Almost Perfect
Book Description
A single phone call shatters everything, pulling the unsuspecting Marisa from her carefully built life into a whirlwind of chaos and unexpected choices. As secrets unravel and long-buried emotions surface, she finds herself torn between the stability she craves and the thrilling uncertainty of new love. Each encounter threatens to upend her world, pushing her to confront her deepest fears and desires. With friendships hanging in the balance and heartbreak looming, can Marisa find a path to happiness that feels almost perfect? In a battle between safety and passion, what will she risk to reclaim her heart?
Quick Book Summary
Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery is a contemporary romance about Marisa, a woman whose carefully controlled world is disrupted by a single startling phone call. This unexpected event brings Zane, her former lover and high school sweetheart, back into her life, forcing her to face long-suppressed emotions and secrets from the past. Torn between her desire for stability and the lure of rekindled passion, Marisa must navigate complicated relationships, old wounds, and new possibilities. As friendships are tested and her self-doubt grows, Marisa embarks on a journey of forgiveness, self-discovery, and second chances. Ultimately, she must decide what – and whom – she is willing to risk for a shot at a love that feels almost perfect.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
The Impact of the Past on the Present
Marisa’s life is upended when a surprising phone call brings Zane, her teenage love, back into her world after years apart. Marisa has created a life filled with routine and a sense of control, shielding herself from the chaos of heartbreak she experienced years ago. Zane’s reappearance, triggered by a shared responsibility neither can avoid, forces her to reevaluate choices she’s made and confront feelings she thought were long since buried. The initial shock is compounded by the resurfacing of old hurts and unspoken words, setting Marisa on an emotional path she hadn’t anticipated.
Rekindling Lost Love and Second Chances
As Marisa and Zane rekindle their connection, they both wrestle with unresolved issues from their shared history. Marisa battles her enduring attraction to Zane while fearing vulnerability, and Zane struggles to reconcile the man he was with the one he hopes to be now. Their interactions are fraught with tension, longing, and the nagging presence of unresolved secrets. The novel delicately explores the idea that time apart doesn’t always erase deep feelings and that second chances can be as terrifying as they are exhilarating.
The Tension Between Stability and Passion
Marisa stands at the crossroads of safety and uncertainty. Her carefully curated stability is threatened by the passionate unpredictability Zane introduces. Throughout, Marisa’s relationships with friends and family are tested as she seeks advice and support. The town itself, with its watchful eyes and not-so-hidden history, acts as a mirror for Marisa’s internal struggle. She contemplates the cost of following her heart versus clinging to comfort, ultimately realizing that true happiness often demands courage and risk.
Secrets, Forgiveness, and Self-Discovery
Secrets play a significant role throughout the story. Marisa and Zane must address misunderstandings and withheld truths from their past to move forward. As layers are peeled away, forgiveness becomes a central theme, not only towards each other but also towards themselves for their past mistakes. Through honest conversations and emotional vulnerability, both characters grow and begin to see each other—and their own desires—in a new light.
The journey culminates in Marisa making a bold choice, embracing uncertainty for the sake of a happiness that feels, at last, almost perfect. The resolution underscores the importance of forgiveness, personal growth, and the willingness to risk heartbreak in pursuit of real love. In the process, Marisa learns that a fulfilling life is not about perfection, but about embracing both joy and pain, and having the bravery to claim a second chance at love.
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