Review ~ That Thing Between Eli & Gwen by JJ McAvoy

Book Description:

**A multicultural new adult romance from bestselling author, J.J. McAvoy**

Eli Davenport thinks he’s found the perfect woman to be his wife. She’s a doctor, like he is. She’s brilliant, like he is. And she’s wealthy, like he is. 

Guinevere 'Gwen' Poe thinks her fiancé is the perfect man. He’s handsome, successful and he was her first… 

But when Eli’s bride runs off with Gwen’s fiancée on his wedding day, they are left to pick up the broken pieces of each other...

Buy Links:

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1NCMIQI

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1rnVsWx

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars

“…and when they ran off, all that was left was Guinevere and Eli, les miserables.”

I have to admit, I wasn’t going to read this book, I vowed not to read this author again because of the poor editing and proof reading, but a friend said it was really good and the editing much better, so I dived in. While I have to agree and the editing is much much better than previous books there is still an issue, but not too much that it detracted from my enjoyment of the story itself, which I absolutely loved, in fact adored.

This was one of those books that I couldn’t put down, the story of Eli and Gwen is something that films are made from and I was totally captivated from the first till last word. I will however state that there was one thing in particular that happened that I personally felt was unnecessary and was just added for angst sake. It is a plot device that has been done time and time again and in this case for me just didn’t work, however, the way it was dealt with was refreshing and was handled well by the characters in particular. So, my initial annoyance and sick feeling was fairly quickly abated.

“People are sometimes unlucky in love, but I’d rather be unlucky a dozen more times than close myself off and never have the chance to have that with someone.”

As the synopsis states, at Eli’s wedding his bride runs off with Gwen’s fiancé and this is where this book starts. Eli takes it really badly, as does Gwen and when their paths keep crossing at the most inopportune moments it seems fate keeps pushing them together. While seeing the other brings back the worst memories, they do have that heart break in common and soon these two find themselves talking and talking and talking. They talk about their exes, they talk about their work, they just talk about everything. Eli and Gwen become firm friends, something that neither of them ever thought would happen.

“One minute you were just that other woman who got hurt too, and then you were Guinevere. Funny, weird, talented, beautiful Guinevere, and I’m thinking about how you smell like rain, and whether you’ve eaten. I don’t know how it happened, all I know is that I’m thinking about you, and not just like a friend.”

Eli and Gwen are total opposites. Eli is a neurosurgeon and Gwen is an artist, both at the top of their fields. You have Eli who is totally academic, stoic and to be honest a bit of a jerk in the first instance. His pride has been battered and he has taken it hard. Gwen is a carefree spirit, whimsical and has her own sense of style, but she is beautiful on the inside and out. These two opposites despise each other in the beginning and Eli’s attitude does nothing to diffuse the situation either, but as they keep bumping into one another, the frostiness melts a little each time.

“Does this look like the set of Grey’s Anatomy to you?”

I adored the banter between these two and the dialogue is my favourite part of this book. As battle lines are drawn and slowly wiped away JJ McAvoy really captures that hurt of the past and gradual build-up of their friendship and then to eventually more. The change in Eli with Gwen’s friendship was fantastic to read about and finally we got to see the real Eli and he was totally adorable. I loved his internal battles as the “Gwenfactor” slowly took over his head and his heart and for him this was an all knew experience.

“I’m an idiot. I had punched below the belt, and she had punched back.”

The chemistry between Eli and Gwen was fantastic and the slow build only intensified your connection to them. The character connection was on point and the emotional side really got me in the heart and head. I adored this book, and this could have easily been a five star read for me were it not for the editing and that one plot device that literally made me feel sick.

“You are my Guinevere; Gwen is for everyone else.”

While “that day” was perceived as the worst day of their lives it actually turned out to be the turning point for both of them. They both had a lucky escape and they literally made the most of it. Fate moves in mysterious ways and fate gave these two the best gift ever…each other.