Rescuing Rose by Isabel Wolff

[chesilbeach]

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk

The fourth sparkling novel from the bestselling author of THE TRIALS OF TIFFANY TROTT, THE MAKING OF MINTY MALONE and OUT OF THE BLUE has Rose, a prickly agony aunt, fall for the charms of Theo, accountant by day, astronomer by night. who soon has her starry-eyed. But the starcross'd lovers have many obstacles to overcome on the path of true love. Agony aunt Rose has more than a few thorns digging in her side at present. Her seven-month marriage is in tatters, the bills are mounting up at an alarming rate and to top it off, she's being plagued by a stalker who seems to know rather a lot about the mysterious circumstances of her birth. It's usually Rose who dishes out the advice, but now she must rely on her wacky friends to come up with some solutions.They suggest she advertise for a lodger and at first, geeky accountant Theo seems the perfect choice for the now resolutely single Rose. However, she becomes intrigued by her new housemate's fascination with astronomy and he soon has her starry-eyed. But the path of true love never did run smooth, and the starcross'd lovers face stiff opposition in many forms, including the increasingly deranged stalker who is intent on getting Rose's attention by fair means or foul ...

 

I'd read Isabel Wolff's earlier novels when chick lit was in it's infancy, and they were light, fluffy rom com's, but I'd tried to read this one a few of years ago, and put it down after the first chapter. I thought the timing wasn't quite right, but kept it in mind for another go. When I sorted out my books recently, I thought I'd add it back into my reading list.

 

After starting it again this week, the opening still didn't grab me. I found it really didn't get going until about two thirds of the way through, and I think if the first 300 pages had been cut down to about 120-150 pages, it might have been a much better read. The first two thirds of the book was all scene setting, without much plot in it, and there were so many elements that could have been edited out without losing anything from the story, and a more condensed book would have been a much more enjoyable read.

 

The book was written about seven years ago, and having read Isabel Wolff's lastest novel, I think Rescuing Rose may have been her first attempt to move her writing on from the comedic trials of a young woman to find love. Unfortunately, it takes so long to realise the theme of the book is actually

a woman coming to terms with being adopted and her choice of whether or not to search for her birth mother

, that it all gets a bit clunky and disjointed.

 

The conclusion and epilogue were too twee, and I felt they were unconvincing as well, but I think it was inevitable,

especially as all the loose ends were tied up with a "happily ever after" ending for the supporting characters as well as the eponymous heroine

.

 

Diverting and potentially a good book, but in serious need of a good edit in my opinion. I think the later work from this author appears to have developed and improved from this, and would recommend her book A Vintage Affair instead.