advance his journalism career is preposterous. Almost as preposterous as the idea that upon revealing Sebastian’s big secret the government would come and kidnap him and run experiments for the rest of his immortal life. While he has this very powerful Swiss bank account on retainer that he spends all of his time bragging can get him out of anything.

And then what happened to the authors book? Are we reading it? Is what we’re reading what she was supposed to have written? I’m utterly perplexed. This seemed like a second draft in need of editing and a whole lot of reworking.