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Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Cutting Losses: Love, South Dakota Style by Jodi Culliney pulled me in immediately with its compelling premise. A man ditched at the altar has a lot to deal with emotionally and psychologically. Josh Livingston is left at the altar by his fiancée for his college best friend, Sam. He returns to his hometown in South Dakota, where he helps his father at the Check Care Auto. Here, he reconnects with Euphemie “Effie” Van Holland, a librarian for the Denver Public Library system, who has also returned home and is still reeling from a disastrous marriage to a manipulative man. Their childhood bond rekindles and eventually turns into love. While Effie must deal with her ex’s intrusion, Josh hides his identity as a surgeon for fear of rejection. Do they have a future together?
Cutting Losses is a great read with a lot for readers to enjoy, starting with the sparkling prose, a mix of descriptions and engaging dialogue. The characters felt like people I have met in real life, emotionally broken and psychologically compelling. In Josh, the author skillfully explores what it feels like to be abandoned at the most important moment in one’s life. Effie shows feelings of betrayal and control. These characters are lovely to watch as they grow toward each other in the story. I also enjoyed how Jodi Culliney captures the simplicity of life in the small town of Beverley, the close-knit community that easily gives in to gossip. While I enjoyed the characters, the excellent prose, and the measured pacing, there are stylistic elements like the symbolism of the gazebo that also caught my interest, representing safety in the relationship between Josh and Effie and marking milestones.
