Good, But A Bit Jumpy

3.5 out of 5 stars

I started Then, Now, Always a couple of months ago and had a hard time getting into it. I put it down and thought that I would try it again at a different time. I picked it back up a couple of weeks ago and flew through the middle section of it without even realizing it. I think that I was having a hard time wrapping my head around the characters and the time jumps (not that Shroff didn’t do a good job explaining them). I just wasn’t expecting it.  Once I got used to the flow (basically we would go through “now” and see what was going on, then we would jump back to the past to see where these characters were before). A few times the time jumps felt like they took away from the flow of the book, but as I got into it – I did get used to them.

This was cute. It was obvious from the name how it was going to end, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it. Then, Now, Always had a hallmark-like feel to it but with POC characters in it (which was also a nice change of pace for me. The characters well well fleshed out and really were the star of the show. Each person had their own feel and really added to it. And each storyline (past and present) had the right “feel” in my opinion.

I think the most interesting thing to read through was the different character arcs and the ways that each character changed through time. I think Shroff nailed this and was able to write interesting enough characters that you wanted them to change and wanted them to “get better” throughout time.

Even picking it up before, stopping, picking it back up – I enjoyed this book. It was cute and easy to get through. I’m glad that I picked this up and I’m glad that the story ended the way that I expected (and frankly since 2020 has been such a dumpster fire) — needed it to end.

Book Description:

Sometimes, first love is better the second time around.

Maya Rao has made her own dreams come true: She’s the owner of a bustling café and bakery in New York and the mother of a beautiful teenage daughter, Samantha. But when Samantha lands in legal trouble over a misdemeanor she didn’t commit, Maya is desperate. Desperate enough to call Samantha’s dad, Sam Hutcherson, whom Maya left abruptly many years ago, and who is now a successful lawyer. The problem? Sam doesn’t know he has a daughter.

Sam has put Maya firmly in his past, despite how shattered he was when she broke his heart. So he’s both dumbfounded and furious to find Maya outside his office asking for his help – with a picture of a girl who looks just like him. But as Sam reconnects with Maya, those old sparks begin to fly. Can he even picture a future with the woman who wrecked his past?

Then, Now, Always by Mona Shroff
Narrator: Mona Shroff, Soneela Nankani
Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
Published by Harlequin Audio on January 28th 2020
Genres: Romance, RomCom
Format: Audiobook
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Brian
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