One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Wendy & Amy ponder Reid's One True Loves  Dilemma / Sweet Sam's love helped heal heartbroken Emma. / But then her husband returns, Jesse's alive, / Pop A Cork to the ways love can change & survive!

Show Notes:
Oliver Fox's article "The Four Pillars of Romance"
Glamour article mentioned
Book Broads Podcast - "We Read Every Book by Taylor Jenkins Reid"
 

Next Episode:
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne paired with Fascino Prosecco Rose.

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Transcript

Prosecco N Prose | Season 4 | Episode 33 | One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 

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Co-hosts: Wendy and Amy

Amy (A): Welcome to Prosecco and Prose Episode 33.

Wendy (W): This week’s prosecco is Conti Priuli Prosecco Rosé. 

A: This week’s prose is One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid.                        

 * * * INTRODUCTION * * *

W: I just loved this week’s prose pick.

A: Oh my gosh…loved it! Definitely pulled at the heartstrings.

W: Did it ever. And we are only on our third love story of the season! Might need a bigger box of tissues.

A: Good possibility of that, but I find a glass of prosecco does wonders for the spirit. Especially ones as pretty as this Conti Priuli Prosecco Rosé. Just love how that rolls off my tongue. 

W: It is very pretty and spirit lifting. I love the label and the color. It just, it just looks yummy.

A: Oooh, and I cannot wait to try it. Now its gold and pink label I mean really brings out the color. Yeah, it does. A real clear, like cooked salmon color. Does that even make sense?

W: To me it does but you know. I mean it’s like a corally-pink color, but you can see through it. …yes exactly…right, I love the gold accents on the label. They kind of look rose-gold, don’t you think?

A: Maybe that’s emblematic of this prosecco …. The liquid rose-gold.

W: It might be. Let’s get the basics so we can start tasting and see for ourselves. So, it’s a DOC, Extra Dry, which is right in the middle of the sweetness levels, 11%, and this one was a Trader Joe’s bargain at $6.99.

A: Right at our price point! I mean I can already tell this is going to be good.

W: Well, it’s hitting all our boxes. Now I saw online that it can sell for $16 US dollars in Ireland or England…what? Definitely feel like we’re getting a deal after reading that. 

A: And Vivino rates it a 3.8. But you know, I love a good deal.

W: We both do, right? Right, especially when it comes to prosecco. Ummmhmmmm. Now do you want to read the label for us since you have it or just hold it up and I can probably read it from here, since my arms seem to be getting too short.

A: Or you could just wear glasses like ah normal people.

W: I do, but I don’t have them today, so help a friend out, what info have you got?

A: Excuses excuses…okay let see… ah kay, “Fine expression of light cherry, strawberry, citrus aromas. On the palate it offers great depth with notes of red berry, peach, sp…ah that, that says spice and fine bubbles. You’re asking me if I can read it? Yeah bubbles, but spice…that was interesting…that was interesting. It says suitable for any occasion, pair with puff pastry, risotto, shellfish and quiche.”

W: Well, a podcast discussing love stories is a suitable occasion.

A: It’s a given; this sounds really good.

W: It does. I’m very curious about this spice note. Oh, me too. I wonder if we’ll be able to pick that up.

A: They’ve certainly given us a lot to look for. They have. It did have a very strong mousse on the pour, but it dissipated immediately after I poured it. Yep. I’m left with just a thin sliver of mousse at the top.

W: There’s definitely a lot of bubbles. Lots of perlage in the glass. But you know they’re bigger than I expected with a description of fine bubbles, don’t you think?

A: Tons of bubbles and I also have several like spirals in my glass. It’s just simply gorgeous! Now if I had a dirty mind, I’d say it was… 

W: You do have a dirty mind, so I’m stopping you right there.

A: Hmph…Says the girl who brought up a handy last episode.

W: Touché. Nose?

A: What about my nose? Do I have a booger?

W: The prosecco, you infant.

