This was a very satisfying read. The main character Alex thoughtfully examines the decisions she's making in her life as well as the consequences. Covering many subjects the book thoughtfully tackles the ins and outs of marriage, sex, infidelity and being a parent. Very well written, as a reader, you feel fully engaged at times sympathizing and sometimes getting angry. It's emotionally raw and hard to put down. Highly recommend!

This book was a little hard for me to relate to, but I still enjoyed it. I think the book was well written and the characters were well developed. Parts of it reminded me of friends that are mom's in the middle of a mid-life crisis, like the main character Alex. Fun and quick read.

Restless in LA isn’t the type of book I would normally go for. A story about adultery isn’t usually a draw card for me, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

Alex is a conflicted main character - a stay at home mother raising three kids, one with ADHD, while her high-powered husband flits in and out of their lives. This part of the book is done very well and really captures the loneliness and frustration that many parents in a similar situation feel. She begins to write a blog - Restless in LA - as a way to deal with her emotions and frustrations. Not long after, she engages in an extra-marital affair with her first real love, Matt Daniels. Their relationship is mostly physical based, and when everything falls apart, as it inevitably does, Alex questions what it is she really wants.

For me this is where the story didn’t really make much sense. I understood Alex seeking comfort in an old flame, but the strange explanations given about why she left Matt in the first instance didn’t really seem to make much sense for me. Then again, I’ve never really understood the whole reluctance to admit how you feel thing. The other issue that bothered me is that big sections of the story seemed to be glossed over, and the turmoil Alex should have been feeling, especially in regards to how her affair would affect her children in particular, felt largely underdone.

Overall the story was a quick read and a nice change from my usually reading selections.

I received Restless in LA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Though this is not a book I would have picked up on my own, I am glad I was given the chance to read it; as it far exceeded my expectations. I like how the characters are, how the book flows smoothly, even with flashbacks of the past. You will have no hard time keeping up with the story line. It really gets exciting about half-way through, and won't want to put it down.

Restless is about a stay-at-home mom, Alex, who reaches her 40th birthday, and perhaps on the verge of a midlife crisis. She has a loving, wonderful, but extremely busy husband, Jayson, and three beautiful children- who can be quite the handful at times, especially her youngest son.

Alex reminisces about her time in London, and Matt. She finds him on Facebook, and accidentally sends him a friend request. He quickly accepts, and they begin corresponding, and even setting up a time to meet when he is in town for work. Perhaps that is where Alex went wrong, but she just had to know if he was the same Matt she loved twenty years ago. She allows the "what ifs" to run her thoughts, and begins her downward spiral.

Alex frequently references her journal that she wrote during her time in London, and that is how we re-live their experiences. If only she had disposed of that journal when she ran home from London... but the heart never forgets.

One thing leads to another, one drink leads to another, and one bad decision leads to another. Alex ends up sleeping with Matt, and ends up putting her marriage, her whole life as she knows it, at risk. Should she stay with her husband, for the sake of their children, or should she try to rekindle that flame with Matt?

Regardless if you agree or disagree with Alex's choices, this book will make you think, and perhaps re-evaluate yourself and your happiness.

This book was excellent and is the first I have read from this author. Loved it and can't wait to see what they have coming in the future.

I have heard the phrase "authentic voice" for some writers, and that description kept returning to my thoughts as I read this very engaging novel. The narrator felt as if she were someone I might have been friends with at some point. The blending of past, present, and blogging kept my attention and interest throughout. I hope to find other novels by this novel in the future.

