It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way

It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way

Molly Dolan, an insecure twenty-something woman, spends most days ricocheting between hope and despair.

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  • SHORTLISTED: 2017 Faulkner-Wisdom Competition

“This book is not to be missed. But before you start, it might be a good idea to put on your Jim Croce album—the chapter titles are his songs. This book is simply… well… fabulous!” ~ Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews, Jon Michael Miller

Molly keeps rushing into relationships with the wrong men, brought about by a violent incident during her teen years, which skewed her judgment. Now she’s drinking too much, taking foolish risks, and allowing a predatory male to sexually harass her at work.

A chance encounter with Fred Flaherty, her 72-year-old divorced neighbor, leads to a tentative friendship. Fred, a Cold War veteran and ham radio operator, has suffered considerably over the decades, but also dreams of a better future. As summer becomes autumn, the two neighbors share stories of personal loss, bond over their passion for Jim Croce’s music, and develop trust and mutual respect.

This is fortunate, because winter is about to bring on challenges neither could have predicted.

“…Women’s fiction at its best… highly recommended for readers who like their characters realistic, warm, and thoroughly engrossing.” ~ Midwest Book Review, D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer

Other Books in the "by Mary Rowen"
More Information

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PRINT BOOK INFO

This edition currently out of Print. Watch for a new edition soon.

Perfect Bound / Softcover:

ISBN: 1622535847
ISBN-13: 978-1-62253-584-2
6.14 x 9.21 x 0.5841 (0.887 Lbs)
258 Pages (28/carton)
Order in any quantity from 1 up.
List Price: $15.95

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THE TEAM

Mary Rowen – Author
Jessica West – Editor
Kabir Shah – Cover Artist
Lane Diamond – Interior Designer

Details
Author: Mary Rowen
Series: by Mary Rowen, Book 3
Genres: 5.99 eBooks, Contemporary LitFic, Women's
Tags: eBook, Paperback
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Publication Year: 2020
Format: Paperback, eBook
Length: 95,365 Words
ASIN: B08GS8QJ14
ISBN: 9781622535842
List Price: $15.95 Paperback (May Be Discounted By Retailers)
eBook Price: $5.99
u201cItu2019s rare to find a story that explores an intergenerational friendship and relationship. Mary Rowen does a fine job of exploring hard times and their impact on two very different individuals, probing how proximity and shared experiences connect them in unexpected ways.u201cReaders will also appreciate the realistic attention to detail that moves Molly from an obsession with her latest possibility, Andy, to a newfound appreciation for a man she took for granted.u201cIt Doesnu2019t Have To Be That Way is womenu2019s fiction at its best. Itu2019s a warm story of mercurial relationships, friendships, life hardships, and unusual connections that defy perspectives, hopes, and dreams at all stages of life.u201cWhether itu2019s chosen for a beach read or a warm story educating women about relationships, It Doesnu2019t Have To Be That Way is a satisfyingly compelling read highly recommended for readers who like their characters realistic, warm, and thoroughly engrossing.u201d
u201c...a hopeful and touching story about how people make mistakes and get caught up in bad situations, even when theyu2019re trying to do the right thing. ... Readers will like how Rowenu2019s flawed characters navigate modern and realistic situations. She introduces serious themes of family problems, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault, harassment and mental health, and buffers them with everyday examples of kindness and humor. I recommend this womenu2019s fiction story about difficult relationships and hopeful friendships and look forward to more books by Rowen.u201d
u201cIt Doesnu2019t Have To Be That Way, from Mary Rowen, is a delicately woven story of love, loss, and friendship, clouded by murky circumstances that push at the boundaries of society, violence against women, and mental illness. Gentle, yet bold, Rowen deftly structures a novel worth reading again and again.u201d
– Julie Anderson, Feminine Collective Founder and Publisher; Author, u201cSecrets & Liesu201d; Author/Editor, u201cRaw & Unfilteredu201d and u201cLove Notes from Humanityu201d
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