A: Geez. Rude! It’s like squirrels today and it’s usually me, being squirrely. You are squirrely. Okay so nose…we’re talking smell. The aromas. Oh I thought you said I had a booger hanging out of my  nose…come one…No this is not…now I get the infant and how that ties in…yes….Let me see …. What aroma are you getting from this beautiful rose? Well, you know, I’m not getting any cherry. I want to know what you are getting…Well I can smell strawberry. This one’s a bit like our last one…it’s a bit hard to catch you know a distinct aroma.

W: I agree, wow…nothing really jumps out, but I’m kind of in love right now because I’m getting a hint of strawberry as well. But, there’s a bit of yeast…really…It’s very, very light on the nose. I know they didn’t say anything about yeast but it just got a subtle bread 

A: I do not smell bread…maybe that’s your breath. So I’m not getting bread, yest, but I am getting something citrus though …. Can you smell that? Let me see ….

W: You get citrus? I’m not getting any citrus notes at all.

A: It’s really really faint, but it’s like you know kind of like the rind of an orange or maybe a grapefruit. Gramma Sue had grapefruits in her yard before they tore that tree down. 

W: So, a little bitter.

A: Yeah, bitter…maybe, but I’m ready to taste.

W: I’m already ahead of you while you were over there sniffing away…I saw you; I saw you. It’s quite fizzy in the mouth—

A: I mean it’s all those bubbles. You have to take a lot of little sips with this or you’ll get burpy.

W: How good of you to put out that warning.

A: Well, I do what I can. Definitely can taste the strawberry though. You? 

W: Oh yeah. But it’s kind of like an unripe strawberry. And I get some cherry. This is kind of interesting because I would describe this as feeling kind of thick in the mouth.

A: No, I totally get it. It almost leaves a film on the top of the mouth. Yeah, yeah! My initial take is it’s not bad, but it’s different. I mean it’s definitely different from the other rosés we’ve had so far this season.

W: It is, but on first taste, I like it. It’s good.

A: It’s definitely swillable so far.

W: I have a feeling it’ll probably be swillable to the bottom of the bottle, Amy.

A: I’m not going to jump the gun. You know there are people basing their prosecco-buying on our honest review. I’m really going to hold back; don’t want to steer them wrong.

W: Definitely don’t want to do that. I wouldn’t mind steering anybody listening into giving us a rating and review though.

A: We appreciate those, especially the ones that show up on Apple podcasts and now Spotify. Did you see that? I did see. Yeah. You guys can rate and review us on Spotify now too. It was always just apple, right? Yep. But we’ve also added a buy me a coffee link that shows up in our episode description for those who’d like to support our creativity with some spare change. 

W: I thought you said it was buy me a book…

A: That’s what it says when you hit the link when you open it up, but Buy me a coffee is the name of the company that helps listeners support independent podcasters. Does that make sense? Okay. I mean I wish there was a company called Buy me a bottle of prosecco.

W: Don’t we all, but we’d really appreciate your support in any way you choose.

A: TIA, do you know what that means? No…thanks in advance…so let’s talk about our author, Ms. Taylor Jenkins Reid.

W: You can probably tell, I never did very good with when words were spelled right. Whatever……Ms. Reid is a New York Times bestselling author of seven novels. Her novel Daisy Jones and the Six is being adapted into a limited series for Amazon and this novel, One True Loves, is being adapted into a film, with an expected release date sometime this year. Oh great…yeah…She actually began her career in film production, so it’s kind of a bit full circle for her.

A: Reid says she took a lot I mean a lot of zig zags on her journey in becoming an author. She loved to write, but wasn’t sure she could make a living from it… so, she just wrote in her spare time. Kind of like us. So, Jennifer Aniston, who she is a huge fan of, actually inspired her to really pursue her writing dreams.

W: Really?

A: Crazy! I know…There’s a fantastic article in “Glamour,” I’ll link it in the show notes for anyone interested in reading it in full https://www.glamour.com/story/how-meeting-jennifer-aniston-i . So in the article TJR and I’m going to say TJR because Taylor Jenkins Reid doesn’t really roll off my tongue like it should. I know…we can’t let you get tongue tied. Continue. Though TJR talks about when she was working as a casting assistant and got to meet Ms. Aniston. Of course, before the big day, she tells all her friends, yeah duh! ...and of course she knows they’ll all want a play-by-play wouldn’t you? Yes, like all the low down. Right, like leave nothing out.  No not a minute not a breath. So, at the end of the day, she realized there were too many people she’d have to share with, so she wrote her story all down, immediately, from beginning to end. She said the words just poured out of her. 

