Overview

I was apprehensive starting Pink Bean #2 (“Beneath the Surface”), because several reviewers commented that the story of Kristin and Sheryl’s relationship was “dark”. I generally don’t like books with excessive angst – I read/listen for pleasure, and generally want to enjoy escapist romances rather than suffer through realistically painful themes of real life such as betrayal, abuse, addiction or just plain bad luck. We were certainly given numerous hints to Sheryl drinking excessively in Pink Bean #1, and I didn’t want to read/listen to a depressing book.

While this book does portray very real-world situations, I found it to be an immensely joyful celebration of the power of love and friendship in overcoming obstacles to happiness. Events, often out of our control, occur to us in life, and we are greatly influenced, if not fundamentally shaped, by those events. Really, though, it’s how we react or respond to events that ultimately determines how much power those events have over us. Further, recognizing that events, and our reactions to events, affect our friends and loved ones, and that we are not alone when celebrating or despairing, is so very important.

There are four distinct parts to Pink Bean #2. The first 35% takes us back nearly 20 years before Pink Bean #1 to 1997, when brash and confident 28yo Sheryl meets sexually insecure 30yo corporate cutie Kristin. Instalove ensues, but it is a sweet and enjoyable story. We don’t get the feeling that Harper Bliss is rushing into romance for the MCs as much as we feel that we’re being led to the heart of the book – what happens after HEA?

The next 15% of the book occurs ten years later. In 2007 Kristin has moved up in the corporate world, and is a workaholic with her eye on being CEO. Typical relationship struggles are well presented: how does a partner balance being supportive of her lover while experiencing quiet desperation and growing anger of things unsaid? Feeling desperately lonely, Sheryl, a former teetotaler, begins drinking. It’s a very realistic portrayal of beginning to drink for wrong reasons.

The book leaps ahead once again, seven years to 2014. The next 20% presents an idyllic period in the lives of the MCs. They’ve rededicated their lives to each other. Kristin turned down a major career opportunity, and ended up leaving the wine company. Relationships with work evolves as fluidly and often unpredictably as relationships with people; I was so happy Kristin chose Sheryl. It’s still important for Kristin to have activity and goals, and she starts thinking of an indie coffee shop as a business opportunity. Together, they open Pink Bean. Interestingly, this part of the book now overlaps the timeframe of Pink Bean #1! That was unexpected, and it works very well for us to re-experience earlier observations of Sheryl and Kristin, but now from their POVs.

The final 30% of the book begins with Sheryl’s happy world being shattered when her once-alcoholic father suddenly appears, announces he’s dying and wants to learn of her life. Old memories of physical abandonment by her mother, who suicided when she was 12yo, and mental abandonment by her alcoholic father rise to the surface. Sheryl begins drinking heavily to ease the painful memories; she remembers being unloved, and feels undeserving of Kristin’s love. Kristin gives Sheryl space rather than confronting her with concerns about the drinking. I had difficulty understanding why, at age 45, Sheryl would react so self-destructively. But, I applaud Harper Bliss for the portrayal. I think everyone fails to understand why a loved one succumbs to depression. We want to help, but by not really understanding, we struggle to identify an appropriate path for help.

Sheryl struggles to accept her addiction, but Kristin finally yet gently forces her to admit she has a problem, and must stop drinking. Moderation won’t work for her. In a way, the couple has reversed roles…it is now Kristin trying to balance being supportive as she endures growing desperation for Sheryl’s mental state. As much as this section of the book is indeed real-world, and presents a difficult struggle, though, it is filled with such a sense of love, support and optimism that I just couldn’t find it “dark”.

I was so glad to see the other characters from Pink Bean provide unconditional and non-judgmental support for Kristin and Sheryl. In some ways, coming out as an alcoholic is, perhaps, similar to coming out as a lesbian. Many in society will condemn, won’t understand, or will wonder why you “chose” to be what you are. We do have free will, and we do make choices in our lives. But there are many things that we do not choose that still are a part of what makes us who we are. Being lesbian, or anywhere on the LGBT spectrum, can be joyous or painful depending upon our support network. Having a painful childhood, and/or being an alcoholic can never be joyous, but with friends and loved ones, this book does a wonderful job of showing us that life can still be filled with promise and love and happiness.

Thanks for a wonderful book, Harper Bliss! Easily 5* even without adding points for the wonderful narrator, Angela Dawe.

PS – Pink Bean #3 (“Everything Between Us”) will be released on audio July 11th. I was surprised to see that Angela Dawe is replaced by another narrator, and I asked Harper Bliss about that decision. She graciously responded! She and Tantor Audio “decided to go with a different narrator for PB#3 because it’s written in 1st person point of view (and present tense) so very different from #1 and #2. Angela will (I hope) be back for later PB books in 3rd person.” WOW! With all the audiobooks I’ve listened to, I don’t think I’ve ever really considered how much thought an author puts into selecting a narrator, other than is she talented.

PPS – I also expressed hope that Amber would have her own story. Harper Bliss teased with “Might be working on something Amber-related right now…”. Yay!!!!!!!!!!