What is your opinion?
"Knocks it out of the park"
"Greg did a fantastic job with this novel The main character Cooper is both flawed and likable. His connection to baseball pulled me in from the git-go and kept me engaged. The city commute and daily grind with the ferry were spot-on. I did, however, struggle with some of the "office talk" regarding the furniture business and maybe you could snip out a little of that. The tension between his marriage and his past is well done as he journeys back to his first love/friend, Mary who is another relatable character. I don't like to give away endings in a review, but the twist at the end was a nicely done. I most certainly will delve into another of this author's work. My only real suggestion would be to pull the sci-fi genre title - it never fully grasped it for me."
A Great Ride
"The Curve in the Road was a story that did not disappoint. It was full of intrigue and suspense, keeping the reader engaged in the plot. Its plot twists were masterful, with unexpected turns of events. The main characters were relatable and realistic. There was just enough mystery to keep the reader turning with eager anticipation to the next chapter, The level of description and detail was superb, highlighting the setting. If you are looking for a book full of ingenuity and originality, look no further than The Curve in the Road - you won't be able to put it down. Highly recommended! --Brittanny Davis"
The Curve in the Road
"Amazing narrative and descriptions that really draw the reader in first thing. The way the scenes and interactions are written out gives the whole story a truly magnificent visual that for me, I just can't get enough of. The plot is gold, the characters are stunning, the details are thorough... Really, an amazing story indeed. : )"
A story that lingers
"Aside from the fact that this novel is written in such an engaging and realistic way, the main character, Cooper, is heart-wrenchingly sympathetic and endearing. You find yourself rooting for him with every page, as aside from a debilitating photographic memory and traumatizing event, he's the everyday man in a palpable way. Every character on every page is painted with emotionally vibrant and all too human brushstrokes. The expected twist in the end is refreshingly unexpected as, again, Cooper faces the tragedy that has run parallel to to his life and haunted his every step, in a deeply emotional way. Bravo. By the way, you got ME to read a book that's deeply entrenched in baseball, so it must be well written. Addendum: Upon reflection, enough cannot be said about Greg McLaughlin's descriptive characterization of Cooper's photographic memory affliction. Anyone who has suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or elevated levels of anxiety can easily relate to his battle to maintain a level of normalcy in his life. Yes, the novel lingers on the mind like fine wine on a discerning pallet."
Writing Goals!!
"A story that is so compelling that it forces you to sit at 6:30 am in the morning, read the whole thing and also write a review! The story compels you to introspect and think about the decisions you yourself take in your regular life similar to the way Cooper does. I love the dynamics between the past and present and how it affects Cooper. It is also interesting to see a new past or a new memory unfold and the description makes it easier to picture the scene. The sentences were well structured which helped the story to flow easily. It is very rare that I like the main characters of a story but Cooper was one of those characters who just seemed relatable and humane. Overall a dramatic, intriguing and hella innovative read!"
The Curve In The Road
"This book is so amazing so far! It really engages mean and gets my heart pumping. Not many stories can do that. Definitely adding this Drama to my reading list! Keep up the good work, Laura 💕"
The Curve In the Road
"I think this is one of the best writing I have come across so far. The intensity of the story and the portrayal of the main character, Cooper's depiction of feigning errors and forgetfulness just to be diagnosed and considered normal is brilliantly put forward. I also love the detailed description of the scenes surrounding the storyline as I could picture it so concisely and clearly. The author s writing style is great. Kudos!! ."
The curve in the road
"One of the most amazing books that I have read! Despite his special capabilities Cooper is very human when it comes to erring in relationships. That makes the story so natural yet interesting and gripping! And the way the author intertwines the jogger in the first chapter with the rest of the chapters is simply brilliant! I would recommend this book to every budding writer who wishes to learn and also to readers who enjoy a good plot!! "
THE CURVE IN THE ROAD
"The Curve in the Road is an exceptional view of past experiences and memories intertwining with current reality. The protagonist is rooted in regrets and longing for happiness that he just can’t seem to grasp at times. The author’s great detail paints a picture for the reader unlike anything I have yet to read. As the author peels away the layers of his characters, the reader draws nearer to a deep connection to each one. The authors ability to switch from past to present is admirable as the story flows without questions. The dialog draws the reader into believing that they are witnessing conversations. At times, when there is a chapter break, the reader will find they have been living this story and must turn the page. The plot takes twits and turns that are unexpected and result in excitement and a need to read on. I would highly recommend The Curve in the Road, to any reader who loves a deep fall into a mystery that takes them on multiple journeys. It provides intrigue and suspense along its way to an unforeseen ending."
