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I Thought You Said This Would Work: A Novel
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Product Description:
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Original price was: $14.95.$4.99Current price is: $4.99.
Detailed description:
A road trip can drive anyone over the edge—especially two former best friends—in bestselling author Ann Garvin’s funny and poignant novel about broken bonds, messy histories, and the power of forgiveness.
Widowed Samantha Arias hasn’t spoken to Holly Dunfee in forever. It’s for the best. Samantha prefers to avoid conflict. The blisteringly honest Holly craves it. What they still have in common puts them both back on speed dial: a mutual love for Katie, their best friend of twenty-five years, now hospitalized with cancer and needing one little errand from her old college roomies.
It’s simple: travel cross-country together, steal her loathsome ex-husband’s VW camper, find Katie’s diabetic Great Pyrenees at a Utah rescue, and drive him back home to Wisconsin. If it’ll make Katie happy, no favor is too big (one hundred pounds), too daunting (two thousand miles), or too illegal (ish), even when a boho D-list celebrity hitches a ride and drives the road trip in fresh directions.
Samantha and Holly are following every new turn—toward second chances, unexpected romance, and self-discovery—and finally blowing the dust off the secret that broke their friendship. On the open road, they’ll try to put it back together—for themselves, and especially for the love of Katie.
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Product group:
Categories: Women Writers
Product name:
I Thought You Said This Would Work: A Novel
Price:
Original price was: $14.95.$4.99Current price is: $4.99.
Karen S D Robinson –
I did enjoy this book a lot, despite some ridiculously unbelievable plot devices that were put in to make the story hilarious, I guess (meet an annoying stranger on an airplane, let her hijack your important road trip.) I was willing to suspend disbelief for that one, but I knocked off one star for one that yanked me totally out of the story about halfway through, and another one near the end. I’ll give a hint about that halfway-through one when I finish the review after a spoiler warning. I won’t spoil the one near the end because the whole story hinged on it but it also felt like a device .
That said, this would have made a great movie (maybe it will someday), though I would still be complaining about the egregious plot holes. The characters are appealing, the road trip is exhilarating, and the mystery kept pulling me along, despite it feeling like too much of a coincidence when the reveal came.
Because of the plot devices, and the very entertaining writing, it felt like a rollicking comedy, but there were supposed to be moments of serious heartache, and because I’d been pulled out of the story, it was hard to feel them the way I wanted to.
All rright, if you scroll down you’ll see the first one that bugged me:
Spoiler:
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The whole first half of the story was made ridiculously complicated by the fact that they had to borrow, or possibly steal, a very particular camper. No other car would do for—unbelievable reasons. Then, halfway though, when the camper is no longer available, suddenly a rented Prius will do, for–halfway believable reasons, I guess, that are explained away after the fact. I can kind of buy the reasons (they’re more believable than the necessity for the camper in the first place), but what pulled me out is that none of the characters batted an eye, even before the explanations. If it was so critical to have a particular kind of camper, I would think they’d make a big deal out of what kind of car to rent, and have a fit when the wrong kind showed up. But no one says anything about it. I guessed the Prius was for comic effect, but I really couldn’t buy the characters not freaking out about it. It made the whole camper thing seem like what it was, a made-up device.
Zoe (whatsbetterthanbooks) –
I Thought You Said This Would Work is an optimistic, touching story that takes you into the lives of three old friends and one unexpectedly new one as they embark on a journey to steal a camper, rescue a dog, confront grievances from the past, meet new people, welcome new additions, and prepare for a heart-wrenching goodbye.
The writing style is sensitive and light. The characters are quirky, multilayered, and endearing. And the plot is a heartfelt, lovely mix of friendship, family, introspection, parenthood, support, forgiveness, love, loss, drama, taking chances, and moving on.
Overall, I Thought You Said This Would Work is a pensive, witty, heartfelt tale by Garvin that reminds us to always live life to the fullest and highlights the importance and power of female friendships.
WBH –
I read at least a couple hundred books every year & never write reviews, but this book was so good that I felt I had to review it. I loved that it showed that each and every person in existence has vulnerabilities, weaknesses & strengths. It is about enduring friendships, disappointments, courage and love. I laughed. I cried. I felt anger and angst. I cheered for their success.
It was also so refreshing to read something without the use of vulgar language. I had begun to think authors no longer knew how to write without it.
I highly recommend this book. It is fantastic.
