A Stitcher's Book Club discussion

So, what did you think of If Not for You? This is a SPOILER THREAD, so if you haven't yet finished the book, please visit the Spoiler Free thread.

Here are some discussion questions for you to ponder. You don't have to answer these specifically if you don't want to, but feel free to use them as a springboard for your discussion. Also, if you have any questions, free free to ask them. Tag me (just type Heather and I'll see it) and I can add them to the list of questions.

DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS:

What did you think of the relationships in this book? Both romantic and familial?

What do you think of Beth’s surprises? Both with Sam and Sunshine. Do you think Beth was wrong to surprise Sam with the recital and Sunshine with the dinner with her ex? How would you react if someone did that to you?

Do you agree or disagree with Sam’s reaction to seeing his daughter at the recital? Why?

What do you think of Beth’s relationship with her mother? Do you think the mother was overbearing?

This is book three of the “New Beginnings” series. Are you interested in going back and reading more from this series?

What do you think of how Sam and Beth’s relationship started? Do you think they would have gotten together if not for the accident?

What did you think of the ending coming full circle with the second accident?

Do you have any comedic/horrific blind date/set up stories?

This book was very much what I would call a 'bubblegum book' - moderatly enjoyable at the time but ultimately not very much substance. While I enjoyed it well enough while reading, I forgot almost everything about it within half an hour of finishing.

Its safe to say, romance is not my favourite of genres.

What did you think of the relationships?
Clichéd. Though to be fair I think clichés in genral are my problem with the genre as a whole. Beth had the poor little rich girl running to the quirky relitive thing going on. And the friends who set them up (cant remember names) seemed to only be mentioned as plot devises.

What do you think of Beths surprises?
They showed an incredible lack of maturity on Beths part I feel. Everyones telling you not to do something, to let the past be, but noooo you know better...

What did you think of Sams reaction to seeing his daughter?
I think he had a right yo be hurt and angry - though I do think perhaps the story took that too far, but again, romance genre and cliche of heightened emotional responses....

What did you think of Beths relationship with her mother?
A classic case of people being too similar and clashing as a result. Shes always complainging about her mother meddling in her life and yet goes and does the same to Sunshine. Just no.

Interested in going back to the prequal books?
No. Not at all.

How did you feel about the start of the relationship?
It felt forced and unnatural to me. They hated each other at the dinner... well, not hated, okay, but they certainly weren't two people who under normal circumstances would sign up for date number two. And theres the whole hero complex thing - he saved her, and was her only contact really during the pain bubble of hospital. It just doesn't seem like a relationship that would stick in the 'real world'

How did you feel with the plot ending full cirvle with the car crash?
See above comments regarding clichés

Do you have any blind date stories?
Sadly no. The only blind date I ever went on ended up being with a guy 5 years younger than me (I was 24 at the time). Spend most of the night feeling older than I should have and learning to play pool (badly). Nothing exciting.

All up the book was fine, I gave it 3 stars.

What did you think of the relationships in this book? Both romantic and familial?

* I agree with Dana that the relationships were all very cliche. All of the relationships could have used more substance, but the relationship between Beth and Sam definitely needed more.

What do you think of Beth’s surprises? Both with Sam and Sunshine. Do you think Beth was wrong to surprise Sam with the recital and Sunshine with the dinner with her ex? How would you react if someone did that to you?

*Beth was definitely wrong to meddle. I mean good grief.....Sunshine is a grown woman who would have made the effort to speak to that guy on her own if she really wanted/needed to. With Sam, Beth had heard his story about how much pain the whole situation caused him because he couldn't actually be part of her life and then she rubbed it in his face..

Do you agree or disagree with Sam’s reaction to seeing his daughter at the recital? Why?

*I think Sam had every right to be upset, but maybe not quite as angry as he was. But as a whole I guess I agree.

What do you think of Beth’s relationship with her mother? Do you think the mother was overbearing?

*Oh. My. Gosh. She was DEFINITELY overbearing. There is no reason a mother should be that obsessed with the decisions her child makes. Concerned, yes. Obsessed, no. She was way too controlling.

This is book three of the “New Beginnings” series. Are you interested in going back and reading more from this series?

