| Title | : | Crazy in Love (Matt Anna, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 368 |
| Publication | : | First published March 31, 2017 |
Anna Flint won’t shake your hand. She collects tin cans. She cleans her cubicle at work with Lysol several times a day. But Anna doesn’t care that they call her crazy. She’s absolutely satisfied with her life of perfect organization, cleanliness, and most of all, solitude.
Matt Harper likes Anna Flint. He likes that she’s the smartest person he knows and he likes her big blue eyes. He doesn’t even mind her can collection. In fact, he pretty much likes everything about Anna. As his body and his world are falling apart, she still manages to make him happy.
Matt is the only person Anna has ever wanted to be close to. But how can she go on a date with him if the thought of dinner at a restaurant fills her with terror? How can she ever kiss the man she loves if she can't even touch him?
Maybe it’s time to stop being Crazy Anna. If only she could.
Crazy in Love (Matt Anna, #1) Reviews
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Don’t worry, be happy, embrace your flaws, you will never be perfect, but to that special someone out there, your imperfections will be perfect to them! Oh, and maybe we should mention that no man or woman is an island, even if Anna thinks she is…Sit back and watch the fun begin as two geeks, each with their own quirks discover love in its most perfect form! Annabelle Costa knows humor, heart and humanity with all of its warts and she turns it into the delightful CRAZY IN LOVE!
Crazy Anna is a germaphobe, a can collector, has some quirky OCD habits and has suffered the taunts and teasing of those around her for years, including in the workplace. She wants desperately to be normal around Matt, but is it possible to change a lifetime of habits for love?
Matt has no problems with Anna’s quirks, he loves her intelligence, her dedication to her job and hey, the heart knows what the heart wants. It isn’t like he’s perfect, he has a few physical issues he would prefer not to address publicly. Can Matt be her knight in shining armor who will shield her from the world she fears or will he be the hero who saves her from herself? could it be that they were meant to save each other?
Fall into their hearts and minds as Ms. Costa gives Anna and Matt each a chance to tell their side of the story with both charm and honest emotion. Be prepared to laugh, feel their pain and realize that everyone has a flaw or two. Wonderfully written in a world that comes to life through its characters, from start to finish, this warm, fabulous read will hold both your heart and mind captive every step of the way. Another hidden gem for the top of my ever-growing favorites pile!
I received this copy from Annabelle Costa in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Rose Bud Press (March 31, 2017)
Publication Date: March 31, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Print Length: 243 pages
Available from:
Amazon
For Reviews & More:
http://tometender.blogspot.com
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I was CRAZY about this book! At first I was unsure how I felt about the characterization, especially with Matt. I'm going to be honest, I thought he was a PIG! I mean he rated girls by numbers but this was just at first sight and there was so much more depth to this story and his character than I could ever expect. The author delivers a twist with the characters that was completely unexpected but made this love story more unique and beautiful that warmed my heart and wrenched it at the same time. Anna's character was so easy to relate to;. Everyone just disregarded her as "Crazy Anna", but there was so much more to her story that will captivate you and keep the readers' glued to the screen or pages or whatever have you, I have battled a severe mental illness my whole life and I could completely relate to Anna's emotions and her characterization. The author describes the symptoms and effects of her mental illness perfectly. I actually have been disappointed by a lot of romances that I have read lately but this one went above and beyond. The story gave me a whirlwind of emotions plus delivered a twist that made the story hold more depth than the average love story. I wish that the author went a little bit more into Anna's past to explain what set her off but I know there is a sequel and I just can't wait I had happy tears at the end of this story and was completely attached to both of the main characters. Matt and Anna are fantastic characters and their story shows how hard life can be but how we can find beauty in the dark places.
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*Thank you to the author for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!*
Actual Rating: 4.25
This was adorable - I was totally rooting for Matt and Anna the entire time!
