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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Erica FIsh

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie is a well thought out novel about friendship and secrets. I could feel the love the author put into the story. She really made the story come to life with her storytelling and character building. This story had me on an emotional ride because of the characters. I felt like I personally knew them and could feel exactly what Addie was going through. In this story, Addie has been through some rough heartaches. She finds herself as a single mom. She left Jake, the father and never told him that he was a father. This was a big secret to keep from him. Jake finds Addie and his daughter and he is bound to be with Addie to help raise his daughter. There was a secret Jake was holding on too as well. What will Addie do? Does she want to share her daughter? Does she want a second chance with Jake? What will Jake do? Will he fight for Addie? Will he be a father to the daughter he did not realize he had? I highly recommend reading this book to find out how this sweet novel turns out.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book about second chances and trust. All of us are heartbroken at one point of time or another and it takes years to rebuild the faith and trust in one’s life. Addie has a troubled childhood and she was forced from her childhood home by her mother. Later, when she is an adult, Addie is still confused and insecure. She leaves her boyfriend and decides to raise her daughter on her own.
When Jake runs into her 12 years later, Addie still does not trust him and runs away again. This time Jake follows her as he is determined to have his daughter back in his life.
This story is more about relationships than romance. There are many places where emotions run deep and the characters are confused and messed up. It is about embracing life with all it’s faults and give a second chance to yourself and to those who matter to you.

A deep read, but an enjoyable one!

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Robin Rankin

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Secrets in the Springs) by Julie C. Gardner

Oh my goodness this book was worth every second of lost sleep.  I loved Josie! She made my heart happy and would make me smile almost every time she was involved.

Addie and Jake have gone through so much since the last time they saw each other and both have a lot to make up for.

This book is about second chances and how to clean up the messes left by secrets.

I have had the pleasure of reading Ms. Gardner before and look forward to reading more by her in the future.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie is part of the Secrets in the Springs series by Julie C Gardner. It is a full story, and I am not sure if the other books overlap or are the same story. This is the first I have read in this series, but I would read more, and I don’t feel like I was missing any backstory. I was really worried at first about all the perspectives getting confusing, but it was well written and smooth transitions. We see the story from the point of view of Addie, Jake, Josie and Alex. While weird at first, I actually really liked it. We get to see the feelings and thoughts of everyone in the story and it gives a rounded view, and relate more. It makes the story more relatable. She captures the thoughts and language of a child as well as adults. The feelings were very realistic and gave us a better understanding to the why people did what they did. I look forward to reading the other stories in the series.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Kerry Carr

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a beautiful love story which has so many characters and so many twists and secrets its more than a love story. The characters are beautifully written and the story is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Addie is a single mum to her daughter Josie. After her dad left her and her mum it means her trust in men is destroyed. So when she finds her daughters dad with another woman she leaves.

Fast forward 12 years later and Jake  meets her and wants to connect with his daughter. But can he be trusted or will he end up hurting Josie.

Jake had never thought about being a dad until he found out he was one. However he is holding on to secrets of his own. Knowing Addie as he does he is worried about revealing them.

Will Addie be able to learn to trust Jake again or will she run away again to save herself and her daughter pain and heartache.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Candida Hopper

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Secrets in the Springs
By Julie C. Gardner

I loved reading this book. This story is full of emotion, hurt, forgiveness, friendship, romance, and so much more. This story took a few unexpected turns I didn’t see coming. I became completely invested in these characters and I couldn’t stop reading until I found out what happens. The author did an exceptional job pulling out so many emotions in me while I read this book. The characters felt relatable and real. I find myself wanting to read it again. This is a must read. I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for what this author gives us next.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Karyn Taylor

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie is a great second chance romance story from Julie C. Gardner. I had not read any of this author’s work before reading this book so was unsure of what to expect from it. I do however, love a second chance romance and was willing to give this book a chance. I’m glad that I took this chance as this is a really great book.
I will say that I took a bit of getting into this book but once I got into it, I was really hooked and couldn’t wait to see how the story panned out. The Opposite of Addie is the story of Addie, mother to 11 year old Josie who randomly bumps into Josie’s father Jake who is unaware of Josie’s existence. What we then get is a great story as Jake fights to get back into Addie’s life and get to know his daughter and Addie’s own personal battles since the death of her author mother the year before and her own relationship with her father.
What was different about this book is that it’s told from the point of view of 5 different people: Addie, Jake, Josie, Addie’s father and Addie’s best friend Nina. I actually really enjoyed reading the POV of 11 year old Josie. I loved her outlook on what was going on in her life and her thoughts of the people around her.
One strength of this author is writing fantastic characters. I loved reading about Jake, Addie and Josie. All are really great and realistic characters that the reader can engage with. This is a great story that I’m sure many others would enjoy if they gave it a chance. I’m glad that I took the chance on it.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Angela Hayes

