BOOK REVIEW: The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson

 


Jonathan and Rosie have been together so long they finish each other’s sentences—so when he (finally) proposes and asks her to move across the country with him, everyone is happily surprised.
But when things suddenly unravel, Rosie sends Jonathan packing and moves back home with Soapie, the irascible, opinionated grandmother who raised her. Only now she has to figure out how to fire Soapie’s very unsuitable caregiver, a gardener named Tony who lets her drink martinis, smoke, and cheat at Scrabble.
It’s a temporary break, of course—until Rosie realizes she’s accidentally pregnant at 44, completely unequipped for motherhood, and worse, may be falling in love with the sentimental, troubled Tony, whose life is even more muddled than hers.
It’s not until Rosie learns the truth about her mother’s tragic story that she wonders if sometimes you have to let go of your fears, trusting that the big-hearted, messy life that awaits you may just be the one you were meant to live. - goodreads.


Received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rosie and Jonathan have been living together for 15 years. Unmarried and childless without any intention of being either. Then one day, Jonathan pops the question. But seeing as they never talked about getting married, he plays everything off as not important. I get that sometimes people just want to go sign the papers and make it legal, but it is a BIG decision that should get recognized. (in my humble opinion).

I would like to point out the fact that I do not like Jonathan's character at all. I mean, hes obsessed with tea cups! TEA FREAKING CUPS! I get people have hobbies and have collections, but when **SPOILER***that's all you focus your time on and postpones your wedding to buy a tea cup.... is when you have to go.
And kudos to Rosie for that. I'm glad she decided to take a breather.

Then that one time they forgot to use a condom in 15 years, she gets pregnant. At 44 years old.  Obviously things are going to cause some issues. Her and Jonathan both decided that they weren't going to have children, but then the opportunity falls into the realm of possibilty.

*****SPOILER *****

What an asshole Jonathan is. And that he blames Rosie for getting pregnant. UMM It takes the sperm too buddy! Ugh, and he doesn't even call her for how many months on end, and expects her to move across country being 9 months preggo! WHAT!!!

 

 *****SPOILER DONE*****

 

The thing that bothers me in the synopsis is how they describe Tony. How he is a very unsuitable caregiver. Yes, he isn't a nurse or doctor, but he is exactly the type of caregiver Soapie needs and wants. Soapie is 88 years old, she self proclaims what a good life she had, and that now is the time she really wants to enjoy it, because 'hell shes' dying right away'. I love this attitude. That's how I want to be.  Tony is a weird guy though. I liked him at times, but then thought come on, grow a pair. Your wife moved in her lesbian lover and is making you feel like a bad guy and keeping his kid away. I think he needed to fight more.

 

 

I give this book 3 stars. That's not saying that it wasn't good or that I didn't want to keep reading to see how it ended; I just found it okay.  Okay because it was predictable. I also didn't like the point of view the book was written in. I wish it was written under Rosie's perspective not a general third person stance. I think that if it was written differently I would have had more of an investment in the characters.