Crazy in Love is a story written from two perspectives. There's Anna, who suffers from severe OCD and is a social outcast in her own workplace. The only person who she thinks is okay is Matt Harper, who (secretly, of course) has a crush on her, even the crazy can-collecting and Lysol-cleaning parts of her. But Matt is dealing with his own issues, and his world is slowly falling apart. And meanwhile, Anna, for the very first time, is questioning everything she's ever known about herself - and how she can ever fall in love if she's so afraid of the world around her.
I think the characters were definitely the strongest part of the book. Even at the start, their characters were multi-faceted. I thought that the issues they both had to deal with were heartbreaking, but I loved how the author dealt with them in a very realistic way, illustrating the power of hope, even when life doesn't turn out the way you expect (or want) it to. Both Matt and Anna had great character development by the end of the story, and they were powerful characters both individually and together.
The plot for this book was definitely more cozy, I would say. The book spans several years, and despite the progressions in the characters' "situations", I still found that I sometimes forgot that everything was happening across such a long timeline because everything else was quite similar. Nevertheless, I thought the plot was well-written; it was definitely very character-centric, which made for a very personal and thought-provoking read.
The writing style was engaging throughout, and as someone who normally dislikes dual perspective stories, I had absolutely no problem differentiating between them. In fact, I absolutely loved reading from both Matt and Anna's perspectives, because they showed a different side of the story, and their voices were each very distinctive and strong.
Overall, this was a great read and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who was looking for a contemporary romance, especially one that touched upon real life issues, both physical and mental. It was definitely a very memorable book, and Matt and Anna are now definitely one of my favorite couples. -
4/28/18 Currently 99c via Amazon US:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XYTX4N... -
FREE today (May 18, 2020) on Amazon.
This book was pretty amazing and sometimes a bit painful to read. I usually complain about lack of research and sloppiness when handling the characters’ disabilities, but in this Costa’s story you are so inside the main characters’ minds that it’s as you are feeling along with each of them. This was particularly true (and poignant for me) with Anna, and sometimes I just wanted her to stop (but she couldn’t, I know).
The writing is really flawless - as far as my ignorant self and non health professional can say – when it comes to the depiction of the main characters’ serious issues and it’s never too much to stress that. I admit I might forget it, because with Annabelle Costa we are used to these top notch standards and, whenever I read her books, I just take them for granted.
Of course I loved the hero – a good and kind man. Even the secondary characters are nuanced too, and I especially enjoyed how Costa portrayed the health professionals and their roles in Anna and Matt’s lives. -
I've never read a romance like this. Ever. And I mean that in the best possible way. This story takes place over a five year span and in that time, we get to know Matt and Anna, both separately and together as the story is told in duel POV. Loved that! They each have their own issues. Anna struggles with herself mentally, while Matt struggles physically. And as in real life, some things are not so easy to overcome. Some things are impossible to heal from. As a result, the story sucked me and wouldn't let me go. There is so much I could write about this book, but I absolutely refuse to give anything away. All I can say is that it's a must read. You won't be able to put it down. The characters are captivating. The story is perfectly crafted and artfully written. You feel like you're part of Anna and Matt's lives. I didn't want it to end and was sad when it did.
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A very well done, honest look at what type of relationship can exist when the female character is bat shit crazy and the male character has been diagnosed with a progressive form of MS. These two work together and secretly love each other from afar for a very long time. Their circumstances prevent them from taking the leap and letting the other know how they feel. The book spans a 5-6 year time period where they become really good friends, while she continues to get crazier and he becomes less and less physically able. Their relationship grows into something that works for the both of them, and just goes to show that there are all types of love out there, and there is someone for everyone.
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This was an interesting book about "Crazy Anna" who is trying to break out of her self-imposed bubble to be with the man she thinks she loves. Matt is willing to do anything for her, and this becomes clear throughout the book. While this wasn't the usual type of book that I read, I thought it was very intriguing and found myself enjoying it more than I expected to. I waffled between a 4 and a 5 star for this book, but ultimately had to pick the higher just because of how well-done the writing is and how much I think people will really enjoy this book if they give it a shot.
