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This Is Not How It Ends
From USA Today bestselling author Rochelle B. Weinstein comes a moving novel of hearts lost and found, and of one woman torn between two love stories.
When Charlotte and Philip meet, the pair form a deep and instant connection. Soon they’re settled in the Florida Keys with plans to marry. But just as they should be getting closer, Charlotte feels Philip slipping away.
Second-guessing their love is something Charlotte never imagined, but with Philip’s excessive absences, she finds herself yearning for more. When she meets Ben, she ignores the pull, but the supportive single dad is there for her in ways she never knew she desired. Soon Charlotte finds herself torn between the love she thought she wanted and the one she knows she needs.
As a hurricane passes through Islamorada, stunning revelations challenge Charlotte’s loyalties and upend her life. Forced to reexamine the choices she’s made, and has yet to make, Charlotte embarks on an emotional journey of friendship, love, and sacrifice—knowing that forgiveness is a gift, and the best-laid plans can change in a heartbeat.
This Is Not How It Ends is a tender, moving story of heartbreak and healing that asks the Which takes more courage—holding on or letting go?
When Charlotte and Philip meet, the pair form a deep and instant connection. Soon they’re settled in the Florida Keys with plans to marry. But just as they should be getting closer, Charlotte feels Philip slipping away.
Second-guessing their love is something Charlotte never imagined, but with Philip’s excessive absences, she finds herself yearning for more. When she meets Ben, she ignores the pull, but the supportive single dad is there for her in ways she never knew she desired. Soon Charlotte finds herself torn between the love she thought she wanted and the one she knows she needs.
As a hurricane passes through Islamorada, stunning revelations challenge Charlotte’s loyalties and upend her life. Forced to reexamine the choices she’s made, and has yet to make, Charlotte embarks on an emotional journey of friendship, love, and sacrifice—knowing that forgiveness is a gift, and the best-laid plans can change in a heartbeat.
This Is Not How It Ends is a tender, moving story of heartbreak and healing that asks the Which takes more courage—holding on or letting go?
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
15118 people are currently reading
26349 people want to read
About the author
Rochelle B. Weinstein
8 books1,856 followersRochelle B. Weinstein is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple contemporary fiction novels, most recently We Are Made of Stars. Her work has been featured in People, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, Country Living, Woman’s Day, Woman’s World, First for Women, Kveller, Totally Booked with Zibby, BookBub, and more. Rochelle is the book columnist for AQUA Magazine and a frequent speaker and workshop instructor. A former entertainment industry executive and NBC-6 Miami book correspondent, Rochelle splits her time between South Florida and the mountains of North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,682 reviews
July 11, 2021
NO SPOILERS.... only a few teasers....
This is the fifth book I’ve read by Rochelle B Weinstein.
Her books - [contemporary/poignant/ heartfelt] - speak to us. None of her books are overly depressive or overly fluffy. She writes smart emotionally - thought-provoking novels that challenge us to look at our relationships with ruthless honesty- displaying an innate understanding of human emotions.
Her characters are so real....it’s hard to let them go.
“This Is Not How It Ends” begins July 2018, *Present Day*...Islamorada, Florida.
The ‘very’ beginning - Chapter 1 - opens - with an expert worth reading more than once.....allowing us to ponder deliberate choices we’ve made in life - and those we haven’t.
“I’ve heard it said that life is about choices. Paths stretch out ahead of us— sometimes, we make conscious decisions and other times, fate intervenes and chooses for us. Had I known my life was about to take a sharp turn in those early hours of morning, I might have walked Sunny in a different direction”.
What follows - is a gripping opening scene - when Charlotte Myers sees a young boy named Jimmy, about 9 years old - ( his dad, Ben’s back was turned shopping for groceries). Jimmy appeared to be gasping - clutching his neck - then fell to the ground. Charlotte, a complete stranger at the time, shared a life & death moment with Jimmy and Ben Hearst.
Chapter 2 ...May 2016, *Back Then*,.....
takes us on a fun flirty flight on United Airlines, Miami Florida, to Kansas City, Missouri , Fight 517, when Charlotte Myers, 30 years of age, and Philip Stafford, 40 years of age, meet in row 13 - seats C and D
The dialogue was playful and fascinating between Charlotte and Philip....and we begin to know them both.
Philip: British - wealthy - handsome - ( looks like the men on Game of Thrones with dangerous sexy eyes), arrogant, cocky, and acted entitled ‘at first’, when he lost his first class seating due to a plane change - but soon redeemed himself by buying the entire flight of passengers drinks to make up for his prior shameless- rude behavior.
He was also definitely interested - flirting with Charlotte.
Charlotte: taught High School Honors English.....Kansas City girl.....was flying back home after attending a seminar in Miami. She was watching a remake of the movie *Endless Love*. Her students were reading the book.
Charlotte tells Philip that one of her students brilliantly exposed the theory of “wanting what you can’t have”.
“There was an allure to meeting someone on a plane, sharing a brief moment in time, knowing your paths may never cross again”.....
Ha....but the intriguing conversation that Philip and Charlotte shared about “Forbidden fruit”, their love-talk-about a ‘happily- ever- after- hypothesis was too good —- that we knew this couple would meet again.
We also know .... all the above characters will intertwine: Charlotte, Philip, Ben, ( sometimes called Goose), Jimmy, and Sunny, ( Charlottes Dog) ......
There are other wonderful minor characters, too....the type of minor characters who contribute major wisdom: Mom, ( Momism’s), dad, ( life lessons) , Liberty, ( a committed friend who’s dedicated to supporting health and wellness)...
OTHER MINOR characters include environmental elements —sweltering hot humid days in “The Keys” - the homes - (with names)- in Islamorada - a love shack - a Hurricane: Hurricane Kelsie.
Brett playing music by favorite artists: James Taylor, The Eagles, and Don Henley.
Delicious foods, natural beauty and styles,....
Serious topics are explored - pancreatic cancer, severe allergies, abandonment, ......
along with the big themes: love, loss, dying & death, friendships, boundaries, morality, choices we make or not, hurt, regret, betrayal, fears, sadness, risks, mistakes we make, courage, assumptions, our vulnerability, our worthiness, forgiveness, and healing.
“This is Not How it Ends”, weaves a heartfelt exploration of love and the choices we make - told in alternating timelines: Present Day, and back then ( as examples in Chapter 1 and 2).
SO MUCH TO ENJOY in this packed-filled novel.....every sentence is an experience.....dealing with issues of the heart.
But the 3 dominate characters - 2 strong successful men and 1 passionate exceptional woman ....plucks the raw nerves of love and the forbidden with rewarding psychological depth.....
with storytelling skill!!!
Radiant and pristine....a book to read, absorbed, and discuss!!!!
Highly recommended!!!!
Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Rochelle B. Weinstein. ( I love love love her novels)... the author is a gem of a human being, too....which certainly shows up in writing!!!
A powerful excerpt:
“Loss didn’t discriminate, it was a game of chance. Like Love. And sometimes even love lead to isolation. Loneliness, by definition, is a solitary experience, but I learned painfully fast how loneliness travels through skin and body and binds you to those with similar hurt”.
This is the fifth book I’ve read by Rochelle B Weinstein.
Her books - [contemporary/poignant/ heartfelt] - speak to us. None of her books are overly depressive or overly fluffy. She writes smart emotionally - thought-provoking novels that challenge us to look at our relationships with ruthless honesty- displaying an innate understanding of human emotions.
Her characters are so real....it’s hard to let them go.
“This Is Not How It Ends” begins July 2018, *Present Day*...Islamorada, Florida.
The ‘very’ beginning - Chapter 1 - opens - with an expert worth reading more than once.....allowing us to ponder deliberate choices we’ve made in life - and those we haven’t.
“I’ve heard it said that life is about choices. Paths stretch out ahead of us— sometimes, we make conscious decisions and other times, fate intervenes and chooses for us. Had I known my life was about to take a sharp turn in those early hours of morning, I might have walked Sunny in a different direction”.
What follows - is a gripping opening scene - when Charlotte Myers sees a young boy named Jimmy, about 9 years old - ( his dad, Ben’s back was turned shopping for groceries). Jimmy appeared to be gasping - clutching his neck - then fell to the ground. Charlotte, a complete stranger at the time, shared a life & death moment with Jimmy and Ben Hearst.