W: Okay. I kind of like that.

A: Well, her friends loved this little story…this little essay…whatever it was and told her she should become a writer and it just clicked. Her new dream, as she says in the article. But she says you don’t need to meet a celebrity to discover what you want to do, No you could just meet someone over dirty tacos at a Mexican restaurants like we did like we did… just pay attention to your joy. 

W: Yes, margaritas and prosecco…But I have to say that’s pretty amazing.

A: Now she’s been writing full time since 2012. That’s 10 years, right?

W: Seven books in 10 years. Pretty impressive.

A: One True Loves is her fourth book, published in 2016. I’ve also read Malibu Rising, her most recent book.

W: What’d you think of it?

A: Well, liked it; didn’t actually love it like most do, which is pretty unusual. Yeah, the reviews seem like people really loved it. Oh, they do, but I think One True Loves is a better fit for what I like in reading a story like this. Malibu Rising was a family drama and it just didn’t have the depth of some of the stories you and I have discussed. Yeah…Don’t get me wrong, it was a great story, but I loved One True Loves better. It’s just my preference.

W: Well contemporary romance is quite a bit different than a lot of what we’ve been reading for last season. Right exactly. Romance in general is not something I typically pick up, actually but I do enjoy it. This season is getting us to branch out a bit.

A: It is, and I’m liking it. Have you read any of her other books?

W: Um, I read Maybe in Another Life was my first read by her. I really enjoyed it. I liked reading the parallel stories. You know, the what if I’d done this instead of that. And this story takes that approach and you see how the main character’s life would be the same and different, pivoted from one choice in her life. So does she choose to stay in this place or…does she choose …inaudible…Very interesting, fun read for me.

A: Man, that sounds intriguing. Did you like it more or less than One True Loves? Just wondering.

W: Um it’s kind of hard to say. I think I liked them equally, honestly. They were both really good. She has a good writing style.

A: Well, I’ve added all her books to my stack. Of course, you have. Maybe I’ll start with that one. But friends, if you want someone to help you with all of TJR’s books, check out the Book Broads podcast. Yes, Alex and Bailey, the Book Broads, I love that name…I know…the book broads…They did this episode called We Read Every Book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’ll read their episode description; here let me see I wrote it down…it says: “In our most exciting episode yet, we discuss every single book ever written by Taylor Jenkins Reid as well as share our definitive rankings of her complete work.”

W: It was a very fun episode; loved listening to their discussion. They have a really fun dynamic.

A: Kind of like us. Yeah of course. I loved the discussion though on who was for Team Jesse and who was for Team Sam. They both started on Team Jesse, but then ended with Team Sam. Who were you rooting for?

W: I was definitely team Sam. He, he just seemed like a better match. I didn’t dislike Jesse, but I didn’t really like him and Emma together. You?

A: Totally Team Sam. I mean I didn’t think Jesse fit her either, and I agree with the Book Broads, Jesse got a tad annoying.

W: Jesse felt like a match for a moment in her life but not her forever match.  

A: Totally agree. Now in their rankings of Reid’s books, they both put The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as number 1, so we might have to check that one out.

W: We might. It gets amazing reviews. But … I read an excerpt of it and it just didn’t pull me in, so I’m on the fence leaning on the not read side of the fence. 

A: Really? I mean that surprises me. It sounds good. Yeah. As I said, all of her books are on my TBR stack, and I have you to thank for that.

W: Me?

A: Yes! You introduced me to her books. Don’t you remember?

W: Briefly recall, but hey good for me! The Book Broads do have me a bit more interested in putting it in my stack, though. If you read it first, let me know if I should.

A: Will do. So, One True Loves wasn’tone of their favorites. I know. Alex gave it 3rd place in her overall ranking, and I’m guessing Bailey I think she must have put it at 5th place. Yeah, because she didn’t actually rank it on the podcast, no she didn’t… I was trying to figure that out know. I mean so I don’t know if that means it’s a good or bad sign, but she did rank her bottom three and her top four, so I think that left it in fifth place? That doesn’t make sense as she did seven novels…right but on the podcast right the short story…Taylor Jenkins Reid has a short story and they rank the short story and it’s not considered one of the novels. Yeah, it doesn’t matter…they both said they really liked it.

