Book Review: Anything for You by Kristan Higgins
I have mixed feelings about this book. I’ve noted that several reviewers did not like the fact that the characters’ past history was so prominent and felt that it pulled them out of the story. For me, that was not an issue because I felt that this was central to understanding the driving force behind the hero and heroine’s actions and without it, their present behavior would not be credible.
***Spoilers***
Jessica Dunn and her brother, Davey, who has fetal alcohol syndrome, had a difficult upbringing with negligent alcoholic parents. Trying to care for her brother in high school, Jessica traded sex for protection of her brother, earning her a bad reputation. Over the years, Jessica managed to work her way of out of poverty and into modest middle class and respectability, all while continuing to care for her brother. Her brother, incidentally, happens to hate the hero, Connor.
Connor O’Rourke has been in love with Jessica since he was 12 years old. Their on again-off again relationship has been going on for a decade, with Jessica calling the shots and setting down the ground rules, all of which Connor has accepted. These rules all revolve around Jessica’s brother and, to his credit, Connor respects her and her relationship with her brother.
***End Spoilers***
I felt the story was well written and the characters complex, as were the situations and background. The dialogue, particularly that which occurs between Connor and his twin sister, Colleen, is enjoyable. All of the motivations and past experiences made the characters’ reactions and emotions believable and wonderfully complicated.
That being said, I did feel Jessica’s treatment of Connor was often unfair, and the fact that he allowed that to happen for a decade, strained my credibility to some degree. There was clear character growth on the part of Jessica, however, which allowed me to overlook that aspect of the book.
Overall, the book is a good read, enough to override my frustrations with the tale. I think it would have worked a little better for me had this not been drawn out over a decade and occurred within a shorter time span.
***Spoilers***
Jessica Dunn and her brother, Davey, who has fetal alcohol syndrome, had a difficult upbringing with negligent alcoholic parents. Trying to care for her brother in high school, Jessica traded sex for protection of her brother, earning her a bad reputation. Over the years, Jessica managed to work her way of out of poverty and into modest middle class and respectability, all while continuing to care for her brother. Her brother, incidentally, happens to hate the hero, Connor.
Connor O’Rourke has been in love with Jessica since he was 12 years old. Their on again-off again relationship has been going on for a decade, with Jessica calling the shots and setting down the ground rules, all of which Connor has accepted. These rules all revolve around Jessica’s brother and, to his credit, Connor respects her and her relationship with her brother.
***End Spoilers***
I felt the story was well written and the characters complex, as were the situations and background. The dialogue, particularly that which occurs between Connor and his twin sister, Colleen, is enjoyable. All of the motivations and past experiences made the characters’ reactions and emotions believable and wonderfully complicated.
That being said, I did feel Jessica’s treatment of Connor was often unfair, and the fact that he allowed that to happen for a decade, strained my credibility to some degree. There was clear character growth on the part of Jessica, however, which allowed me to overlook that aspect of the book.
Overall, the book is a good read, enough to override my frustrations with the tale. I think it would have worked a little better for me had this not been drawn out over a decade and occurred within a shorter time span.
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