Chapter 2 ...May 2016, *Back Then*,.....
takes us on a fun flirty flight on United Airlines, Miami Florida, to Kansas City, Missouri , Fight 517, when Charlotte Myers, 30 years of age, and Philip Stafford, 40 years of age, meet in row 13 - seats C and D
The dialogue was playful and fascinating between Charlotte and Philip....and we begin to know them both.
Philip: British - wealthy - handsome - ( looks like the men on Game of Thrones with dangerous sexy eyes), arrogant, cocky, and acted entitled ‘at first’, when he lost his first class seating due to a plane change - but soon redeemed himself by buying the entire flight of passengers drinks to make up for his prior shameless- rude behavior.
He was also definitely interested - flirting with Charlotte.
Charlotte: taught High School Honors English.....Kansas City girl.....was flying back home after attending a seminar in Miami. She was watching a remake of the movie *Endless Love*. Her students were reading the book.
Charlotte tells Philip that one of her students brilliantly exposed the theory of “wanting what you can’t have”.
“There was an allure to meeting someone on a plane, sharing a brief moment in time, knowing your paths may never cross again”.....
Ha....but the intriguing conversation that Philip and Charlotte shared about “Forbidden fruit”, their love-talk-about a ‘happily- ever- after- hypothesis was too good —- that we knew this couple would meet again.
We also know .... all the above characters will intertwine: Charlotte, Philip, Ben, ( sometimes called Goose), Jimmy, and Sunny, ( Charlottes Dog) ......
There are other wonderful minor characters, too....the type of minor characters who contribute major wisdom: Mom, ( Momism’s), dad, ( life lessons) , Liberty, ( a committed friend who’s dedicated to supporting health and wellness)...
OTHER MINOR characters include environmental elements —sweltering hot humid days in “The Keys” - the homes - (with names)- in Islamorada - a love shack - a Hurricane: Hurricane Kelsie.
Brett playing music by favorite artists: James Taylor, The Eagles, and Don Henley.
Delicious foods, natural beauty and styles,....
Serious topics are explored - pancreatic cancer, severe allergies, abandonment, ......
along with the big themes: love, loss, dying & death, friendships, boundaries, morality, choices we make or not, hurt, regret, betrayal, fears, sadness, risks, mistakes we make, courage, assumptions, our vulnerability, our worthiness, forgiveness, and healing.
“This is Not How it Ends”, weaves a heartfelt exploration of love and the choices we make - told in alternating timelines: Present Day, and back then ( as examples in Chapter 1 and 2).
SO MUCH TO ENJOY in this packed-filled novel.....every sentence is an experience.....dealing with issues of the heart.
But the 3 dominate characters - 2 strong successful men and 1 passionate exceptional woman ....plucks the raw nerves of love and the forbidden with rewarding psychological depth.....
with storytelling skill!!!
Radiant and pristine....a book to read, absorbed, and discuss!!!!
Highly recommended!!!!
Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Rochelle B. Weinstein. ( I love love love her novels)... the author is a gem of a human being, too....which certainly shows up in writing!!!
A powerful excerpt:
“Loss didn’t discriminate, it was a game of chance. Like Love. And sometimes even love lead to isolation. Loneliness, by definition, is a solitary experience, but I learned painfully fast how loneliness travels through skin and body and binds you to those with similar hurt”.
January 13, 2020
The marketing copy lied. I disliked this book so much it actually made me a little angry. From the beginning, Charlotte whines about the distance between her and her wealthy fiancé. There’s the literal distance because he travels all the time, but what troubles her is the metaphoric distance that takes place even when he’s at home. He buys her presents and takes her out to nice meals, but he refuses to talk about anything serious and he’s always on the phone, often taking calls in the other room and being evasive when she asks questions. We know there’s a problem and we know we’re told this so she can end up with the widower Ben.
I made it to the end (by speed reading while annoyed), which is the nicest thing I can say about this novel. It’s a book you can definitely put down. Even when her mother dies, and we’re told Charlotte is a basketcase, I never actually FEEL it. I don’t feel anything for any of these characters at any time. This is such a slog. Spend your precious time on anything else.
I made it to the end (by speed reading while annoyed), which is the nicest thing I can say about this novel. It’s a book you can definitely put down. Even when her mother dies, and we’re told Charlotte is a basketcase, I never actually FEEL it. I don’t feel anything for any of these characters at any time. This is such a slog. Spend your precious time on anything else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2020
4.5 stars.
This was a really good, emotional read!
Do you believe that everyone gets one chance at happiness and love, or are there multiple opportunities out there for everyone? How you answer that question may influence how you feel about Rochelle Weinstein's newest book, This is Not How it Ends .
Charlotte and Philip meet on a plane. At first his privileged attitude and temper tantrum about not getting his reserved first-class seat irritates her, but his good looks and English wit quickly charm her. Their intense conversation for the entire flight leaves her a bit breathless, but given that he leads a far more glamorous life than she does, she doesn't expect that she'll ever see him again.
But fate has a funny way of intervening, and it's not long before they fall in love and plan a future together. They move to Philip's home in Islamorada on the Florida Keys, and while Philip is often traveling all over the world and spending time on his business interests, she starts building a life for herself. When they are together, their love flourishes, but after a while, Philip's time at home becomes shorter and shorter, and he seems more distracted when he is home.
"Had Philip finally gotten bored with me? Was there someone else? Could the ring have been a mistake? The physical distance I could live with, I had lived with, but the emotional distance was something else. I couldn't get him to connect."
Charlotte starts yearning for more than Philip can give her. And then one day, she meets Ben, a handsome single dad, and his young soon, Jimmy, and she starts to realize what it's like to feel needed, to feel constantly cared about and cared for. She fights her attraction to Ben despite the amount of time they spend together (partially because Philip pushes Ben to teach Charlotte how to cook).
When a hurricane passes through Islamorada and Philip is away, Charlotte spends the night at Ben and Jimmy's house, and the storm causes her to reexamine her desires and begin to hope for a different future. But then an unexpected discovery changes the course of her life again, and she decides to make sacrifices for others instead of following her heart. It's a path on which she'll experience some of the highest highs and the lowest lows.
"Each of us felt loss, whether it was through a seed planted inside or one nearby that took root and grew. Loss didn't discriminate, it was a game of chance. Like love. And sometimes even love led to isolation. Loneliness, by definition, is a solitary experience, but I learned painfully fast how loneliness travels through skin and body and binds you to those with similar hurt."
This was a beautifully told, poignant story, and I was hooked from the very beginning. While I saw certain things coming before the characters did (it's amazing how oblivious people can be to things which are right in front of them), I still enjoyed this book immensely. This made me feel a range of emotions, but the book never felt contrived or manipulative in any way.
I really enjoyed these characters, and would love to see what came next for them. That, to me, is the mark of a memorable and fantastic book.
Get Red PR and Lake Union Publishing provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
This was a really good, emotional read!
Do you believe that everyone gets one chance at happiness and love, or are there multiple opportunities out there for everyone? How you answer that question may influence how you feel about Rochelle Weinstein's newest book, This is Not How it Ends .
Charlotte and Philip meet on a plane. At first his privileged attitude and temper tantrum about not getting his reserved first-class seat irritates her, but his good looks and English wit quickly charm her. Their intense conversation for the entire flight leaves her a bit breathless, but given that he leads a far more glamorous life than she does, she doesn't expect that she'll ever see him again.
But fate has a funny way of intervening, and it's not long before they fall in love and plan a future together. They move to Philip's home in Islamorada on the Florida Keys, and while Philip is often traveling all over the world and spending time on his business interests, she starts building a life for herself. When they are together, their love flourishes, but after a while, Philip's time at home becomes shorter and shorter, and he seems more distracted when he is home.
"Had Philip finally gotten bored with me? Was there someone else? Could the ring have been a mistake? The physical distance I could live with, I had lived with, but the emotional distance was something else. I couldn't get him to connect."
Charlotte starts yearning for more than Philip can give her. And then one day, she meets Ben, a handsome single dad, and his young soon, Jimmy, and she starts to realize what it's like to feel needed, to feel constantly cared about and cared for. She fights her attraction to Ben despite the amount of time they spend together (partially because Philip pushes Ben to teach Charlotte how to cook).
