Book Review: “Never Too Soon” by Tamika Christy

“Never Too Soon” (Anaya’s World #2) by Tamika Christy

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Page Length: 320 pages (paperback edition)

Synopsis:

Things are looking up for Anaya Goode after the deaths of her brother and mother. She is the youngest (and highest paid) executive in Alameda County. She is in an adoring relationship with the love of her life, her natural twists are on point, and she runs a six-minute mile. What else matters?

When Anaya is tasked with leading negotiations for the most significant development agreement in County history, her world unravels. If the antics of inept officials and her micromanaging boss aren’t enough to drive Anaya mad, she discovers that her ex-boyfriend Jeff is commissioned as a consultant on the development agreement. Anaya hasn’t had contact with Jeff since their messy break-up six years ago.

As negotiations for the development agreement intensify, an internal scandal threatens Anaya’s reputation—and her job. Amid bureaucratic indecision and public outrage, Anaya leans on Jeff for support, and unresolved feelings resurface.

As Anaya questions her steady relationship, her extended family’s perception of her as Goode matriarch puts her in the middle of every aunt’s and cousin’s problem. She is tired of serving as supplemental income to her scripture-quoting, ever-pregnant sister, and would love to burn the imaginary pedestal her family has perched her on. Can she see her work and family commitments through and still maintain her love life—and more importantly, her sense of self? (description from Goodreads)

Review:

It follows the story of Anaya who is hardworking direction of Housing & Community services in her town. She’s hard-working and dedicated to her career, but it also worn thin by demands by her job and family. Her family is dependent on her financially and emotionally.

This is an easy read to get into and I found myself immediately invested in the characters lives. Anaya’s family and friends can be a handful at times, and they may not be perfect but they are very supportive of her. That’s what made them feel down-to-earth. They felt like longtime friends that I could hangout with and call whenever I was having a bad day.

Though this novel is lighthearted (for the most part), I appreciated that it tackled numerous difficult issues. It gave the story a realistic feel as each character, especially Anaya, is going through a crossroads in their life. The past and the present meet and it’s up to each character to make the right decisions (for them) in order to move forward and grow. Anaya deals with many obstacles during the course of the novel in her love life, family, friendship, and work life most of all. Never Too Soon portrays daily struggles, but also shares a message about healing from the past.

I was hooked into this book from beginning to end! I enjoyed the entire cast of characters and watching them grow on their individual journeys. This is a solid installment for a great series! This is the second novel in the series, but I felt it can also be read as a standalone (since I haven’t read the first book).

Final Verdict: