This story had so much potential but I finished the book in disappointment that the story never panned out the way I had anticipated, hoped, or that such a great idea deserved. ~ Leigh, Guilty Pleasures
Blurb:
“One universe, nine planets, 204 countries, 809 islands and 7 seas. And I had the privilege of meeting you.” – Unknown
When Tessa Talman meets Simon Fremont for the first time, not only is she attracted to him, she’s intrigued by how different their lives are. He’s a dedicated scientist, practical, pragmatic, and grounded—while she’s a head-in-the-clouds romance author. As their relationship grows, they agree to meet in places around the world, while continuing to live on opposite sides of the globe.
Though their feelings for each other deepen, their priorities remain the same. Simon is in a hurry to be financially sound and settle down, but Tessa is enjoying her freedom and newfound success. Neither is willing to give in, but as each goodbye gets harder, Tessa begins to wonder whether fame is the path to happiness, or if she has everything she needs in Simon.
Just as Tessa finds the courage to go after her own happily ever after, the unthinkable happens, separating them in ways they never imagined.
To move forward, she must let go of the past, and determine once and for all if love is truly more powerful than the pain of goodbye.
This story had so much potential that I couldn’t wait to read it based on the synopsis. The cover image gave it such an ethereal feel and the quote made my heart sigh. I breezed through the first few chapters, anticipating the growing romance between two people who could not have been more opposite. I persevered through the next portion of the book, sure that so many glowing reviews could not be wrong. And I finished the book in disappointment that the story never panned out the way I had anticipated, hoped, or that such a great idea deserved.
The concept of the book was beautiful. Two people, fated to be together, but destined to keep saying goodbye. Tessa Talman was a new author, struggling with the obligations her sudden fame entailed. Simon was an intellectual, captivated on first sight with Tessa. These two were day and night from one another. Tessa was flighty and non-committal. Simon was precise and methodical. Life taught Tessa not to plan, while Simon was a fan of science and structure. Yet, Tessa forced Simon to spread his wings in order to chase after her after each goodbye.
My initial impression of Tessa was not a positive one. I felt that she was selfish and often cruel in her disregard for others. She played fast and loose with other people in an attempt to insulate herself, and it came across to me as insensitive and harsh. The way she behaved throughout the entire book, starting with her unforgivable actions when she and Simon first got together, all the way through to the secrets she kept from him, she was always only thinking of herself and her emotions. She had a man that loved her to distraction and was willing to follow her all over the globe to show how he felt about her. And she did nothing to reciprocate. I found her thoroughly unlikeable.
Simon on the other hand, was perfect. He was kind and loyal and deserved more than Tessa. It actually seemed to me that he spent the majority of the book in tears, and with the magnitude of the constant betrayals that Tessa inflicted, I couldn’t blame him.
This book was not for me. The concept was fantastic, the writing was lyrical, but the execution fell short and frankly left me feeling betrayed for getting invested in this relationship.
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