A Novel by Jessica Grose, William Morrow, September 2016.
* An e-galley was provided by William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review.
Soulmates by Jessica Grose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
SOULMATES, by Jessica Grose, is an unusual book presented through narration, newspaper articles, and different points of view. The book opens as associate lawyer, Dana Morrison, sees a newspaper with her estranged husband's name on the front page. The article tells about the bizarre death of her husband and his girlfriend in a New Mexico cave. Though she's still upset from when Ethan ran off with Amaya to practice yoga and live the lifestyle promoted by a self-proclaimed guru, Lama Yoni, Ethan's mysterious death concerns her. So begins her quest to find out what truly happened to him.
Dana contacts the sheriff's department having jurisdiction over Zuni Retreat, where Ethan and Amaya taught couples yoga. The staff can't give her much information, as Lama Yoni's high-powered lawyers have prevented the sheriff's office from ever visiting the Zuni complex. So Dana decides to sign up for a three-day stay at the retreat to discover whatever she can about the owner and what might have happened to her husband. In the Zuni library, she finds a book written by Ethan describing why he separated from her. Dana acknowledges the problems he saw in her, while also realizing Ethan was a free-loading narcissist. She also believes something's shady about the Zuni Retreat. Once back at work, Dana no longer has any motivation to work the long hours needed to become partner in her firm and takes a six-month sabbatical to delve into a lengthly investigation into Ethan's life at Zuni and his unexplained death in New Mexico.
Pros:
For the most part, the story is funny and not boring at all.
The story is told through several different writing techniques.
The characters are well-developed with unique quirks and relatable flaws.
Cons:
The ending. It didn't mesh with what I thought I knew about Dana's character.
Overall:
SOULMATES is a unique mystery full of quirky characters. I would recommend it to readers who prefer character-driven stories and/or those who enjoy mysteries. It's also a perfect book to take on vacation or for a relaxing weekend at home.
If You Like This, You Might Like: SAD DESK SALAD by Jessica Grose, ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN and EMMA IN THE NIGHT by Wendy Walker, THE PERFECT STRANGER by Megan Miranda, THE LIGHT WE LOST by Jill Santopolo
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