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Happiness supercedes all other life quests such as financial success, academic success, romantic success, even good health. It really is a person's top life priority, whether or not they know it. Find that special someone that will make you happy. No one's perfect. But when you find that perfect someone for yourself, you will be happy, and then most everything else will fall into place.
"Crazy In Love" is an absolutely wonderful cute love story that's extremely entertaining and gratifying. I love Annabelle Costa's work, and I'm so glad that she's such a prolific writer. Her very early success as an indie author means she's already a well-polished diamond. I'm keeping an eye on Annabelle Costa!!! -
4.5 stars
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I sat down before bed to read a few chapters, and 2 hours later I was done. Anna and Matt's story draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page.
Anna and Matt work together but Anna is the one with the reputation. Not only is she the best programmer in the company, everyone thinks she is crazy. She spends majority of her day cleaning her cubicle (the lunch room, other cubicles when people have left for the day, her cubicle again), and she has a massive collection of tin cans that cover her cubicle. But at least they're organized!
Matt has always noticed Anna, but he also has noticed her "quirks" so he leaves her be. Recently, he hurt his Achilles heel and since then walking has been difficult. He still goes out with his work buddy to pick up chicks at the bar though... even if his doctors believe something worse than a hurt heel is going on.
Each chapter is a different perspective between Anna and Matt. This story was one of the sweetest ones I have read for a while (also one that has held my attention the whole time). I connected to Anna as I have my own version of OCD and loved how it was explained through the story. Matt's story is one that wants to pull on your heart but the character doesn't want pity.
Overall, a beautiful story. Add it to your TBR, you won't be sorry. 5 stars! -
Anna and Matt stole my heart. I didn’t want them to, there were things about them that drove me crazy, but their story was so sweet that I couldn’t help but cheer for them.
Crazy in Love is told, chapter by chapter, in alternating, first person points of view. As Anna tells her story, we get to know a brilliant computer coder hindered by an especially severe case of OCD. Anna scrubs down her cubicle with Lysol several times a day. She won’t touch anyone. She washes dishes that have already been run through the dishwasher because, you know, they’ve been exposed to air. She won’t buy food that isn’t packaged, won’t ride in an elevator, collects cans and stacks them in her cubicle and in her living room, and she’s convinced, at least once a week, that she’s run over someone in the parking lot when leaving work. Oh, and she has a huge crush on Matt.
Matt is also a computer coder and sits in the cubicle next to Anna. Matt has spent most of his life intimidated by women but since meeting coworker Calvin, spends his Friday nights in the bar picking up women that, on his own, he’d be afraid to talk to…and not admitting to his secret crush on Anna. Things change dramatically for Matt when what he thinks is an Achilles injury turns out to be an aggressive form of MS. From a leg brace to a cane to an eventual wheel chair, we follow Matt on a very difficult journey.
What sounds like the makings of a rather depressing story is told with such care—and with so many laughs—that Anna helping Matt accept his disability and Matt helping Anna slowly overcome some of her issues turns into a love story I won’t soon forget. -
There is nothing negative I can say about this book! Easiest review ever, lol!
O.k., seriously I did love everything about this novel. Author Annabelle Costa has created such a gem in the world of novels. Written from both Anna and Matt’s points of view, the reader is swept into two very different worlds. Matt starts out as a normal guy – hanging out with his best buddy, picking up women, and having co-workers flirt with him. However, he is blindsided with health issues that progress along with the novel, challenging all of his self-confidence and pride. Anna starts out basically as Matt describes her, “batshit crazy,” but while reading the story from her POV it’s quickly evident that Anna suffers from OCD and possible a few other social disorders. The first thing I noticed was how completely different each chapter was as the author went back and forth between Matt and Anna – and it was incredible! Having worked with children, teens, and adults for several years, I’ve seen so many different places on the Autism spectrum, Aspergers, OCD, Behavioral Disorders, and so on. Costa honestly captured each character’s voices in their own unique way.
