Kelly Rimmer

The only vow she’s ever been prepared to make is not to say “I do” Running a major tech company without breaking a sweat? No problem. But being bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding is giving Jess Cohen a bad case of the jitters. Maybe that’s because she’ll have to face the groom’s brother, Jake—the man she’s been avoiding for the last two years. Jake, who Jess dumped mercilessly, unable to tell him the truth about her past. Jake, who’s loyal, loving and all wrong for someone who refuses to be tied down. If only Jess’s heart could remember that. Jake Winton spent four months secretly dating Jess, and the past two years trying—and failing—to forget her. He’d been ready to propose, convinced Jess was every bit as in love with him as he was with her. Now he’s sure their connection is still there, sizzling and undeniable. Whatever she’s holding back, he can handle—if only she’ll trust him with her secrets, her fears and her heart.

Undone

The only vow she's ever been prepared to make is not to say "I do" Running a major tech company without breaking a sweat? No problem. But being bridesmaid at her best friend's wedding is giving Jess Cohen a bad case of the jitters. Maybe that's because she'll have to face the groom's brother, Jake--the man she's been avoiding for the last two years. Jake, who Jess dumped mercilessly, unable to tell him the truth about her past. Jake, who's loyal, loving and all wrong for someone who refuses to be tied down. If only Jess's heart could remember that. Jake Winton spent four months secretly dating Jess, and the past two years trying--and failing--to forget her. He'd been ready to propose, convinced Jess was every bit as in love with him as he was with her. Now he's sure their connection is still there, sizzling and undeniable. Whatever she's holding back, he can handle--if only she'll trust him with her secrets, her fears and her heart.

b.andherbooks

This is going to be a fairly spoiler-y review. That said I think it is important to read the CWs for this one because I was not prepared for what stood in store for my reading experience based on the cover and blurb.

CW: (view spoiler)[miscarriage/still birth (in the past, but described), scary pregnancy and delivery stuff (on page, secondary character), gas-lighting and emotional abuse (in the past), cancer mention.  (hide spoiler)]

You ever start reading a book and immediately go oh f*ck this is not going to work for me but then it is 1am and you're crying and holy sh*t, how did it work? 

Well somehow Undone managed throw many of my big no's at me and I still could not put this book down and in fact finished it in one sitting.

The basics: Jess Cohen is ready to celebrate her best friend and business partner's wedding, but is concerned that she'll be in close proximity with their fellow friend and her former lover, Jake Winton. She and Jake had a secret four month long relationship that was entirely amazing but had to end because Jess didn't want to promise Jake forever, or even come clean to their friends. Jake, heart broken, moved across the country to the west coast.

Now Jake is back and their chemistry is still off the charts, but Jess still is convinced that they cannot ever work long term. Jake is confused, but is willing to wait for the woman he's always loved and is also willing to set her free if she truly is done with their relationship. And he refuses to sleep with Jess even for just one more time. His heart is too involved.

Now, why, with all evidence that Jake is 100% in for forever, is Jess so prickly and unwilling to be in a relationship? Both she and Jake have great jobs, they can basically live wherever they'd like, or at least try the long distance thing because they can afford airfare. Their friends would be completely onboard. What is the hold up? 

Well here comes the spoilers.

(view spoiler)[During the wedding, Jake and Jess's friend, pregnant with twins after struggling with infertility, starts exhibiting signs of pre-eclampsia. Jess has to convince her, along with Jake (a pediatric oncologist), and the women's partner, that she needs to go to the hospital. 

Jess has a panic attack about going to a hospital for some reason, and she knows her friend has pre-eclampsia for some reason...the reason we eventually find out after long drawn out pages is because Jess gave birth to a stillborn son in her eight month of pregnancy almost 20 years ago, when she was barely 18. This experience is fairly graphically described. We also find out Jess got pregnant because her boyfriend at the time compromised their condoms. He wanted to control her, get her to marry him, and was completely abusive. Jess's parents, fundamentalist Christians, were also terrible, and blamed her sins for her dead baby. Terrible stuff, awful stuff. Jess then moved to NYC to be with her grandmother and eventually through her grandmother's strength, therapy, and many years of work, Jess is doing great.

BUT. Jess will never ever get married again, and will never ever even consider having a child. She had a tubal ligation and never lets her partner open a condom, use their own condoms, or even put the condom on, something that Jake had noticed but never thought too much of. Jess was convinced telling him would cause him to run for the hills, or treat her differently, or basically ruin what they had. Jess believes Jake wants kids, a family, and marriage. All things she's unwilling to compromise on. (hide spoiler)]

Jake, oh Jake. Jake simply loves Jess. He loves her so much, and he just wants to be with her, however she'll have him. I won't spoil how these love birds eventually get their HEA, but it is fantastic. "He always respected my no."

I'm sure we are going to see reviews claiming Jess is difficult, Jess is hard to like. I loved Jess. For all the reasons that make her "difficult."

So, if you can handle a whole lot of angst, kind of scary medical stuff, and an epic slow-burn (pays off in the end), give this one a try!

*Thank you to the publisher for the free advance review copy.

Undone

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