BookNerd –
I’m not sure how it’s possible but this story somehow manages to be hilarious, like, hold your stomach, tears streaming down your face funny & grab the tissue, ugly crying, snot clean-up required emotionally gut wrenching at the same time, in equal measure.
This story is too wacky, too eclectic to summarize so instead, I’ll tell you what I loved.
The entire story is written as if your lifelong bestie is telling you a story and the language is one used only by those very familiar with each other. The “life lessons” are kind of secretly tucked in and sewn into the seams of the story.
It’s warm and hard and wonderful with an amazing cast of characters and writing that really does the nuances of the miracle of pets & friendship justice.
Just enjoy the ride. Worth every second you spend *not* doing something else.
Suzan Lane –
Read this twice — I never do that, but just had to experience it more than once. Also made it the featured novel for our Book Club last month. Such an incredible story, with adventure, humor, and undeniable emotional impact.
Bonnye Reed Fry –
I received a free electronic copy of this amazing book from Amazon First Reads Prime, Ann Wertz Gavin, and Lake Union Publishing. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. At my age, this novel brings back so many memories! I am pleased to recommend it to my friends and family. This work is funny in places, tragic in others, and absolutely deserving of a binge read. I could not put it down.
Widowed Samantha Arias, retiring and quiet, and Holly Dunfee, aggressively out there, haven’t been on speaking terms for years. Only their affection and love for Katie, a friend of their youth, could bring them together again. But Katie might be asking too much of them. Katie, whose ovarian cancer is no longer in remission, needs them to take a road trip that will require them both. She wants them to go clear across the country to California and rescue Katie’s Great Pyrenees, Peanut, diabetic and getting old and currently at a rescue in LA. It is a job only these two women, mortal enemies since college can pull off. One friend has the moxie to pull off the theft of a vehicle and obtain the dog, but she passes out at the sight of a needle. The other has the wherewithal to take care of Peanut’s medical needs on the trip home.
Two problems – Katie’s ex got legal custody of Peanut in the divorce, along with the converted VW van which is the only vehicle Peanut can willingly ride in. The ex-husband’s new wife discarded the old dog while hubby was out of town. He refuses to intervene, so the solution is, as Katie sees it, the girls will steal the van – the key is always under the floor mat – rescue Peanut from the shelter, obtain insulin and syringes, and drive Peanut home to Wisconsin. He is really all Katie wants to make her days brighter as she again fights for her life. Who could tell her ‘no’?
The first step out of the box, Charlie is no longer being held at the shelter in L.A. Instead, he has been transferred to a no-kill shelter in Utah, one that can better handle his medical needs. And then the ladies meet Holly. Things could get pretty dicey.
Judith Knight –
I read *a lot* of books, and some I have reread without even realising…because whilst they were enjoyable they were also forgettable. Somehow I just know this won’t be one of those! I loved this book and read it in two sittings (it would have been one, but darn it…sleep is just so necessary!).
This is a story about friendship, communication, knowing oneself, self-acceptance, letting people in, coping strategies…which sometimes turn out to be less helpful than you had first imagined, and an adventure to rescue a much loved dog. The dog who had been won in the divorce with a narcissistic ex (taking the dog because he could, not because he loved it!); a dog much needed for a sick friend…but more so than that about a journey which was much needed for the friendship of the three women.
I could have been sickly sweet, but it wasn’t, there were nuggets of life wisdom, but not so many to feel like you were being told how to live.
The best thing about this unusual story line was how many times I genuinely laughed out loud…the dynamic between the women in the car was brilliant, and you could just imagine their three completely different characters!
I would thoroughly recommend this book, not just as a throw away summer holiday read, but as one to come back to, to lend, and to make you feel happy and remember what is important about life!
Benu –
This novel brims with heartwarming moments and the familiarity of friendships to which everyone can relate.
I am looking forward to my next book by Garvin!
Amazon Customer –
I can’t remember how I found out about this book but I loved every minute of reading it. I laughed out loud, gasped and cheered this group of four women deal with life challenges in a crazy kaleidoscope of a novel. I can’t wait to read another by this brilliant author.
Sue D –
Three friends since college, two estranged since graduation and one conniving friend. The 2 estranged friends are tasked with going from Wisconsin to California and back to get their friend’s dog. The pick up a third women who indirectly not only helps them rediscover their friendship but find who they can become. I think most women can relate to this story.