The Gap in Self-Published Only Club

Oct 07, 2020 Ellie Aiden rated it it was amazing

Kerrie has been through some "thangs" (Vague Spoilers)

The Gap is a well thought out book that hits on so many relatable situations for the reader. The MC is an author, who had a somewhat difficult childhood, and while she had gotten her life right for some time, a series of events leads to a relapse.

This book hits on everything from cheating, to childhood abuse, to setting healthy boundaries, to drug and alcohol use/abuse, all while keeping the reader engaged in a fiction tale.

There are severa ...more

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Jun 27, 2021 James Blakley rated it liked it

“… Devlin … took his sweet time getting to a point. A conversation with him was like being out with a Sunday driver, having a long way to go, but being in absolutely no hurry to get there.” While this is the main character’s observation of a minor character's mannerisms, in author Joanie Lunsford’s “The Gap,” it’s also the perfect description of the novel. It’s filled with great characterizations and a vivid sense of place. However, its overlong, literary style dampens the dramatic impact it see “… Devlin … took his sweet time getting to a point. A conversation with him was like being out with a Sunday driver, having a long way to go, but being in absolutely no hurry to get there.” While this is the main character’s observation of a minor character's mannerisms, in author Joanie Lunsford’s “The Gap,” it’s also the perfect description of the novel. It’s filled with great characterizations and a vivid sense of place. However, its overlong, literary style dampens the dramatic impact it seems the author strives for.

Kerrie Brannon, the main character, is a young author whose first book (metaphorically titled “Misguided”) becomes a Hollywood movie. Wanting to capitalize on her success, Kerrie packs up and heads to Tinsel Town to hopefully become a star. From there, however, life takes many twists and turns. The first half of the book features plenty of sensual scenes; hunks and hotties indulge in the typical pool boy/gardener fantasies and jet setting to exotic locales. Kerrie’s biggest concerns appear to be over things like whether to wear a bikini or one piece to a lunch date, for example. Then, there’s her matinee idol of a love interest, Kirk Garrett, complimenting her on her sultry, silver screen features (“…brown wavy hair, pale green eyes, high cheekbones, perfect nose and chin”) and vice versa (“Kirk Garrett was very attractive, with sparkling blue eyes and shoulder-length brown wavy hair”). Romance enthusiasts should be pleased and hooked.

However, the second half is supposed to show just how vapid an entertainer’s lifestyle can become if she doesn’t stay focused on the business side of show business, by having Kerrie go into a personal tailspin. However, her “fall from grace” becomes much more literary in style. That is, the plot doesn’t matter as much as the relationships between the characters. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if there’s greater development of the characters. That development takes a bit too long to get to and when realized hasn’t the gritty, rock bottom impact that the book blurb may lead one to believe. There were also [intentional?] instances of shifts in first person narration and long stretches of pure dialog which, in the end, made “The Gap” feel better suited for screenplay, rather than novel, style.

Nevertheless, this isn’t a bad first outing for author Joanie Lunsford. The story is well-edited, in terms of grammar, and definitely shows a keen eye for recognizing important aspects of what hardcore fans of romantic drama enjoy, by delivering an always vivid sense of place and cast of characters. However, “The Gap” is ultimately like that Sunday driver’s idyll: Overlong and slow-paced, it's more like taking The 101 to Santa Barbara instead of being the fast, dangerous L.A. joyride that casual romantic drama readers might expect.
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Oct 16, 2021 Janet Olson rated it it was amazing

Kerrie got what most authors only dream about, her book turned into a movie, so she moves to LA and gets reacquainted with Erin, the leading lady in the film, also dates the director! The relationship ends, and we learn how it came about through flashbacks. One of my favorite things about The Gap was how fleshed out the characters were. And as a writer, Kerrie's absorption in penning her next book was spot on! I also loved that Kerrie and Erin take a trip back to their hometown together, just th ...more

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Feb 13, 2023 Nannette Kreitzman rated it liked it · review of another edition

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The Introduction in The Gap spoke to me on a personal level, eloquently expressing things I have experienced while living in the shadow of a painful past. Its poignancy remains with me. The narrative then shifts to the story of Kerrie, who is forced to confront her own painful history. While there were some elements of the story I didn’t connect with, I found Lunsford’s perspective of a person in crisis to be a valuable addition to the growing arsenal in support of mental health awareness.

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Oct 08, 2020 Abby Snodgrass marked it as to-read

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Mar 21, 2022 Andrew Smith rated it it was amazing

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Jan 28, 2022 Nigel Hare added it

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