*I may read the rest of the series at some point, but not unless I'm looking for a book that is just a happy read. This book didn't have much of a plot and there was basically no substance. Sometimes Im fine with that, but not always. It'll just depend.

What do you think of how Sam and Beth’s relationship started? Do you think they would have gotten together if not for the accident?

*I think it's a pretty weird way to start a relationship, but I don't necessarily think there is anything wrong with it.

What did you think of the ending coming full circle with the second accident?

*The ending annoyed the mess out of me. I mean why was that necessary. They could have done it a million different ways, but they did that... I just don't know why.

Do you have any comedic/horrific blind date/set up stories?

*I do kind of have a horrific blind date story. There isn't much detail. The guy literally made comments about my butt the whole time. The were meant to be compliments but he was a pig. I had a friend call me and say I had an emergency.....which was cliche....but necessary.

Overall I liked the book. I gave it 4 stars. It lost a star because of the cliches and the lack of substance. But it was still a cute story. :)

What did you think of the relationships in this book? Both romantic and familial?

I found them all really cliched and not at all nuanced or believable.

What do you think of Beth’s surprises? Both with Sam and Sunshine. Do you think Beth was wrong to surprise Sam with the recital and Sunshine with the dinner with her ex? How would you react if someone did that to you?

As said above I thought that they both showed incredible immaturity and insensitivity on Beths part. If she had tried either with me I would have been extremely angry. If we are supposed to admire her for these actions and think she did a good thing, therefore drawing us to like her character more, then i think this backfired majorly.

Do you agree or disagree with Sam’s reaction to seeing his daughter at the recital? Why?

I agree with his reaction. Beth was aware of the sensitivity of the situation and has just tortured the poor guy. Not to mention he was worried about what would happen if his ex had seen him there. Personally I also think the whole "gave up any contact with my daughter and it's killing me" storyline is also cliched and unrealistic.

What do you think of Beth’s relationship with her mother? Do you think the mother was overbearing?

I think this is also unrealistic. The mother was painted as a black and white awful villain of a mother. Also her not being allowed to go to her own daughter after a massive car accident of that severity is simply not reasonable.

This is book three of the “New Beginnings” series. Are you interested in going back and reading more from this series?

Not in the slightest.

What do you think of how Sam and Beth’s relationship started? Do you think they would have gotten together if not for the accident?

Nope. I think it was extremely contrived.

What did you think of the ending coming full circle with the second accident?

Highly cliched. Plus they didn't have any closure or sorting out of the issues that split them up in the first place - i.e. Beth's insensitivity and the issues with his daughter.

Do you have any comedic/horrific blind date/set up stories?

lol nope.

Overall i really disliked this book. I read quite a lot of chick lit/romance as a sort of palate cleanser in between other books so I don't dislike the genre. I just think that everything about this book was cliched and unrealistic. I couldn't empathise with any of the characters, and by the end I didn't care what happened to them. Sorry to be so harsh!

reply | flag *

Clare wrote: "What did you think of the relationships in this book? Both romantic and familial?

I found them all really cliched and not at all nuanced or believable.

What do you think of Beth’s surprises? Both..."

Never appologise for your opinions :)

One thing that I have always appreciated about a Macomber book is the way she writes about relationships... specifically between female friends and relatives. I think my favorite character of the whole book was Sunshine.

I will say that I have read lots of her books, but this was not my favorite. I did find it hard to believe that a grown woman would allow herself to be controlled by a mom. However, I have heard of this happening, so maybe it is not that far fetched.

As with most books in this genre, you have the major conflict or obstacle... the piano recital. I cant really blame Sam for his reaction. Probably a little over the top, but he did provide all the details to Beth.

I am going to look up the previous books in this series... Truthfully, there is a good chance I have read them.

If you enjoyed this at all I would recommend 2 of her series. First one is Cedar Cove. Second one is her Shop on Blossom Street series. Its about a yarn store.., How could you NOT love it :)

Memphistigergal wrote: "One thing that I have always appreciated about a Macomber book is the way she writes about relationships... specifically between female friends and relatives. I think my favorite character of the w..."

I totally agree with you about Sunshine - I could have easily read a whole book focused around her!