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

The Opposite Of Addie: A Novel (Friendships & Secrets Series) by Julie C. Gardner. This is a women’s fiction story- full of secrets, second chances, emotion, friendship, family, healing, drama, and more.
After reading Forgetting Ophelia, I was quite interested in finding out how this story would unfold, and Ms. Gardner didn’t disappoint. There are a lot of interconnected details and enlightening backstory bridging the two books, as well as important character introductions and information- so reading them both, together, will definitely give you a much better perspective of things, and therefore, will also improve your reading experience.
I had a little trouble getting into the groove with this story, but I after a few chapters I finally found the rhythm and got caught up in all the developments. If you have read Forgetting Ophelia, then you know that the characters are really well crafted, with their own all fully developed personalities and backstories- and one of the things I particularly like about this book/series, is the fact that Ms. Gardner ensures that her characters continue to grow and develop as the story progresses.
The Opposite of Addie is told from multiple character perspectives, giving us a really well-rounded view of what is happening- while also adding an extra element of interest to the book.

Thank-you, Julie C. Gardner!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Tausha Treadway

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner. I LOVED this book. It was so full of emotions, love and sadness. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. Its the story of Addie who is a single mom and her first priority is always going to be her daughter. When she and Jake were a couple and she up and disappeared because she didn’t really want to be hurt she wrote him off. When he comes back into Addie’s life and meets her daughter he is smitten. Jake never really wanted to be a dad until he met Addie’s daughter and now that’s all he wants. Can Addie trust Jake to not hurt them again especially while she is dealing with her mom’s death and her dad’s big betrayal. This story is full of secrets that can tear families apart and bring them together. Will Jake be able to break the wall Addie has built to protect herself and her daughter? Read The Opposite of Addie to find out!

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner is a moving novel that explores a variety of relationships and forms of love. At the centre is the relationship between single mother Addie and her daughter Josie, which is in some ways a reflection of Addie’s relationship with her own mother. Then there are the two fathers – Addie’s and Josie’s – who have both missed out on a lot of their daughter’s lives. And there’s Nina – practically a sister to Addie and an Aunt to Josie – reminding us that chosen family can be as important as biological family.
Although there are romantic elements in this book this is not given any more weight than the other relationships. There is plenty of messiness, as characters have to weigh up doing what is right for them and potentially hurting others. Early on, Josie worries that her mum choosing to spend an evening with someone else must mean they are more fun than her. Josie, and the other characters in the book, have to learn how to love and care for multiple people (and themselves) at the same time.
This is an enjoyable read! There’s a bit of mystery and plenty going on. The perspective changes between different characters and they all have a distinct voice as a narrator, which keeps it varied and means the reader gets invested in everyone’s side of the story. For me, it’s a five-star read and I would definitely recommend it, particularly to people who are missing family drama due to lockdowns and travel restrictions.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Heather Lovelace

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This emotional rollercoaster is heartbreaking and beautiful and just wrecked me in the most amazing way. This is my second book from this author and I just can’t get over how fast I plugged in, invested in these characters. I devoured this book and couldn’t put it down before reading it cover to cover. Beautiful. Just absolutely beautiful. Read it. You must read it. And keep the tissues handy…

Reviewed by @heatherlovelace
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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Kerry Baker

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel by Julie C Gardner is a beautifully emotional story that utterly captivated my attention from the moment I started reading! I found myself completely swept away by these characters and their story and was engaged with them entirely.
I have to say that this book first caught my attention with the absolutely gorgeous cover. My eyes were just drawn to it and I knew straight away that I would have to read this book. Then when I read the description it shot straight to the top of my TBR pile. Once I started the book I was not disappointed at all as the story itself lived up to every expectation I had set for it. There was so much emotion in this book and the story was so deep and complex.
This author is a relatively new author to me but with books like this in her arsenal I will definitely be making sure to read as much of her work as possible. This is easily a 5* read and one I enjoyed immensely.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Liz Vrchota

