My Life in Shambles A Standalone Romance

2.7 (pretty cover btw!)

** spoiler alert ** As someone with MS, the way it is described and how the symptoms appear was poorly done and rankled me. My diagnosis is relatively recent so maybe I am just really sensitive to it, but having it be the big reveal, the way the doctor talked to him about it, and the way the symptoms were described rang false.

My Life in Shambles follows Valerie and Padraig. Both are a bit stuck in their lives and careers. Valarie's boyfriend broke off their engagement and she lost her writing job. Padraig is a rugby player who has been off the pitch after a severe concussion. They meet at a Dublin bar on New Years Eve and have a one night stand that turns into Valerie being Padraig's pretend fiancé as he visits his ill father in his hometown. I was wanting a quick and easy romance, but I should have known that Karina Halle would make it so much more than that. It's more of an intense and emotional romance that will have you in tears by the end. Valerie is such a likeable heroine. You can't help but feel sorry for as one bad thing after another happens to her. She's just so relatable as she tries to be more adventurous and put herself out there as well as trying to be less self conscious about her body, particularly the scars on her legs. Padraig is more of the brooding type with a lot to deal with. He hasn't had the best relationship with his father so wants to try to reconnect with him before he dies all while dealing with health problems of his own. I loved how most of the conflict that affects their relationship are things outside of their control which have them wondering if they should be together. They seem to be rocks for each other while things are happening around them. That's not to say that they don't have internal conflict and miscommunication because they do. I just love how there is a plot outside of their relationship. I'd advise not reading this if you don't want to read about heavy subjects like illness and death. At times it was hard to read about the health scares and the grief happens. It was just so impactful that I even cared about the side characters. I can see why some people didn't like this as much as the synopsis doesn't talk much about it. Be warned that this is a bit of a depressing love story, even if it does have a happy ending. I'm also a bit biased when it comes to Irish settings. Living here myself I can't help but love reading about it. I will say that I found some of it to be a little stereotypical, but they are stereotypes for a reason I guess. Basically, if you're looking for a romance that has a bit more of a depressing undertone, look no further. I think I'll be reading more of Karina Halle's books. One Hot Italian Summer by her is still my favourite so far.

Read my review here: http://mybookishfantasy.com/book-revi...

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads. Karina Halle has done it again. She's totally slayed me with her words. I'm in no way surprised, you understand. I, for one, am thrilled to see her return to her angsty and emotional romance roots. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed her fluffier romantic comedies, too. But I just love how she breaks me and puts me back together with a book like My Life in Shambles. I'm not even sure I have words to do this book justice at this point, but I'll try. My Life in Shambles (a title I didn't really "get" until it was spelled out for me at the very end, by the way) was gorgeous. The writing was beautiful, the characters were complex yet easy to root for, and the story did things to my heart. From the romance to the family dynamic and challenges that exist between them to the setting, every part of this book found its way under my skin. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Which was an impressive feat considering I've been in a bit of a slump the last week or so. Not with this story though! Valerie and Padraig grabbed me from the very start and would not let go. They still haven't and I don't expect they will anytime soon. I was on a roller coaster of emotions throughout My Life in Shambles. If there was a feel to feel, I felt it. I laughed and cried. I swooned and blushed. (Padraig has a fabulously filthy mouth.) I fell in love with his family and raged against Val's mom. I adored the friendships and shipped Padraig and Val so hard it almost hurt. I'm a sucker for a "fake it till you make it" romance and theirs just got to me. Was it complicated? Sure. Some of the best love stories are, right? And Karina has a particular knack for writing those stories. This is one of my favorites of hers to date. If you're looking for a romance to make you FEEL, look no further. You need some Val and Padraig in your life. I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Favorite Quotes: It takes a moment to change someone. Sometimes it just takes a kiss. "Mo chuisle mo chroi." This damn country and Padraig have totally and completely captured my heart and I'm helpless against it. "Tell me you love me and I'll tell you I love you more." "Life is brilliant. And then it's awful. Sometimes trivial or boring or mundane. You just have to push through all that bad stuff until it's brilliant again. Always hold out for brilliant."

1.5 stars