Again, this is anything but a traditional love story, yet it is so beautiful there just aren’t enough words. Even with limited settings, this story is complex and moving provoking both laughter and tears. While watching Matt’s condition worsen, we get a glimpse of Anna’s situation improving – and then somewhere they meet in the middle. I cannot explain how highly I recommend this novel and truly feel it is one that everyone should read regardless of gender, age, or typical genre preference. -
This is quite simply the best book I’ve read in a long time. The first time for years that I’ve read a book in one sitting and resented having to get up and make a meal. How one can get so absorbed in one woman’s cleaning rituals and one man’s choice of leg braces is beyond me – but I wouldn’t have missed a word of this book. At some points I was crying with laughter, tears pouring down my face. Even the acknowledgements at the back were worth reading. Now, I admit, my family has form. I’ve worked out that we have a 50% chance of being Asperger – I’m the other 50% having to cope with the alien beings, while they feel the same about me. And one brother and one sister went through an OCD phase. The joke was that if Mum sneezed when she was cooking, the horrified cat would fly out of the room, and my horrified brother would fly in and proceed to interrogate her about exactly what direction she sneezed and whether she’d washed her hands since. Even now the sound of someone sneezing explosively gives me mild PTSD… After reading this book I’m never drinking out of a water cooler again. And will someone please never tell Anna that when they tested a bowl of peanuts on a bar they found DNA from 14 different men’s urine…Happy snacking folks! (P.S Don’t read this book if you suffer from Aibohphobia).
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I have never read a book that made me root for the hero and heroine more. Never have I wanted the happily ever after to be real for them, to find a meaningful, honest to goodness fairytale ending—but when the heroine suffers from an almost all-consuming OCD and the hero learns he has a debilitating disease that will rob him of his life as he knows it, believe me, I could not envision a happy resolution for anyone. But author Annabelle Costa weaves a colorful, honorable and clever tale of the most unlikely of love stories that makes it seem not unlikely at all—and made me question why I thought love wouldn’t triumph after all. “Crazy in Love” is a masterpiece and already I am a dreamcasting who should play whom in the movie.
Every once in awhile, a book comes along that lingers with me, makes me wonder about the characters for days... This is such a book! Read this. Sooner than later. -
A charming surprise as a freebie from Amazon. I really love the idea for the book: two young (physically healthy) people, one with OCD, one just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And I loved the light (if I can call it that) way of telling their story. No drama, but also no sitcom-ish (although it had quite a few funny moments). It allowed looking at the problem of people with OCD and MS in a bit different way. And I was very much fond of Matt - without him, this novel would have gotten 1-2 stars less. Because I had some issues:
--> I don't think that the boss-worker relation between Anna and Peter was realistic (or at least I hope it isn't happening in modern companies in the USA)
--> The same problem I have with Anna's co-workers. Where was HR?
--> And Anna's parents? We are living in the XXI century. I can't believe that they treated her so.
--> Also, Anna was very germophobic, and then she took the cane from the shelf in a shop, without any fear or thought. There was no way she would have done it, the way she was (mentally) at that moment.
Having above in mind, it was still a wise story. I am used to other styles, more serious or more hilarious, but I enjoyed it too and hope to read more by Annabelle Costa.Wow, it’s hard to imagine having been in a wheelchair for ten years. Then again, it’s also hard to imagine being forty.
[PS I am torn between 3 and 4 stars. Thinking of Matt - definitely 4, thinking of Anna - barely 3] -
4.5-5/5 stars
I received a free ebook review copy of this book but was under no obligation to post a positive review
Crazy In Love is a dual perspective romance told through the eyes of Anna Flint and Matt Harper.