When a hurricane passes through Islamorada and Philip is away, Charlotte spends the night at Ben and Jimmy's house, and the storm causes her to reexamine her desires and begin to hope for a different future. But then an unexpected discovery changes the course of her life again, and she decides to make sacrifices for others instead of following her heart. It's a path on which she'll experience some of the highest highs and the lowest lows.
"Each of us felt loss, whether it was through a seed planted inside or one nearby that took root and grew. Loss didn't discriminate, it was a game of chance. Like love. And sometimes even love led to isolation. Loneliness, by definition, is a solitary experience, but I learned painfully fast how loneliness travels through skin and body and binds you to those with similar hurt."
This was a beautifully told, poignant story, and I was hooked from the very beginning. While I saw certain things coming before the characters did (it's amazing how oblivious people can be to things which are right in front of them), I still enjoyed this book immensely. This made me feel a range of emotions, but the book never felt contrived or manipulative in any way.
I really enjoyed these characters, and would love to see what came next for them. That, to me, is the mark of a memorable and fantastic book.
Get Red PR and Lake Union Publishing provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
January 28, 2020
4 Stars
Love: It's Complicated and Heartbreaking, Yet Oh So Worthwhile.
Charlotte is a woman with a huge capacity for love. Who knew that it would tear her in two?
Charlotte meets enigmatic Phillip on a plane to Kansas City. Though they only share a few hours together, both feel it. Their connection doesn’t happen everyday and it’s only a matter of time before he slips a ring on her finger.
Moving to Florida seems like an easy decision once Charlotte loses the only other person in her life that she cares about besides Phillip.
If only Phillip wasn’t always away on business. If only she didn’t always feel so alone.
Meeting Ben happens by chance. His son Jimmy has an allergic reaction and Charlotte acts fast. As it happens, Phillip and Ben are close friends. Their lives intertwine. Feelings surface and Charlotte is torn. How could she not be?
Nothing is ever that simple.
Admittedly, I had this novel figured out almost immediately and that, I think took a bit away from my enjoyment of it.
That being said, in “This is Not How it Ends” by Rochelle B. Weinstein I was immediately entranced by the character of Charlotte and I could see how both Phillip and Ben were too. Yet I wanted more. I didn’t feel wholly invested in Charlotte and Phillip’s relationship. I felt as though it was missing something - as though it were lacking (even though Phillip was extremely kind, generous and loving and boy was he ever!!), yet I did not feel that way once Ben came into the picture. That felt like the real thing to me and that is when I was all in. Ben got me hook, line and sinker.
Even though I knew what was coming, when the ending came I admit to sobbing like a baby. Thank goodness I had tissues at the ready. Rochelle B. Weinstein, how could you do that to me?!
What more can I say? “This is Not How It Ends” is a novel I took a chance on simply because I saw stellar reviews from friends. The pub date had already passed when I thought about reading it and I debated about it and decided to grab it anyways and boy am I glad I did.
A huge thank you goes out to Jennifer, Berit and Mackenzie for convincing me that I need to read this.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Rochelle B. Weinstein for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 1.28.20.
Love: It's Complicated and Heartbreaking, Yet Oh So Worthwhile.
Charlotte is a woman with a huge capacity for love. Who knew that it would tear her in two?
Charlotte meets enigmatic Phillip on a plane to Kansas City. Though they only share a few hours together, both feel it. Their connection doesn’t happen everyday and it’s only a matter of time before he slips a ring on her finger.
Moving to Florida seems like an easy decision once Charlotte loses the only other person in her life that she cares about besides Phillip.
If only Phillip wasn’t always away on business. If only she didn’t always feel so alone.
Meeting Ben happens by chance. His son Jimmy has an allergic reaction and Charlotte acts fast. As it happens, Phillip and Ben are close friends. Their lives intertwine. Feelings surface and Charlotte is torn. How could she not be?
Nothing is ever that simple.
Admittedly, I had this novel figured out almost immediately and that, I think took a bit away from my enjoyment of it.
That being said, in “This is Not How it Ends” by Rochelle B. Weinstein I was immediately entranced by the character of Charlotte and I could see how both Phillip and Ben were too. Yet I wanted more. I didn’t feel wholly invested in Charlotte and Phillip’s relationship. I felt as though it was missing something - as though it were lacking (even though Phillip was extremely kind, generous and loving and boy was he ever!!), yet I did not feel that way once Ben came into the picture. That felt like the real thing to me and that is when I was all in. Ben got me hook, line and sinker.
Even though I knew what was coming, when the ending came I admit to sobbing like a baby. Thank goodness I had tissues at the ready. Rochelle B. Weinstein, how could you do that to me?!
What more can I say? “This is Not How It Ends” is a novel I took a chance on simply because I saw stellar reviews from friends. The pub date had already passed when I thought about reading it and I debated about it and decided to grab it anyways and boy am I glad I did.
A huge thank you goes out to Jennifer, Berit and Mackenzie for convincing me that I need to read this.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Rochelle B. Weinstein for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 1.28.20.
February 15, 2020
“Which takes more courage...holding on or letting go?”
An interesting conundrum.
So, with this question posed in the synopsis, and many glowing reviews, I decided to give this book a try.
Although I sometimes enjoy contemporary Women’s fiction, or romantic comedy, this is your more “TRADITIONAL ROMANCE”....very “Nicolas Sparks” like...a bit sappy, a bit melodramatic, and a bit predictable.
IF you enjoy that type of romance, and I am not knocking anyone who does....this book will probably work for you!
But, unfortunately, I do not..so I was not the right reader for this book..and it was a MISS for me.
Thanks to DeAnn for another buddy read! Hopefully the next one we choose will be less introspective, and more surprising! 🤞🏻
An interesting conundrum.
So, with this question posed in the synopsis, and many glowing reviews, I decided to give this book a try.
Although I sometimes enjoy contemporary Women’s fiction, or romantic comedy, this is your more “TRADITIONAL ROMANCE”....very “Nicolas Sparks” like...a bit sappy, a bit melodramatic, and a bit predictable.
IF you enjoy that type of romance, and I am not knocking anyone who does....this book will probably work for you!
But, unfortunately, I do not..so I was not the right reader for this book..and it was a MISS for me.
Thanks to DeAnn for another buddy read! Hopefully the next one we choose will be less introspective, and more surprising! 🤞🏻
September 20, 2023
This was one of those character-driven stories that you would probably enjoy if you like all your characters a little bit unusual and not always likeable, but definitely relatable, which I do! Charlotte is at an odd place in her life when she meets Phillip, a much older man, who romances her, but is it the right romance for her? And when she’s engaged and a new guy comes along, what does she do? As a bonus, this had SUCH a cute golden retriever, Sunny!!
December 16, 2019
I quite enjoyed Rochelle Weinstein’s last book, Somebody’s Daughter, so I was eager to get my hands on This Is Not How It Ends. I even took it with me to the beach when it was more temperate, and it was perfect for that setting, though it can be read anywhere.
Charlotte and Phillip live in the Florida Keys and plan to marry. As they get closer, Phillip begins to pull away. More and more, Charlotte begins to doubt him and his love for her. Then, she meets Ben, and she fights her connection to him.
A hurricane hits the Keys, as they so often do. Charlotte’s life is knocked off kilter even more. She must discover who and what she wants most. This is a tender love story with tragedy and hope.
Overall, I loved Weinstein’s smooth writing and engaging storytelling, and this was a quick, warmhearted read that lifted me up.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Charlotte and Phillip live in the Florida Keys and plan to marry. As they get closer, Phillip begins to pull away. More and more, Charlotte begins to doubt him and his love for her. Then, she meets Ben, and she fights her connection to him.
A hurricane hits the Keys, as they so often do. Charlotte’s life is knocked off kilter even more. She must discover who and what she wants most. This is a tender love story with tragedy and hope.
Overall, I loved Weinstein’s smooth writing and engaging storytelling, and this was a quick, warmhearted read that lifted me up.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
December 31, 2019
🏆 One of my top reads of 2019!
What an exquisite story! Raw, riveting, emotional, and thought provoking. Rochelle B. Weinstein has written an evocative tale that ripped at my heart strings. Philip and Charlotte have a meet cute when they are seated next to one another on a plane from Miami to Kansas City. They have an instant connection and soon begin an intense romance. FlashForward several years, the couple is now living in the Florida Keys. Philip is constantly traveling for work and the distance is wearing on Charlotte. One day Charlotte has a chance encounter with Ben a single father in the grocery store. Charlotte could feel the pole she has towards Ben. BUT Charlotte loves Philip and it’s even more complicated than that, because come to find out that Ben and Philip are old friends. The book however was so much more than a love triangle. It was a real honest look into these character’s emotionss. It was real, authentic, gripping, complex, tender, shattering, hopeful, and brilliant. These characters made me smile, they made me cry, they made me angry, they tore my heart apart and then put it back together.
The story bounces between past and present. I thought this was tremendously impactful, because we really got to see Charlotte and Phillip’s relationship develop. We also were privy to past events that ultimately shaped their present relationship. Charlotte, Philip, and Ben were all good people. Good people who didn’t always make the best choices. There were some moral issues in this book that really gave me a lot to think about. Still not entirely sure how I feel about it but this was not my story it was theirs. This is a book that will stick with me for a long time. A book with all the feels and the most perfect emotional ending.
This book in emojis. ✈️ 🏖 💍 👨🏻🍳 👨🏻💼 🐶 🌊 💔 😢
*** Big thanks to Lake Union for my copy of this book ***
What an exquisite story! Raw, riveting, emotional, and thought provoking. Rochelle B. Weinstein has written an evocative tale that ripped at my heart strings. Philip and Charlotte have a meet cute when they are seated next to one another on a plane from Miami to Kansas City. They have an instant connection and soon begin an intense romance. FlashForward several years, the couple is now living in the Florida Keys. Philip is constantly traveling for work and the distance is wearing on Charlotte. One day Charlotte has a chance encounter with Ben a single father in the grocery store. Charlotte could feel the pole she has towards Ben. BUT Charlotte loves Philip and it’s even more complicated than that, because come to find out that Ben and Philip are old friends. The book however was so much more than a love triangle. It was a real honest look into these character’s emotionss. It was real, authentic, gripping, complex, tender, shattering, hopeful, and brilliant. These characters made me smile, they made me cry, they made me angry, they tore my heart apart and then put it back together.
The story bounces between past and present. I thought this was tremendously impactful, because we really got to see Charlotte and Phillip’s relationship develop. We also were privy to past events that ultimately shaped their present relationship. Charlotte, Philip, and Ben were all good people. Good people who didn’t always make the best choices. There were some moral issues in this book that really gave me a lot to think about. Still not entirely sure how I feel about it but this was not my story it was theirs. This is a book that will stick with me for a long time. A book with all the feels and the most perfect emotional ending.
This book in emojis. ✈️ 🏖 💍 👨🏻🍳 👨🏻💼 🐶 🌊 💔 😢
*** Big thanks to Lake Union for my copy of this book ***
November 14, 2019
This Is Not How It Ends is not a book I would normally read, but I decided to get out of my comfort zone and WOW, this was just way too emotional for me (in a good way!).Rochelle B. Weinstein wrote a beautiful, emotionally charged, and highly addictive story. I fell in love with all the characters and I found them very relatable. I felt with them and their stories made me re-think many things in my own personal life. The story was written in beautiful prose and I found myself re-reading few of the passages to fully grasp the depth of the words I have just read. Even though the plot was predictable, I could not stop reading this novel. I read this book in 24 hours, and I cried...oh how I cried.
I am looking forward to reading more books from this author, however now I will be more emotionally prepared for each one of them before I dive into reading (or at least I will try to prepare myself for the emotional roller-coaster).
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I am looking forward to reading more books from this author, however now I will be more emotionally prepared for each one of them before I dive into reading (or at least I will try to prepare myself for the emotional roller-coaster).
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 28, 2021
Charlotte Meyers meets slightly older Philip Stafford on a plane, she’s a high school teacher from Kansas, and Philip’s a globetrotting business man. Philip’s rather keen on Charlotte, they buy a house together in Florida Keys, and Philip gets her a dog Sunny to keep her company. With Philip being away as often as he is, Charlotte’s feeling restless, despite being engaged and they haven’t set a date for the wedding.
She meets Ben and his son Jimmy, he’s a single father and she helps him during a medical emergency. Philip has a friend he calls Goose, Charlotte has never met the restaurant owner, and she’s shocked to discover its Ben. Philip’s away when a hurricane is quickly approaching Islamorada, Charlotte's scared and not at all prepared. Ben thinks she should stay with him, Philip agrees, they spend the evening playing board games and hoping the roof doesn’t blow off.
Ben and Charlotte feel a real connection, if she wasn’t with Philip, she could easily fall in love with his best friend, and she feels terribly guilty. The day after the storm, Charlotte discovers, Philip’s been keeping a devastating secret from her and he’s very sick.
This Is Not How It Ends by Rochelle B. Weinstein is a heartbreaking story, about friendship, commitment, love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. I couldn’t stop reading the book, I was emotionally invested in the characters, and by the end I was a sobbing mess. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, fans of JoJo Moyes might also like this book, and five stars from me.
She meets Ben and his son Jimmy, he’s a single father and she helps him during a medical emergency. Philip has a friend he calls Goose, Charlotte has never met the restaurant owner, and she’s shocked to discover its Ben. Philip’s away when a hurricane is quickly approaching Islamorada, Charlotte's scared and not at all prepared. Ben thinks she should stay with him, Philip agrees, they spend the evening playing board games and hoping the roof doesn’t blow off.
Ben and Charlotte feel a real connection, if she wasn’t with Philip, she could easily fall in love with his best friend, and she feels terribly guilty. The day after the storm, Charlotte discovers, Philip’s been keeping a devastating secret from her and he’s very sick.
This Is Not How It Ends by Rochelle B. Weinstein is a heartbreaking story, about friendship, commitment, love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. I couldn’t stop reading the book, I was emotionally invested in the characters, and by the end I was a sobbing mess. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, fans of JoJo Moyes might also like this book, and five stars from me.
November 21, 2019
A woman torn between the love she feels now and the love that was always there for her before. In an emotional novel of forgiveness and being true to ourselves, Rochelle B. Weinstein explores the intricacy of love and how we move forward as relationships evolve. A beautiful novel that will pull you in.
I found this to be a very emotional book to read. And while it may not be like this for everyone, this one definitely made me cry a few times. It’s a credit to Rochelle Weinstein’s writing that she drew characters and a story that hit me in a very raw way. The characters themselves feel very authentic and I found them to be relateable. I didn’t really find any character to be good or bad, which was important to understanding the challenges that come with this type of situation.
The book shows Charlotte and Phillip from the moment they meet on a flight through their relocation to the Florida Keys, their engagement, and beyond. I really enjoyed the way this was written. The story wove back and forth in time so we got to see their instant connection and then where they are now that they have moved and things aren’t as simple as they were when they first met. Back then, it was all spark and discovering one another.
The way Charlotte experienced Phillip seeming to pull away from the relationship was also very real. I thought that the evolution of the circumstances that allowed Charlotte to begin to feel drawn to Ben, while still holding onto her love for Phillip was so subtle that I became completely immersed in the events unfolding. I understood how emotions can deepen without someone meaning for them to. I understood how a break down in communication over an extended time can deeply impact a relationship.
I also understood how all three of these people did things that were not okay. None of them is the hero or the villain. These are just people who make mistakes and who feel things that they may not have intended to. That’s what I mean when I say that I found it raw and authentic. This was a deeply touching story and one that it was hard to not get pulled into and feel as though it were happening to you instead of to the characters in a book.
A beautiful story of friendship, forgiveness, imperfection, and ultimately discovering what you value. I loved the theme of not just learning to let go, but even before that how you decide whether to hold on or to let go.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for my copy. Opinions are my own.
I found this to be a very emotional book to read. And while it may not be like this for everyone, this one definitely made me cry a few times. It’s a credit to Rochelle Weinstein’s writing that she drew characters and a story that hit me in a very raw way. The characters themselves feel very authentic and I found them to be relateable. I didn’t really find any character to be good or bad, which was important to understanding the challenges that come with this type of situation.
The book shows Charlotte and Phillip from the moment they meet on a flight through their relocation to the Florida Keys, their engagement, and beyond. I really enjoyed the way this was written. The story wove back and forth in time so we got to see their instant connection and then where they are now that they have moved and things aren’t as simple as they were when they first met. Back then, it was all spark and discovering one another.
The way Charlotte experienced Phillip seeming to pull away from the relationship was also very real. I thought that the evolution of the circumstances that allowed Charlotte to begin to feel drawn to Ben, while still holding onto her love for Phillip was so subtle that I became completely immersed in the events unfolding. I understood how emotions can deepen without someone meaning for them to. I understood how a break down in communication over an extended time can deeply impact a relationship.
I also understood how all three of these people did things that were not okay. None of them is the hero or the villain. These are just people who make mistakes and who feel things that they may not have intended to. That’s what I mean when I say that I found it raw and authentic. This was a deeply touching story and one that it was hard to not get pulled into and feel as though it were happening to you instead of to the characters in a book.
A beautiful story of friendship, forgiveness, imperfection, and ultimately discovering what you value. I loved the theme of not just learning to let go, but even before that how you decide whether to hold on or to let go.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for my copy. Opinions are my own.
October 13, 2019
A beautiful and emotional story of friendship, love, loss and forgiveness.
SUMMARY
Charlotte and Phillip are accidental seatmates on a flight from Miami to Kansas City. By the end of the flight sparks are flying. Together they moved to the Florida Keys with plans to marry. But just as they should be planning their wedding Charlotte feels as if Phillip is slipping away. Philip’s constant traveling and excessive absences has her wondering if this is really what she wants in a relationship. When Charlotte meets Ben, Phillip’s, best friend a close friendship naturally develops. She tries to ignore the pull between the two of them but a hurricane drives them together and challenges both of their their loyalties.
REVIEW
THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS is a beautiful and emotional story of friendship, love, loss and forgiveness. It’s women fiction with great and highly relatable characters. You’ll fall in love with them all...Charlotte, Phillip, Ben, Billy and even Sunny. The storylines are creatively intertwined
Author ROCHELLE WEINSTEIN’s writing is brilliantly plotted and full of emotional storms. It’s a gem of a novel you don’t want to miss. The very beginning of the story grabs you with this lyrical statement from Charlotte...“I’ve heard it said that life is about choices. Paths stretch out ahead of us—sometimes we make conscious decisions and other times, fate intervenes and choose for us.” I loved this statement when I read it in the first chapter. And then I fell in love with it again at the end of the book. It’s is the epitome of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Lake Union
Published January 1, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
Charlotte and Phillip are accidental seatmates on a flight from Miami to Kansas City. By the end of the flight sparks are flying. Together they moved to the Florida Keys with plans to marry. But just as they should be planning their wedding Charlotte feels as if Phillip is slipping away. Philip’s constant traveling and excessive absences has her wondering if this is really what she wants in a relationship. When Charlotte meets Ben, Phillip’s, best friend a close friendship naturally develops. She tries to ignore the pull between the two of them but a hurricane drives them together and challenges both of their their loyalties.
REVIEW
THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS is a beautiful and emotional story of friendship, love, loss and forgiveness. It’s women fiction with great and highly relatable characters. You’ll fall in love with them all...Charlotte, Phillip, Ben, Billy and even Sunny. The storylines are creatively intertwined
Author ROCHELLE WEINSTEIN’s writing is brilliantly plotted and full of emotional storms. It’s a gem of a novel you don’t want to miss. The very beginning of the story grabs you with this lyrical statement from Charlotte...“I’ve heard it said that life is about choices. Paths stretch out ahead of us—sometimes we make conscious decisions and other times, fate intervenes and choose for us.” I loved this statement when I read it in the first chapter. And then I fell in love with it again at the end of the book. It’s is the epitome of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Lake Union
Published January 1, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
December 31, 2019
When was the last time you cried after reading an amazing story?
Weinstein pulled every string I had in my heart and in my gut for the most beautiful and unpredictable story about three lives interwoven into a remarkable story about love and friendships, guilt and loss, and mistakes and forgiveness. I absolutely thought the storytelling to be brilliant with amazing casts of characters. I was sucked in to the story from the first two chapters and did not want this to end at all.
What a fantastic read and highly recommend!!!
All the stars in the world for this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Weinstein pulled every string I had in my heart and in my gut for the most beautiful and unpredictable story about three lives interwoven into a remarkable story about love and friendships, guilt and loss, and mistakes and forgiveness. I absolutely thought the storytelling to be brilliant with amazing casts of characters. I was sucked in to the story from the first two chapters and did not want this to end at all.
What a fantastic read and highly recommend!!!
All the stars in the world for this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 30, 2019
So many damn tears. Sad tears, happy tears, heart-broken and heart-overflowing tears. This is Not How it Ends is a tremendously moving story of love, loss, sacrifice, honor, family, friendship, healing, acceptance, first and second chances, doing the right thing for the wrong reasons and the wrong thing for the right reasons. There is so much packed into these pages. I feel so much right now. I mostly feel wrung out, yet hopeful and happy. For those with triggers, there is illness and loss inside. If you can weather through that, I promise you will come through with tears in your eyes but hope in your heart, just like I did.
February 1, 2020
This book was not for me. I’ve seen a lot of great reviews and think I’m in the minority here - but wanted to share a review with spoilers and content warnings.
From the description of the book - I thought I was settling in for a love triangle. Charlotte and Philip are engaged but have been drifting apart, he travels a lot for work and is gone for long periods of time. While he’s away she meets Ben, a single dad who is around and available in a way Philip isn’t. What will she choose?
So - that’s the description I came in with. However right from the start in a flashback when we saw Charlotte meet Philip - I didn’t like him at all. The first scene was him being a jerk on a plane. We continue to see him throw around how much money he has and use his “charms” on women. And the whole time I was thinking ok - we are supposed to think Charlotte is ignoring all these red flags because she’s infatuated.
When Charlotte meets Ben, we quickly learn that Ben and Philip are actually good friends. Ben is a good guy and the one character in the story I actually like. There are plenty of signs that Philip is sick - she calls him and hears hospital noises in the background, he’s losing weight, he shaves his head - and despite Charlotte recently losing her mom to cancer, she is oblivious and misses all signs that Philip is sick. I don’t know - because she’s too distracted feeling torn between Philip and Ben? But why even??
A hurricane comes while Philip is away and Charlotte hasn’t even gotten herself food and water because...she was waiting for Philip to get there first? Why? She’s a grownup woman. She’s 33. She has the news. Take care of yourself. But she hasn’t so has to go stay with Ben. Naturally that’s when things cross a line and she gets romantically involved with Ben. And the next morning when her phone is back on learns that Philip is in the hospital. She goes to him and FINALLY learns that he’s sick - pancreatic cancer just like her mom and he’s refusing treatment. So she tells Ben their night together was just a dumb mistake and she marries Philip and then he dies. This is all supposed to be very dramatic and emotional I guess.
Ben decides to move away after this and is moving on with someone else even though he says he loves Charlotte and would do anything for her. Then Charlotte finds a letter from Philip that it was his intention all along for her and Ben to get together. So it’s been 6 months since Philip died and she goes to NY to find Ben and be with him. She learns his new restaurant is called TINHIE - tinhie? Oh yeah - for This Is Not How It Ends. Someone at the restaurant tells her Ben is away and she thinks he married Claudia. But OF COURSE it’s a misunderstanding and Ben figures it out and comes to her and they profess their love for each other.
There is also a side story where Charlotte is reunited with her dad who left when she was a kid and she never knew why but it’s because he was gay and fell in love.
Then Charlotte and Ben get married and have twins and name them after Philip and Ben’s wife who passed away before they met.
As I said at the start, I am not the right reader for this book. It was all too overly dramatic, attempting to be overly emotional but I didn’t like most of the characters and really didn’t care.
From the description of the book - I thought I was settling in for a love triangle. Charlotte and Philip are engaged but have been drifting apart, he travels a lot for work and is gone for long periods of time. While he’s away she meets Ben, a single dad who is around and available in a way Philip isn’t. What will she choose?
So - that’s the description I came in with. However right from the start in a flashback when we saw Charlotte meet Philip - I didn’t like him at all. The first scene was him being a jerk on a plane. We continue to see him throw around how much money he has and use his “charms” on women. And the whole time I was thinking ok - we are supposed to think Charlotte is ignoring all these red flags because she’s infatuated.
