The Way You Smile

I was NEVER expecting this book to sweep me off my feet but it really did. There was not anything that wasn\’t exciting, not a single boring line. I could never say that about 90% of the books I read and that about 4 (lesbian books ofcourse) a week. The writer and the narrator are like magic together, the words and performance was crazy crazy good. There were so many laughs and a few tears and all of the side stories were even good (poor Roy, and I\’m a lesbian saying that, felt bad for man) I just fell in live with this book and need it to go on and on. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can find this narrator reading another lesbian classic and want to read something else of this writer. The narration was so good and yes she had a sexy voice! Get it, it is worth it and I can\’t wait to listen to it again.

No beating around the bush; this book was a begrudgingly second chance for me on this author. After seeing the author\’s name come up repeatedly for recommendations for the genre, I read a different book of hers before and was not impressed. At the urging of a friend, I gave it another go with this one. Truthfully, my expectations were low, to put it politely. But I have to admit, it was better than I expected. I can\’t say I loved it; it had the depth of a cookie sheet but it was entertaining enough. The character development was decent. I actually could see them all as real people and cared about what happened to them. Credit is due there. It held a decent pace throughout. The romance felt a bit unrealistically fast but most do, I guess. The plot though was a rehashed romance troupe that the author admits copying in the end. Le sigh… it was completely predictable from start to cliche finish. The \”conflict\” can be seen from miles away. At one point I thought to myself \”this character is annoying. why are they here? Oh right, to do villain-ey s**t at the climax.\” and I was right so that was disappointing. If you\’re looking for quick, easy to read, lesbian romance and don\’t care to invest much emotionally, you will probably enjoy this one. It\’s worth reading if your expectations are conservative going in. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This was a fun, fast-moving tale about an unlikely romance between Camila and Harriet. Camila is trying to get back in the workforce after her long term boyfriend, who is also father to her two teenage sons, dumps her. Harriet is a successful entrepreneur with a playgirl reputation. Sparks happen immediately when they meet. A lot of this story feels like it’s the kind with an ordinary person swept up into a nutty situation. Camila is relentlessly pragmatic and sees beyond the bull that other people try to offer as truth. In that way, she can be a refreshing character. The narrator was quite good, and I found her voice easy to listen to. She was also annoying when she had to be. There’s a long sequence where Camila is yelling at her best friend for help, and she keeps repeating “Julie!” over and over again. As that’s my name, I really wished she (the character) would wrap it up already. Of course, book Julie ended up with a twist ending and deserved to be yelled at a million times more. The fun in this story is that Camila never really considered herself a lesbian or bisexual before meeting Harriet, but she commits fully to enjoying the physical benefits of it all. Like many romances, it takes a while before the couple can end well, and they have hurdles to overcome (like a case of professional sabotage). But they do get their happy, Pretty Woman-style ending. For readers of women’s fiction (“chick lit”) and FF romances. Nice fluff to fill a few of your hours. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

“The Way You Smile” has terrifically quirky characters, frequently hilarious passages (often featuring MC Camila’s internal musings) and banter and terrific narration. I really enjoyed the audiobook. The story is written in a slice-of-life style, focusing on events from the POV of 35yo MC Camila, but also featuring events and interactions between many other of the characters. Many of the characters and events do seem quite ordinary and realistic, but then in the next sentence you’ll find yourself wondering how the author managed to create such an unbelievable character or event. At one point, I thought of Matthew Broderick and friends in “Ferris Bueller\’s Day Off”; three ordinary friends and a day of hilarious adventures and misadventures with a wacky cast of side characters (the maitre d, the school principal, the parking garage attendants, etc.). In “The Way You Smile”, the love interest MC is 32yo Harriet Imogen Pearson (initials HIP…only the beginning of how initials can be important! Name your children carefully!!!). Harriet is a wealthy public figure, and everyone gossips about her numerous “projects” with numerous women. Terrific secondary characters (many of whom are nearly MCs, with the amount of book time they’re given), include: • Never-married Camila’s 15yo son Michael and 14yo son Ethan • Mick, generally uninvolved father of Michael and Ethan, who recently left Camila to move in with gym bunny Jackie • Camila’s BF, incorrigible next door neighbor Julia, bargain hunter extraordinaire, and owner of the amazing bacon butty van • Terry, Julie’s sometimes live-in man. He’s older and disappears frequently philandering • Debbie, a neighbor two doors down from Camila • Roy, Debbie’s impotent husband • Cassie, the cute 18yo friend of Michael’s • Bill Stevens, the now mostly legitimate father of Cassie • Harry, the pretty teen boy • Deana, the disapproving-of-Claudia team member for H.I.Pvention • Brett, the disapproving-of-Claudia team member for H.I.Pvention • Geoff, the disapproving-of-Claudia team member for H.I.Pvention • Lydia, producer for “The Budding Businesses Show” • oh, and recurring parts for Helen, Tina, Nigel, and the bright pink and blue haired girl who insists the style is “subtle ombre” Now, I don’t usually include a cast list in my reviews, but I wanted to give you an idea of the number and diversity of the characters. Interactions are numerous, and frequently hilarious. I’ll leave it to someone else to create a Venn diagram! The only other author that comes to mind that creates such interesting characters interacting in a fun story is Robin Alexander. If you like Robin, you’ll like Kiki Archer! In many stories, inner thinking can get old, fast (Bridget Essex often overdoes it for me). In “The Way You Smile” Camila’s musings are fun. We laugh as she contemplates shaving in the shower, appropriate gym wear, the role of the on-camera “non speaking co-presenter”, the blurred years as a parent, the nature of love, deciding to become a lesbian like becoming a member of the neighborhood watch, and many many other musings. Many conversations between Camila and Harriet are light, flirty banter. One early dinner conversation was more in-depth, and I was reminded of the movie “My Dinner With Andre”…which is a compliment. The main plot involves trying to invent something to showcase the business model for H.I.Pventure: helping individual inventors go from idea to prototype. The storyline is well done, but the most fun with the book are the discussions with neighbors, the relationship between Camila and her sons, the confusing yet exciting interest in spending time with Harriet, and the overall bitchiness of co-workers. The sex scenes aren’t numerous, but they are enjoyably described. Anxious to decide whether she’s in love with Harriet (it has been only a few weeks, and she was with Mick for 16 years), Camila decides that it’s ok to be unsure; not all stories need a definitive ending or conclusion…sometimes things just carry on. I found that very interesting; several of my friends seem to be carrying on without wanting, or perhaps confronting, a definitive conclusion. After a generally upbeat, silly and fun book, the final chapter is an explosion of unexpected angst, betrayal, money-seeking friends and relatives, and homophobia. Where did that come from? Several reviewers disliked the ending, yet I found the explosion of activities and emotions worked to wrap-up all of the subplots and character interactions throughout the book. So, as you may have guessed, I really really enjoyed “The Way You Smile”. I liked the story(ies), the characters, the narration and the cover. Well done, and highly recommended! 5* I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.

I really tried to get into this book but there was way too much inner dialogue and I couldn’t differentiate between the character voices at all. The MC was annoying and had no personality. I couldn’t finish the book. Will try to get a refund.

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