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I was reading about Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's 'shock split' yesterday (okay, don't judge me- I'm a celebaholic!)- and came across an article that said "they've proved the 'opposites attract but don't last' rule " (article here)- questioning whether an A list serial dater like Gwyneth could have possibly gone the distance with a shy, late developer like Chris- but digging deeper there is more to the opposites trope than meets the eye.
Cue shameful marketing…
In my new release, Her Client From Hell the hero and heroine are, on the surface, poles apart. Cassie is bright and fun and bubbly and very, very scatty. Hero Jack is not. He's fussy and organized and quite a grump. He won't tolerate her casual lateness, or her clumsiness and doesn't believe for a moment that she's the right fit as caterer for his sister's wedding.
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But one thing that Cassie and Jack do learn along the way is that their personas have developed in particular ways because they are dealing with some pretty damaging stuff that happened to them in earlier years. Underneath that mask that we all wear- aren't we all pretty much the same? Don't we all ultimately want the same thing in the end?
Oh and do you like the covers? Pretty different, but I reckon both definitely reflect the story.
What do you think? Do opposites attract? Any examples in your life? There's a copy of Her Client From Hell for one commenter!
Blurb:
Her customer satisfaction guarantee…!
Cassie Sweet has a new mantra in her life- failure is not an option! Her good-for-nothing ex might have run off with all her money, but she's determined to make her new catering business a success. So no distractions. Nothing.Nada. Zero. Which means her infuriatingly rude- and exasperatingly handsome!- new client, filmmaker Jack Brennan, is definitely off the menu…
After all, while the customer might always be right, Jack's clearly every shade of wrong! So when his clothes end up on her bedroom floor why do they look so right? And the biggest question of all: is this a recipe for disaster-or the best mistake of her life…?
An interesting post, Louisa. I definitely think opposites attract after all I don't leave socks on the floor in this house, or think fishing is a great way to spend the day, and I read books. But would I be without my opposite number? Absolutely not. And yes, we hold opposing views on a lot of things, but there are plenty we agree on too. I think it would make a boring relationship to both hold very similar views on just about everything.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Sue- if we were all the same life would be very boring indeed! In lots of ways me and dh are opposites- I'm an early bird, he's a night owl, he's very logical, and I'm very not! But we've stuck together accepting each other's faults for 22 years- so I guess we're doing something right!
DeleteLove the KISS book cover, Louisa!
ReplyDeleteI love the whole opposites attract thing - my hubby and I don't even vote the same way which always leads to interesting political "discussions".... but sometimes, when you love someone you have to agree to disagree :-)
oooh, Amy - I can imagine the discussions in your house come election time!!! Glad you can agree to disagree ;-)
DeleteYes, I'm very happy with the KISS cover too!
Ooo, great question, Louisa! I think it depends what the "opposites" are as to whether a relationship will work out. My dh and I are opposites in lots of ways (he's very laidback and I'm a champion worrier!) but we have the same core values. I think the core values are the "big stuff" and if a couple are compatible there that they have a chance of finding ways to compromise on the "small stuff".
ReplyDeleteBoth your covers for Her Client From Hell are terrific but I particularly like the KISS cover. It really seems to match the story with Cassie and Jack standing on opposite sides of the doorway but with their hands linked in the middle.
Sharon, I agree that similar core values are absolutely essential, me and the dh disagree on a few things, but we know that fundamentally we share the same values and beliefs and that seems to put us on firm ground when other things are a bit shaky!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I think the cover fairies were good to me with this book!
Yes, those core values are the key. Plus, I think all/most couples move toward the centre and become more alike as they grow together. They don't change completely, but they find a way to make their differences 'work'.
ReplyDeleteHi Claire! I think finding a middle way is key- learning to compromise, however, is the hard bit! (At least, it is for me!)
DeleteYes I think opposites attract, it is not so much about the personalities that clash but the core values that can and does bring the couple together. They learn to live with the differences and accept the person for who they are.
ReplyDeleteHi Desere,
DeleteI think it's important that we accept people as they are, and try not to change them into what we want them to be? Thanks for stopping by!