When the story starts both Anna and Matt are in their mid-twenties and work together as computer programmers. Anna is known around the office as Crazy Anna mainly because the collection of cans she keeps stacked in her cubicle. Add to that the facts that she is considered a "clean freak", her aversion to human touch (and so much more) and you've got the perfect victim for in-office jokes and gossip. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Anna is used to this kind of behavior, so she doesn't care what other people think about her. Mostly. Anna does find herself caring and thinking a bit too much about her coworker- Matt.
When we meet Matt he is exactly what you expect him to be- young attractive man who enjoys drinking beer with his best friend and picking up women not caring if or when he would see them again. (If you ask me he was showing some traits of an a-hole towards women, but I was never sure if it was all him or more due to herd-mentality). Matt definitely enjoys his life both in and out of the office, but no matter how many women he sleeps with he can't get rid of his crush on Anna. He is sure this crush would never come to anything. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for him he gets some news that changes the course of his life forever.
Crazy In Love was a wonderful surprise for me. When I started this novel I thought it would revolve mainly about Anna and her struggle with severe mental illness and the stigma around it. As luck would have it, not only were these issues addressed but I also got a chance to follow Matt's journey in coping with his own demons. The fact that those demons weren't mental but physical made the story so much more important and touching.
I have to admit I was a bit scared reading this story from Anna's perspective because I was afraid it would go in a direction I dreaded. This being the classic girl-meets-boy-and-is-miraculously-cured-of-her-mental-illness-because-he-loves-her-so-much. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about.
Even though Anna seeks treatment only after realizing something might happen between her and Matt I never got the feeling she did for someone other than herself. She decided to take this dreadful step for entirely selfish reasons- she knew she wanted something badly but her brain kept interfering. She started realizing that all the things that never bothered her before too much, began getting in the way of her leading the life she started to want for herself. That in itself is a great thing to show in these kinds of love stories because in real life no one can get better if they don't want it for first and foremost for themselves.
Also, another thing that I appreciated so much was the mere mention of Anna's past experience with a mental health professional. This was a completely negative experience that left a lasting impression on her and only became one more obstacle in her journey to get better.
From personal experience, I know how a bad first introduction to counseling can damage a persons' path to getting better. Once you get burned you don't want to risk yourself again, and seeing Anna decide to take this risk despite all her reservations can be truly inspiring if read at the right moment in someone's life.
For all that I would like to thank Annabelle's efforts in trying to convey a realistic journey through Anna.
Now when it comes to Matt's story (I will keep this section vague on purpose so forgive me in advance). I couldn't relate on a personal level since, thankfully, I never had to go through anything similar. Nevertheless, I appreciated it so much more because it still felt incredibly realistic and I could imagine and feel his pain and frustration so vividly.
It was also incredibly refreshing since I never read about anything like it before.
I do think that Annabelle managed a great thing with this novel. Telling the story of these two individuals side by side was amazing. While reading you can't help but compare the two journeys and struggles and see that while both of them are incredibly different at the end they are the same. Both need to accept the hand that was dealt them and learn how to live and manage with it.
At the end nothing is hopeless- no matter if you can see the source of the problem (like in Matt's case) or you can't (as in Anna's case).
I couldn't decide between 4.5 and 5 stars. On the one hand, this was a refreshing take on mental and physical health mixed in with a sweet love story, and on the other, some parts seemed a bit rushed for me(?)- I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it's just influenced by my desire for the novel to be longer- to read more about the progress each of them made throughout the story.
Either way, I would definitely recommend reading this story. And I would like to thank Annabelle Costa and AXP's read and review department for providing me with the book and the opportunity to review it. I enjoyed every second. -
Great! Beautiful! Moving! Perfect! I can go on…
I just read one of the best books last night Crazy in Love by Annabelle Costa. I started reading yesterday evening then around 11 pm I told myself to go to bed. At midnight I tried to put the book away. Didn’t happen. Finally, I just said to myself forget it; I'm going to read until the end. It was worth it.
