Because She Can - Bridie Clark

Because She Can by Bridie Clark
Genre: Adult Fiction
Form: Audio Book
Narrator: Mary Birdsong

In a New York minute, Claire Truman lands both a plum position at a top publishing house and the man she's wanted for ten years...then reality intervenes. Her new boss is Vivian Grant, a notoriously ruthless tyrant known for her tirades, traumatized assistants, and tabloid-inspired bestsellers. Soon Claire's job is stealing more and more of her time and her relationship with her fiance begins to feel the strain. It doesn't help that she's working late nights with a brilliant-and handsome-first-time author. As Vivian's outrageous demands continue to escalate, Claire wonders if she likes where the fast track is taking her-and worries about what she might turn into...

Source: booksamillion.com

One word summary: enjoyable

I could see this book playing out in real life. Based on outside appearances, Claire seems to have the perfect life. She’s got a job as a book editor and a gorgeous, sweet, loving man. Perfect. But deep down, the flaws are many. She puts up with the boss from hell, and while her boyfriend seems to think of everything and say and do all the right things he’s also overly committed to his work and finds appearances and doing the “right” thing most important.

I really enjoyed Claire’s relationships in this book. Her relationship with Bea, her best friend, is strong and supportive. Bea is always there for her when she needs her even though Claire herself, at times, seems to be detached from everything real. Her relationship with Randall, who was her high school mega crush and is super sweet and says and does all the right things…when he’s around. I especially liked how it was Claire who helped him realize that the relationship wasn’t really working, or as she put it “it’s not enough.” Finally, her relationship with Luke, which is very friendly and fun and interesting as they begin to share more and more about themselves with one another.

I think the only disappointment I had with the book was at the end I really wanted more of a declaration from Luke. I wanted him to step up back up to the plate. Or Claire to run after him. That, would, of course take away the "this could happen in real life" realm and placed the book more on the romantic "sigh" type book. The relationship was there, it just wasn't as grand of an finale as I wanted.