I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by CelebrateLit. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
The Simple Soul of Susan by Noel Branham Published by Southern Publishing on October 12th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Family, Fiction, Friendship, New Adult, Romance, Small Town & Rural, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 306
Source: CelebrateLit
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads
Susan Combs had long ago found the love of her life. The only problem was the other party still didn't know he had been found. Every day Susan saw Calder Hurtz, her next door neighbor and childhood best friend. They always enjoyed the short drive to school down the dusty streets of their small Texas town. She was happy in those perfect moments, for her life at home was most imperfect. The challenging homestead she inhabited was also the favorite subject of local gossip.But one autumn day she overhears Calder and another boy having a conversation. This occasion of accidental audience sets Susan's life on an unforeseen path. In the seasons to come, her future will be changed by two hospitalizations, two confessions of love, and one betrayal. Compulsively readable, The Simple Soul of Susan is an engaging, soul-endearing romance and a mesmerizing debut.
This book sounded so interesting. It had a sweet endearing synopsis that tugged me in just a little. Let me tell you a story about assumptions. Based on the synopsis I built in my head where I thought this book was going to take me. I was so very very wrong. Wrong wasn’t all bad but because I had assumed certain things I had to reevaluate my expectations. I had to put the kabosh on my preconceptions of where this story would take me and settle into the story that was there. You know though, peppered throughout this book were assumptions. Susan and Calder found themselves battling with their assumptions versus their realities. Sometimes assumptions help to tell a story and sometimes assumptions can distract you from the real story. It’s finding that balance of allowing the story to tell itself and setting assumptions aside so you can get to the real story, not the one you made up in your head. I am guilty of that with this book. Susan and Calder are guilty of that in their own lives. Perhaps an unintended theme of this book but one that desperately spoke to me.
That being said there was an issue that I couldn’t overcome with this book. Continuity. While the book is broken down through the passage of time (Fall, Winter, etc) there were gaps that bothered me. When Tia shushes Susan down about letting people know that her dad’s disability was getting worse as she was not yet 17 and that Tia and her husband would not be able to save Susan from child services and keeping her inheritance intact. Yet when he goes to the hospital and adult services steps in to send him to the nursing home there’s no mention or concern about her being underage. Her age came across as a big deal but then apparently she turned 18 somewhere in there off screen. I can’t give all the examples and spoiler the entire book but there’s another instance where Calder wants to join Susan at the nursing home for game night to bolster his community service for college applications. This is in the fall but by the first time he goes it’s winter and they have already celebrated Valentine’s Day. There’s a lot that happens off screen that I felt like was more important to the story than some that happened on screen. Continuity issues is the only reason this book was only rated 3 stars.
The story themes in this book resonated and were well put together. Two young people having known each other their whole lives ultimately have to actually find themselves and find each other. Her the shy retiring outcast of their class and him the outgoing pinnacle of high school success and popularity. Their interactions at school didn’t truly mesh with my experiences and understanding of how those roles are treated but it’s been a few decades and a class of maybe 50 versus my class of not quite 200. Assumptions aside Branham weaves a story of two people, a lifetime, a community, and of finding your place in the world. A story of assumptions and truths. Truly worth the read by anyone who enjoys a coming of age type story.
About Noel Branham
Born and raised in a small Texas town, Noel Branham started her career in digital communications after graduating with a degree in English. An award-winning communicator, she now writes from her residence in Florida about things closest to the heart: home, family, and love.
Interesting that you saw the continuity issue. I think I felt it intuitively, i felt an “unease” while reading it, but I was into the story enough to not let it bug me too much. I thought the unease was “just me”, which is my usual default.
Thank you for your review and giveaway as well.
I don’t like very many YA books, so this one sounds intriguing even with the continuity problem!