I received an advanced copy of The Waiting Room from the author in return for an honest review.

Jude and Nina are the epitome of that whole raw, unflinching love thing that most people are jealous of. That is, until Jude dies and wakes up in The Waiting Room, surrounded by other souls who are all waiting to pass over into their next life. But unlike those souls, Jude’s name is never called by the mysterious “receptionist”. He waits, watching Nina out of giant windows. He’s waiting for her. What is this place? How long will he wait? And what will happen when and if Nina does join him? The Waiting Room is a story of not just love, but of faith, predestination, and philosophy, friendship and self-actualization, of waiting.

I have to honestly say, I loved it! I read almost the entire book last night (with the exception of 30 pages) and I couldn't put it down. I was racing through the pages to find out what would happen to our beloved Jude and Nina, a couple who fell fast and hard for each other. Their love isn't perfect and that's what I like most about it. It's realistic and raw when so many love stories today aren't. Characters each have a distinct personality, with their own particular vocabulary and mannerisms. It was hard to believe this is her first novel!

The concept of a Waiting Room for reincarnation was so fresh. I have never read anything like it (and I have read plenty of novels with the idea of reincarnation at their core). I enjoyed meeting so many of the characters that passed through there as Jude realizes he is an anomaly to the whole waiting room situation, since everyone else gets their named called and he is just left there to wait. People hate him for it, but he is destined to wait on his beloved Nina, a woman who we watches get remarried and have children with her new husband.

I did not expect to hear all the stories of the reincarnated Jude and Nina finding each other in each lifetime, but I was so glad that was how Kaye told her story of the soulmates. I loved the multiple stories of Jude and Nina's lives and how each time they came back to the Waiting Room, they were Jude and Nina again, the most whole versions of themselves. No matter how many lives they go through they always are waiting on each other. SO BEAUTIFUL! Kaye exposes how strong true love between two people really is.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone. To me, it wasn't chick lit. It's not one those stories that make your heart melt. It's gritty, down-to-earth, and definitely funny. A great debut!