W: Probably just slipped their mind. 

A: Look at me getting into the weeds again. I said I wasn’t going to do that this podcast. 

W: Well, you were just doing some math and you were like wait a minute. It probably slipped your mind…It definitely happens.

A: Well, I should know…as of late everything slips my mind. But check out the Book Broads podcast. They’re a lot of fun. Let’s give a quick summary.

W: Okay, so there’s going to be spoilers. 

A: Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait. I didn’t mean to interrupt you. 

W: You did actually. 

A: Now I have to, have to, have to give the first line of the book; it’s so good—yes it is. I’m kind of rude.  Guys I should apologize to you. I should never cut her off like that.

W: I cut you off earlier, so please continue…

A: I didn’t take my medicine today. Let me read the first line of the story. The first line is why I actually read the book. Interesting. Okay “I am finishing up dinner with my family and my fiancé when my husband calls.” Yeah! OMG, how can you not want to read that??? Guys now you can see why I just cut her off. I’m so excited about this book.

W: It’s definitely a pull-you-in opening line.

A: Yes…it…is. And now we are going to give spoilers, so listeners, if you need to read the book after that fantastic opening line and hate spoilers, might want to stop your 8-tracks right now and come back to us later.

W: What’s an 8-track? It’s like a music machine and you put the tape thing in. A music machine…boom boom boom…I’ll give you a…you’re not that much older than me. I just think I wasn’t allowed. You were stuck with your books inside your book. I think I was. Anyhow…Emma and Jesse are high school sweethearts. They both dream of getting out of their small town and seeing the world.

A: Which they do. Right? Uh hmmm. They marry in their 20s, and on the eve of their first wedding anniversary, Jesse goes missing in a helicopter accident and is presumed dead. Emma moves back home and slowly puts her life back together. She reconnects with an old friend, Sam, and begins to fall in love. 

W: Until as you heard that opening line, her husband calls. Jesse is alive. He’s been trying all these years to just get back to Emma. Now Emma has a fiancé and a husband...

A: …And a decision to make that will leave someone, inevitably hurt. 

W: Emma has changed, and Jesse has, too. They still love each other, but has their love changed as well? Oh, I just loved how Reid fleshed out both of these relationships. You know Emma Jesse, Emma Sam. Right. You really could feel how difficult this decision was for Emma to make.

A: I agree. You so could. Definitely needed the tissues handy. Now this story took place in Acton, Massachusetts, which is where Reid spent some of her time growing up, from age 12 to 18.

W: Right. There was a Q & A in the back of the book where she talks about that.

A: Yes. So, her grandmother lived there her entire life and was a pretty big influence on Reid’s life. She set the book in Acton as a way to honor her grandmother and a way to show her appreciation for the town she loves.

W: Right, and the bookstore, Blair Books, which Emma’s family owns and works at and she eventually comes to run, Emma comes to run is based on Willow Books in Acton. And, Reid had a pretty funny memory she shared about it.

A: Yes, she did. She and her friend, at 14, had gone to see The Vagina Monologues in Boston and absolutely fell in love with it. They wanted to get the book and went to Willow Books.

W: Willow Books ordered a copy of the book for them, but when the book came in and the store left a message—

A: —on the answering machine!

W: Yes! But the lady was not comfortable saying vagina, so after a couple of awkward pauses, she simply said, “The book you ordered is here.” That cracked me up and is something I could totally see happening in my own town if they had a book store. But, I could totally see it.

A: I would have just whispered “hey Taylor Jenkins Reid…or hey Taylor whoever you are, your vagina book’s in; it’s discreetly wrapped behind the counter.” You would do that. Well, Reid also answered the question of what “true love” means to her and what about this did she want to explore in the book. 

W: Oooh, I loved her response. 

