Review: “Bibliointuitive”
I received this book from the author, for whom I had already reviewed another book Rue. I also saw it on Reedsy and reviewed it for that platform as well, which makes it my twenty-third book via Reedsy. My Reedsy review can be found here.
If you’re interested in becoming a Reedsy reviewer (and have the chance to get paid “tips” to review books!) check it out here.
The Premise
After a tragic car accident as a child, Riley’s maturity into adulthood is coupled with her experience feeling an intuitive connection — a “gift” — that she is unable to ignore. She doesn’t know where it comes from, or what it means, but it follows her through her life.
Adam’s role in the accident also follows him like a plague from the past, along with his own strange connection to Riley that he cannot ignore. When they meet as adults, can they find a way to forgive the past and build a future together?
The Pros & Cons
This was a beautiful story of pain and loss that finds redemption in the beauty of love. I absolutely loved the opening, which immediately dives into the fraught relationship that the two main characters have — a force compels them to be together, despite the tragedy of their past.
I was thrilled to see Riley finding her way in life after experiencing such a loss. My heart went out to Adam — a well-intentioned action can cause so much irrevocable damage to others, and his survivor’s guilt is something he has to live with his entire life, which can never really go away. I also liked that we get to see glimpses of Kathy, especially her serious consideration of her multiple lives — such a profound concept for a child to discuss!
It was amazing when the two characters do finally find each other, and despite others’ opinions that they are an odd match because of their tragic history, they each know they are fated to be together. I really appreciated the themes of faith, love and redemption that are explored here — mixed with a smidge of fantasy that seems almost paranormal with Riley’s extraordinary talents.
I enjoyed this story but did take some time to get used to the storytelling style that mixes Riley in first person and then Adam in third person (it may have worked better for me with both first person, or both third person). Also Adam’s family drama situation was such a profound moment of revelation that I wished it had been explored more — at the book’s end, I still had so many more questions about that situation!
Conclusion
Overall, this was a beautiful story. It was also unique, as I didn’t know what to expect from the ending — there’s romance, but also a fantasy element, and then profound literary-fiction moments drop in here and there as Riley ponders the meaning of life and the origin of her gift. The novel’s themes are powerful and take you on an emotional journey. It made for a bumpy ride that was unsettling but also uplifting, and left me still thinking about the book long after I had finished. This is my second book by this author, and I really like that she doesn’t follow the usual cookie-cutter trajectory of a novel, and I would love to keep reading more of her work to see what else is in store!
