Defining Me by L.M. BerthiaumeMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I do not read contemporary romance novels usually, other than for reviews as in this case. I think it is because I most often find the characters too self-indulgent, too self-absorbed, even smug and totally unaware of less privileged people in the world. So it was when I read this book and I could not wait to finish it. I found most of it trite and unsurprising – not unexpected I suppose given the book’s title.
There were no characters with whom I could identify and sympathise apart from Isabelle’s children who seemed to be more of an irritation than a loveable gift to her present day self. My thoughts throughout most of the book were usually of the type that says: ‘Oh, get over yourself!’ and ‘Why don’t you just count your blessings and get on with life!’ The level of material comfort and self-satisfaction amongst all of the characters was almost sickening to me.
The time spent in the book about Isabelle’s younger life with Alex, and all of the angst that can often accompany burgeoning love, when one’s highs and lows seem to oscillate around a particular person, was well done. However, it was not enough to make me enjoy the story. All that it did was make me feel sorry once more for Chris and their children.
The inclusion of the awful Covid 19 isolation situations, for everyone in the world, felt cynical and a deliberate device used to attract the attention of the reader. Among other problems for me as a UK reader in their seventh decade, was the frequent use of bad language (such as the f… and mother-f….. words) in the dialogue. While I understand the use of phrases and idioms in speech can help in the cause of authenticity, the inclusion of strong expletives in the conversations of privileged and educated adults seems to me to be most unfortunate. I know it is often a reality in some circles but its use in literature can perpetuate the habit as a norm. Another niggle for me was the number of USA products named in the novel that are not found in other countries. It felt like deliberate ‘product placement’ at times. I am probably wrong about that but it was irritating; for example what on earth is a ‘Gummy’ and why should non-drinkers automatically know the names of so many mixers, cocktails and martinis?
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