You Deserve to Read This

Sarah Hogle's You Deserve Each Other (April, 2020) is a clever romcom with a pitch perfect voice. Her writing shines in this debut.

I loved everything going into this book: the pretty cover, the blurb, the lovers to enemies to lovers dynamic. But I almost didn't finish it, nearly giving up at the 40% mark.

Naomi Westfield and Nicholas Rose are a seemingly perfect couple who, to any casual (or Instagram) observer, would appear to be head over heels in love. In reality, they can't stand each other and are in a battle of wits to see who can call off their wedding first (thereby inheriting an enormous bill).

I was expecting an even perspective in narrative, but it was all Naomi's point of view and for much of the first part of this book, I couldn't figure out what her problem was or why she was so aggravated with Nicholas (though I could understand her anger at her dreadful future in laws). Yes, there were hints as to Nick's transgressions, but they didn't seem worthy of her rage, vindictiveness, and quite frankly, immaturity. She is, after all, almost 30 years old and acting as though she's in middle school. Maybe if there were chapters from his point of view to show him concretely acting with maliciousness, as well, I would have sympathized with her more, but as it was, all I could think of was "why in the world did he propose in the first place? I would have dumped her ages ago."

And so, that's where I was about halfway through the book, ready to toss it into the wind because Naomi was so utterly unlikable.

BUT

I wanted to stick with it to see where this would go--because the blurb promised they'd get back to lovers and I was so curious to how these broken people could ever reconcile. And the writing really is fantastic, and that will always sway me.

And I can tell you that I'm so glad I continued on. The twist in the narrative is so incredibly satisfying. It's more than a story about people just trying to outdo the other's meanness. It's a cautionary tale about the pain and hurt people feel when there is a lack of communication because you're misinterpreting any communication that is happening. And the importance of finding the time to say what's on your mind when your needs aren't being met. So in the end, I interpreted this book to be far more mature than your stereotypical chick-lit fluff (no offense intended; I adore fluffy books!).

So yes, I thought for a moment that this title would be consigned to that dreadful DNF folder, but it turned into something quite unexpectedly better, and I am eagerly awaiting future books from this author.

(Thank you to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for granting me this ARC to review)