ECONOGAL

Abby Jimenez’ latest romance, The Night We Met starts inauspiciously. Mike calls his best friend Chris to fill in for him. Mike is due to pick up his new girlfriend Larissa and her mother and take them to a surgical appointment. But he is hungover. Chris, as always covers for him. Thus, the love triangle begins.

In addition to the love triangle, Jimenez explores alcoholism and work ethic along with loyalty to friendship. Further themes are betrayal and following in the footsteps of a flawed parent. None of these make for an easy read. This is not a typical romance due to such intense themes.

The story unfolds by alternating points of view from Larissa and Chris. Yet, the character of Mike manages to dominate. He is larger than life and yet full of insecurity. Chris covers for him again and again, until Larissa’s life is endangered.

Secondary characters include Larissa’s mom and best friend as well as the gang that revolves around Mike. The gang includes Chris.

The Night We Met may be a sweet romance, but the novel shines a glaring light on the disease of alcoholism. In Mike’s case he never made peace with the shattered dreams of a teenager. A dozen years have past and he has yet to set new goals. Alcohol erases the pain, or so he thinks. It takes a greater loss to turn him around.

The novel repeatedly harks back to a single event of Larissa getting a ride from Mike instead of Chris. Those small decisions that cause life’s path to change. Jimenez manages to create an ending if not happy for all, at least the best for the characters. Friendship and loyalty are tested and to a certain extent succeed.

I enjoyed the book even though it is not a summer beach read. It is a romance and yet the plot does not give off a warm fuzzy feel. Alcoholism is an illness far too many suffer from. Abby Jimenez gives the reader much to ponder.