This true to life novel starts with a harried housewife and part time writer connecting with an old love on line. She ends up finding herself again and realizing how much she has submerged herself to make her family happy, Very well written

Did not enjoy this book at all. None of the characters were llikeable and all too selfish

This was such an emotional book. It was gritty and real. Alex was 40 years old, married 16 years with 3 kids, one of which had ADHD. She had everyday problems like all of us. She found an old journal of hers when she was 20 and lived in London. It was about her whirlwind love affair with Matt, who she has not spoken to for 20 years. This journal conjured up all kinds of unresolved feelings and emotions. So Alex took the plunge and friended Matt on Facebook. That's all it took for everything to spiral out of control. I don't want to give away any spoilers. This book was just so well written. I can't even give it the justice it deserves with this review. I don't know how to write what I'm feeling. This booked ripped me apart. Not only for all the adults involved. But for The 3 kids, too. Just an amazing book that needs to be read

This isn’t a book that I would have picked up on my own as the cover gives off the impression that I’m about to divulge into a steamy romance novel. But I figured I'd give it a shot. What this book really boils down to is wondering what would have happened if you didn’t let the one that got away get away. Are there second chances? Or if you’ve been stuck in a lifestyle for so long, is that the course you need to continue down?

The main character, Alex Hoffman, is a woman who is stuck in a world of suburban routine. She lives in a nice house with her husband and three school-aged children. Her life is complicated by the fact that her middle child, Ryan, suffers from a multitude of behavioral issues including severe ADHD and is struggling with interacting with others. Alex is isolated from all the other moms as they have shamed her and shut her out of their circle due to her son’s behavior. Without the support of her husband, who works long hours at work, she feels trapped.

Throughout the book, Alex writes entries in an anonymous blog entitled “Restless in L.A.” based on the recommendation of her new age life coach, Lark. Once a blooming writer, this is Alex’s attempt to get back into what she once enjoyed. I found this to be unnecessary to the telling of the story. We’d already been exposed to the Alex’s dialogue, so I didn’t find this to add any substance to the story. It was fluff that I felt I could skip over without missing a beat. I understand that this is meant to by symbolic of Alex finding herself. We are told that she was once a brilliant writer, and the blog doesn’t support this claim.

As Alex continues with her monotonous routine, she is slowly approaching her 40th birthday. As she searches for old phots in the garage, Alex uncovers an ancient relic: her journal from her year abroad in England. The journal reflects her time she spent growing close to her former boyfriend and fellow American, Matt Daniels.

It’s obvious through the journal entries that back in college Matt and Alex were passionately in love. But when Alex moved back home suddenly, they lost touch. After finding the journal, Alex searches Facebook and friends Matt, who now has a family of his own, and promises to meet up with him for dinner to catch up. When they do meet up, one thing leads to another and an affair begins. Throughout the story, Alex is tormented on what she’s done and what she wants out of life. She’s been a mommy for so long, she puts others ahead of herself without thinking about what she wants out of life.

I found the characters to be unbalanced. I have a very clear image of who I image Matt to be, every move he makes is very clear and deliberate. Matt makes it clear what he wants, but Alex is playing an emotional game of tug of war with herself. Throughout the book, we get glimpses of the life that Alex and Matt shared. Their sweet, silly love makes you cheer for them and wonder why they would ever give that up. I kept hoping for a second chance for them even though I knew what they were doing was wrong and was cruel to their families. The flaw in this is that we know very little about her husband. The background between them, while there are small glimpses, we don’t get a clear view of who he is as a person. Without knowing much about Jason, it’s hard to have a clear view on the struggle that Alex is torn between.

I like books with strong, female characters. I kept getting angry at Alex who, to me, felt like a wisp of a character. I wanted her to grow a backbone and make a decisive decision on what she wanted. She has so many excuses that she finds to hide behind. If she’s going to hurt everyone that she loves, I wanted her to be deliberate about it. You wonder what it is that Matt sees in her to risk his family. I kept trying to see the woman that Matt saw, but would come up short every time.

Overall, I would say that this book was entertaining. I read it in 3 days and didn’t have trouble getting through it as it was a relatively easy read. This is one that I would recommend taking to the beach if the Chick-Lit genre is your thing. There’s a good mix of suspense and emotion, but the story and characters aren’t once that will stay with me long.

