If I Loved You Less

By: Tamsen Parker

Narrated by: Jill Smith

Matchmaking? Check. Surfing? Check. Falling in love? As if.

Sunny, striking, and satisfied with her life in paradise, Theodosia Sullivan sees no need for marriage. She does, however, relish serving as matchmaker for everyone who crosses her path. As the manager of her family’s surf shop in Hanalei Bay, that includes locals and tourists alike. One person she won’t be playing cupid for is the equally happy bachelorette down the street.

Baker Kini ʻŌpūnui has been the owner of Queen’s Sweet Shop since her parents passed away and her younger brother married Theo’s older sister and moved to Oahu. Kini’s ready smile, haupia shortbread, and lilikoi malasadas are staples of Hanalei’s main street. However, Theo’s matchmaking machinations and social scheming soon become less charming - even hazardous - to everyone involved. And when she fails to heed Kini’s warnings about her meddling, she may be more successful than she ever intended. Theo has to face the prospect of Kini ending up with someone else just as she realizes she’s loved Kini all along.

©2018 Tamsen Parker (P)2018 Tamsen Parker

Mediocre updating of Austen's Emma

I was disappointed by this retelling of Emma; a book that challenges you with its heroine at times as she is rather self centered and conceited. In Austen's world, I found redemption for Emma, no such redemption here. One fun thing was identifying the various characters and matching them to the original. Also liked the description of island food treats. Otherwise, I could have given this a miss.

Fun love story that keeps you guessing...

I really enjoyed Parker’s “If I loved You Less”- it was a fun story where I remained in the state of guessing how it would end right up until the end!

Set in Kauai, the peppy young woman who is the lead character has a settled grace that I found intriguing. Her match making antics made me laugh (and cringe at moments) as she bumbled along through finding her own happily ever after.

The author does a good job dealing with complexities of identify with the characters- they have a variety of life walks and you get the feel for this without feeling over-tangent-laden. I do wish we lived in a world that lacked homophobia to the extent this one did. Nice to visit and escape into.

I won’t give you any spoilers, but this one’s worth the read. :)

Hawaiian version of Austin’s Emma

I loved the story. Sweet, reminded me of our time living in Hawaii where I met my wife. Well done, and Jill Smith is one of my favorite narrators.

Ummmmmmmmmmmm.....

I' having a hard time deciding about this book. The author is technically a sound wordsmith and certain aspects of this story are done well. On the negative side I felt too many strands of the story are left dangling. Most of all the lead character is only slightly more likable than Hannibal Lecter; (okay, okay; just a little attempt at humor there.) She is dismissive of others for their lack of ambition when her life plan is to stay in the place she's always lived, running a small family business. She consistently makes errors in judgement regarding people yet is arrogantly certain of her proficiency in that regard. The there is the manner in which she interacts with Laurel; it comes across more like an experiment than a friendship. The supposed love between Kini and Theo isn't at all developed and feels like it was tossed in at the end of the story. This is supposed to a retelling of the book Emma by Jane Austen; if that's the case then I feel as if I've missed little by not having read it.