Review: Malachi and I by J.J. McAvoy

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What if I told you the greatest love stories ever told—Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Salim and Anarkali, Romeo and Juliet and so many more—are far greater tragedies than anyone has ever realized?

What if I told you that you haven’t been reading a new story… just a new chapter in one epic saga?

If I told you…all of those lovers…were actually the same two souls seeking their happily ever after over and over again, would you believe me?

Would you believe them?
Born again,
Love again,
Part again,
Was their curse.

In this modern era, will they find eternal love or will they be doomed to repeat the cycle forever?

My introduction to Malachi and I was on Netgalley and because I'm a slackass blogger/reviewer, I was DENIED.  I was heartbroken.  This book sounded so different, so unique, I knew I just had to put my eyes on it.

I pre-ordered and I waited and I waited and boom there it was.  Who knew I would stay heartbroken for so long?

According to Goodreads, I've been "currently reading" it since September 27, 2017 (release day) and stuck at 78% since October 13, 2017.

Why was I stuck at 78%?  Because this whole book is a bittersweet heartache and by the time I got to this point I was sure no matter what happened I would be destroyed.

It's been taunting me from my "currently reading" Goodreads shelf. Just wanting me to finish and finally... finally after so long.  I FINISHED IT!

To be honest, I was just elated to have finished something, anything at all.

Now, the actual review...

#1. Editing is important.
If I had read this as an ARC, I would've been more lenient. I also would've probably emailed the author asking if I had a pre-edit ARC, and I might've even sent her notes on the errors.  I am a red pen reader, I can't help it. Maybe a pre-edit copy was accidentally uploaded to Amazon, I don't know. There were so many errors that it was pulling me out of the story. Punctuation, spelling, tense, etc.
It really is a shame, this easily could've been a 4.5 star read for me.

#2. Multi-faceted is two-fold.
This book has so many layers. I've been thinking on this review for a few days and I'm honestly not sure if I want to analyze all the elements of this story or if I just want to bask in the glow of the message and the ending.

#3. Kikuko and Kosuke
This was probably my favorite part. I have a hard-on for Japanese things, I can't imagine why...
Their story, I wanted more of it. I loved them. Now, I understand why their story is there, I got it, at least I think I did. I just keep thinking there was something more that I didn't see.

#4. Heartache on top of heartache on top of heartache, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I knew what I was getting into. I read the synopsis. I knew. But for whatever reason, I did not expect the individual tragic love stories to hit me the way they did. It hurt so good ya'll!

#5. The End
Well, that was unexpected. And somehow makes this feel like NOT a tragic story. #HappyTears

I know my review is vague and that is on purpose. There is just so much to this and I feel like anything more specific would be spoilerish.

If you can see past the editing errors, absolutely give this a try.
But all you grammar nazis, you should probably stay back until the errors are fixed.

J.J. McAvoy

  

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