Review: “Rue”
For this book, the author reached out to request a review via my website. I liked the sound of it, so I was happy to read and review.
The Premise
Rue is working as a singer at a bar when she is swept off her feet by an admirer who leaves her a huge tip. Her blindness has been a hindrance to her love life, and she has been afraid to let herself get hurt or to be vulnerable around others, especially men. But Josh’s persistence quickly wears her down, and their romance soon blossoms into what Rue never imagined would be in her life: love. Josh’s days of being a “player” seem to be over when he meets Rue, but his coworker Alyssa won’t accept that Josh has found someone special. Alyssa is a force to be reckoned with — a force that ran right over her quiet, nerdy husband Kevin, who now recognises their marriage may be beyond repair. At the intersection of these four lives, can any of these relationships survive?
The Pros
I read this in a few sittings over a couple of days, and it was easy to get lost in the characters. Primarily we see the events through Rue’s eyes, with some aspects of Josh, Kevin and even Alyssa slipping in at times. It was refreshing to read about a character like Rue, who is very resilient and independent despite her blindness. Her emotions are captured so well, with moments of trauma, heartbreak, and triumph. I liked that there was a range of experiences we see: her fear at being in new spaces, her sense of being overwhelmed by touch, her frustration at her family, her anger at Alyssa’s “mean-girl” intimidation, and so much more — and yet, she was also able to joke about her blindness in a light way to others. Her support network was amazing — apart from her friend Vy, there were also acquaintances who went out of their way to explain things visually for her, and that was such a nice touch.
The Cons
I really liked this novel a lot, but in terms of the pacing, there were moments with long introspective sections focusing on one character, and then other parts where a large chunk of time was so condensed that we only learn of what happened months later. For instance, I wished we’d gotten to see Rue and Josh’s attempt at reconciliation (and Alyssa’s interference) in the “here and now” present, rather than only experience it after the fact; and when Rue finally does find real love, I wish we’d gotten to see a bit more of that develop nearer to the middle rather than at the end. I wanted to keep on reading, but sadly it was over!
Conclusion
This was a lovely, complicated but beautiful women’s fiction/romance novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed having a character that we could admire, and understand a point of view from someone who would usually be marginalised in society due to her blindness. At no point did the author forget that our protagonist is blind, and the tiny nuances and casual mentions brought life to Rue’s story. If you may have ever wondered about a blind person falling for a sighted person, this is a great novel that you should read. I would recommend to other readers, especially adult female readers who need a good book to curl up to!