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was excited to see Julie C Gardner was releasing another Friendship & Secrets novel. I fell in love with her writing in Forgetting Ophelia and this was another promising read. I adored this novel, could not ever put it down until I had devoured the entire thing. I would personally recommend that you read Forgetting Ophelia before The Opposite of Addie. The stories do seem to play into each other and build. It is imperative though and you could probably read it as a stand alone if that is more your thing.

The Opposite of Addie is a novel you will want to have the box of tissues handy while reading. This book wrecked me at times and was such a thought provoking read. I adored the way I felt these characters were not only believable but realistic feelings. I wanted to find them all and give them hugs. I won’t give much more info other than what is already shared in the blurb because I can’t ruin this gem of a read, but I can tell you this is one you do not want to miss if you are a fan of contemporary romance!

Review by @lizaileen
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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Faith Jackson

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book will capture you in the most unexpected ways. The characters are easy to love and the plot keeps you entertained as you follow their lives. This is a story of reconnection, forgiveness, and growing. I love that it’s coming from a really honest place.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Cindy Mayberry

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie
A Novel
By Julie C. Gardner
☆☆☆☆☆
This story deals with families and the issues that bring them together. A Contemporary Romance.

Addie and her daughter are the best of friends. They have always been there for each other. Addie has always and will always put her daughter first. Years later in walks Jake, the father of Jo. The man that never wanted kids, refused to be a father. The one that broke Addie’s heart.
Jake just can’t seem to get his first love out of his mind. When he sees Addie he is pulled back into her beauty. But things have changed in both Addie and Jake. Will this story be the HEA we are all looking for?

Julie C. Gardner has written this contemporary romance. In doing so, she has worked toward healing the hearts of young and old. I also have fallen In love with Addie, Jo, and Jake. To will also read about dysfunctional families, and their search for honesty, commitment and the HEA. This is a must real for all. Well done Julie C. Gardner. Well Done!

Review@Cinful

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Meg Tyrrell

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first book by Julie C. Gardner. I loved her writing style and all of the plots and twists she has. Our main female is Addy who is lost after the unexpected death of her mother. She has an 11 year old daughter Josie. I loved all the characters in this book- even Ivy (though i called her some nasty names haha). Definitely a good read and I recommend it. I’m going to read the others in this Friendship & Secrets group. You don’t have to read these in order to appreciate them.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Jenni Bishop

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner is a contemporary romance story. This compelling story is a bit of a roller-coaster in emotions. Julie has written a beautiful tale where the characters shine although there were moments, I wanted to shake Addie at times, and Jake I didn’t know if I wanted to tell him off or kiss him. But with secrets and lies and a past that may finally reveal the truth. The story is both heart-warming and heartbreaking. There are a lot of moving parts and people telling their part of the story, but Julie pulled it together nicely.

 

Reviewed by @jennadb

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Piper Foster

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first book by Julie.
Addie has a massive secret she’s been holding onto for years. Jake and Addies friends and family are amazing and the development through this book is great. It shows how much things can happen in real life and how emotional attached you get to these characters.
Josie is the kid and getting use to this new development. Highly recommended this book.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Debi Kircher

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner

5 Stars

This is my second book by this author and I loved this one as much as I did Forgetting Ophelia. The stories kinda intertwine and to get the full effect this book should be read first, but that’s just my opinion..It really does work either way.

I could not put this book down while reading. There were a lot of moving parts and a lot of deep emotions running through this story. I love the multiple POV’s, sometimes this does not work for me but in this author’s case it is done perfectly. There was so much pain that came with all of these characters but this made the healing process that much stronger all the way through, and not just for Jake and Addie but friendships and family relationships were as strong in this story, I loved this and so many times I sat with tears rolling down my face that I didn’t even realize were falling. I became invested in all of these characters straight away and I credit this author for that. Addie’s Moms story was unfolded beautifully and caught me totally off guard, explaining many of the questions I had throughout. She has an amazing talent for grabbing you and not letting go till the final word has been read.