A: I did too. She said “My main goal was to put forth the idea that just because a relationship ends, it doesn’t mean that it has failed. Right. I don’t think that true love means lasting love. If you remove that requirement, and you start looking at the people you have loved in the past, you start to ask yourself: Did I love that person with all my heart? Did they change me for the better? Was I good to them? Am I glad it happened? And if that’s the case, I think we should call that relationship a success.”

W: I like that. Because…I did too…It was so real and not everything has to be a failure because it’s not happening right now, right? And also, because I don’t think Emma and Jesse’s relationship was a failure. And I’ve definitely met couples who are no longer together and wouldn’t call their relationship a failure. It’s like when we were talking team Jesse or Sam. Jesse fits a particular moment in Emma’s life and so does Sam. It doesn’t make one relationship better or worse than the other.

A: Right. They’re just different. And Emma is really two different people in each relationship. People change.

W: Exactly!  And I think this is a great segue into our romance tropes.

A: So, let’s start with the obvious, the big one…the love triangle of Jesse-Emma-Sam. It’s really central to our plot…It is the story. It really was for me. I also put them in that order because Reid, through Emma, emotionally invested me in the plot of hers. I was emotionally torn until the end on who she picks, who she should pick, and what might happen to any one of them if she picks the wrong person.

W: Oh yes, me too. But I kind of feel like the triangle started in high school. Sam-Emma-Jesse. Sam definitely tried to ask her out.

A: Yes, he did, in his awkward way though, right? I know but he was so cute. But Emma rejected him because her older sister liked him; she thought he was so adorable.

W: He was. But Emma just could not like something her sister liked. We both have sisters, you have one, younger; I have two both younger. I’m not sure it was the same for you, but I know there was a period of time I wanted to be as different from them as I could be. If they liked it, you could be sure I didn’t. Now I’m not so sure whether that was more to annoy them or my parents. Why do we want to get under our parents’, or siblings’, skin so much?

A: For me at the time, it was like the Art of the Game, but I’d also say my sister is nine years younger. She was a baby when I was kissing boys.  it might have a bit to do with nature. Maybe it’s just what we do, but I do know siblings who never dealt with that.

W: You’re right. I do as well. Anyway, definitely the love triangle is one of the most common romance tropes and is huge in this story, and I just loved Reid’s take on it. It definitely did not feel old or common.

A: Completely agree.

W: I like when you agree with me. But anyhow…Another one I think we could say is shared pasts. For both of the guys but in two very different ways. For Sam and Emma, they worked together at the bookstore in high school, so when she comes back, they have that connection. And for Jesse, I mean well, they were married and he definitely wants her back when he returns.

A: I can see that. I mean, I think you can also say friends to lovers for Sam and Emma. They were friends way back in high school and they reconnect as friends when Emma returns to Acton after Jesse’s crash. Their friendship was gently pushed into romance by Emma’s parents and her sister, encouraging her to move on. I really felt like Reid portrayed these feelings in such an honest and real way, and we the reader feel these feelings ourselves while reading the book.

W: Oh boy! Do we ever! Yeah, definitely agree with that. This is kind of a stretch, but I also felt there was a bit of a second chance trope here. Just hear me out. I know Sam and Emma never really dated before, but he did feel something for her, and I think she felt a bit for him as well.

A: You know, I think so, but she refused to pursue it. Like I said before, can’t like something her sister likes. Right?

W: Correct. No can’t do that. Sam has this second opportunity to be with Emma. He even tells her that. That he doesn't want to lose her again or something to that effect. He’s willing to really put himself out there this time in a way he wasn’t in high school because he can’t risk not taking the chance to see if they have something real.

A: That’s a very good point. I think you have an argument for a second chance.

W: Good. Because I just made it.

A: You sure did, and it’s not such a stretch. You know, Jesse coming back is also a second chance. Emma has fallen in love with Sam, and Jesse wants her back. He wants a second chance for them to be together.

W: Your argument might be better than mine.

A: Naw just this time, but I have one more, how about return from the dead.

W: OMGosh! How did I not even think of that? Of course.

A: Well, the love triangle is so obvious and so central, it’s easy to focus on it, but return from the dead really stood out to me. Especially with our husband’s line of work…you know…Helicopter crashes are a very real and a very well-known situation for us, especially in Army aviation.

