The two loves of my life
The two loves of my life -or One True Love, by its original English title, is a contemporary romance written by American screenwriter, television producer, and author Taylor Jenkins Reid. The work was first published on June 7, 2016 by Washington Square Press. Later, it was translated into Spanish by Eva Pérez Muñoz and marketed by Titania in 2021.
Although it is Taylor Jenkins Reid's fourth novel, it did not enjoy international recognition before the release of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2020). However, after the enormous success of the latter, fans were clamoring for more titles written by the American. It was like this The two loves of my life hit the shelves, and has received very good reviews.
Synopsis of The two loves of my life
A deeply complex choice
The novel develops around Emma Blair, a young writer . twenty years old who marries Jesse, his great love of adolescence. Together, they build a dream life far from the aspirations of society and their own family. Soon, they begin to travel the wide and vast world, the protagonist, as an author, and her husband, as a producer of nature documentaries.
They experience life to the fullest, and always find a way to have adventures. The first pages tell of a true and perfect love, but nothing lasts forever, and Jenkins Reid knows it very well. During their first wedding anniversary, Jesse receives an assignment to go to work in the Aleutian Islands. As he flies over the Pacific, his helicopter disappears.
Treatment of loss The two loves of my life
Just like that, Emma's true love is lost, leaving her alone and empty.. To try to balance her life, she quits her job and returns to her parents' house, but the affection of her family doesn't seem to have any effect on his grief. Years later, when she is close to turning thirty, she reunites with Sam, an old childhood friend of hers, with whom she, little by little, falls in love and builds a new relationship.
After unforgettable dates and moments, they get engaged. Thanks to Sam, Emma begins to experience again that deep and idealistic love that she longs for so much., and I couldn't be happier to have been able to recover such a feeling. However, once again, her life has a surprise in store for her that will alter all of her plans, including her upcoming wedding.
Surprise, confusion, catharsis
Shortly after Emma and Sam's engagement, a group finds Jesse, who was always on a desert island, trying to survive to be able to return home. At this moment, the protagonist is struggling with an emotional and moral dilemma. She now has a husband and a fiancé, but who should she choose? Which of them is her true love? What does it mean to truly love?
These are all questions that, for better or worse, are answered throughout the plot. When Jesse shows up, Emma and Sam's world turns upside down. None of them expected to find themselves in that situation, but they have no choice but to face it in the most mature way. and just as possible. Still, how do you resolve an impossible context?
Structure and narrative style of the work
Basically, The two loves of my life It is divided into three parts: the summary of the relationship between Emma and Jesse, the summary of the relationship between Emma and Sam, and the resolution of the conflict between these three characters. As always, Taylor Jenkins Reid builds her story with elegance, resorting to heartbreaking moments that are balanced with the sweetest romance.
Although the beginning of the story feels well founded, it is from the second half that the debate begins, as the behavior of the three protagonists is quite controversial, to say the least. It is precisely this type of action that creates dialectics.. If not for that, The two loves of my life It could be any book about a love triangle.
Who should Emma stay with?
This question is complicated to answer, but not for the obvious reasons, but because neither Jesse nor Sam are developed enough to make an objective decision. In fact, everything that is possible to know about them is translated into the protagonist's summaries and one chapter in particular narrated in the second person. Also, Emma changes perspective too much.
On the one hand, this indecision of the protagonist is completely natural. The problem is that she, in the end, makes a momentous decision in three seconds, which doesn't make any sense. There are no objective evaluations that are valid regarding the last pages of The two loves of my life, because this is where the most absolute emotionality comes in, what the protagonist interprets as real love.
About the author
Taylor Jenkins Reid was born on December 20, 1983, in Acton, Massachusetts, United States. He grew up in Los Angeles, where studied Film Production. Further Later, he worked as a casting assistant for three years. Afterwards, she began working at a high school, while writing part-time trying to get a book deal for her own.
Although he did manage to fulfill his dream and publish a partially successful work, it was not until the launch of his fifth novel that he became an international reference. receiving nominations for awards such as the Goodreads Choice Awards, where he finished in sixth place. Additionally, she was a finalist for Book of the Month's book of the year award.
Other books by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Forever, Interrupted (2013);
- After I Do — Forever happy? (2014);
- Maybe in Another Life (2015);
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017);
- Daisy Jones & The Six — Everyone loves Daisy Jones (2017);
- Malibu rising (2021);
- Carrie Soto is back — The return of the bitch Carrie Soto (2022)