I am new to this author, I have read a couple of book but after reading this I have decided not to read anything else from her.
It's such a depressing book.

Finding Libbie is a story about unconditional love and mental illness. Jack and Libbie were high school sweethearts from the opposite side of the tracks, but they seemed to rise above the criticism and start out blissfully happy in their young marriage. This story mostly takes place in the early 1970s. At this time, marriage roles were very different and not as much was known about mental illnesses that could cause the erratic mood swings that Libbie dealt with. The happy couple soon faces many highs and lows and poor Jack works very hard to give them a happy life while not understanding what is wrong with Libbie and having her well-to-do family push him around and play off Libbie as just being overly sensitive and fragile.

This is a sad story and it is written very straight forward without sugar coating anything. There are no real surprises or plot twists. While I didn't dislike the book, I can't say that I loved it either. I would not have a problem recommending the book to people who enjoy this type of story. ( )

Excruciatingly predictable

This wasn't a bad book but it held not a single solitary surprise or revelation. Pleasant but nothing special. The kind of book I will forget I ever read within a year. ( )

Title: Finding Libbie
Author: Deanna Lynn Sletten
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Finding Libbie" by Deanna Lynn Sletten

My Thoughts....

"Finding Libbie was a well written story [part 1 and part 2] that will keep your attention all the way to the end. I liked the shift of the read staring 'at present day...shifting to the late 60's, to Jack and Libby's story...and then back to the present day.'

What would you do or think if you found out that your father was previously married and you had no idea of this? This was a story also about 'mental illness,' which presented quite a roller coaster ride and even to having a second chance at love. Libbie is Jack's previous wife before he met Emily's mother & married her,

The reader will be captivated in finding out the truth about this young couple [Libbie and Jack's] struggles in this very emotional love story. Be ready for quite a heartbreaking read full of 'memories, sorrow, heartache, and love.' This was definitely a tear grabber. Now, why was that? Why couldn't Emily get this story out of her mind..."It's just that dad and Lobbies' story is so sad, I feel a need to find out if Libbie is okay, wherever she is.' This is where I say you will have to pick this read up to see how this author will bring it all out to the reader. This is definitely a good love story that will break your heart as it deals with addictions and mental illness with some 'well drawn characters, in a Minnesota setting during the Vietnam War.' This read definitely left me saying Wow what a good read!

ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. ( )

I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review. This was such a heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and the how illness can destroy relationships. Libbie finds her true love in Jack but her addictions conspire to destroy their happiness. Jack is forced to live his own life but fate in the form of his daughter allows them to find each other again. The author was excellent in narrating the decline of Libbie and Jack's relationship and then provide the reader with such a beautiful ending. ( )