I personally love a formula romance at least once a month so be prepared. Some people find them predictable, boring, corny etc but I find them sweet. This is rare since usually I find the negative about everything. When it comes to a love story, I'm a sucker. As Steph has told me, I am "in love with love". True story.
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Enter my latest read, Sam's Letters to Jennifer
The book starts out with a tragedy and a past tragedy as all the good ones go. Jennifer has lost her husband in a surfing accident and shortly thereafter has a miscarriage (past tragedy). Now her grandmother, Samantha, is in a coma in the hospital (current tragedy). We find out bits and peices about each tragedy one chapter by one and it gets addicting; you just need to know more!
Jennifer goes to the lake which Samantha lives on to visit her and take care of her and the home (note: idyllic setting, classic). She is currently a columnist for a newspaper and is juggling her personal stress with her career stress (note: successful job, doubly classic). We see her run the gamut of emotions upon seeing her grandmother comatose and being back in her grandmother's home, a vacation spot from childhood.
Alas, when we think all hope is lost for poor widowed, almost grandmotherless Jennifer - she sights a naked man! True story (at least in the book) she sees the guy a few doors down skinny dipping. In real life, this may result in a call to the police - in formula romance life, this leads to curiousity and attraction.
Naked man turns out to own some clothes and have a name, Brendan. Brendan somehow stalks Jennifer out to "get to know her" (yes, he swims naked and stalks, may seem sketchy, but not to our girl Jen). Of course in the classic "I just went through a tragedy and can't bear to get close to anyone" way, she tries to deny his ongoing advances until she gives in - as predicted.
When she finally gives in, the relationship kicks it into high gear and goes from swimming together (clothed) to fantasy dates that can only be written in romance to true love. Just like that. It has not even been a month but no matter, they are soul mates. And then ... just as Jennifer begins to trust again ... the bomb is dropped ... Brendan has a brain tumor! Gasp!
Now please pause here because meanwhile, there is another substory going on during the Jen / Brendan whirlwind romance. Please keep in mind grandma Sam is still in a coma but just because she isn't awake doesn't mean she ain't talking. She has left letters for Jennifer (hence the title) about her own secret romantic life.
Interspersed between the current day quandries are letters that Jennifer is reading about the man her grandmother has an affair with because she never truly loved her husband and he was abusive. Of couse, this is the perfect affair as well since everything is perfect in forumla romance. Instead of a motel six they go to an inn to rendevous. Not kidding.
We readers also find out that her lover, who Sam just calls Doc in her letters, is actually still alive but she won't tell us the name - we need a reason besides Brendans potential chance at death to keep reading.
Fast forward - if you cannot guess on your own. Grandma Sam wakes up from the coma and she is perfectly fine. Brendan decides to have an experimental surgery to save himself after quitting his job as a doctor and having the influence on Jennifer to quit hers so they can live every day to the fullest together (and somehow still have the funds to do so). Brendan goes to surgery secretly but Jen finds out in the last minute and rushes there to tell him how much she loves him before he goes under the knife.
Guess the outcome? HE LIVES! And with no complications! Oh were life so easy.
So Grandma Sam, Brendan and Jen head back to the lake house where Grandma Sam finally introduces us to Doc (the lover) who turns out to be the minister who was visiting her in the hospital. Gotta admit, I did not see it coming (it was probably obvious but I was just too distracted by the terrible display of basketball Uconn was putting on at that point). They all obviously instantly love one another and sit in the sunlight spreading joy.
Then BOOM! Last tragedy, Grandma Sam dies. But she leaves Jennifer with one last note, the lakehouse, and the sentiment that love never dies. Oh and Jen is pregs with Brendan's baby, who she names Sam. Duh.
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I guess I enjoy stories like these so much because they are so hopeful. They are always victorious over adversity. It is just so heart warming. Books like these are just fake enough to make them good reads and just real enough to convince you that maybe ... just MAYBE ... this could actually happen.
I also enjoy reading about people falling in love. I find that when I read about other people falling in love, it reminds me of myself falling in love and then I feel all good inside being reminded of being in love and it is just a damn love fest all up in my brain.
So long live the formula romance! This won't be the last one I read this year, you can bet on it.
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