You really must read this book, it will make you want to grab the next immediately and although I had already read it, I wanted to read it again.

Loved it and have added to my read again list!

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Laura Furuta

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets)
By Julie C. Gardner
5 out of 5 stars

I loved reading the book The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner. It is a story that pulled me in from the very beginning and didn’t let me go until the final page. It is a book that had my emotions going up and down the entire time I was reading it. I loved the characters of Addie and Jake. The story tells the tale of two people who have secrets that are revealed. Will those secrets keep them apart forever? What does the future hold for Addie and Jake? Read this book to find out. I grew to care about Addie and Jake with each chapter that I read. This is a story that has heartbreaking as well as heartwarming moments. Some moments touched my heart and I found myself thinking about the book even after I had finished the final page. The story is brilliantly written, and the author does a wonderful job in making the characters come alive. Don’t miss out on an exciting and entertaining book that will have you hooked from the beginning. I highly recommend reading it.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Bobbi Wagner

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. This is a romance story that is written with a ton of heart and soul. I loved being pulled into the story right from the beginning. The characters made the story engaging as they bring the story to life. This was an emotional story that took me on a roller coaster ride that was hard to put down. I had no problems connecting to the characters that had me turning pages fast. This is a story about a single mother named Addie. Twelve years ago she left Jake’s life with a secret and now the past has come to the present. Jake never knew he had a daughter but with determination he wants to win Addie back. His one problem is that he has a secret that will keep them apart if she knew. What will Addie do? Will she run again or will she give Jake a chance? I loved watching the growth in this story as well as the trust building. They made such great characters that they made the story easy to read and feel realistic. I highly recommend this book.

Review by @bjwagner
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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner

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~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner
Genre – Women’s Fiction, Romantic Women’s Fiction
Page Count – 290 pages
Cover Designer – Vicki Lesage
Single mom Addie never thought she’d see Jake again after her sudden departure from his life. When Jake shows up all these years later and meets her daughter—their daughter—Addie’s got a choice to make. Dealing with grief over her mother’s death and her father’s deception, Addie can’t let Jake into their lives. Even if he has reignited a spark inside her, he’s already proven he doesn’t want a family. But she’s starting to feel alive again. Maybe he’s changed?
Jake never wanted to be a father—until he met the 11-year-old daughter he didn’t know he had. Now that’s all he wants to be. Unless he can also be more to Addie. But Jake has his own secret, too, one he knows will keep Addie away for good. As Addie pieces together the mystery her mother left behind, her world is shaken with shocking revelations about the past. Unwilling to risk hurt and rejection again, Addie flees. But this time Jake follows.
Now Addie can keep running—or stop long enough to learn to trust again.

~ AMAZON ~

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Julie C. Gardner is a former English teacher and lapsed marathon runner who traded in the classroom for a writing nook. When she’s not busy writing, Julie can be found at the library, in the pool, or at a winery. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and three dogs.

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WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ YOUTUBE ~ INSTAGRAM~ FACEBOOK GROUP

 

 

Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel By Julie C. Gardner – Review by Katie Kearney

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel By Julie C. Gardner. I knew I’d probably really like this book but I definitely ended up absolutely loving this story. Lia’s character is just so realistic and relatable that you can’t help but cheer for her. There’s a lot of raw emotions written into this story that makes it one I just couldn’t put it down. The emotional journey Lia takes is one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. This is my first book by this author and I’m excited to read more soon. It’s well written, at some points a bit on the slower side but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story. I’m giving this book a four star review and highly recommend it to everyone.

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Forgetting Ophelia (Friendship and Secrets Book 3) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Robin Rankin

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forgetting Ophelia by Julie C. Gardner is the third book in the Friendship and Secrets series. I have not had the pleasure of reading the first two yet but after reading this one they have both been added.

Ophelia, who goes by Lia, is so much stronger then she gives herself credit for. After a less than ideal childhood, she has had a pretty good life as an adult. That is until it comes crashing down one fateful night.

She has amazing friends and I loved her uncle. Her mother was similar to my own and for that reason I felt a kinship with her.

She does so much growing emotionally through out the book and I would love to see how it continues. I was a little disappointed in the ending at first, I felt like her story wasn’t finished. I then started thinking about it and what happens next and realized it could end the way I wanted it to.