W: Very true.

A: Our husbands train for survival; right? Right! All the elements for hope and survival were in this story. They were. And they were believable. At least from my perspective. She did a great job. She did her research.

W Yeah, you’re right; I felt it was very believable.

A: Return from the dead can be a fake death or a misreported death, as we have here. I mean what a shock for Emma. She’s finally accepted Jesse, the love of her life, is gone, she moves on, even starts loves again, and then, ringy, ding, ding, hey, it’s me, Jesse. What’s up? I just can’t even imagine.

W: I couldn’t either. And like you said, Reid handles it in such a believable way and you really get in emotionally with these characters. You don’t want any of them to get hurt.

A: Oh, You really don’t. You know me, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Reid is giving us maybe a metaphor.

W: Okay … 

A: Just makes you think about your past self …. I mean maybe we all have past loves …. Someone who we thought was our one true love, but then you know that relationship dies, like Jesse did so we can and do move on to the next relationship. Does that make sense?

W: Hmmm …. That’s a thought. She did say, I read somewhere and hopefully I’ve remembered this correctly, that often her stories arise out of question she has and so she explores it.

A: You know I just saw so many parallels to my own first love and then my true love now. Josh you know. It’s just fascinating how we evolve, and you know we got to see that in Emma.

W: It’s very fascinating. I’m not a big lover though, so like Ruffino likes to tell me. I don’t love people. No, I’m very closed off. I’m really closed off. So that’s why I don’t know…we could have other loves though.  Did you know that this book and it’s ending was one of the hardest ones for Reid to write?

A: I can…I can see why it would be. The choice Emma has to make. What did she say?

W: She had an original vision for the characters that didn’t work and it took her a really long time to see it in another way. Makes me wonder if she had her go back to Jesse? Wow. because that would be different…And I wouldn’t want it to end any other way, I did find myself thinking what might have happened if Emma had made a different choice. Like what if she chose neither? 

A: Of course, of course; it’s only human to wonder. Right? Yeah. But if Emma had made a different choice, I think it might have spoiled the story for me. But then, Reid does have a way with words, she probably would’ve convinced me it was the right choice for Emma.

W: I think she would’ve. Right? Let’s talk Pillar 1 from Oliver Fox’s article “The Four Pillars of Romance” on the Writer’s Write blog. The Couple: Lover and Beloved. Amy linked that for us again this episode. 

A: Oh yes, I did; it’s in the show notes. https://www.writerswrite.co.za/the-4-pillars-of-romance/ So, Emma is our beloved in every situation, and Jesse and Sam are the lovers.

W: Agree. Sam pursued Emma in high school and then pursued her when she returned to Acton.

A: Emma kind of pursued Jesse though in high school. That would kind of make her the lover. They weren’t really in the same circles, but she had a crush on him.

W: I don’t know if I can say Emma really pursued Jesse. Per say in those words. Maybe in her mind she did. Yeah. I mean she was crushing on him, and like you said, she was she was…they weren’t really in the same circles and then they just ended up together. We don’t get the big story, but we don’t need it. Right…to make this story work. No. They might not have ever ended up together if they hadn’t ended up getting arrested together at that party.

A: Oh right, maybe so. But they did end up together and they ended up very much in love. Our first couple of the triangle.

W: Yes they are. 

A: Hey, let me top off your glass. Okay here we go… You know the dark chocolate really brings out the strawberry in this prosecco. I think it’s better to probably nibble on something with this prosecco. What do you think? 

W: Let me try it. You’re right. 

A: Isn’t that good? 

W: You’re right. The dark chocolate it’s been this way for everyone but it cuts the tartness and the stickiness. You know I’m getting a little raspberry now, too. But the prosecco sort of has this heavy stickiness to it. Yes it does…I don’t taste honey, it’s not sweet. It’s like its sticky tart. It’s not like sticky sweet like the song…I don’t know If that makes sense.

A: Oh no…I can see that.

W: I kind of feel like I’m doing what this dog we used to have did. Rocky would like do this thing with his tongue like, he was trying to taste something or get something off his tongue. It’s just really weird. It’s kind of like that for me. I don’t know how to describe it.

