Book Review: If We Lived Here By Lindsey Palmer

If We Lived Here by Lindsey Palmer explores that fateful, scary ‘next step’ for a couple: moving in together.

If We Lived Here by Lindsey Palmer is the story of Nick and Emma, a couple ready to take things to the next level and move in together… despite their many differences. As they navigate the search for the perfect apartment, they face obstacle after obstacle, both in their search and in their relationship.

When I first read the synopsis for the book, I thought it sounded like a fun spin on the ‘will they or won’t they make it?’ scenario. Having lived in New York City, I wrongfully assumed it might be easy to relate to their struggles. Regrettably, I found it hard to connect to any of the characters. Because I didn’t feel overly connected to the characters, I didn’t really care what happened to them in the end. I really wanted to enjoy If We Lived Here by Lindsey Palmer, but I found it to be a lot of fluff with little to no substance.

I would not say this book was terrible overall; there were moments of enjoyment. Sadly, I found myself sometimes hoping for the couple’s demise; at least then, something intriguing might take place. Even when there were high stakes, Palmer seemed to write the easy way out for her characters. Resolutions were less than satisfying and often left me disappointed in the story.

When done well, ‘chick-lit’ is a fun distraction from everyday life; unfortunately for me, reading Palmer’s book ended up becoming more of a chore than a nice distraction.

But opinion is subjective, right? Just because it wasn’t one of my favorite books, doesn’t mean it won’t be one of yours.

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