| Category: | Fiction — Adult —Women |
|---|---|
| Author: | Susen Edwards |
| Publisher: | She Writes Press |
| Publication Date: | October 15, 2024 |
| Number of Pages: | 408 |
| ISBN-10: | 1647427908 |
| ISBN-13: | 978-1647427900 |
| ASIN: | B0D3FJF5FY |
Susen Edwards’ Lookin' for Love delivers a deeply moving tale that spans decades. It chronicles the tumultuous life of Ava Novak, a character shaped by a painful childhood, multiple tumultuous relationships, and the search for self-worth and stability amidst chaos. The novel's depth lies in its rich character development, intricate conflicts, plot twists, and a setting that evolves alongside Ava's journey. It is 1963, and nineteen-year-old Ava is trapped in a cycle of violence and despair after marrying an alcoholic and being cast aside by her abusive mother. The weight of her circumstances forces her to bear two sons and ultimately turn to go-go dancing, desperately numbing her pain with alcohol and drugs. Ava's life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Mike, a charming drug dealer with promises of a glamorous future. Together, they plunge into the dangerous world of The Crew, a major drug smuggling organization, which leads them to the vibrant landscapes of Kenya in search of marijuana farmers. But their dreams shatter as a raid lands Ava behind bars. After the harsh reality of a Kenyan prison, can she find healing, love, and redemption? The denouement will take readers by surprise.
The primary conflict revolves around Ava's internal
struggle between her desire for independence and her continued dependency on
men for validation and support. It is further complicated by relationships that
oscillate between love and abuse. Every choice Ava makes is mirrored by her
history of manipulation and trauma, often leading her back to unhealthy cycles.
The external conflicts with Tom, her former husband, intensify as he
infantilizes her, asserting that she is unfit to parent their children and
later sabotaging her attempts to regain a connection with them. Edwards
masterfully crafts settings that reflect Ava's internal turmoil. From the
suffocating domesticity of her first marriage to the contrasting freedom and
danger of her life with Mike, the various locales—from New Jersey to Florida
and Colombia—echo her journey of escape and entrapment. Each geographical shift
aligns with crucial turning points, emphasizing Ava's relentless search for love,
belonging, and self-acceptance. Lookin' for Love is a
captivating tale with a message as resonant as the heroine is genuinely
flawed.
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