Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This book broke my heart, but probably not for the reasons you think. You see, I am LGBT, and while this book is fantastically written with a solid plot, polished writing, and deep character development, there are elements to this story that speak to people like me in a way that makes me feel defeated that a love we call normal can be so callously cast aside as an insignificant, illicit, and dirty affair. Let me explain: It's clear that Hazel and Claire are, at bare minimum, bisexual. There is none of that straight girl shame or hesitancy of touching another woman. That being said, their affair is the quintessential cliche of a bi-woman gallivanting off with another woman, but ditching the relationship to go back to her man. This is one of the most difficult stereotypes that bisexuals have to overcome with the gay and straight communities depending on the day. That bi's cannot be monogamous and devoted to a partner without needing to "scratch the proverbial itch" and satisfy the need to be with the opposite gender of their partner. That is NOT how it works and it's a gross misrepresentation of bisexuality by and large. Both husbands have given their permission to Hazel and Claire. Their reasons are weak and pathetic. Hazel's husband totally disregards her past trauma to satisfy his manly needs, even admits it. Claire's husband assuages his own trauma (trauma they both share) by taking advantage of their open relationship to drown his sorrows in another woman. Both of them are pathetic and selfish douchebags. Hazel and Claire's affair reaches a crescendo and they both realize their affair is much more than they bargained for. Falling in love has become a glorious journey in a hopelessly romantic venue such as Italy. The ending tore me to pieces because it was a love that was not allowed nor, heaven forbid, acceptable to either of them as an option. So, their love is not worthy of fighting for? Ouch. This is exactly the crux of the nightmare we put up with from the straight community in entertainment. It is absolutely heartbreaking to witness, yet again, that love like ours is to be deemed so cheaply and unacceptable. I hope this author takes note to how badly she represents people like me. I am not offended in so much as I am heartbroken to have to read crap like this, yet again. I want to add one very important point. This book is categorized as "Lesbian fiction" which is a total farce. In actual lesbian fiction the girl always gets the girl in the end. Happy endings are the norm and not the exception, let alone treated as a dirty affair to hide in shame. This book degrades people like me to its very core. Edited 4/11/2018: If you disagree with my review that's OK, but may I suggest that you write your own review to clearly state your opinion of this book. Taking the time to write a review instead of leaving a comment here will help increase visibility of this book and ultimately helps the author sell more books.