Official Review: Spiraling by Constance Salemi

[Guda Lydia]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Spiraling" by Constance Salemi.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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Tom and Anna Ungluck have been married and living a relatively blissful life. Money was not a problem since they both had high-paying jobs in computer management and law. They lived in a fancy neighborhood and bought luxurious furniture and accessories. However, all that begins to change over six months when Tom loses his job. Initially, he believes he will find another job fast due to his MBA level education, so he does not tell Anna. Months pass, and there are no job prospects due to the failing economy. Tom becomes depressed and chooses to alienate Anna as a coping mechanism.

Tom’s treatment towards her worries Anna, and she tries her best to reach out to him. Her efforts are in vain, and her concern soon turns to confusion, anger, and anxiety. As a lawyer, Anna works in a high-stress environment, further affecting her mental state, and she begins to feel the stress physically. She decides to take a break and quits her work without consulting Tom, believing he will take care of the bills. On the other hand, Tom has depleted their credit cards while paying their hefty rent and lifestyle. They have never thought to save, have massive student loans, and are now living on debts. Moreover, no one is willing to talk, and both are oblivious of their financial status. When will the bubble burst? How severe will the consequences be?

Spiraling by Constance Salemi is an intriguing read that stresses the importance of communication and smart living. The introduction is instantly captivating as the reader dives right into Tom’s jobless status and depressed mindset. The story then gradually unfolds through the pages with vivid descriptions of the various scenes and settings. The character introduction is seamless, and their development is excellent, making it easy to perceive their roles in relation to Tom and Anna. The characters leave a lasting imprint in the reader’s mind, for example, Sug, Tom’s dad, and his larger-than-life personality.

My favorite aspect of the novel is its emotive nature. It evokes emotions like anger and frustration due to the couple's refusal to share their problems and decisions. However, the book has some issues; the chapters are poorly formatted, do not begin on new pages, are unnumbered, and the headings are in small fonts. Additionally, some chapters lack titles. The book is not professionally edited; there are several simple grammatical and spacing errors.

The paragraphs have no particular spacing format, and some sentences begin in one paragraph and end in the next. Finally, there is widespread repetition; some chapters are either exactly similar or paraphrased, making the story long or winding. Therefore, I have to give Spiraling a rating of 2 out of 4 stars and recommend further editing. The book is still a profound read giving lessons on the importance of communication, intelligent financial decisions, and living within your means. The language is simple and free of profanities, and the book has no erotic or sensitive depictions. Therefore, I recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging story involving the challenges of marriage and the consequences of poor decision-making.

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Spiraling
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[Suzer6440 xyz]

Communication is key. It’s too bad the the proofreading and editing didn’t happen correctly for this book. I am going to five it a try anyway. Your review was a great one

[Mary Lou Mills]

Your review makes this book appealing. However, I think I'll wait for further editing.

[RHD]

This is a true story for many a youth nowadays. Communication and decision making is just off. Seems like this book desperately need another round of editing. Thank you for your in-depth review.

[Upeksha]

This book sounds like a great book for young readers, pointing out several important aspects to live a happy wedded life. Thanks for the great review!

[Guda Lydia]

Communication is key. It’s too bad the the proofreading and editing didn’t happen correctly for this book. I am going to five it a try anyway. Your review was a great one

The editing was the only flaw, but the story is amazing.

[Guda Lydia]

This is a true story for many a youth nowadays. Communication and decision making is just off. Seems like this book desperately need another round of editing. Thank you for your in-depth review.

Thank you for your kind comments.