Crazy in Love is a different kind of love story, very touching and beautifully written.
Anna Flint is (as I picture her) a female version of Melvin Udal (Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets) on steroids. Her co-workers tease her unmercifully and everyone calls her Crazy Anna. She doesn’t have any friends, and, truthfully, she likes the aloneness.
I love Anna. She is attractive, brilliant, and the most talented programmer at her company and she is weird. She can't be touched. She has to clean her cubicle with Lysol many times during the day, and she collects cans. (Can you imagine cans stacked in the cube of a co-worker?) When Anna is anxious, she taps in a pattern on her desk or the cans 11 times or multiples of 11 until she is calm. (There are more quirks to Anna a lot more.)
Matt Harper, her cubicle neighbor, is the only person who is kind to Anna, including her family. Matt is the hot nerd. He cruises for women at bars with his friend then rates the women and only dates a 7 or higher. Well, he doesn't really date the women he has one night stands. Then he is diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis and begins to lose the ability to walk. It changes his life.
The imagery this novel brings to mind is moving. The characters are multi-layered and reveal new aspects to their personalities and struggles on each page.
Crazy in Love takes place over five years as a friendship grows and Matt’s MS progresses. It is a story of two people who don't fit anywhere, but in between the crazy, they find a way to help each other overcome a multitude of hurdles and become true friends.
I am completely in awe of Ms. Costa. Her research is extensive, and the characters are some of the best creations ever. They jump off the page and into my heart. The story touched me from the first page, and my heart grew ten times by the end. I couldn’t stop reading. I couldn’t skim even a paragraph because I didn’t want to miss any details. There are times when I felt sad and times when I felt happy and the end is beautifully satisfying. It is an emotional and lovely experience that I won’t forget any time soon.
Crazy in Love is one of my favorite books of 2017; I'll read it again whenever I need a lift. Now I can’t wait to read more by Annabelle Costa. You must get it ASAP. -
When I started this book, I was unsure if it was going to be sad and a little serious on the mental health issues. I was very wrong. Crazy in Love is one of the sweetest and quirkiest novels I have read in a while.
Our main character Anna has OCD. She doesn’t necessarily know this at first but she knows she hates germs of any kind, and sees contamination everywhere. Anna is very good at her job, despite her colleagues giving her a hard time for her collection of cans in her work space. ‘Crazy Anna’ as she is known!
The Book focuses one chapter on Anna and the next on Matt. The two are colleagues, kind of friends (So Anna hopes). But Matt has issues too and ones he doesn’t want the world to know about.
The way the chapters are written is perfect. We see each occasion that happens from both points of view and it makes the reader ( well me at least) really feel endeared to both Matt and Anna.
Anna – “…its better I eat alone. The way I do every day. It’s safer this way”
Matt – “Everyone else in the whole goddamn world ………They have no idea how lucky they are.”
OK, so no giveaways or spoilers but both Matt and Anna have their issues which consume them. If you are to look into this book philosophically, then you will see everyone has issues but being happy within yourself is most important. We don’t know what is going on in other people’s lives so be nice and considerate. Or you could look at this book just for the story that it is, two troubled souls finding each other and trying their best to work it out.
There are really comical bits in this book too. A book that can make you smile, feel compassion and stay up that bit later than you intended is a wining book. That’s what Crazy in Love is. Even the acknowledgement page made me smile. The author has a unique way of writing that as she does her characters.
The issues of mental health were dealt with sensitively and in my opinion very well. I don’t have OCD and I don’t know anyone who does so I can’t speak as in any way knowledgeable. But it did give me an understanding of how tiring and deep rooted the condition is. The author wrote with compassion and understanding while making Anna a truly delightful character that the reader will root for.
I read this book in 2 days which is mega fast for me. Once I started Anna’s story she had me engrossed.
