Monday, Sunday isn’t a book that every person will be able handle reading. This book explores the boundaries of sexual attraction between older females and teenage boys. To broach such a difficult, almost taboo, subject took skill. Fenton Grace did an amazing job writing this tale of love and betrayal.
I knew before I got this book that it was going to be a bit disturbing. I will admit that my curiosity got the better of me. An older woman involved with a teenage boy is in the news far too often these days, and the woman normally ends up in jail. But in these cases, which one of them started seeking the relationship? Was it her? Or was it something the teenage boy planned?
Laney Secord, the woman this story is about, has lost her husband. Before his death though, she was unfaithful to her husband after having too much to drink.
At first, I thought she became involved with Chris because he boldly flirted with her, but then she becomes involved with his dad too. Because of her actions and because she knew what most would think of them, she became paranoid. She thought that whenever anyone would stare at her, this person automatically knew about her involvement in this unusual and disturbing love triangle.
Were there any parts of the book that disturbed me? Yes. Was I ever tempted to put the book down? Yes, but I didn’t. I was interested in the story, and I wanted to know what happened between Laney and Chris. I wanted to see how their relationship turned out. Why? I really didn’t feel that Chris was an appropriate beau for Laney, and not just because of his age.
Laney Secord, in my opinion, was a cougar. Not the jungle animal cougar, but an older woman who has a thing for younger, much younger, males. She knew that being romantically and sexually involved with Chris was wrong according to the rules of society. She fully realized that such a relationship should not be, that Chris was too young, but she still stayed involved with him.
I do not demand that the books I read have happy endings, but I do want the problem presented to be resolved in some way. I at least like a hint that it is going to be resolved. The ending to this book was far too abrupt for my taste, and in no way did I see a resolution of any kind made. Maybe the author plans to write a sequel?
A copy of this book was sent to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review. If you would like to purchase your own copy to read, I have provided a direct link to the book’s page on Amazon for you.
Amazon Link: Monday, Sunday
Recommended Article: Fenton Grace Interview: Society, Sexual Boundaries, and Advice for Writers
Favorite Sentences:
What did the laws of society matter when she knew, within herself, that he was too young?
Had the town truly changed, or was her perception of it changing, as if she was more readily aware of things outside herself?
She sensed that anger was boiling inside of him, and the only outlet would be the inevitable explosion.
The warning signals had been there from the beginning.
New Words Learned:
apathetic – not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive
cartouche – a box for cartridges
egregious – extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant
mellifluous – sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding
mollification – to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease
panacea– an answer or solution for all problems or difficulties
sacrosanct – extremely sacred or inviolable
torchiere – a floor lamp for indirect lighting, having its source of light within a reflecting bowl that directs the light upward
About the Author:
Fenton Grace was born and raised in New England. A graduate of Brown University with a degree in French, she enjoys playing piano, tennis, and keeping in shape with Pilates. Fenton has worked in the entertainment industry at several television and movie studios in a variety of business services roles. Happily married for 17 years, she is the proud mother of two kids. She currently lives in beautiful Southern California. Monday, Sunday is her first novel.
I’m glad you like the writing in ‘Monday, Sunday’!