The Physics of Relationships

Title: The Physics of Relationships

Author: Chas Halpern

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Guernica Editions

Date Published: 2023

Book Length: 250

Format: E book supplied by the publishers in return for an honest review

Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend

About Book: Lexi, sixty-three and recently widowed, is facing the inevitable vicissitudes of life. After passing through a phase of numb immobility, Lexi makes a half-hearted attempt to meet some older men, but the experiences are disappointing.

Undaunted, Lexi begins to accept the idea of being alone. Then circumstances disrupt her quiet routine – in the form of two house guests. In the physics of relationships, Lexi observes that nature abhors a vacuum. But she wonders if she herself has manipulated her circumstances to fill that vacuum. Eventually, Lexi encourages both house guests to move on. Ironically, her unselfish kindness leaves her once again alone.

Through some strange physics of attraction and repulsion, however, her ex-husband reappears. Is he a changed man … or just acting like one? In the end, Lexi learns how to come to terms with her solitude, to resist entropy, and to fill the "vacuum" in her own way.

My Thoughts: The Physics of Relationships by Chas Halpern was a contemporary novel that immediately felt familiar as I began reading, which drew me in. I was surprised to find myself laughing in places early on, which I hadn’t expected. The way different personalities interacted throughout the story was fascinating, even though I sometimes found myself irritated by the main character, Lexi. That frustration was likely because I was invested in the story, and Lexi had such a different personality from my own.

The book explored thoughts and actions in a compelling way, and I found myself rooting for everyone to end up happy by the conclusion. The dynamics between the characters were interesting and made me reflect on the nature of relationships, choices, and their consequences.

In conclusion, The Physics of Relationships was both uplifting and thought-provoking. It offered insightful reflections on human relationships and their complexities. A great read!