Review: Tempting Fate by Jane Green

From Goodreads: When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

My thoughts: I've read a few Jane Green books over the last few years, and I've found that they're either really great, or just average. Unfortunately, this one falls into the average category for me. I felt like it was one big cliché. Average older woman getting older while feeling unfulfilled, falls for a younger man who makes her feel beautiful. Happy, doting husband who clearly loves her goes out of town, and voila, her life changes forever.

Part of my issue with the book wasn't the book itself. I think that having an affair is one of the absolute most cruel things you can do to someone you reportedly love. It takes someone really special and great to be able to move on after an affair. I would not be that someone. I knew an affair happens in this book, so to be fair to the book, I went into reading it with a bit of a negative attitude, which shouldn't reflect on the book itself at all.

I ended up giving this three out of five stars because while predictable, Green is still a good writer, and I did enjoy reading this. I will say, though, that she kind of overuses the phrase "for ....". The characters were all obviously flawed, and though Gabby does have an affair, I found it hard to completely hate her. I hated her actions, but I didn't hate her character. She wasn't my favourite, but Green wrote her in a way that I almost (almost) felt sorry for her. I can see how women (even men) could relate to her situation and feelings.

While this may not have been my favourite Jane Green novel, I'm not sorry that I read it.