Book Review: The Nearness of You by Sareeta Domingo

According to the blurb, this novel is perfect for fans of Kelly Rimmer or Dorothy Koomson and is filled with tension and heartache that will stay with you long after the final page. So I was very curious to find out more about it. Here is what I thought after reading it: 

Title: The Nearness of You

Author: Sareeta Domingo

Published: May 5th 2016 by Piatkus

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Falling in love isn't a choice...

Since the moment they met, Ryan and Taylor have shared an unspoken bond. Taylor's drawn to Ryan more strongly than she thought possible and for some reason only he seems able to lift her out of the darkness in her past. 

But Ryan is with Marcy - her best friend. 

Marcy stood by Taylor when everything else had fallen apart, and Taylor refuses to risk their friendship now. Somehow she needs to resist what she's feeling. Yet, when Marcy leaves for a few weeks just as Ryan moves in to their shared flat, the tension grows to unbearable proportions. As the line between right and wrong becomes blurred, Taylor will have to decide whether she can - or should - turn away from what might be the love of her life.

Evocative, moving and heartrendingly romantic, this is a story about real life, true love and the power of friendship.

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Nearness of You tells the story of Taylor, who is still trying to get over her mother's suicide. At one of her lowest points, she meets a stranger with whom she immediately feels a connection. But the stranger turns out to be her best friend's (and flatmate) boyfriend. He is off limits, but as they spent more time together, the connection only intensifies. 

The book is told from Taylor's point of view, so we get to know her quite well. She is suffering and feels stuck with a job she doesn't enjoy and no plans for the future. At first, I had the impression that she was a bit obsessed with the idea of Ryan, her best friend's boyfriend, and that she could only be whole again with him, which I found a bit too simple. They hadn't really talked yet and she was already convinced she loved him. As the story progressed though, I could tell that their connection was especial and it seemed like he felt the same way about her. It bothered me a little that he would do absolutely nothing about it (like actually leaving his girlfriend) and I think I would have understood him better if we had known what was going on in his head.

Something I enjoyed in this novel were the underlying sub plots and the topics they handled, like dealing with grief and depression or finding oneself again and I think Sareeta Doming handled them with tact and they flowed well with the rest of the story. Also, I found the friendship between Taylor and her best friend really interesting to read. It was one of those beautiful friendships that's stronger than family ties. And I was really happy with the ending, and how the love triangle was handled. So even if I did not enjoy the romance story as much as I was expecting, I did enjoy the book in its whole and found some parts really touching and sincere. 

Rating: 3 stars