If I had 2 words to describe this book, they would be quirky and brilliant. I loved ‘Crazy in Love’, and as my first read from Annabelle Costa, I am ready for more of her work. Ms Costa is a talented writer and I am so glad I found her books. -
Pleasantly surprised
I would like to thank Annabelle Costa, who requested my honest review of her work and kindly sent me a copy to read.
Anna Flint doesn’t care that her coworkers call her Crazy Anna. Her trusty can of Lysol has kept her healthy for years, and how is collecting canned goods any different than collecting stamps or coins? She’s more intelligent than the lot of them, so let them play their little games and talk about her behind her back. She has no need to impress any of them…except, perhaps, Matt Harper, who’s never treated her like she’s crazy.
Matt doesn’t understand why people won’t just leave Anna alone. Sure, a tower of random cans in her cubicle probably isn’t appropriate, but is it hurting anything? He thinks it’s kind of cute, and besides, he’d rather pay more attention to her blue, blue eyes... He wants to ask her out, but it just wouldn’t work. It’s really too bad she’s so weird.
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All right, I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what I would be getting into when I started this book. I thought it would be middling at best, un-finish-able at worst. It had great ratings on Amazon and Goodreads, but a good rating doesn’t guarantee I’ll like it.
To my surprise, while there was beautiful summer weather outside and rocks in the field calling my name, I curled up in bed and did not stop reading this book until I’d finished it. (Don’t tell.)
Possible Spoilers. Ye be warned.
Matt Harper was a sweetheart. He had a beautiful arc—from a guy who doesn’t take life seriously to a man who has let go of his pride and truly appreciates what he’s been given. While I didn’t care to see him picking up random women in bars and having one-night stands—I hated it, actually, very much—I understand how it was part of his character development. And Anna—I related to her a lot. I share a few personality traits with her, and while I’m nowhere near as OCD as she is, I do feel better when I perform tasks in specific ways or have things arranged just so. I could understand how her mind worked. Neither of them was perfect, at times they were actually unlikable, but that made them even more relatable.
I don’t know anything about multiple sclerosis, never known anyone who had it, but I trust Costa did considerable research in the fifteen months it took her to put this book together. She really seemed to know her stuff, and I was fascinated by Matt’s journey as he became less and less ambulatory. His emotional trauma and frustration with the progression of the disease was so palpable that I had tears rolling down my cheeks several times. And I downright bawled when Anna realized she couldn’t fix him with her prayers. It just broke my heart.
Looking back, I’m not sure how I feel about how they ended up together. I believe that Anna loved Matt completely and exclusively, but while Matt had always thought she was beautiful and interesting and played with the idea of asking her out, I don’t feel he ever seriously considered having a relationship with her while he was healthy. He just assumed it would never happen and blew it off while he went out to find one-night stands, because that was a hell of a lot easier. It seemed to me that he didn’t seriously consider her an option worth any effort until after he was handicapped…after it seemed, to him, that no other woman would have him, or if they would, it would be out of pity. That was when he and Anna really started to get close. On one hand, their getting together could just be a twist-of-fate thing, but on the other, it comes off as if he were settling for her… I dunno. Maybe I’m forgetting a part that would negate this theory. I’m not thinking about it anymore because that would ruin EVERYTHING. I definitely prefer them falling in love with each other because they saw each other as people, not illnesses.
I have to mention, a bit randomly, that one of my favorite things in this story was the halting maturation of Calvin in the background. I kinda hated him and liked him at the same time. He was both hindering and helpful. I like to think he turned out a good guy in the end—and quit coding.
The ending did disappoint me a little. Between years five and six was a space of time I wish hadn’t been fast-forwarded. It wasn’t abrupt or anything, but I’d have liked to watch Anna get better and Matt support her. I was satisfied well enough with how Costa wrote the “epilogue,” though.
