I received a copy of Together along with an envelope stating that it should only be opened when instructed. Needless to say, with such an intriguing package, Together didn't have long to wait on my TBR pile before curiosity got the better of me. Once I opened the book, I became lost in Emily and Robbie's story and would have raced through it at the speed of light even without the added intrigue of the mysterious envelope.

The story of Emily and Robbie is told in reverse from 2016 to 1962. Now anyone who knows me would think that I would struggle with this back to front timeline, but Julie Cohen's writing is so flawless that the story flows so effortlessly and it feels completely right to start at the end. In 2016, Emily and Robbie have been together for 54 years, although they aren't married. Robbie wakes up one morning and makes a difficult decision that will break Emily's heart, and left me wide eyed with shock. You find out early on in the book that the pair are hiding a secret, although you have no idea what it could be, and I wondered if Robbie's decision had something to do with this. I couldn't have been more wrong.

As time flips backwards, we go back through 1990 when we find out that Emily is estranged from her family, through 1975-77 when Emily and Robbie adopt their son Adam, through 1972 when they are both married to other people and back to 1962 when their eyes meet for the first time across a crowded train platform. Then finally, it was time to open the envelope containing the final few missing pages that I read in stunned silence as tears welled in my eyes.

I feel privileged to have shared such intimate moments with Emily and Robbie. They haven't had a smooth ride in their life as the drove down several rocky roads but what they did have was each other. When reading Together, we are asked whether we think this is a great love story or a story about great love. I can't choose one over the other so in my opinion, it is both.

Together is completely mesmeric and totally unique in its telling of this beautiful love story. I urge you to read this book, even if it's not your usual genre. A beautiful captivating story of love against the odds. It's certainly not your traditional love story of moonlight and roses, more warts and all under the microscope on the front page of the newspaper. With shocks at the beginning and the end, read it and weep; I certainly did.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

The plot was good, however, I found the last 25% to be protracted and boring.
However, I did enjoy the reveal of the secret ( )

I am reviewing Together: An epic love story with a secret you won't see coming by Julie Cohen. This is a review of a free book supplied to me by the Amazon Vine Programme. Here are my thoughts:

^^ This book starts as a real tear-jerker and I was instantly hooked; I had to know what could have possibly gone on in their lives for Robbie to go and do what he did. (I know, I don't want to be the one who spoils it for you, so I am trying to be subtle here!)

^^ The story opens in the year 2016 and is split into five parts following the lives of Robbie and Emily through the 1990s, 1975-1977, then 1972 to finally 1962 right back to the day they first met.

^^ As the book evolves I'm drawn into their world, as their lives are unravelled, meanings are explained and the final twist is revealed. Should you do
what is right, even if it means hearts are broken? Or should you go with your heart and be happy? What if they are both bad choices? If you don't make the decision, how will you ever know?

^^ Was I shocked by this epic love story's secret? Did I not see it coming, as promised in the hype? Yes! I can honestly say I did NOT see that one coming. Afterwards my mind was awash with questions and I found myself re-reading parts out of curiosity.

Overall: Well worth a read! This certainly got me thinking long after I'd finished the book. All I can say is - I would not wish this to happen to even my worst enemy. But you do hear of this happening, so it's not as rare as you may think. How we'd deal with it, well, that is the true question. One that is thoroughly dissected within the pages of this book. When you read the blurb you will see we are asked: "Is this a great love story? Or a story about great love?" To be honest, I still cannot decide. Just like Robbi
e and Emily's secret, I'm torn. ( )

Published by: Orion (13 July 2017)



ISBN: 978-1409171744



Source: Publisher



Rating: 4.5*



Synopsis:

Is this a great love story?

Or a story about great love?
You decide.



On a morning that seems just like any other, Robbie wakes in his bed, his wife Emily asleep beside him, as always. He rises and dresses, makes his coffee, feeds his dogs, just as he usually would. But then he leaves Emily a letter and does something that will break her heart. As the years go back all the way to 1962, Robbie's actions become clearer as we discover the story of a couple with a terrible secret - one they will do absolutely anything to protect.



Review:

Together is the hauntingly beautiful tale of Robbie and Emily and their love for one another. Told backwards, this heartbreaking and deeply moving story is original, gripping and all-encompassing. I really like that out begins when the couple are older and works its way back, so we get to find out what it was like when they first met. I became so engrossed in Robbie and Emily's story, I was only vaguely aware of my surroundings.



The couple's secret, when it is revealed, is quite shocking. If I hadn't already guessed what that secret was, this book would have got a big 5 stars from me. I usually read crime, so perhaps that stood me in good stead for detective duties in uncovering the secret here!



Although this is the first book by this author that I've read, it certainly won't be the last. I am really impressed with her ability to draw the reader in and hold their attention. Special thanks to the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. ( )

Having read and enjoyed two of Julie Cohen's previous novels I was so looking forward to reading Together. I freely admit that when I started reading it wasn't quite what I was expecting and I found it confusing but believe me when I say that those feelings soon vanished and I found this the most wonderful, heartbreakingly beautiful story.

The reason I found it confusing is because this story is told backwards. We meet Robbie and Emily in 2016 in Maine and we go right back to 1962 in Cambridge and so events that are referred to in the first, yet later, sections had a greater clarity once I read on. I found myself flipping back looking for those important bits throughout the first third or so until the book got into its stride. And when I got to the end I flipped back through the whole thing just to remind myself of certain parts.

I realise this plot device may not appeal to everybody but it works so well. We know from the blurb that this couple have a secret but the point is that this is a not a book about a secret but a book about the most amazing love between a man and a woman.

I don't want to say any more about the plot but what I can say is that from the first page I had a feeling it was going to be a heartbreaker of a story and I was right. The writing is beautiful and understated, yet full of emotion and passion (just what I would expect from Julie Cohen).

I had no idea what the secret would be and only worked it out just before I read it on the page. It's a cleverly designed plot which suddenly all made sense. And I loved Emily and Robbie - this is very much their story, with all the other characters being only supporting ones.

This is such a gorgeous story and I heartily recommend reading Together this summer. ( )