Review by Booklist Review
Ewart's debut comes to the U.S in this charming yet serious romance. Jess' life consists of two activities: working at a law firm and taking care of her mother, who is ill with Huntington's disease. This hereditary disease is also hiding in Jess' genes, lying in wait. She has vowed never to commit, since she doesn't want to put a future spouse--and herself--through heartbreak. Jess and her friends patronize a bar across from their firm, and the bartender there has taken a shine to her. After a one-night stand, Alec is besotted, and he continues pursuing Jess. Although she tries to push him away, they become closer as their attraction builds. Alec suggests that they try one month of dating with no rules. They'll enjoy each other and live in the moment. But can they stop themselves from falling in love? The driving force behind this novel is Jess' internal conflict, as the tension of Huntington's haunts every moment of her life. Fans of complex characters in romance will be intrigued.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Me Before You meets vintage Lurlene McDaniel in Ewart's uneven debut. Manchester, England, native Jess has recently adopted nine rules to live by, beginning with "do not fall in love." This is both to safeguard her own heart and to prevent anyone else from getting hurt; caring for her mother, who has a terminal illness that Jess worries she too will inherit, takes all the time and energy Jess can muster. A one-night stand with handsome bartender Alec provides a much needed release, but Jess is emphatic that she doesn't want a relationship. Too-good-to-be-true Alec accepts this but suggests a no-strings-attached month of dating, saying Jess deserves "all the good bits of a relationship, even if it can't last." They both have secrets that complicate the arrangement, but the biggest obstacle is Jess herself, who harshly rejects every romantic overture Alec makes. While Jess's stress and fear are understandable, the tenderness of the familial plot contrasts oddly with Jess's poor treatment of the dishy Alec. Readers are in for a bumpy ride. Agent: Jessica Purdue, Orion Publishing Group. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Ewart's novel deals with serious issues. Jess, the main character, has one rule for herself: never fall in love. That's because she's caring for her mom, who is in the late stages of Huntington's disease. Jess knows that she has inherited Huntington's and doesn't want to put anyone else in the caregiving role she's currently living. But then comes Alec. He's a gorgeous bartender at the pub she and her workmates frequent, and after they have an unexpected one-night stand, Jess pushes him away with no explanation. But Alec is both determined and preternaturally patient, offering Jess a compromise: a one-month relationship they can enjoy and then walk away from. But over that month, both fall hard, even though they aren't supposed to have a future. Alec's persistence, and their growing connection, helps Jess decide to accept life as it comes and take a chance on happiness now, no matter what's ahead. VERDICT A sensitive romance that explores the emotional weight of inherited disease and how it can shape a life even when dormant. Fans of Jojo Moyes or Talia Hibbert will find this story moving.--Melanie Kindrachuk
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