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Book Review of The Half of It

The Half of It
The Half of It
Author: Juliette Fay
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 598 more book reviews


I loved The Half of It by Juliette Fay, a second chance romance that's so much more. The dual timeline plot features Helen and Cal and tells the story of when they met on the high school track team and 40 years later when their paths cross again. It's set in autumn (which may be a nod to the characters' stage of life) and illustrates the lifelong consequences that ripple out from a fateful night in their youth.

I strongly related to these characters as they're almost exactly my age and are very involved in their young grandchildren's lives as I am. Thankfully my love story is very different from theirs. I appreciated Helen's renewed friendship with Francie and the relationships between the Helen and Cal and their adult children.

This novel is laced with real-life situations related to Covid throughout, so reader know thyself. This made the story more authentic to me, but not every reader is ready for this level of realism on this topic.

I'm grateful to Bookstagram friends Dara and Sarah for making me aware of The Half of It. I would've missed this wonderful story without them.