Engaging ( )

I’d Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos is a 2020 William Morrow publication.

Uneven- but quick and engrossing read-

The story begins with teenage Ginny- nicknamed- ‘Zinny’ writing out her thoughts in her journal. She a teenager full of confidence and energy. She’s in love, has close friends, and lives her life with gusto. Her home life, though, is troubled. Her mother is not a warm person by any stretch of the imagination and Ginny’s brother, Trevor, is constantly at odds with her.

Fast forward to present day- and we find Ginny married- not to the great love of her life- but to a safe, rather boring man. The bright spot in her life is her teenage daughter, Avery. Her stable existence is shaken up when her dependable husband goes off the rails by having an emotional affair with an eighteen- year- old and loses his job as a result. On top of that, an old secret that Ginny has held close all these years, is threatening to surface again.

Thankfully, Ginny has her friends at the dog park to confide in- but she has no idea how close they are to the very secret she is so terrified will finally be revealed…

I can’t explain why I found myself so caught up in this drama. I read it one sitting despite the over used themes and the flat characterizations.
Avery was the best character as she seemed to have no patience with half-truths or secrets. She was braver than most of the adults in the story, who still held grudges dating back to high school!

The conclusion was a little too pat, but I was happy that everything was wrapped up in such a way that the characters can now move forward knowing the truth, hopefully finding peace, while also grabbing some emotional maturity and learning from past mistakes.

Overall, the writing started out lush, only to become uneven and uninspired. The dialogue is often immature, and the topics are hardly original- oversaturated even at the moment- but I still found myself needing to discover all the secrets and find out how it would work out in the end. Therefore, because the book held my attention despite its flaws I’m giving it three stars. ( )

I was introduced to Marisa de los Santos' work through an advanced copy by #HarperCollins & #NetGalley. This book is a gem! Just the right amount of tension in the plot to hold me til the very end. Loved the characters and the dynamic between their former and present day selves. Her prose is rich and de los Santos navigates the dual timeline seamlessly. Highly recommend #IdGiveAnything ( )

A nice easy read. When they were 18, Zinny as she was called then, and her three friends were torn apart by a tragedy and then a secret. Twenty years later, now called Ginny, she finds again her life being turn apart by scandal. Her concern is for her sixteen years old daughter, Avery. When the four friend reunite the secrets are revealed.

So much is going on here. When the four friends reunite they still seem and sound as if they are 18. Avery, at her young age seems the grown-up. Just didn't sit right with me. All the problems, secrets, a bit soap operish, though they touch on important issues.

The ending though I have to admit was perfect. ( )

I loved this story of high school friends 20 years later, looking back at a traumatic shared experience and how it changed their relationship dynamics. There's also a deep family drama in here. I really liked this, even though I saw the end coming.

This author never fails to hold my attention.

Thank you to Library Thing Early Reviewers program and William Morrow books for the review copy. ( )