Last month I told you all about my 2018 goal of reading 12 books after only reading 4 books in 2017. It is a big goal but so far I am doing pretty dang good! So far, I have read 2 books and I have started on my 3rd!!! WOOHOO!!!
For my second book I stuck with the same author that I read for my first book of 2018. I asked for a number of books for Christmas and my birthday so I am just working my way through my pile of books on my night stand. Hoping that if I keep them out and see that pile every day that I will continue reading every day! So far, it is working! The book is called Left To Chance: A Novel and I am happy to say it was another good read for the year!
Left To Chance: A Novel by Amy Sue Nathan
No one knows why Teddi Lerner left her hometown, but everyone knows why she’s back. Twelve-year-old Shayna— talented, persistent, and adorable—persuaded “Aunt Tee” to return to Chance, Ohio, to photograph her father’s wedding. Even though it’s been six years since Shay’s mother, Celia, died, Teddi can hardly bear the thought of her best friend’s husband marrying someone else. But Teddi’s bond with Shay is stronger than the hurt.
Teddi knows it’s time to face the consequences of her hasty retreat from family, friends, and, her old flame, but when she looks through her viewfinder, nothing in her small town looks the same. That’s when she truly sees the hurt she’s caused and—maybe—how to fix it.
After the man she once loved accuses Teddi of forgetting Celia, Teddi finally admits why she ran away, and the guilt she’s carried with her. As Teddi relinquishes the distance that kept her safe, she’ll discover surprising truths about the people she left behind, and herself. And she’ll finally see what she overlooked all along.
My Review:
Just like her other two books; The Glass Wives and The Good Neighbor, Amy Sue Nathan brings a great story to your pages. While I would never consider this book a page turner it was another great book that had me interested and feeling like I knew the characters personally.
I love reading books about empowered and successful women and that is what I focused a lot on while reading this book. Teddi had so many challenges in this novel but mostly I found myself worried that she would give up everything she worked so hard for to just fit back into the life that she left. Instead, Teddi came to her past and walked the memories and found herself again.
I like that this novel didn’t end up being all fairy tails and rainbows. The general reason for why Teddi left is heartbreaking and really brought me into her emotions. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good escape chic lit book. It was a pretty fast read for me and just like Amy Sue Nathan’s other books I really did enjoy her storytelling.
See my other book reviews from Amy Sue Nathan here:
ADS
What books are on your MUST READ for 2018?
Post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, Amazon will pay me a commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!
I love your goal of reading at least 12 books in 2018. I’m going to use you as inspiration to develop my reading list for this year too. I just got two new books for Valentine’s Day from the author of Big Little Lies. And although I’m thrilled to have received the books my first thought was when am I going to read these? Now I’ll have a plan. Thanks!
This book sounds well worth a read. I appreciate books that include some of the harsh realities of life interwoven with the storyline. Life isn’t all cupcakes and roses so the books we read need to reflect that. Thanks for the review.
I have so many books I want to read this year. They accumulate to way more than 12. Yet, I am not even sure I can master that amount. Which ones to choose is the difficult question.
I can really identify when you mentioned you were worried she’d give up everything she’d worked so hard for to just fit back into the life that she left. As I look back on my life, it’s really easy to do this with friends I haven’t seen for a long time. When we get together, even though I’m vastly different, I find myself reverting back to the person I used to be, or not letting them see the changed me. Maybe because that’s familiar with the relationship, I’m not really sure, but I’ve noticed it’s easy to do. I also thought your idea of asking for a bunch of books for Christmas is brilliant. That way, when you’re done with one, you don’t linger in book limbo-land and can instead pick up a new one and get started. x
Much like you, I love stories about empowered women! I’ve had enough of those damsels in distress haha. We need no saving — we can save ourselves 😉 Anyhow, you really just reminded me to read more books. Thanks for this great review!