Love, Carry My Bags by C.R. Everett

This was a difficult book for me to get hooked into, largely because I'm more of a fantasy reader than of books set in present day dealing with every day issues. The author takes us on a trip through the lifetime of the main female character, Camryn, beginning with high school. Her parents are divorced and she lives with her father and stepmother. Throughout the last couple of years of high school, she is fortunate to have a wonderful relationship with the boy of her dreams that somehow survives the strain of a year away as a foreign exchange student. Things slowly fade away as college and then life itself gets in the way.

Eventually, Camryn falls into a relationship with Glenn. In spite of her misgivings, Camryn very much wants to be married and have children, so she accepts his proposal. His insecurity and need to control everything in his life frequently leave them angry and frustrated frustrated with each other. Camryn eventually comes to realize she is being manipulated and unhappy in her marriage. She has to weigh the pros and cons of divorce and the ramifications it would have not only for her, but their two daughters as well.

Parts of this story hit too close to home, making this book an uncomfortable read for me. On the surface, we see a girl moving through life struggling with a marriage she's not happy in, a lost love she never truly got over, and a man quick to anger. Everett has built a believable story, one that is acted out in many homes and families. For those who enjoy stories that parallel life, I highly recommend this book. If your interests are more to find a brief escape in worlds that can't possibly exist outside books, this is not for you.

Until I read the author's note at the end of the book, I was not aware one of the characters was struggling with undiagnosed ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). This book was well written and well edited. However, the main theme throughout the story, a couple struggling with marriage, feelings of resentment and everything else that can destabilize a marriage, made this book a struggle for me to get through. I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. The Amazon link will automatically redirect you to the Amazon site for your location.