A: I think you just did. You taste prosecco like a dog. This is new.

W: No! I just feel like I’m doing the same thing with my tongue he would do.

A: As long as you don’t start lapping it up like a dog. With these glasses I could…I’m just teasing you. Someone’s got to keep you in check. So let’s talk Pillar 2: I’m ready to move on. The Obstacles: Rivals, Taboos, and Loved Ones—Oh My!

W: I think we can skip taboos this time. I don’t think there were any taboos that I would call an obstacle for this story. Do you? 

A: No I don’t either. But maybe loved ones was a small obstacle because if you remember, Jesse’s family did initially look down on Emma because they you know they felt she was the reason he didn’t pursue a professional life as a swimmer. Do you remember that? 

W: Uh hmmm I do… they were not exactly thrilled when he told them he didn’t …sorry about that I was having chocolate and prosecco…but he told them he didn’t really enjoy swimming and didn’t want to do it anymore.

A: We didn’t see Jesse’s parents much in the story, but they came across as extremely intrusive to me, I mean especially for boy parents. It was really the antithesis of Emma’s family.

W: Maybe that was the intent a little bit. After all, Emma doesn’t end up with Jesse, so why would the reader invest in his family when they won’t be there in the end?

A: Yeah, good point, good point. We definitely have some obstacles. Jesse’s obstacle is to just survive so he can make it back to Emma. 

W: And then we have the rivals, Jesse and Sam. Jesse is a rival for Sam way back in high school and now Sam is a rival for Jesse when he returns.

A: And they’re both such good guys and so good to Emma, I mean you kind of wish they both could win. It’s a different kind of marriage but go ahead.  But I don’t think in all my reading I ever fell in love with a character more than Sam. He was so patient, Sam was kind, Sam was loving …  He was everything a good book boyfriend should be.

W: He was pretty amazing. Alright, l’m going to…let go to Pillar 3: as I am in love with Sam and eating chocolate and drinking prosecco. The perfect pairing right.  we really do have the perfect pairing of prosecco and love stories. So Pillar 3: The Romantic Arc: Winning and Losing and … Winning Back Again?

A: Right. The arc in this story was so well-written. Uh huh! TJR has this gift and obviously a good editor. So, Emma and Jesse and Emma and Sam meet in high school. Both Jesse and Sam fall for Emma.

W: And while Sam does pursue Emma, it’s very brief and he quickly backs off when Emma is hesitant and really she’s kind of oblivious to his advances.

A: She was she was. And this made me think of another obstacle, actually.

W: Oh?

A: Well we mentioned Jesse’s family, but Emma’s family is kind of an obstacle for Sam.

W: What? No! They love Sam!

A: I agree, they love Sam. But Emma’s sister does try to push Emma to Sam a bit and because it’s coming from her sister, Emma rejects it, making her sister an obstacle to Emma and Sam’s relationship way back in the beginning.

W: Oh yeah, that makes sense. It didn’t feel like there was much of a pursuit for Jesse to look at the winning and losing. Emma fell quite quickly into Jesse’s arms, him having been her crush for so long. Maybe Emma is the pursuer here.

A: You know th- that could be. Maybe it’s Emma who wins over Jesse, since Jesse won Emma over way back on that day at the pool.

W: Yeah and they didn’t even have to meet and I’m kind of seeing it that way. But Emma and Jesse do grow closer over their shared goals of leaving Acton and you know leaving their parents' dreams for them to do and Jesse and Emma have a love of travel.

A: But then Emma loses Jesse …. But I see now how Jesse is more likely the beloved and Emma the lover here for sure …. But it really flip flops when Jesse returns because he is definitely trying to win Emma back.

W: Yes, true. But I think lover and beloved are a bit fluid for Emma and Jesse. And they are both such different people when Jesse comes back that it’s natural it would change.

A: So Emma was Jesse’s sole reason to live and try to get back all those years. I mean I’m not judging Emma, but she did have to keep living. I think love and being loved is part of living and to her, Jesse was gone, but to Jesse, Emma was his whole hope.

W: Amy that is so beautiful! Now I’m leaning team Jesse and am so sad for him!

A: No! No no no…They’re different people now! And you know Jesse is happy. Remember? He told Emma he understood now. 

