The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle

Title: The Life You've Imagined 

Author: Kristina Riggle

Where I got it: Library

Why I read it: I was browsing the new books section and came across it.

Rating: B

GOOD READS DESCRIPTION: 

Is the life you're living all you imagined?

Have you ever asked yourself, "What if??" Here, four women face the decisions of their lifetimes in this stirring and unforgettable novel of love, loss, friendship, and family.

Anna Geneva, a Chicago attorney coping with the death of a cherished friend, returns to her "speck on the map" hometown of Haven to finally come to terms with her mother, the man she left behind, and the road she did not take.

Cami Drayton, Anna's dearest friend from high school, is coming home too, forced by circumstance to move in with her alcoholic father . . . and to confront a dark family secret.

Maeve, Anna's mother, never left Haven, firmly rooted there by her sadness over her abandonment by the husband she desperately loved and the hope that someday he will return to her.

And Amy Rickart—thin, beautiful, and striving for perfection—faces a future with the perfect man . . . but is haunted by the memory of what she used to be.

Kristina Riggle's The Life You've Imagined takes a provocative look at the choices we make—and the courage we must have to change. 

First, let me say that this book is set in the part of Michigan that I am currently living! So, with that said, this books gets a MAJOR kudos! It's set in "Haven", which is actually Grand Haven, Michigan. Kristina Riggle also makes lots of references to Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is where I am currently residing. Kristina is a free-lance author for The Grand Rapids Press, and she mentions Chicago, which is my dream city to live in ( and will be  very soon!) So, as you can tell, this book gets lots of kudos for me! However, I did not realize ANY of this until I started reading the book! Which was pleasant surprise! 

Now, with all of that "petty" stuff aside, the book/story itself was okay. Yes, just okay. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. I felt like a C was too low of a grade, so I went with a B. It was a good story, it kept your attention, but I felt like there wasn't a big enough climax, or enough jaw-dropping surprises to make you go, "WHOA!" or what I usually saying, "Whatttt!?" Hahaha. The other thing that I didn't really like is that the Characters aren't really all that connected. I mean, they are connected, but I felt like at the same time that each person (besides Anna and her mother Maeve) had their own stories in the book. It does tie together to a point where you understand what's going on, but I felt like there should have been more. Does that make sense? 

The sending is a sweet, happy ending. But it could have been more.. what's the word? Shocking? Or rather a, "I didn't see that coming!" Now, don't get me wrong, it's not really a predictable ending, it's just not a surprising one either. 

What I did enjoy about the book/story/plot (aside from what I first mentioned!) is that it does keep your attention, and makes you want to keep turning the pages to see what's going to happen to whom next. You do find yourself routing for the characters, hoping they each get what they're chasing in their lives, and hoping for the best. 

I do recommend the book for a quick, light read if you're trying to get out of a reading slump, or you just want something quick to read. This book is about 300 pages long, however, the chapters are quick so you find yourself literally flying through it. I don't think this book is a go out 5 minutes before the book store closes type book, but it's a book that you may want to look further into and maybe add to your list at a later date. 

My rating: