Shelf Addiction
  • Home
  • The Podcast
  • Blog
  • Monthly Read-Alongs
  • About Shelf Addiction
    • Media Kit
    • Advertising
    • Privacy Policy
  • Support Us
  • Shop
  • Tee Public Merch Store
  • Book Club Guide
  • Giveaways
Sign up for the FREE Shelf Addiction Newsletter!

Book Review | A Work of Art, by Micayla Lally

10/30/2017

0 Comments

 
PictureClick to purchase!
Publisher: She Writes Press
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 275
Source: Publicist
Genre: Womens Fiction, Chick Lit
Rating: 3 bookmarks

Synopsis:Letting go after her abrupt break-up with Samson is harder than Julene thought it would be, especially since her ex has wasted no time in burying himself in the local dating scene. But during an extended visit to her parents overseas, Julene rediscovers her love of art, and a burgeoning career develops. Samson, on the other hand, after trying valiantly--and unsuccessfully--to forget Julene, has settled instead on his own new career. 

When Julene returns home to Australia, a coincidental meeting leads to an emotional reunion--but her love and patience will be tested when she finds out just how busy Samson has been in her absence. Yes, they have both made mistakes they can work through and move past--but when a specter from Samson's past looms, Julene wonders: Can she trust him again?

* This book was provided by BookSparks in exchange for an honest review.


Micayla Lally really knows how to draw you into her book! Told by back and forth perspectives of the two main characters, Julene and Samson, you get a great view of how their lives have shaped them post-breakup. The characters start out in a Yin and Yang-type fashion, one doing amazingly with a new, optimistic start to their life, and the other in a downward-spiral that made them a hard character to like. The juicy plot gets to a great start and I couldn’t put it down for the first few chapters.
​
… However, that’s where my interest peaked. The next 150 pages were spent forcing myself through unrealistic character interaction, awkward dialogue and not too much actual plot development. The chapters started out with colorful detail, but quickly turned into choppy descriptions that read more like a list of their daily activities. There were so many opportunities to develop scenes, slow down the pace, and create compelling interaction with secondary characters; but every time Lally got close, it would cut to the next scene. The only thing keeping me going was the thought that “there HAS to be a climax coming at some point.” 
That said, my favorite part of the book was the plot. The storyline following the post-break-up events was a great place to start, and dropping a few flashbacks and background story really appealed to the romance-genre-loving personality that I am. If you know me, or have ever watched a movie with me, you know that I love guessing what’s going to happen next. When the plot if predictable, it makes it fun, but when the plot throws me a curveball, it’s thrilling! Even though I could pick out a lot of things I didn’t like about the delivery of the scenes, the climax was great and really threw me (I had been trying to predict the outcome with what I thought was foreshadowing, and learned not to underestimate Mrs. Micayla Lally). I was a little disappointed to look down and realize that it came with hardly any time left for a good resolution, and it ended abruptly as if she was only allotted exactly 275 pages to her book.  
​
I would recommend this book to readers in their 20’s and 30’s, as it would appeal to someone who is in that stage of life where you thought you might be destined to go one direction, but you slowly start to realize that the real-world has many more forks in the road than you anticipated. It’ll be inspiring to people navigating a career change, or those who want to pursue a passion of theirs. It’ll make you wonder if you could (or should) forgive that one person you didn’t think you could. And it will definitely make you want to spice up your relationship with a significant other!

Picture
About Reviewer Lauren:

​​Lauren Dalton is a Financial Advisor by day, and a book-loving homebody by night. She loves trying new things and new hobbies and is currently perfecting her skating backwards technique with the local Roller Derby team, and learning to shift out of first gear on the dirtbike that her husband helped her rebuild. She loves spending her downtime with her husband, stepson, and black Labrador puppy.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Gain access to exclusive content!
    Picture
    Click for Shelf Addiction merch!
    Follow on Bloglovin

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Get ONE month FREE!

    ​Rating Scale: 

    Picture
    Wonderful! Loved it! Add it to your shelf!
    Picture
    ​Very good read! It's bookshelf worthy.
    Picture
    ​I liked it. Borrow it from the library or a friend.
    Picture
    I got through it...barely! If you must read it, borrow it.
    Picture
    Don't waste your time.

    Picture

    Currently Reading

    Somebody I Used to Know
    Hidden Bodies

    Follow on Bloglovin

    Read the Printed Word!
    Picture

    DISCLAIMER 
    All affiliate links used on this site are links which I will receive a small commission if you purchase using them. A percent of all monies earned goes to help pay for this website and giveaways hosted by me .
    Click here to read the 
    Privacy Policy for Shelf Addiction


    Categories

    All
    1 Bookmark
    2 Bookmarks
    3 Bookmarks
    4 Bookmarks
    5 Bookmarks
    Aa Fiction
    Armchair Bea
    Audiobook
    Author Features
    Autobiography
    Biography
    Blog Tours
    Book Conventions
    Book Haul Tuesday
    Bookish Bargains
    Bookish News
    Bookish Pod Chat
    Book To Movie Adaptations
    Book To TV Adaptations
    BookTube Weekly
    Buddy Reads
    Chick Lit
    Christian Fiction
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporary Romance
    Cover Reveal
    Dystopian
    Erotica
    Fantasy
    Fantasy Series
    Feature & Follow Friday
    General Fiction
    Giveaways
    Guest Posts
    Historical Fiction
    Horror
    Inspirational
    Literacy Events
    Memoir
    Movie Reviews
    Mystery
    Narrator Interviews
    New Adult
    Non Fiction
    Paranormal
    Paranormal Romance
    Pop Culture Sunday
    Read Along
    Read A Thon
    Romance
    Romantic Suspense
    RTU
    Sa-book-club
    Saturday Book Chat
    Science Fiction
    Seasonal Reading
    Shelf Byte
    Short Stories
    Steampunk
    Summer Of Indie
    Suspense
    TBR Jar
    The Book Exchange
    The Recap!
    Thriller
    Throwback Thursday
    TPCP
    Tv Show Reviews
    Urban Fantasy
    Why I Love Wednesdays
    Womens Fiction
    Ya Dystopian
    Ya Fantasy
    Ya Fiction
    Ya Historical Fantasy
    Ya Historical Fiction
    Ya Mystery
    Ya Paranormal
    Ya Retelling
    Ya Romance
    Ya Science Fiction
    Ya Steampunk
    Ya Thriller
    Ya Urban Fantasy

    Reviews Published

    Sponsor Love

    Picture
    Advertise on 
    ​Shelf Addiction!

    Picture
    Picture
    We can't do this without you!! Support this podcast! Use the referral links, leave a review on your platform of choice, donate a coffee or checkout the merch store. Even show your support on Patreon!

    Podcast Book Chats, Bookish Topics, Book Reviews, Audiobook Reviews, Author and Narrator Interviews, Online Book Club

© 2012-2023 shelfaddiction.com. All rights reserved.