W: That’s right, he did. But just stop talking because you’re going to put me to a different team. Anyway, so Sam lost Emma to Jesse, yeah it gets confusing…but then Emma comes back to Acton, and Sam starts to pursue her again.

A: I mean I felt like there was a bit of mutual pursuing going on there. But Sam wins her over. Emma realizes they have a lot of things they share. They grow closer and get engaged.

W: But Jesse comes back and Sam loses Emma AGAIN!

A: Well, he basically sent Emma back to Jesse. He didn’t want Emma to choose him, Sam, because she felt it was what she should do. Or because she didn’t want to hurt him. He wanted Emma to choose him because she loved him. Truly loved him.

W: Yeah. I totally got his point but I felt like my heart was in actual physical pain when I read that moment.

A: Same. And I was irritated that he seemed to kowtow like he did in high school, but what really happens is TJR allows us to gain more respect for Sam.

W: And he so deserved that. 

A: He did. And Emma really did need that time. To gain clarity. I was so happy, though, when Sam won back Emma’s heart. That was the happily ever after we deserved.

W: And our characters deserved. And Jesse does end up happy, so it was a happily ever after for all. Let’s wrap up with Pillar 4: The Lover’s Sacrifice.

A: Starting with Emma, she sacrificed a promised future after losing Jesse. And though she’s happy where she is now, she did sacrifice the life she had built away from Acton.

W: Yes, I agree, she is happy, but it was still a sacrifice to give all that she worked for and loved in California up. It hadn’t necessarily been a wrong goal, as one of the reasons for not achieving it is, because it was right at the time, but it doesn’t fit now.

A: No, it doesn’t. Jesse sacrificed Emma. His goal could be considered the right goal at the time, but after spending time with Emma after his return, he could see things were different and the reality is that it was the wrong goal. He had to let Emma and himself move on.

W: Yeah, I could never say Jesse quit on his goal or that it wasn’t important, it was just no longer the right goal.

A: Now Sam sacrificed when he pushed Emma to go to Jesse and figure things out. He knew they were strong enough to achieve their goal; he knew they had the right goal; and he knew it was important. He just needed Emma to see that as well. And he — briefly — sacrificed his own happiness so Emma could truly find hers, and I’m so happy it was with him

W: Me, too. Well, I’d say TJR had all the elements of a really, really good romance story.

A: Yes she did. A+ for sure. I loved it.

W: Loved it. Final thoughts on this prosecco? This Conte Priuli?

A: You talked about a stickiness earlier and it is a bit heavy for a prosecco to me. I mean it’s definitely better with food. Really like it with the dark chocolate. I am tasting a little bit of citrus now, though.

W: I prefer it with a little nibble of something as well, especially the chocolate. Yeah, that was genius. I’ve also got a little bit of a floral smell now, and some orange. Um, there’s a hint of orange on the taste. Never got any spice. No bubbles left though at all.

A: Nope. Looks like a tranquillo prosecco.

W: Or a calmo. I’m not sure what I would pair with this. What are you thinking?

A: Hmmm …. I think you could drink this with an apple pie or an apple slice and a piece of brie.

W: I think that would be yum. I would be curious to try it with a quiche like the label said or you know what might go good with this?

A: What’s that?

W: A caprese salad or sushi.

A: I think that would be good. Rating?

W: Mmmmm …. I’d give it a 3.6. It’s not too bad. It’s a bargain. Maybe a bit heavy for a prosecco for me, but I wouldn’t turn it down.

A: Would I buy this again? Ah…Probably not, but I wouldn’t turn it down if someone brought me a bottle. I mean I’m going to give it a 3.7.

W: That’s a pretty good rating. And it’s under $7. I probably would buy again.

A: You’re right. I forgot what a bargain it is. I probably would buy again if I saw it. Just not in Ireland or England. I’m not paying $20 a bottle for this. 

W: Right! We both love a bargain, meaning under $10.

A: The magic price point. Well, Wendy, I think that’s a wrap.

W: I think so. We’ll see you back in two weeks when we discuss The Hating Game by Sally Thorne which we will pair with Fascino Prosecco Rosé

Cheers!