This is one of the most authentic books I've read in a while. The author burrows into the thing that affects so many of the women I know, working or stay at home Moms - the sense that somehow the person they used to be disappeared and they just don't know who they are anymore. Despite marriages that are on most accounts happy, and lives that are apparently fulfilling, it is disconcerting to discover you don't really know yourself.
The author doesn't sugarcoat any part of the story. Alex is at times a sympathetic character and at times infuriating. Jason and Matt are both multifaceted, although less so than Alex. And the description of Alex's choices on her relationship with her children, especially the challenges of a child with ADHD, is compelling.
This is a story that reflects the real life of so many women, and it is beautifully told. While many would not make the same choices as
Alex, I'm sure many will see pieces of themselves in her.
This is a great book for book clubs that double as girls night out societies, and for stimulating a little introspection!

This is one of my all time favorite first read from this author,who writes with such clarity and realism that you feel the emotions and get absorbed in the story, unable to put the book down.While I'm not a proponent of infidelity,I appreciated the role reversal with the heroine being the one engaged in extracurricular activities, a not so common plot twist.We see the harried everyday life of the homemaker who gives her all to her kids, and is the quiet,supportive wife to an indulgent,proud and self-indulgent spouse,who comes across as less caring of the upheavals of his family than his worklife.The seamless transition from innocent to not so innocent flirtations is beautifully presented and blogged and the encounters between the lovers are incendiary.The heroine's journey from being lost and incomplete to self-discovery divides her loyalties,but the compulsion to feel complete and happy rages an emotional pull that demands an answer that may take you on a different kind of journey.My only negative was that the book had to end and I would have loved to get a peek into their lives a few years later.My review was given without bias, for this free read from Netgalley.

I guess I should have read the description a little more carefully. I really disliked the premise of the book.Facebook cheating is definitely not my cup of tea. I didn't finish the book.

A story of a woman who has been moulding herself to suit others, but seldom found out her true self.

Restless in LA is Alex's story. Alex is married and has three beautiful kids. Juggling between her duty as a mum, and a wife she finds herself lost in life. Finding her ex online through Facebook, she starts an affair that wrecks the status quo of the family.
As things begin to fall apart around her, she copes with change and begins a healing process. One that leads to rediscovering herself.
The book was well written and enjoyable. Some would claim that Alex is perhaps selfish in her interest, but aren't we all to some extent?

This book was quite different from my usual reads but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could empathise with Alex & the stress of raising children & I think everyone does a little Facebook stalking of their ex! I found myself gripped by the story & couldn't put it down. I would definitely read more from this author

The plot of this story seemed very promising and truthfully I didn't like the book until the absolute end. It was so frustrating seeing a main character that just letting things happen to her and I love how she took charge of her own decisions and life at the end. It was an ok read but I'm not compelled to read it again like other books.

Restless in L.A. by Robin Finn is a must read for all womne. It instantly took me deep into a married woman's life. Complicated, complex, and adventurous. A full-time mom, battling the struggles of her marriage and children. One of her children has a lot of symptoms that make it hard for him to fit in within a normal classroom setting. His behavior and learning needs are hard. His school isn't helping him and Alex knows it. Her son needs more. Something different. Alex tries to tell her husband but he doesn't agree. It's like a constant battle between them. Tense, messy, and unraveling. Just in case, Alex didn't have enough to juggle in her life...there's a photo of her old lover. A man who made her heart race and feel on fire. She ends up making a lot of mistakes, but she needs to really find herself. Life happens...and it can be both bad and good. Restless in L.A. is a contemporary romance that explores a restless married woman's life. Funny, sad, sexy, and frustrating. Robin Finn writes extremely well. The first few pages were slow, but the plot build up quickly after that. I was hooked. This story was believable. Robin Finn captured real life in her novel. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.

Enjoyed reading this book. Looking forward to reading another from this author.