When Charlotte meets Ben, we quickly learn that Ben and Philip are actually good friends. Ben is a good guy and the one character in the story I actually like. There are plenty of signs that Philip is sick - she calls him and hears hospital noises in the background, he’s losing weight, he shaves his head - and despite Charlotte recently losing her mom to cancer, she is oblivious and misses all signs that Philip is sick. I don’t know - because she’s too distracted feeling torn between Philip and Ben? But why even??
A hurricane comes while Philip is away and Charlotte hasn’t even gotten herself food and water because...she was waiting for Philip to get there first? Why? She’s a grownup woman. She’s 33. She has the news. Take care of yourself. But she hasn’t so has to go stay with Ben. Naturally that’s when things cross a line and she gets romantically involved with Ben. And the next morning when her phone is back on learns that Philip is in the hospital. She goes to him and FINALLY learns that he’s sick - pancreatic cancer just like her mom and he’s refusing treatment. So she tells Ben their night together was just a dumb mistake and she marries Philip and then he dies. This is all supposed to be very dramatic and emotional I guess.
Ben decides to move away after this and is moving on with someone else even though he says he loves Charlotte and would do anything for her. Then Charlotte finds a letter from Philip that it was his intention all along for her and Ben to get together. So it’s been 6 months since Philip died and she goes to NY to find Ben and be with him. She learns his new restaurant is called TINHIE - tinhie? Oh yeah - for This Is Not How It Ends. Someone at the restaurant tells her Ben is away and she thinks he married Claudia. But OF COURSE it’s a misunderstanding and Ben figures it out and comes to her and they profess their love for each other.
There is also a side story where Charlotte is reunited with her dad who left when she was a kid and she never knew why but it’s because he was gay and fell in love.
Then Charlotte and Ben get married and have twins and name them after Philip and Ben’s wife who passed away before they met.
As I said at the start, I am not the right reader for this book. It was all too overly dramatic, attempting to be overly emotional but I didn’t like most of the characters and really didn’t care.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
This is my first read of 2020 that sort of missed the mark for me. It could be because romance is just not my genre - I find so much of it over-the-top cheesy and not true to life. This Is Not How It Ends was almost good though, as it had an intriguing premise, but for me, the characters were rather flat (Phillip was too bigger-than-life, Ben was too boring, Liberty was too bizarre, Jimmy was too allergic, etc.). Simply put, the plot was overly exaggerated and the "twist" was super predictable (it was really the only way to procure the happily-ever-after ending though). There was also a big believability issue in that two unrelated characters, but both closely connected with the protagonist, Charlotte, end up with the exact same, fairly rare, terminal disease? It just didn't work for me.
I will say that the writing itself is anything but cheesy - Weinstein's writing style is actually beautifully poetic with good flow, which makes it easy to get drawn into the story right from the beginning. I think I would have connected more with the story if it hadn't been for the justified cheating and the copious amount of time spent on the “wrong” relationship. It's hard to connect with a plot when so much time is spent focusing on a relationship that you can see from a mile away is doomed to fail. It's actually confusing as Charlotte’s relationship with the wrong guy is really the focal point of the story, making the “right” relationship just a backstory. I couldn’t bring myself to root for Charlotte in any way.
In the end, it's likely that I'm just not the right audience for this book, but it was just meh for me. I would say that if Weinstein ventured outside of the romance genre, I would be keen to read her work, as I truly enjoyed her writing style. This is how it ends for me though - 3 stars.
I will say that the writing itself is anything but cheesy - Weinstein's writing style is actually beautifully poetic with good flow, which makes it easy to get drawn into the story right from the beginning. I think I would have connected more with the story if it hadn't been for the justified cheating and the copious amount of time spent on the “wrong” relationship. It's hard to connect with a plot when so much time is spent focusing on a relationship that you can see from a mile away is doomed to fail. It's actually confusing as Charlotte’s relationship with the wrong guy is really the focal point of the story, making the “right” relationship just a backstory. I couldn’t bring myself to root for Charlotte in any way.
In the end, it's likely that I'm just not the right audience for this book, but it was just meh for me. I would say that if Weinstein ventured outside of the romance genre, I would be keen to read her work, as I truly enjoyed her writing style. This is how it ends for me though - 3 stars.
November 25, 2020
A Lovely Story
This is a story of love, loss and sickness.
I was enthralled by a really good story that was written well with multiple characters and situations woven throughout. Main character Charly expresses all the emotions of loss as well as the pain and the sickness of family and friends.
The book is a very read because it was written well I am followed every word is the story of love and; betrayal; love loss and new love is found.
Personalmy i don’t associate with these characters because I’ve been fortunate enough to have had three girlfriends in my life — I married the last one nd have been married for 48 years. Yet I am wise enough I think to enjoy a good story.
I recommend this book it is very enjoyable
This is a story of love, loss and sickness.
I was enthralled by a really good story that was written well with multiple characters and situations woven throughout. Main character Charly expresses all the emotions of loss as well as the pain and the sickness of family and friends.
The book is a very read because it was written well I am followed every word is the story of love and; betrayal; love loss and new love is found.
Personalmy i don’t associate with these characters because I’ve been fortunate enough to have had three girlfriends in my life — I married the last one nd have been married for 48 years. Yet I am wise enough I think to enjoy a good story.
I recommend this book it is very enjoyable
January 1, 2020
Check out my in-depth Q&A Elevator Ride Interview with one of my favorite authors, Rochelle B. Weinstein. Get all the exclusives and behind-the-scenes moments, as well as fun facts about THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS, and this multi-talented and gifted author.
No one writes “love” stories and tackles highly charged topics better than Rochelle! What a great way to kick off the new year. Set aside the time because once you start reading, you will not be able to put it down. 😎
"Poignant, compelling, emotional, and captivating!
A powerful love story—my favorite since Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook! I would love to see a movie based on the book!" 🎬 (please film in Islamorada). When I discovered the setting was in Islamorada and a bonus —my two favorite restaurants— (Morada Bay and Pierre's) —I was over-the-moon. I was a local and lived in the Keys for several years, and this was a slice of heaven—my favorite spot. (more below on this)
I fell in love with Rochelle's stunning lyrical prose beginning with Where We Fall (Top Books of 2016). I could not wait to read her first two novels—The Mourning After and What We Leave Behind (once again, mesmerizing). Then last year, she wowed us with the emotionally charged Somebody's Daughter (Top Books of 2018). I have been an avid fan since!
A highly anticipated modern love story, THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS is beautifully written (and a "to die for" fabulous cover)! 💕
You will fall in love with Ben, Philip, and Charley (and Sunny). It isn't easy to put into words or adequately convey the true meaning of this extraordinary book. This is not the usual love triangle. It is so much more.
Oh, and that "letter". . . . AHHHHH moment. After reading there will be NO dry eyes. (more on this included in the interview)
Rich in character and place, Rochelle is a master storyteller, and she knocked this one "out of the park!" A must-read for 2020.
Her BEST yet!
* The novel will change you.
* Will make you think and feel.
* You will cry tears of sorrow and joy.
* Unique and memorable in many ways.
* A glowing 5 STARS
* My Top Books of 2020.
What an evocative setting for an exquisite love story.🥰🌴 Thank you, for writing this beautiful story. Rochelle, you were born to write, and your passion is reflective throughout.
If you enjoy authors: Jodi Picoult, T. Greenwood, Diane Chamberlain, Emily Giffin, Patti Callahan Henry, Nicholas Sparks, Charles Martin, Richard Paul Evans, Colleen Hoover, Sally Hepworth, and Catherine Ryan Hyde— you are assured to fall in love with this spellbinding novel and Rochelle's signature style.
If you have not read her books, I highly recommend. She is not afraid to tackle highly-charged emotional topics and balances them with compassion, heart, with a strong sense of place and well-developed memorable characters.
I hope you enjoy THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS, as much as I did!
A special thank you to Lake Union, the author, and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.
#JDCMustReadBooks
On a side note:
My favorite part of the Florida Keys is still to this day, Islamorada! Morada Bay and Pierre's are my favorite restaurants, and you could find me there several times a week when a local.
The view is breathtaking and tranquil. Morada Bay is more casual— you can grab a colorful Adirondack chair, put your feet in the white sand, pull it up to the waterfront, with a book and glass of wine. I have spent many an evening there. On my day off— that is where I would be lost in a story. Heavenly!
