Acceptable Losses. Nia Forrester. 2016. 226 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.]
Lena and Quentin are work BFFs. For years, they’ve had a standing afternoon coffee date that helps guard them against the strain of being high-achieving black attorneys at their firm. Where Quentin sees himself as a mentor to Lena, she buries feelings toward him, knowing he is someone whose interest will always be unrequited. Quentin’s failing marriage hasn’t totally jaded him on love, so he attempts to hook up Lena with his suave and less conventional brother Darius. The two hit it off; so why does Quentin have such a problem with his successful match-up?
Most of this book focuses on Lena and Quentin as they navigate their romantic relationships. Lena is open to love, but hasn’t had a great track record or even time to devote to it. Quentin is in a dying marriage, where neither he nor his estranged wife seem willing to throw in the towel officially. I enjoyed getting to know these two, particularly how they process their romantic situations. I appreciated Forrester’s ability to dig a bit deeper to explore their rationale for their choices in life, for better or worse. I was especially appreciate of Forrester’s focus on Lena’s career. I read a lot of books that subtly suggest women sacrifice their careers and aspirations for the sake of a relationship. The tension around that was definitely something Lena had to manage, and Forrester presented it with realism.
The drama factor in this book is high. A too-close-for-comfort work friendship coupled with a deteriorating marriage is never a good mix. However, when you add in a guilt-laden Quentin who just wants to be the good guy for everyone, disaster has to appear. Darius and Mara, Quentin’s estranged wife, are great foils to both Quentin and Lena. The two challenge Lena and Quentin to confront their platonic relationship so they can actually see what they want.
To her credit, Forrester dropped several plot twists that I didn’t see coming which made the story all the better. I came into this book with a clear expectation of what would happen, and each time she turned a corner, I readjusted and assumed some more. And yet again, I’d get another twist I didn’t expect. I appreciated that what could have been a run of the mill romance didn’t end up that way. I related to these characters, I struggled with their hard decisions, and scolded them when they made bad choices. It was easy to see myself and people I know in all of the people in this book, which is a rarity for me.
Acceptable Losses gets my praises. I enjoyed how it looked at a fairly common scenario from so many angles and dove into them. I would be interested to see more of some peripheral characters, too. While it had its brief moments of predictability, it never let me get comfortable in my assumptions, which made it even more fun to read.
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