Official Review: His Kate by Sue Krawitz

Post by **bookowlie** » 01 Apr 2016, 11:56

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "His Kate" by Sue Krawitz.]

3 out of 4 stars

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His Kate by Sue Krawitz is a contemporary romance about the choices and consequences people face in relationships. Greg, an IT professional, has been dating Heather for three years, but is ambivalent about the idea of marrying her. Then along comes Kate. They meet while Greg is in the park with his dog, and he becomes smitten. He is not really cheating on Heather; the couple had recently decided to take a temporary break after an awkward visit to the famous Tiffany’s jewelry store. Although Heather suggested the break, she hopes that time apart will convince Greg to move forward in their relationship. A major event occurs and things become complicated with a few twists along the way.

The main characters are very likeable with detailed backstories. Greg is the kind of guy every girl would want - nice, responsible, caring, funny, and easygoing. The women are both accomplished in their careers, yet they each dream of getting married and starting a family.

Philadelphia comes alive here with frequent mentions of neighborhoods, streets and landmarks. I was able to get a real sense of the lively hustle-bustle, humid summers, and easy walkability.

The plot takes a while to get going due to a heavy emphasis on character development. The author sets the stage with alternating views of Greg, Heather, and Kate. The characters hardly interact at all in the beginning; it’s more of a long, “let’s get acquainted with each character” for the reader. I started wondering when the plot was going to take shape. The storyline starts to move forward and becomes interesting after the first third of the book. The themes of choice, regret, and the many facets of love are very relatable.

I enjoyed this thoughtful story, but the descriptions are overdone at times. Here’s an example – “Kate ran her hand through the grass, taking joy in the thick, soft blades that tickled her fingers. Each blade was the perfect shade of green and had a freshly cut, clean, crisp smell.” There is also way too much detail about what each person is wearing, their hairstyle of the day, or insignificant characters, such as a waitress. Passages like this slow the pace of the story and give an over-the-top feel to the most mundane things.

Written in the third person, the point of view alternates between the three main characters. It is an effective plot device, although the perspective changes are often abrupt. I found it difficult to keep track of the two women’s interests and backstories early in the book. It would have been helpful if the author had included section breaks between POV switches. There are also a few grammatical errors, including one noticeable instance of the wrong character’s name used.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. After a slow start, I enjoyed this heartfelt romance with characters that were easy to relate to. Fans of realistic romances will find this an engaging read. I don’t read a lot of romance novels, but I found it hard to leave these characters behind on the last page.

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His Kate
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gali · Post by **gali** » 01 Apr 2016, 21:52

Thank you for your insightful review. I am not sure the book is for me, but I am glad you enjoyed it after all.

Post by **bookowlie** » 01 Apr 2016, 22:36

Thanks Gali. I wound up liking the book much more as the story progressed. It also didn't hurt that Greg had the nicest dog who went everywhere with him.

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 02 Apr 2016, 11:32

Great review. I enjoyed how well-articulated the character driven story was critiqued.

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 Apr 2016, 11:40

Thanks Bluemel. I just took a look at my review - it looks really long now that it's published! I guess I went a little overboard on analyzing this one.

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 14:36

Very well-written review, bookowlie! The content of the book intrigues me because I do like romances! I'm a little leery about the over-described parts of the book. However, I'm glad you ended up liking it!

Post by **bookowlie** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:01

Thanks for your kind words.

What's nice about this book is you can relate to all of the main characters. Once the plot got going (which did take a while!), the story was a nice, beach-style read.

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:05

You are quite welcome!

Ah...I love beach stories.

Post by **bookowlie** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:11

All I know is Greg is someone any girl would love, plus he has the nicest dog!

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:13

Nice! You got to love a man who has a nice dog! It reflects on how well he treats his companion.

Post by **bookowlie** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:27

It's funny you brought that up! Both women liked that he treated his dog so well. They felt it was a sign he would be good husband and father material.

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:31

I would say the same exact thing! That's a big plus for me.

shelley_soetosenojo · Post by **shelley_soetosenojo** » 05 Apr 2016, 12:53

Again a well written review Bookowlie! I liked how you summarized the book without giving any spoilers. Great job!

Post by **bookowlie** » 05 Apr 2016, 17:54

Thanks Shelley! This book was difficult to summarize without giving spoilers because there were a few important twists throughout the story, not to mention the ending.

smoran16 · Post by **smoran16** » 06 Apr 2016, 12:48

I don't know if this particular book would be one for me, but it does sound very interesting. You did a great job of describing the characters and the setting, and I believe it will catch interest for people who enjoy this kind of topic!