Name: The Theory of Opposites
ISBN: 9781410467188

Allison Winn Scotch

When her husband proposes a two month break to sow his oats, her pubescent nephew moves in, and she is abruptly axed from her job, Willa is forced to face her fears, leading her to, amongst other things, reconnect with an old boyfriend.

The Theory of Opposites

What happens when you think you have it all, and then suddenly it's taken away? Willa Chandler-Golden's father changed the world with his self-help bestseller, Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control. Millions of devoted fans now find solace in his notion that everything happens for a reason. Though Willa isn't entirely convinced of her father's theories, she readily admits that the universe has delivered her a solid life: a reliable husband, a fast-paced career. Sure there are hiccups - negative pregnancy tests, embattled siblings - but this is what the universe has brought, and life, if she doesn't think about it too much, is wonderful. Then her (evidently not-so-reliable) husband proposes this: a two-month break. Two months to see if they can't live their lives without each other. And before Willa can sort out destiny and fate and what it all means, she's axed from her job, her 12 year-old nephew Nicky moves in, her ex-boyfriend finds her on Facebook, and her best friend Vanessa lands a gig writing for Dare You , the hottest new reality TV show. And then Vanessa lures Willa into dares of her own - dares that run counter to her father's theories of fate, dares that might change everything...but only if Willa is brave enough to stop listening to the universe and instead aim for the stars.

Lauren Attaway

More books should fall into this category-pleasant and smart. Exactly the kind of light read to get you back from a reading rut.

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I was looking for something different than what I typically read when I was on Edelweiss and requested this one. I am so very glad I did. Having never read a book by this author and considering I don’t read a lot of “chick lit” or women’s fiction, I didn’t know what to expect from this book. What I got was more than I could have ever expected: a great and touching, unpredictable story with a main character I connected with and cared about.

  
    “If you were to believe my father – and many people do – you would believe that there is no such thing as coincidence. That life is a series of intentional moments that lead us from one to the next, each one ping-ponging us from one destiny to another, all of which carry us on the wave of life up until the inevitable: death.”
  

Willa (short for William) Chandler-Golden has lived her life in her famous author father’s shadow – and under his beliefs about fate, despite not truly believing his theories. She has a good life, a perfect-on-the-surface husband and a great job. Her husband is brilliant and successful. They’re trying to have kids. Things begin to unravel slowly. First, she finds a suspicious bar receipt in her husband’s wallet. His behavior has changed and he’s working longer hours. “The one that got away” contacts her via Facebook and reveals some surprising news. Things aren’t going well at work. Then her husband suggests they take a two-month break, at the end of which they’ll decide if they want to stay together. With the help of her friend Vanessa, she takes a big jump to try to find herself and kick-start her life, start making her own choices and living life according to her own beliefs. Cue the Theory of Opposites. She will disprove her father’s theories about “everything happening for a reason” by choosing to do exactly the opposite of what she would normally do. Add in the reappearance of the ex, her absolutely insane family drama and Shawn’s adorable nephew, Nicky, and this book grabbed me and hung on tight until the last pages.

  
    “Start disproving him now. Let me dare you. I dare you, Willa Chandler-Golden, to try to live life on the outer edges. To fight so hard against your original instinct, to change your fate by making choices that you never otherwise would make.”
  

As the book went on and I watched Willa grow and change, I was conflicted about how I wanted it all to end. Did I want her and Shawn to reunite after their break? Did I want her to go back to her first love, Theo? I can’t say I really felt strongly either way, both men had plenty of good qualities and faults. I would have accepted either ending, as long as Willa got the happiness she deserved. Which, she did. I finished the book with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye.

  
    “You handle it because you have to. And you could have. Everyone can. Everyone does. Life sucks sometimes, but you handle it.”
  

I can’t say enough good things about this book. The writing was sheer perfection. It was funny and, at times, emotional. The story had me tied in knots because I was so conflicted about everything that was happening. My heart broke for Willa as Shawn suggested their time out. So much of her identity was wrapped-up in him that I wasn’t sure how she would handle it. Plus, just the sheer thought of a partner making a suggestion like that devastates me. I guess I have some pretty old-fashioned ideas about marriage. I just felt so much for Willa. I laughed with her, cried with her and cheered for her through the entire book. I adored her friend Vanessa. She was able to give Willa the kick in the pants she so desperately needed to find out who she really is, aside from Shawn’s wife. This book was filled with fantastic and complex characters. I found something to truly appreciate about each and every one of them.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. All quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version.

The Theory of Opposites

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