I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman hurt by the man she loved seeks to reinvent herself through casual acquaintances, but finds a man who wants more from her than she is willing to give as she struggles to find within herself the strength to open her heart up again in author Ruth F. Stevens’s “My Year of Casual Acquaintances”, the first book in The South Bay Series.
The Synopsis
When Mar Meyer’s husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it’s not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures – as long as she can keep things casual.
With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant, a kindly older gentleman . . . and Charlie, a handsome best-selling novelist who wants more from Mar than she’s able to give. She learns something new from each encounter. But can she change enough to open herself up to happiness and true connection?
Surrounded by an ensemble of quirky, endearing characters, Mar follows a tortuous and unpredictable path as she navigates the first year of her reinvented life. My Year of Casual Acquaintances is packed with laugh-out-loud moments mingled with scenes of loneliness and self-doubt that will put a lump in your throat.
The Review
What a compelling and engaging read. The author expertly weaves together a story that is equal parts women’s fiction and character-driven narrative. The rich dialogue and atmosphere the author gave this story gave the reader a sense of familiarity and relatability to the narrative and the characters. The tension and tone the author establishes for the protagonist are great motivators for the character’s arc overall, something readers will instantly connect with.
The heart of this narrative rests with the heartfelt themes and the strong character dynamics at play here. The heartbreak of losing a relationship, especially in the way that Mar has, plays well into the character’s sense of reinvention and the themes of friendship, love, and identity, playing off one another often in life. The balance that the author finds in Mar rediscovering who she is and the ability for her to open her heart to new possibilities in the face of betrayal makes this such a tremendous read.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, engaging, and memorable author Ruth F. Stevens’s “My Year of Casual Acquaintances” is a must-read novel. The character-driven and character-focused story helps elevate the overall narrative, and the slight inclusion of romance allows the reader to relate and root for this protagonist as her journey progresses slowly. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Ruth F. Stevens likes to create stories that will make readers laugh and cry. A former public relations executive in New York and Los Angeles, she is a produced playwright and author of a previous novel, Stage Seven, which was a featured selection of national online book club and Alzheimer’s awareness organizations. Ruth is a proud member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and the Dramatists Guild of America and serves as a volunteer and acquisitions editor for AlzAuthors.
Ruth lives in Torrance, California with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, hiking, hip-hop and fitness classes, yoga, Broadway musicals, wine tasting, leading a book club, and visiting her grandsons in NYC. Visit Ruth at https://ruthfstevens.com and consider signing up for her monthly newsletter to receive publishing updates, book reviews, and special offers.
Website: https://ruthfstevens.com/
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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-f-stevens
Purchase a copy of My Year of Casual Acquaintances on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. Add to your GoodReads reading list.
Blog Tour Calendar
September 23rd @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin when we celebrate the launch of Ruth F. Stevens’ book My Year of Casual Acquaintances. We’ll be interviewing the author and giving away a copy of her book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
September 24th @ The Faerie Review
Join by Lily’s blog for a spotlight of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com
September 25th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
September 27th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
Stop by Lisa’s blog for an interview with author Ruth F. Stevens.
September 29th @ Book Review From an Avid Reader
Visit Joan’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com
September 30th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com
September 30th @ Choices
Visit Madeline’s blog for a guest post about how casual acquaintances play an important role in our life.
http://www.madelinesharples.com/
October 1st @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog for a spotlight of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.astorybookworld.com
October 2nd @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari’s blog for a guest post by Ruth F. Stevens about why fifty is nifty for a fictional character.
https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog
October 3rd @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/
October 5th @ What Is That Book About
Stop by Michelle’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com
October 6th @ Storey Book Reviews
Visit Leslie’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
October 7th @ Life According to Jamie
Stop by Jamie’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://lifeaccordingtojamie.com
October 9th @ Beverley A. Baird’s blog
Stop by Beverley’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
October 11th @ Beverley A. Baird’s blog
Visit Beverley’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
October 12th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Join Anthony for his review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.wordpress.com/category/blog-tours
October 13th @ Rosh’s Reviews
Visit Roshni’s blog for her review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://roshreviews.blogspot.com
October 15th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara Trimble’s blog for a guest post by the author about whether AI is a friend or a foe.
https://saratrimble.wordpress.com
October 18th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for an excerpt from My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com
October 20th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for an interview with author, Ruth F. Stevens.
October 23rd @ Boys’ Mom Reads!
Visit Karen’s blog for a review of My Year of Casual Acquaintances.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com
October 26th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Visit Linda’s blog for an interview with author Ruth F. Stevens.
