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For some moments in life, there are no words.
David Seltzer
Two Hearts in a Grave tells the story of Hazel and Jeff. Madly in love, this couple moves into a new home. While Jeff is pretty much absent most of the time, we read about Hazel, who struggles with his absenteeism and aloofness. Having suffered a loss, Jeff grapples with the reality of losing his bandmate and best friend. We accompany Jeff and Hazel through their journey of love, pain, and discovery.
At first, I thought this would be a regular run-of-the-mill story of two people finding love again. I was surprised with the ending for sure. I somehow felt that it was a cliffhanger ending. While the end does resolve questions, I could not understand if the book falls into horror or dapples into the topic of mental health. I liked that I did not have all the answers at the end. And trust me, I hate cliffhanger endings. But this one did leave a mark.
The book intensely focuses on Jeff and Hazel and their social situation, including Hazel’s bond with her colleagues at work or neighbors. I found certain elements far-fetched- including their financial stability to buy the huge house that they end up living in. As the story unwinds, reflecting on Jeff’s past, it becomes easier to understand why he behaves in a particular manner. While I could sympathize with Hazel, I could not root for the main characters. There was a loss of connection on an emotional level between the main characters, and their chemistry felt purely physical.
I would give the book 3 out of 5 stars. It is a good read, and some may like the ending and find it intriguing. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.