For readers of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, debut author Suzy Krause delivers a quirky, colorful story about love, loss, second chances, and what it means to truly live.Valencia, a timid debt collector with crippling OCD, is afraid of many things, but the two that scare her most are flying and turning thirty-five. To confront those fears, Valencia’s therapist suggests that she fly … suggests that she fly somewhere–anywhere–before her upcoming birthday. And as Valencia begins a telephone romance with a man from New York, she suddenly has a destination in mind. There’s only one problem–he might not actually exist.
Mrs. Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for company, be it from neighbors, telemarketers, or even the funeral director (when you’re her age, you go to a lot of funerals). So she’s thrilled when the new cleaning girl provides a listening ear for her life’s story–a tale of storybook love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband before his mysterious and sudden disappearance.
The stories of Valencia and Mrs. Valentine may at first appear to have nothing in common…but then again, nothing in life is as straightforward as it seems.
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What an enjoyable debut! From the cover to the name to the description, I was excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. Both Valencia and Mrs. Valentine were likable from the start in spite of – and actually because of – their quirks. Readers will devour this feel-good book and eagerly anticipate more from this author.
This beautifully-written novel is both funny and touching, suspenseful and heartwarming. Both Valencia and Mrs. Valentine are wholly original, memorable characters that I loved spending time with. I’ve seen this book compared to other “quirky” novels, but it’s a true original, in the very best way.
The writing was so beautiful and clever, the romantic and friendship elements adorable. There were a couple of times I was irritated by being in someone’s head who was so negative about herself, and making everything everyone did about her- I have my own head for that :D- but there were reasons for it, of course. Overall had good messages. I laughed, I cried. Cliched but true.
I adored this novel and felt that this debut work holds out much promise. I was touched, surprised, cried and laughed out loud at deeply flawed people who nonetheless had much resonance for me. This is a book about mental illness, but it’s also about love, the resiliency of the human spirit, and shaping our own reality. A beautiful work.
With captivating characters and a narrative “voice” that catches you and won’t let go, Valencia and Valentine is one you won’t want to miss. Clever turns of phrase, wholly original perspectives, and a heart-warming—at times, heart-wrenching—look into the complex inner workings of the main character make this debut novel by Suzy Krause a must-read.
There’s real power to this novel—innocence and a mastery of naiveté in the language contrasted with heaviness of topic.
Read the complete review on my website as I explore Suzy Krause’s masterful writing about a difficult topic. It’s here if you want to take a peek: https://www.julievalerie.com/what-rhymes-with-mothers-day-giveaway-2019/
How about you? Whatcha reading these days?
I you are looking for an out-of-the-box, wonderfully written novel that leaves you thinking, you will love this beautifully crafted novel. Loved it!
Favorite Quotes:
She’s not dying, technically, but she’s old enough that if she keeps living, it’ll start surprising people. She’s eighty-seven years old—but she’s a young eighty-seven. She’s more like an eighty-six.
Everyone has ulterior motives. When an evil person has ulterior motives, it’s called scheming. When a good person has ulterior motives, it’s called planning. Mrs. Valentine is planning.
When I was your age, Anna, I always said I’d do everything later. I can’t tell you what an odd day that was, when I woke up and realized it was later. And now I’m living in the part that comes after. There’s a part after later, where almost everyone else is dead and you’re just killing time, and it’s … odd.
This was a drastic leap in logic, but Valencia was very good at this kind of leaping; it was her only claim to athleticism.
That’s how it is when you’re in your thirties; birthdays aren’t important anymore because everyone has gotten over the initial excitement of your basic existence. You’re old news.
Time had never done anything but crawl for Valencia; it had never even walked before (she had, at points, wondered if it had lain down and died). This new speed was exhilarating.
“It’s kind of a dumb hobby, but you need a good, dumb, eccentric hobby, I think. I heard somewhere that eccentric people live longer.” “Okay,” said Valencia, picturing her own life stretching on and on ahead of her, even more vast and endless than she had previously supposed. I’m so eccentric I might be immortal, she thought miserably.
My Review:
It took me several chapters to settle into this tale, as it was oddly paced and at times a bit tedious when minutely detailing Valencia’s irrational, delusional and catastrophic fears and beliefs as she spiraled into panic attacks which involved worse case scenarios and epic disasters. However, that was merely setting the stage for the cleverness and well-crafted storylines to come. Ms. Krause’s writing was often bitingly witty and profoundly insightful with frequent lashings of brilliance. I had four solid pages of highlights and favorite quotes and it was rather painful to pare them down. But what staggered and astounded me was the realization that this wryly written and cleverly conjured book was the author’s debut. Impressive!
What does it take to release your fears and let your life take flight? Suzy Krause tackles this question in her lovely and unexpected debut, Valencia and Valentine. With wit and deep empathy for seemingly ‘difficult’ people, Krause has crafted a heartwarming and life-affirming story.
A quirky, touching story about two women who, on the surface, are not connected: but life is strange, and nothing is what it appears to be. Perfectly poignant, and for oddballs everywhere.
Valencia and Valentine is a charming, beautifully told tale of love and loss, disappointments and dreams. You will root for this cast of eccentric characters, ache for them, and celebrate their victories. A terrific debut, sure to delight fans of Gail Honeyman and Fredrik Backman. Irresistible!
Perfect for fans of Maria Semple and Graeme Simsion, Valencia and Valentine is a charming novel with quirky characters the reader can’t help falling in love with. With a unique voice and a fun twist, it’s a story of love, human connection, and adversity that is handled with deftness and compassion by Krause. You’ll think about the characters and their stories long after you turn the final page; in fact, as soon as I finished, I was tempted to go back to the beginning and start it again!
Funny, warm, and deeply insightful, Valencia and Valentine is a must-read for anyone who’s ever struggled with loneliness, OCD or simply being human.