Oh, and Pierre's the restaurant next door (more upscale) and fabulous for dinner! It reminds me of Charleston with the outdoor balconies and ferns and a bit of Bermuda. The food is divine, and the atmosphere is lush, tropical, and soothing.
Also, if you are in the area, the cottages are stunning. Also, check out Checca Lodge across the road. This book transported me back to those memorable days. Being in real estate, I was very connected within the community, and one of the reasons this book is so dear to me, among many other things. (i.e., my Epi-Pen, food allergies, alternative medicine, my mom's cancer, etc.).
No one writes “love” stories and tackles highly charged topics better than Rochelle! What a great way to kick off the new year. Set aside the time because once you start reading, you will not be able to put it down. 😎
"Poignant, compelling, emotional, and captivating!
A powerful love story—my favorite since Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook! I would love to see a movie based on the book!" 🎬 (please film in Islamorada). When I discovered the setting was in Islamorada and a bonus —my two favorite restaurants— (Morada Bay and Pierre's) —I was over-the-moon. I was a local and lived in the Keys for several years, and this was a slice of heaven—my favorite spot. (more below on this)
I fell in love with Rochelle's stunning lyrical prose beginning with Where We Fall (Top Books of 2016). I could not wait to read her first two novels—The Mourning After and What We Leave Behind (once again, mesmerizing). Then last year, she wowed us with the emotionally charged Somebody's Daughter (Top Books of 2018). I have been an avid fan since!
A highly anticipated modern love story, THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS is beautifully written (and a "to die for" fabulous cover)! 💕
You will fall in love with Ben, Philip, and Charley (and Sunny). It isn't easy to put into words or adequately convey the true meaning of this extraordinary book. This is not the usual love triangle. It is so much more.
Oh, and that "letter". . . . AHHHHH moment. After reading there will be NO dry eyes. (more on this included in the interview)
Rich in character and place, Rochelle is a master storyteller, and she knocked this one "out of the park!" A must-read for 2020.
Her BEST yet!
* The novel will change you.
* Will make you think and feel.
* You will cry tears of sorrow and joy.
* Unique and memorable in many ways.
* A glowing 5 STARS
* My Top Books of 2020.
What an evocative setting for an exquisite love story.🥰🌴 Thank you, for writing this beautiful story. Rochelle, you were born to write, and your passion is reflective throughout.
If you enjoy authors: Jodi Picoult, T. Greenwood, Diane Chamberlain, Emily Giffin, Patti Callahan Henry, Nicholas Sparks, Charles Martin, Richard Paul Evans, Colleen Hoover, Sally Hepworth, and Catherine Ryan Hyde— you are assured to fall in love with this spellbinding novel and Rochelle's signature style.
If you have not read her books, I highly recommend. She is not afraid to tackle highly-charged emotional topics and balances them with compassion, heart, with a strong sense of place and well-developed memorable characters.
I hope you enjoy THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS, as much as I did!
A special thank you to Lake Union, the author, and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.
#JDCMustReadBooks
On a side note:
My favorite part of the Florida Keys is still to this day, Islamorada! Morada Bay and Pierre's are my favorite restaurants, and you could find me there several times a week when a local.
The view is breathtaking and tranquil. Morada Bay is more casual— you can grab a colorful Adirondack chair, put your feet in the white sand, pull it up to the waterfront, with a book and glass of wine. I have spent many an evening there. On my day off— that is where I would be lost in a story. Heavenly!
Oh, and Pierre's the restaurant next door (more upscale) and fabulous for dinner! It reminds me of Charleston with the outdoor balconies and ferns and a bit of Bermuda. The food is divine, and the atmosphere is lush, tropical, and soothing.
Also, if you are in the area, the cottages are stunning. Also, check out Checca Lodge across the road. This book transported me back to those memorable days. Being in real estate, I was very connected within the community, and one of the reasons this book is so dear to me, among many other things. (i.e., my Epi-Pen, food allergies, alternative medicine, my mom's cancer, etc.).
September 4, 2019
If there is one thing I've learned from reading Rochelle Weinstein's novels, it is that she has a uniquely talented way of creating characters that readers are able to relate to and when she places them in heartbreaking situations, the reader is able to go down that emotional journey with the character, a feat that is certainly not accomplished often.
In her prior novel, Weinstein tackled a tough side of parenting and in This is Not How it Ends, she returns with an exploration into relationship perils. While Charley and Phil should be enjoying their engagement and the happiest time of their lives, Phil's constant absence due to work trouble has Charley leaning on a new friend, a widowed father. Now, you might be thinking - a love triangle, an emotional affair - been there, done that. I'm telling you now - no you have not. And you certainly have not read this story the way Weinstein writes it.
Pick this one up on January 1st and find out just what makes this one the magic it is.
Thank you to Lake Union for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
In her prior novel, Weinstein tackled a tough side of parenting and in This is Not How it Ends, she returns with an exploration into relationship perils. While Charley and Phil should be enjoying their engagement and the happiest time of their lives, Phil's constant absence due to work trouble has Charley leaning on a new friend, a widowed father. Now, you might be thinking - a love triangle, an emotional affair - been there, done that. I'm telling you now - no you have not. And you certainly have not read this story the way Weinstein writes it.
Pick this one up on January 1st and find out just what makes this one the magic it is.
Thank you to Lake Union for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
May 11, 2020
2.5 stars
I’m a sucker for love triangles but not stories that involve death and grief. The good news is that this book delivers on the former....the bad news is that it also delivers on the latter.
Told in the first person, it’s about two people, Phillip and Charley, meeting on a plane and falling in love. As a couple of years pass, Charley starts to feel disconnected from Phillip. He travels so much and he’s never around. Then she meets Ben....
I was brought into the narrative instantly and intently, but somewhere along the way, it lost some of its magic. It seemed like the MC became increasingly confused about her relationship with Phillip, sometimes contradicting herself. This was confusing as a reader and made it difficult to emotionally relate and therefore engage. I’m also not a fan when plots focus on grief during a love story. I find it to be a tiresome and overused plot element. These were the main factors that didn’t work for me and hence impacted my enjoyment of the book. With more consistent focus on just the love stories and eliminating the side stories to allow for more character and plot depth, this would have been a much better read for me.
Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for a reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a sucker for love triangles but not stories that involve death and grief. The good news is that this book delivers on the former....the bad news is that it also delivers on the latter.
Told in the first person, it’s about two people, Phillip and Charley, meeting on a plane and falling in love. As a couple of years pass, Charley starts to feel disconnected from Phillip. He travels so much and he’s never around. Then she meets Ben....
I was brought into the narrative instantly and intently, but somewhere along the way, it lost some of its magic. It seemed like the MC became increasingly confused about her relationship with Phillip, sometimes contradicting herself. This was confusing as a reader and made it difficult to emotionally relate and therefore engage. I’m also not a fan when plots focus on grief during a love story. I find it to be a tiresome and overused plot element. These were the main factors that didn’t work for me and hence impacted my enjoyment of the book. With more consistent focus on just the love stories and eliminating the side stories to allow for more character and plot depth, this would have been a much better read for me.
Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for a reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2020
A Golden named Sunny (a dog after my own heart) the Florida keys, and a love triangle. What’s not to love about THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDS? I loved everything, they way Weinstein grabbed me from page one, the emotions that touched every chord, and characters that have lingered long with me after I finished the story. I’m so glad I picked up this book.
May 24, 2020
How this book has over a 4 star rating is truly a mystery. I could go on and on about all the things that are wrong with this story and the writing but I won’t. I’ll just say that I do not recommend reading this as it will be a waste time and money. I should have DNFed it early on.
January 1, 2020
This is Not How it Ends is a beautifully written, poignant and compelling story. This book is an emotional journey, as we get a deep, intimate look at Charlotte; her loves, her hopes, her fears, her guilt, her dreams, her desires, and her losses. I was completely swept away by this novel, utterly captivated and involved in Charlotte's story. I felt as if I were in her skin, making choices, dealing with circumstances beyond her control, chance encounters, moving on from her feelings of abandonment, and vacillating between her two loves. This book made me fall in love with the characters; I laughed with them, I cried with them, I suffered with them, I celebrated with them--mostly, I simply loved them. And I am going to miss them, although they will be safely stowed in my heart. There are such beautiful lines in this books, sentences that I read over and over to recapture the emotions behind them. Here is one: "There comes that moment when you're holding someone and the pieces of you just fit. Words are useless. The parts of you string together--souls touch through gentle fabric--and when you separate you know there's a lingering strand that forever connects."
