SOMEONE ELSE’S LOVE STORY
Someone Else’s Love Story is beloved and highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson’s funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about falling in love, and learning that things aren’t always what they seem—or what we hope they will be.
Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced parents. She’s got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up and falling in love with William Ashe,
Someone Else’s Love Story is beloved and highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson’s funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about falling in love, and learning that things aren’t always what they seem—or what we hope they will be.
Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced parents. She’s got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up and falling in love with William Ashe, who willingly steps between the robber and her son.
Shandi doesn’t know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It’s been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his world. But William doesn’t define destiny the way others do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in facts and numbers, destiny to him is about choice. Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love, life, and the world they think they know.
- William Morrow
- Hardcover
- November 2013
- 352 Pages
- 9780062105653
Buy the Book
$26.99
About Joshilyn Jackson
New York Times bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson lives in Decatur, Georgia with her husband, Scott, their two children. She is the author of five novels: Gods in Alabama, Between, Georgia, The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, Backseat Saints, and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, won SIBA’s novel of the year, twice been a #1 Book Sense Pick, twice won Georgia Author of the Year, and twice been shortlisted for the Townsend prize.
Praise
“…a story that is never predictable and is awash in bittersweet love, regret and the promise of what could be. A surprising novel, both graceful and tender.”—Kirkus Review
Discussion Questions
What does the title tell you about the story? What do we learn from the first line? How does the book’s opening set the stage for the events that follow?
“That afternoon in the Circle K, I deserved to know, right off, that I had landed bang in the middle of a love story. Especially since it wasn’t— it isn’t— it could never be, my own. ” Why could this story never be Shandi’s? If it’s not hers, than whose love story is it?
Everyone sees William as a hero for his acts during the robbery. How does William answer this? Would you call it brave? Why did Shandi have such faith that William would save them?
Destiny and choice are major themes in the novel. What does destiny mean to William? What about Shandi?
Shandi and Walcott have known each other forever. Discuss their relationship. How is it transformed? Why do we often miss the obvious in our lives?
How do the religious references sprinkled through the story–Natty’s virgin birth for example–add a deeper level of flavor and meaning to the book?
Why is William angry with Bridget and not her “imaginary God”? When bad things happen most people blame God. Why? Why doesn’t William?
How does their meeting change both William and Shandi? Would you call their meeting fate or destiny or maybe a miracle? “It isn’t every day he meets a girl who killed a miracle,” William thinks when he agrees to help Shandi. Why does her having “killed” a miracle so intrigue him?
How do each of these characters’ certainties and beliefs change when they are confronted by unexpected circumstances–the robbery, the fireworks, the DNA results, meeting Natty’s father for example?
The possibility of goodness and forgiveness are also themes in the book. Talk about how they are demonstrated in various characters’ lives and experiences.
How many different kind of love stories are in the book? How do they all intertwine?
We’re you surprised at the ending? Was it exactly what should happen for all the characters?