I don't really know what it was that I loved about this book. Maybe the writing, which was well done. Maybe the two main characters, but I didn't really very much like them, but I loved their commitment to each other. Maybe because they are over 50 and not enough books are about characters over 50. Maybe that it was just a story about the love of two people which is strong enough to live a whole life together with all the human mistakes and difficulties, joy and love, good and bad and everything in-between and be content with each other and what they have and the choices they made. There just is not enough of that in this world. 


Two of my fav quotes from the story: 

This was my first Anne Tyler book which I was surprised about. I don't know why it took me so long to read one of her books. 
The writing of this novella is very well done, I could feel everything the characters were feeling. I enjoy reading about characters over the age of 50 and since there is not enough books like that I was very interested in this one. 
Unfortunately, I found it very hard to relate to Gail. She was frustrating and annoying. She was able to defend herself in certain examples but had a half-hearted attitude toward other situations. In real life I would not like Gail. Max, was somewhat naive and too laid back. 
Although the writing was well done, the ending was not. It felt undone. There needed to be just a bit more.

This was a book I chose to fill a challenge prompt. It was a just ok read for me but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had not listened to the audio. 
The story had the potential to be a steamy read, the words were there, but the narrators were not very good at including emotion into the narration through out the story. They were just reading the words, not performing them. At times I found it very monotone, unfortunately.
I did enjoy learning more about the touristy sights and history of Vietnam.

I chose this book through Amazon First Reads. The cover and summary are deceiving! I was expecting a light hearted rom-com but what I got was way more than that, in a very good way! This is the first Sonali Dev book I have read and it was the first 5 star read of the year for me!
The main characters were loveable, the plot moved at a good pace, there was not too much of any one scene and the descriptive writing drew me right in. There was mystery and romance, there was angst and happiness, there was character growth. Three quarters of the way through the story I knew this was going to be at least a 4 star read but that last part of the book brought my tears and confirmation that it was 5 stars all the way. The ending was just perfect!! 
I cannot wait to read what this author writes next!