The Unfinished Line

Wow! I mean just, WOW! This book was thoroughly enjoyable from the very beginning. It’s an incredibly sweet, slow, satisfying burn. The plot was solid, the dialogue wonderfully high quality, the flirting delightful! It was humorous, witty, engaging and achingly beautiful. The ending gets rough, but just hold on and keep reading. I promise it’s worth it. See more below. *** Vague SPOILERS hereafter *** The Act 1 ending DESTROYED me! I was so invested in these characters, their relationships and their love, I had an intense autonomic response. As I read the first two pages of the first act my heart raced, dread engulfed me, a terrible sickening heat spread through my chest, it became difficult to breath and I began bawling uncontrollably as I sat in bed next to my sleeping wife. I couldn’t handle it, I began skipping forward, reading only one to two sentences per page, desperate to find it was only a terrible nightmare that Kam was having. My hands shook with every turn of the page and I cried continuously. By the time I discovered that there was an act 2, I was almost inconsolable. After ensuring that this was truly an alternate ending, I decided to go back and do a thorough read of act one, but now I wish I hadn’t. It was so raw, so real, so blindingly heartbreaking. Even now, the next day, my throat is constricted with grief and my tears fall freely as I write this. Act 2 is almost not enough to ease the pain in act 1. Don’t get me wrong, all of my 27 hats off to the…

Jen Lyon’s The Unfinished Line is a poignant and emotionally rich exploration of love, loss, and the quiet battles fought within. Lyon captures the frustration and sadness of watching someone you love spiral inward, unable to truly reach them despite your best efforts. The novel delves into the emotional toll on Dillon, an elite athlete with a relentless desire for perfection. Lyon masterfully captures Dillon’s inner dialogue, revealing her crushing self-doubt, hidden shame, and isolation. The Unfinished Line is a moving, thought-provoking novel that highlights the complexities of mental health, the limits of love, and the silent burdens people carry. Jen Lyon’s portrayal of Dillon’s relationship with Kam, as well as the dynamics with family and friends, makes this a deeply emotional and unforgettable story. It lingered with me and continues to weigh heavily on my heart, reminding me that while love can be powerful, it is not always enough to save someone from themselves. I commend Jen Lyon for writing such a powerful book. Having read it on my Kindle, I am also very much looking forward to the audiobook, narrated by the fantastic Abby Craden. I don’t typically write reviews; however, I felt this book was significant and unique. Very well done!