The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss
Reviewed by Lori Twichell, Radiant Lit
Publisher: Quirk Books
Date: January 17th, 2012

Most of the time in our world, it’s the quiet, simple, unexpected moments that will change our lives forever. They’re impossible to anticipate and so precious that the course of an entire lifetime can revolve on the most innocuous of actions – a smile across a room, a dropped folder, or a book passed from one hand to another.

When Evelyn Morgan entered the small village bookstore, she wasn’t anticipating a moment that would shift the rest of her life and take her breath away. And Brendan was certainly not imagining that a foreign girl wandering into the store while his father was gone could change his future. But a few quiet words exchanged between them resulted in more meetings and dates between the two until they became inseparable. Both of them, their feelings growing, leaned into the relationship and continued pressing it forward until declarations were made. And then something happened which caused Evelyn to run away. She ran far and fast and Brendan was left with a broken heart and nothing but confusion.

On the other side of the page (quite literally in this instance) Evelyn was frightened away by something well beyond her control and as difficult as it was, she moved on as well.

The description in the title, A Two Sided Love Story, is absolutely true in this instance. Printed in accordion format, the book follows both sides of Evelyn and Brendan’s tale – each from their own perspective. So when you pick up the book as a reader, you can start with either tale and then flip the book over and see the story from the other character’s eyes.

Beautifully bound and told with a fantasy feel, the love story between the two is difficult to read at times, but a joy nonetheless. As often happens in real life, not much turns out as planned, hoped or thought. Still, the story takes the reader along a path that mixes fantasy and reality into one solid tale.

This book is a great gift for someone who loves or collects books. It’s a fantastic unusual piece that adds flavor to any library. Though the love story itself wasn’t quite my cup of tea, that didn’t diminish the pleasure of reading the book or sharing it with others as a fun and fascinating piece of literature.

*Rated PG-13 – there are a few scenes in here that wouldn’t work for those of a younger set.

** Review copy provided by the publisher