A thoroughly engaging drama! (Caution: SPOILERS)
"There is so much great about The Curve in the Road. It's well-written and engrossed me in the story nearly throughout. The protagonist, Cooper, has seemingly superhuman abilities, yet he's flawed in a way that's harming his relationships and his outlook on life--he's instantly likable albeit his issues. It's leading him down a desolate road (pun intended) and causing loads of tension in his marriage. The dialogue is crisp and so realistic. The reader may find themselves thinking they've had these conversations. I loved the writing, which engaged me nearly throughout with the tension of whether Cooper will reunite with his wife, whether they will have a child, and whether the mystery of the woman in Cooper's visions will be solved.. We cheer for Cooper and his wife and are disturbed by Cooper's forrays back in time with Mary, Although we recognize what was good in the past, we scream for Cooper to get back into the 'now!' Like I said, thoroughly engaging. The author even takes the possibly boring world of office furniture supply and turns it into mesmerizing, high coprorate drama (Think Glengarry Glen Ross).The author deftly ratchets up the tension through the novel regarding whether Liana and Cooper will reunite and be happy in their relationship. As I mentioned in one of my comments, this makes me think of the tension created by one of my favorite non-fantasy writers, Galaxy Craze, in her novel, By The Shore. I have a few big-picture suggestions. First, in the first several chapters, it gets kind of thick in discussing Cooper's business. It's a little too thick for me. My suggestion is to go back and trim any exposition that doesn't seem essential to the plotlines, particularly some of the office stuff which seems possibly less relevant. The last two-thirds of the book contain much less of this exposition and thus fly by as a much easier and enjoyable read. Second, use Roland more toward the end as a device to suggest what might have been happening to Cooper all along. Readers will want some sort of indication as to what happened, versus something totally open ended that also indicates internal inconsistencies (e.g., if Cooper's mind is fixed, why does he see Roland at the end? How does Roland spirit know what happened to Mary?. If it's mystical, is there any clue as to the source?). Maybe it's me but I spent the book hoping for 3 things and decidedly got 2 of 3 (Liana and Cooper together, with Cooper better and them having a child who represents the future and not looking back). Last, I would do less summary in the last couple of chapters and throw in some interaction regarding Liana's reaction to Cooper being hurt/comatose, Cooper's behaviors post-coma, and resolution with Mary. There are some punctuation and grammar mistakes here and there, but not many at all, and certainly won';t take much time to clean after revising. I know this is an 'old' novel, but it's a great read, a cool story, and well worth revising. I'm glad I read this book."
The curve in the road
"There were so many books to select from, but I was glad I chose this one. The story is Captivating and well written, I also loved the characters, especially Cooper, I like the fact that he's very relatable and human. I just couldn't help but feel drawn to him and root for more chapters of him alone. Keep up the good work💞"
A compelling narrative of past and present
"This extremely well structured story, which has a strong focus on the contrast between the present and the past, and how the past could've potentially shaped the present differently with one decision, is a compelling narrative with a vivid use of description throughout. The narrative has a predominant focus on the possibility of what could've been, shaping the present and future of the main character, Cooper. Throughout the story, we see him reconsidering and reevaluating his life, as conflict develops in one of his most central relationships. It sends him revisiting the past and reaching out to an old friend whose presence has had a strong impact on him. We see him toying with the idea of putting an end to the relationship and rekindling an old one. With the help of this friend, the conflict resolves itself nicely by the end and closes with a depiction of Cooper leading a life with someone he could've had with someone else, but ultimately did not work out. A quick, enthralling and intriguing read, that with a touch of editing to correct some minor punctuation and grammar overlooks, would be the perfect choice for anyone who has a couple of hours to spare. I highly recommend. "