Reviewed by @rlrankin

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Kerry Baker

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Forgetting Ophelia : A Novel by Julie C. Gardner is a story that highlights how everything is not always as it seems, even to those who think everything is perfect.
This is an entirely new author to me and I was sucked in straight away with how well the story seemed to flow. The story development felt natural and easy and the characters all had a great depth to them.
I expected that this book would have a lot of emotional aspects however I didn’t expect to feel quite as emotional as I did. I really felt like you connected with Lia in this story, and the more you read the more invested in her future you become.
I thought this book was a great introduction to this author and has certainly whet my appetite for more of her work.

Reviewed by @kerry

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Forgetting Ophelia by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Kaitlynn Taylor

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forgetting Ophelia- Julie C. Gardner

5-stars

Forgetting Ophelia by Julie C. Gardner is a must read! It’s been added to my list of favorites, if I could I would give it 10 stars. I ended up reading this book in one sitting as I couldn’t bring myself to put it down. I immediately felt invested in Lia’s story and I couldn’t wait to figure out how everything would play out, and I was not disappointed!

I loved everything about Lia’s journey to self-discovery and self-love even though I couldn’t personally relate I still found her to be very inspiring. This is a book I can see myself re-reading time and time again!

I can’t wait to dive into my next read by this phenomenal author!

Reviewed by @kaitreview21

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Heather Lovelace

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lia leapt off the pages and into my heart. This book is wonderfully full and real. Lia truly resonated deeply with me through her emotions, trials, decisions, growth. I loved reading this book and highly recommend it to others.

Reviewed by @heatherlovelace

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets #2) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Samantha Scannell

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What would you do when you thought everything was perfect till it world turned upside down? Lia was a strong madly in love woman blinded by the secrets and lies of someone she thought she knew. It’s a powerful story for women of all ages I feel, that have had their lives flipped by the one person they loved and trusted. It shows heartache struggle and pain, but it shows that you can get through it and get back on track and do better. You root for Lia as she struggles through all the pain to make it to where emotionally she needs to be. I need to read the first one and I would love to read more.

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2) By Julie C. Gardner – Review by Emily Brockschmidt

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Though the topic of this book can be viewed as sad, our heroine Lia, is one character you don’t want to miss out on. When her life implodes, she is forced to pick up the pieces and find a way to live her life again. I find this story to be inspiring. Lia gives hope to the hopeless about moving on when your life has fundamentally changed forever. Lia is a flawed woman who actually bothers to reflect on her life and choices and see where she made mistakes to learn from them, which I think takes a strength that few can match. This story, while not the happiest, still made me hopeful that some woman out there in the world will read this book and find hope in her heart when she didn’t have it. Julie C. Gardner truly wove a wonderful story and something about the way she wrote it made me love it. Bits are told in flashback sometimes while Lia is lost in her head and I thought it was beautifully told. While the ending felt very abrupt to me, it also follows the same theme of the book, that there is hope. Please read this book if you have ever felt lost or just want to read a heartfelt story. So, I give “Forgetting Ophelia” five stars!

Reviewed by @emilybee430
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Forgetting Ophelia (Friendships & Secrets book 2) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Karyn Taylor

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Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets, #2)Forgetting Ophelia: A Novel by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forgetting Ophelia is the 2nd book in the Friendships and Secrets series by Julie C. Gardner. Each book in the series is a stand-alone. This was my first time reading any of this author’s work and I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
The book begins on Ophelia’s (Lia) birthday and 5th wedding anniversary. What was expected to be a night of celebrating turned into a nightmare for Lia as her beloved husband Jake announced that he was leaving her. The rest of the book takes us on Lia’s journey as she comes to terms with the end of her relationship and tries to find herself. I have to say that I really loved Lia’s character. The reader really gets into Lia’s head and you can’t help but feel the heartache and pain along with her. Not only the end of her marriage but also the relationship (or non-relationship) she has with her mother Regina. So many times I really wanted to give that woman a slap. It must be said that this is one thing that I love about an author, their ability to make me really hate a character.
As Lia starts to find herself we are introduced to a couple of possible future love interests for her in Declan, the father of one her students, and Caleb, her mother’s next door neighbour. I love that the ending was quite open ended but gave you a good insight as to what the future held for Lia.

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