I never did figure out why Anna thought she’d hit someone with her car. I mean, I get that it was part of her OCD, but…why? Why that particular fixation?
As for writing and style, Costa displayed great skill. I loved that when she was writing in Anna’s point of view, it read rather like a textbook, with big words and literalness and almost a detachment, because that was how Anna thought and viewed the world! Loved it. At first I thought maybe it was just pretentious writing, like the author trying to sound smart, but then I caught on—Anna’s the pretentious one. Endearingly.
I liked the alternating points of view, that was well done. I had to adjust to the year-skipping, but I think it worked out okay. While I felt a little like I was fast-forwarding a movie and forgot to push play when I meant to, for the most part it was seamless. I understand that Anna’s OCD and Matt’s MS took time to worsen, and then more time to improve (in Anna’s case), and that all that time had to be incorporated somehow.
There was a typo here and there, but I was so into the narrative I barely noticed them.
I get the see-what-I-did-there? of the title, but I think it undermines the story. Anna and Matt deserved something with a little more dignity. Major bonus points for a bright pink cover, though. I love me some pink.
Overall, this isn’t a traditional romance novel—and that’s the best thing about it.
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keeneyeediting.com -
I absolutely loved the start of this novel and it kept me gripped all the way through. Anna is such a great character and it was great to hear her thoughts mixed in with those from Matt. I love the dynamics between these two characters as the book progresses.
This book is written from the two different perspectives and flits constantly through the characters as the story progresses. I thought this might be confusing but I found that I eagerly looked forward to the other perspective from Matt. Such a great way of showing the views of two different characters. I found this to be a touching and lovely story, I really warmed to crazy Anna in a way that I thought I wouldn't. Both humorous and emotional, I found it an absorbing read. I won't give away the ending, but the book develops pace as it progresses to a satisfying ending. Great read, thank you Annabelle Costa. -
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I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is an amazing romance story.
Wonderful out of the ordinary characters which just make the story flow.
Brilliant. -
3.5 Stars
Sweet office romance about a woman with OCD and a man with multiple sclerosis who’s slowly losing his ability to walk. -
Loved it!
Really enjoyed the characters and their development. It was sweet. I read it very quickly and will likely read it again. -
I really loved this story. Both the H and h have very real, scary issues to deal with, but it isn't until they acknowledge to themselves that each has feelings for the other that we see them begin to grow as characters and try to accept and deal with their problems. Being with the person you love is a powerful goal for healing, and Costa shows this beautifully in this story. As usual, she mixes subtle humor with poignant moments and creates a compelling story I didn't want to end. She also gets bonus points for her realistic portrayal of both characters' mental and physical illnesses without making them clichéd or too self-pitying. They are both strong characters worth rooting for.
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Hurruh, huzzuh and every other palindrome that ever existed.
This book was sheer brilliance. Seriously. I was hooked from page one, right until the very last page. There wasn't a single page that I didn't love, not a moment that I vaguely got bored, nothing. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
The two characters were written so incredibly well, and were so believable in every aspect. Costa writes disability so well, and as the wife of a disabled husband myself this is something that I appreciated so much. My heart broke right along with Matt's as he rocked to get up off the couch and struggled with accepting the changes to his body, which was just perfectly written. I've watched my own husband struggle with this, and it was written with just the right mix of humour, sympathy, and realism.
I just loved Anna, and found myself incredibly sympathetic to her plight. I love that she wasn't willing to change for anyone and only made the changes once she chose to, and for her own reasons, not because of outside pressures. The relationship was written beautifully, and I love that the whole story spanned years, taking into account that none of this happens instantly in real life, so why should it in books?
An absolutely outstanding read.
5/5 -
Spectacularly superb writing
I love these two. They break your heart one minute and have you laughing the next. I've read all of Ms Costa's stories and they just keep getting better. I love this one so much and will probably start rereading it immediately since I feel so bereft finishing it already. Sigh.
