REVIEW: Meant to Be by Karen Stivali

Meant to Be by Karen Stivali is perfectly titled as our two characters realize they were always meant for each other. The only problem is, they are each married to someone else. Now, I was anticipating a lot of angst in this book and because I’m not a fan of angst, I kind of went into this book with my eyes open waiting to get my heart smashed to pieces. Thankfully, it wasn’t too bad as the author did a great job at keeping the focus on Daniel and Marienne and their forbidden attraction to each other. On top of that, the author kept these two in the honorable category as Daniel and Marienne never felt the desire to cheat on their spouses.

Daniel and Marienne meet while married to other people. Marienne and her husband, Frank moved behind Daniel and his wife, Justine. Justine is a powerhouse business woman who is trying to get her day spa up and running and Daniel is a professor at the local college. Justine is hardly around and never really spends anytime with Daniel. They don’t share the same hobbies anyway, the only thing they really share is a fantastic sex life.

As for Frank and Marienne, these two really shouldn’t have been married in the first place. Frank is a trader and Marienne is more artistic than business. They rarely communicate. Frank is always busy and never tells her anything. Towards the middle, we find out why Frank is gone all the time and it’s definitely not a position he should have put his wife in.

Marienne and Daniel share the same hobbies and are more compatible with each other than with their spouses, so it’s natrual that they would spend time with each other. Besides, neither Frank or Justine care about their growing friendship, as the are both occupied with they careers. Daniel and Marienne are clearly attracted to each other but never act on it until their spouses are no longer in the picture. In this case, Frank gets into a car accident and Daniel realizes he no longer wants to be married to Justine. There is plenty of time that pasts before this happens, so readers really get a in-depth look into how each couple lives. Once everyone is no longer attached will Marienne get her professor?

I really enjoyed reading this story and I’m thankful that the author didn’t allow our two main characters to cheat. Now a days, most books tend to gravitate towards that. The writing was easy to follow and the characters had my attention from the very beginning. I adore Daniel and Marienne together and really felt for them to be in the positions they were. I can’t imagine finding the person you’re meant to be, but not being able to be with them because you pledged your vows to someone else. Not an easy situation, but the author dealt with it wonderfully.

Book Info:

Publication: July 18th 2016 | Karen Stivali | Destiny Series #1

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

When British NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds himself eating cold pizza alone most nights, until he meets his neighbors.

Marienne Valeti loves her freelance design job, but she’s lonely and her husband’s indifference seems to grow on a daily basis. When new neighbors move in and the two couples start sharing weekly meals together, everything changes.

A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between Daniel and Marienne. As their marriages unravel and their lives take unimaginable turns, their friendship helps them weather every hardship, leaving them both single and wondering. Were they destined to meet? And are they meant to be friends or much, much more?