The Cactus is the debut novel of Sarah Haywood, a British lawyer. I picked it up after seeing that it is an international bestseller and a recommendation from Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club.
What makes this novel work?
The Cactus
Very simply – the heroine and narrator of the story, Susan Green, who is an obsessive-compulsive 45-year-old loner who finds her life suddenly turned upside down by her mother’s death, a surprise pregnancy, and a completely unsuitable beau.
At times, this novel caused me to laugh out loud, while other times I felt sorry for Susan and how she was handling (badly) her out-of-control life.
(Did you miss my review of Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook?)
It’s a riveting story, filled with charm, compelling characters, sadness, mystery, and ultimately, a happy resolution of every strand in it.
Placing a supporting cast around Susan, Haywood’s heroine eventually softens her stance. That transition is done methodically and logically, much like Susan herself.
I truly enjoyed this novel, reading it over a four-day vacation during downtime in the evenings. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I would love to see a sequel of what happens next in Susan’s life, after the birth of her baby and her newfound happiness with Rob.
Have you read the book? What did you think?
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The post “The Cactus:” Book Review appeared first on 2 Dishing Divas.