February 5, 2020
Hi! Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed This Is Not How It Ends. The response has exceeded my expectations, and I am ever so grateful. For me, the book is so much more than a single love story. It is many love stories. It's the love between friends, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, our children, a beautiful city, and of course, our dogs. I've heard some of you say there were tears involved while reading, maybe a few tissues. Tears are good! They mean you connected with these characters and I've done my job. Thank you for being here and sharing. I speak for all authors when I say: you're the reason we write!
February 26, 2019
Can a chance encounter change your life? For Charlotte Myers, the unexpected will challenge her assumptions about the meaning of love and family, and question her ability to forgive the sins of the past. Elegant and timely, This Is Not How It Ends weaves a poignant tapestry of three lives threaded together by devotion and secret passion—and will leave readers guessing until the satisfying conclusion.
February 15, 2020
3.5 stars (because it made me cry)
This contemporary romance story features Charlotte and Philip who seem on a storybook relationship cycle. They’ve moved to Florida and live in a gorgeous house. Now Charlotte is starting to resent his constant work trips and feels like he’s becoming more distant. Can they salvage their romance?
There’s an interesting triangle that develops and a hurricane stirs up forbidden feelings. Charlotte needs to figure out her feelings quickly.
I think it’s interesting that I cried when there was a scene with the child in the book and that’s what got me rather than the adult romance and drama. I also loved the dog! This one was a bit predictable and one particular thing was too coincidental to me. If you love romance, this might be just the perfect book for you.
This was my first read from Rochelle Weinstein. Thanks to Jayme for a buddy read, I'm afraid this wasn't a big hit for either of us.
This contemporary romance story features Charlotte and Philip who seem on a storybook relationship cycle. They’ve moved to Florida and live in a gorgeous house. Now Charlotte is starting to resent his constant work trips and feels like he’s becoming more distant. Can they salvage their romance?
There’s an interesting triangle that develops and a hurricane stirs up forbidden feelings. Charlotte needs to figure out her feelings quickly.
I think it’s interesting that I cried when there was a scene with the child in the book and that’s what got me rather than the adult romance and drama. I also loved the dog! This one was a bit predictable and one particular thing was too coincidental to me. If you love romance, this might be just the perfect book for you.
This was my first read from Rochelle Weinstein. Thanks to Jayme for a buddy read, I'm afraid this wasn't a big hit for either of us.
December 2, 2019
A chance meeting, I love them, how about you?
Emotional affairs have been written about before but not the way Weinstein has this one.
You have to grab this book and dive in right away to find out about this love triangle.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
Emotional affairs have been written about before but not the way Weinstein has this one.
You have to grab this book and dive in right away to find out about this love triangle.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
February 16, 2020
Totally over the cancer trope in novels that try to create an emotional connection between the main character and the reader that can't be developed otherwise. At the end of the day, I did not respect any of the three main characters and the choices they made. The female main character, Charlotte, is not given enough independence or maturity for being 32 years old. At no time in the description of her relationship with Philip did I get the feeling that she was actually in love with him. There are even multiple instances of her proclaiming that she isn't happy and therefore unfulfilled. I feel as thought I would have respected her more if she came right out and said she enjoyed the financial stability as well as being doted upon when he was actually around but, instead, the reader is given the unwritten direction to question Philip and his motives rather than the reasoning as to why Charlotte is staying in such a weak relationship.
The fact that cheating is provided as the jumpstart to Charlotte realizing that maybe the relationship isn't worth staying in is more proof of the weak storyline and lack of honesty and communication between all of the characters. The fact that the reader finds out later on that the whole secondary relationship is essentially created by her dying fiance is so angering as I got the sense that the reader should then excuse Charlotte's actions completely and root for her happiness. False. Instead, I just ended up despising the choices of all the characters and was infuriated that the book just combined a boatload of overused tropes to play with the emotions of the reader. Cancer should not be used as a tool to make a reader cry in order to mask the weakness of a storyline and its characters.
This book, while readable, is unoriginal and pretty annoying. It has the opportunity to tout female independence and overcoming tough times with strength and dignity but it totally lost out on the opportunity it could have created for itself.
The fact that cheating is provided as the jumpstart to Charlotte realizing that maybe the relationship isn't worth staying in is more proof of the weak storyline and lack of honesty and communication between all of the characters. The fact that the reader finds out later on that the whole secondary relationship is essentially created by her dying fiance is so angering as I got the sense that the reader should then excuse Charlotte's actions completely and root for her happiness. False. Instead, I just ended up despising the choices of all the characters and was infuriated that the book just combined a boatload of overused tropes to play with the emotions of the reader. Cancer should not be used as a tool to make a reader cry in order to mask the weakness of a storyline and its characters.
This book, while readable, is unoriginal and pretty annoying. It has the opportunity to tout female independence and overcoming tough times with strength and dignity but it totally lost out on the opportunity it could have created for itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2020
Rochelle B. Weinstein titled this book perfectly!
Many times throughout this story I was loudly saying “ This is NOT how it ends”
Between the past and the present your heart will be full of Love for Charlotte, Philip, Ben and Jimmy!
This Book will definitely be one of my all time favorites!
Many times throughout this story I was loudly saying “ This is NOT how it ends”
Between the past and the present your heart will be full of Love for Charlotte, Philip, Ben and Jimmy!
This Book will definitely be one of my all time favorites!
February 27, 2020
I had heard rave reviews for this novel and knew that I had to check it out for myself. I really didn't know what to expect when I started it, even with the synopsis available. However, it was extremely well-written and had me hooked right away.
There was so much happening and so many fateful events coming into play throughout. It starts off with Charlotte coming to someone's rescue in an emergency and then goes back and forth in time, talking about how she met Philip and how she eventually ended up where she is now. The descriptions are incredible and bring Islamorada to life. The characters also felt so real, like they were standing right in front of me. I loved how Sunny the dog was such a big part of the story and he seemed so real that I wanted him to curl up in bed with me!
It's definitely an emotional story. However, I had a hard time staying committed to Philip and Charlotte's relationship because of how he was creating a distance between them for some time and because of how I really wanted her to be with Ben. I had no idea where the story was going, but then I started to guess at some things and hated that I was right. I found myself really caring about Charlotte and what happened in her life.
I had a hard time putting this book down. I wanted to keep reading it even when I could be catching up on my shows or going online. I didn't even want to start a new print book until I finished this one on my Kindle. I just needed to be absorbed in the story. All I know is that I need to go back and read Rochelle B. Weinstein's other novels, now that I know what she is capable of!
Movie casting ideas:
Charlotte: Caitlin Thompson
Philip: Alex O'Loughlin
Ben: James Wolk
Liberty: Catherine Keener
Claudia: Vanessa Hudgens
There was so much happening and so many fateful events coming into play throughout. It starts off with Charlotte coming to someone's rescue in an emergency and then goes back and forth in time, talking about how she met Philip and how she eventually ended up where she is now. The descriptions are incredible and bring Islamorada to life. The characters also felt so real, like they were standing right in front of me. I loved how Sunny the dog was such a big part of the story and he seemed so real that I wanted him to curl up in bed with me!
It's definitely an emotional story. However, I had a hard time staying committed to Philip and Charlotte's relationship because of how he was creating a distance between them for some time and because of how I really wanted her to be with Ben. I had no idea where the story was going, but then I started to guess at some things and hated that I was right. I found myself really caring about Charlotte and what happened in her life.
I had a hard time putting this book down. I wanted to keep reading it even when I could be catching up on my shows or going online. I didn't even want to start a new print book until I finished this one on my Kindle. I just needed to be absorbed in the story. All I know is that I need to go back and read Rochelle B. Weinstein's other novels, now that I know what she is capable of!
Movie casting ideas:
Charlotte: Caitlin Thompson
Philip: Alex O'Loughlin
Ben: James Wolk
Liberty: Catherine Keener
Claudia: Vanessa Hudgens
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