Book Review: Can We Start Again? by Shirley Benton

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Is it ever too late for a second chance?

Tammy and Alvin had mapped out their entire lives together, including a pre-parental plan – a list of everything they wanted to do as a couple before they had children. But no amount of planning could have anticipated the heartbreaking problems that lay ahead – problems that shattered their once-perfect relationship and led to a traumatic break-up.

Then, after years of trying to move on, Tammy’s world is turned upside down when Alvin comes back into her life asking for a second chance – with a difference. He proposes that they spend time together, doing the things they had once so eagerly planned, in a bid to remember why they felt they’d have children together some day, and ultimately recapture what they had.

Still in love with Alvin, Tammy finds herself powerless to say no, even though their problems are still simmering in the background and threatening to boil over at any moment. Still, what they once had is surely worth trying to save.

But can something that’s broken every truly be whole again?
Review:
I loved the concept for this novel. I can totally see myself creating this pre-parental plan, as I feel I’m kinda doing it now. Right after I got married last September I was bit by the travel bug, and have since either gone on or will be going on trips to: St Lucia, New York, Alabama, Chicago, Kansas City, Green Bay, Las Vegas and the Bahamas. If you think I’m afraid I won’t be able to travel once we have children, you would be correct. I might be going overboard, but I don’t care! Anywho, back to the novel. So I loved the idea, and was even pretty jealous I hadn’t thought of it. The execution though I wasn’t as in favor of. I actually found myself hoping we would come in at a different time, maybe when the breakup was happening, instead of when two years had already passed and have the story unfold a different way. I still enjoyed reading the book and seeing the love these two characters clearly had for another, but I kept getting a twinge of something missing, something that was just within reach but not quite there with the plot. I do have to give props to the writing as it was tight and on-point, and I will definitely read more from this author – looking forward to what she comes up with next!
3.5 stars