Life and Other Near-Death Experiences

This was a quick and straight forward read about a woman who decides to quit her job and run away to Puerto Rico after she finds out she has a rare type cancer and her husband is gay all on the same day. There is more to the story than that, but I don't want to give away too many details. My main criticism for this book is that it didn't really have me feeling anything for the characters as I thought they lacked complexity and depth and did not feel like real people.

A nice easy read. However it is fairly predictable and it is difficult to get behind the main character since she is stubborn and refuses to listen to anyone around her. The characters, while a few are fun, are not deep. Some elements of the plot seem a bit contrived, and Libby spends the book reacting to it vs driving the plot herself.

If your looking for something deep and discussion driving steer clear of this one. However if your looking for a nice easy read on rainy afternoon this would be a good pick.

While on the surface this book seems like an easy fluff read, it really is an in-depth look into childhood grief/trauma and how that can shape the people we become. The main character, Libby, is at times funny, endearing, strong, and woefully sad. With the onslaught of bad news, she begins to redefine her life and align the person she thinks she is with the person she wants to be. This novel is both heartbreaking and uplifting!