So Much Love by Rebecca Rosenblum is a different look at the typical murder/kidnap storyline.

This book is an interesting read, and I wasn't entirely sure what I thought about it that I had to sit on the story for quite a few days. There are multiple storylines, and not all are equal. The perspectives of Catherine and her professor really intrigued me, while the other point of views bored me and sometimes made me question why they were in the novel. Basing it off what the back cover says, it's showing the "complexity of love and the power of stories to shape our lives", but I'm not quite sure how they all fit in.

I do love Rebecca Rosenblum's writing style. When I was reading Catherine's point of view I was hooked and wanted to much more. I even expected so much more - since the ending left me feeling like there were parts of the story missing. Catherine and her husband's desire to have a child just disappeared - it was such a big part of the story and it was never brought up again, not even a side line comment in regards to it.

This story wasn't exactly a mystery or a thriller, but it wasn't your typical murder/kidnapping story either. I enjoyed seeing the different points of view in regards to their feelings about the situation, but it just felt like there were pieces missing. I would definitely suggest reading this book because it's style of writing is fantastic, but plot wise it could have been cleaned up a bit (in my opinion). There were also some points in regards to our character knowing her kidnappers name yet we never hear an introduction or how they knew each other. It was quite frustrating to me...

Overall, I think this story had so much potential and Rebecca will only grow the more she writes. I hope she comes back to this story at some point (perhaps a sequel?) and expands more on this concept. It was such a great idea and it was unique.

Three out of five stars.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

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I cried. A lot. I was pretty much just a sobbing mess for the whole of Kyla's chapter. It was a beautiful exploration of love and loss and grief and poetry and pain and the beauty in simple lives. ( )

I was loving this story except for the infusion of the former death of a waitress and poet that Catherine liked, it seemed to take away from the story rather than add to it for me. I would have given this a five star if it weren't for the unrelated part, otherwise I did enjoy this book. ( )

Catherine Reindeer vanishes without a trace after work. Now everyone in the small town is left with unanswered questions, worst-case scenarios and tiny shreds of hope. While being held prisoner Catherine remembers the poems of a local female poet who had been murdered decades earlier. After being held for months against her will it's only after she suffers a devastating loss that she finds the power to make an escape.

We learn how this affects not only those closest to her but also acquaintances of Catherine's. We learn how her quiet strength and determination allow her to start to live her life again although it's different from the life she loved and lived before. The first chapter started off great! The book seemed so promising but sadly it kept going downhill after that first chapter and it isn't something that's going to be memorable for me. Maybe too many points-of-view. ( )