I bought this a while back and as is customary when I’m picking my TBR, I just go with either what I can remember, or the fact I have it in a TBR queue to read it, so I’m always going into a book unaware. I’m glad I did this one because I enjoyed watching the relationship between Philip and Charley unfold. The story was told in the past, at the start of their relationship when they met, to the present.
I liked Philip’s character. His unwavering adoration of Charley shown through in each interaction. Charley’s doubts about the relationship are understandable. Our feelings we’ve held for years can change in the face of love. Things she wanted when she was single don’t apply anymore. That might not work for Philip now, especially because he has to be away from home so much.
All the characters were well-written. I liked Ben and his son, Jimmy who was a perceptive kid. Even if I didn’t agree with aspects of Liberty’s practice, I liked her easy-going manner. I thought she was a good balance to Charley’s character, and I would love to read a story of her past and how she got to where she is today.
This is a story that creeps up on you and has you refusing to put the book down before you know it. It’s touching and emotional; I went through quite a few tissues reading this. You get a bit of everything in This Is Not How It Ends, romance, friendship, healing, and forgiveness. A highly enjoyable read.
When Charlotte and Philip meet, the pair form a deep and instant connection. Soon they’re settled in the Florida Keys with plans to marry. But just as they should be getting closer, Charlotte feels Philip slipping away.Second-guessing their love is something Charlotte never imagined, but with Philip’s excessive absences, she finds herself yearning for more. When she meets Ben, she ignores the pull, but the supportive single dad is there for her in ways she never knew she desired. Soon Charlotte finds herself torn between the love she thought she wanted and the one she knows she needs.
As a hurricane passes through Islamorada, stunning revelations challenge Charlotte’s loyalties and upend her life. Forced to reexamine the choices she’s made, and has yet to make, Charlotte embarks on an emotional journey of friendship, love, and sacrifice—knowing that forgiveness is a gift, and the best-laid plans can change in a heartbeat.
This Is Not How It Ends is a tender, moving story of heartbreak and healing that asks the question: Which takes more courage—holding on or letting go?
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