I love reading "opposites attract" stories. In real life, yes it does happen, but from what I can see it's not ever lasting. Not if the differences are too great.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! I think sometimes the differences can be just too great to overcome- no matter how strong the attraction- but if the core values are similar then I think there is more chance they'll stay together
DeleteHi Louisa
ReplyDeleteI do love both of these covers :)
And I think it depends in what wyas they are different my daughter is very out going and talks a lot :) but her husband is a very quiet person he is particular about things around the house where she is more layback as well but they have such a great marriage it is lovely to see them together
Have Fun
Helen
Hi Helen! They have a real life opposite attracts story! Sounds wonderful, and I'm so pleased it's working for them xx
Deletethink they do; know a couple
ReplyDeleteThanks, bn100!
DeleteI love opposites attract stories, Louisa, and can't wait to read "Her Client from Hell"!(the KISS cover is my favourite). I'm with Claire, I think when you've been with someone long enough, things become more centred. My dh is quite different to me but probably less so now than when we first met (maybe I just convinced him that in everything, my way is right...)
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Barb, I like your style!!
DeleteI like it in a novel, but in my personal experience, "birds of a feather flock together!" :D
ReplyDeleteHi Sharlene! I love your example- it can be so very true!
DeleteLouisa, I love reading opposites attract stories, but… Well, I'm in the sceptical camp when it comes to it lasting in real life. Once that first flush of love is past I fear I can see some real irritation starting to set in. ;-)
ReplyDeleteBTW, love the Kiss cover for Her Client From Hell.
Lol! I hear ya! It'll either become completely acceptable or it'll drive you insane!!
DeleteI can't think of any examples of opposites attracting in life at the moment, but I do believe that it can happen and last. I think the key is sharing core values and not trying to change each other.
ReplyDeleteI also love stories where opposites attract. - although I also believe that the issues facing the charaters in the books would not allow HEAs to happen in real life.
I love, love, love Her Client from Hell. It's a great story.
Hi Lyn! Thanks for your wonderful endorsement of the book! So glad you liked it. You've made me day!
DeleteI like the KISS cover better, Opposites do attract, but they have to have common values and goals to make it work.
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy! Yes, i think I like the KISS cover better too- it really depicts the story (although I don't have a scene with Cassie wearing a white dress…)
DeleteI SO want to read this Louisa! I absolutely love the opposites attract story line and write them myself either blatantly or in small things. For instance, in my latest MS the heroine hates physical contact because of past trauma and the hero has what I called touching OCD. Watching opposites work things out makes for a fun read! I think it can work in real life too, if you're committed to making it. Sadly, too many people would rather just move on.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, Robyn your ms sounds very interesting- I'd love to see how that works out!!
DeleteLouisa, I love those covers! Though, the KISS cover is the one I'd grab in the shops.
ReplyDeleteOpposites Attract is one of my favourite hooks, and I've seen relationships work out in real life - as long as they have some underlying things in common, like values.
Can't wait to read Her Client From Hell!
Hi Rach! I think I need to feed back all this information to my publisher- seems everyone likes the KISS cover better!
DeleteLouisa, I'm very late commenting here but just had to say how much I love the title and the covers for this one. Read the blurb and I'm hooked. It sounds like my sort of read.
ReplyDeleteHi Annie! No worries- I'm very late replying too! I was very lucky with this book- lots of fun to write!
DeleteI like both covers too and can see how both "reflect the story".
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tammy in that they must still have "common values and goals to make it work", but I DO think it is doable.
When my husband and I wed, I was 22 and he was 32. He was used to visiting with friends and family every weekend, whilst I was used to a quiet life, usually with a good book. It took me awhile to get used to visiting others so often and then having others visit us too, but I learned to enjoy it. Alas, now that my husband is about to turn 65 (and I am obviously almost 55), he wants to stay home and veg out quietly, whilst I am the one who wants to host a few friends or parties, since most of our friends prefer to go elsewhere than stay home and clean up (whereas I no longer care if I haven't cleaned every spot in the house before company arrives). Besides, having company motivates me to keep my home tidier.... Anyway, we still have common goals and values 32 years later and neither can imagine life without each other in it. As they say, till death do us part.
Hi Laney4, thank you for sharing your lovely story- funny how you have taken on your husband's attributes and vice versa- I'm reminded of the line in the Jerry McGuire movie- 'You complete me' - two halves making a whole!
ReplyDelete