When newly retired teacher Taryn stumbles into the seductive world of the Argentine tango, the unexpected reappearance of her charismatic ex, Marc, threatens to unravel the stable life she’s built with steady, dependable Neil. As she spirals between exhilaration and self-destructive temptation, Taryn risks repeating the very mistakes she once swore she’d left behind.
Down the road, Rachel – clever, impulsive, and half Taryn’s age – is trapped in an affair with a married man she calls “Sam”. She knows he’s wrong for her. She knows the relationship is doomed, but Rachel can’t tear herself away. When Taryn, determined to save her from heartbreak, draws her into the tango scene, a truth erupts that leaves both of them reeling.
With their lives suddenly entwined, Taryn and Rachel must confront the illusions that have kept them illusions about love, about themselves and about the people they’ve placed on pedestals. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
The Tango Chain offered an interesting perspective from two characters who are at varying seasons in their life. Taryn is newly retired and feeling the onset of potential change in her life, particularly when Neil wants to move them to a slower-paced town, only adding to Taryn’s fears of aging. She doesn’t want to slow down or fall into what she feels are the patterns of other retirees, finding her youth again from learning the Argentine tango. Rachel is youth personified, still trying to find her way while falling desperately in love with a married man who she knows isn’t good for her, but she can’t seem to tear herself away from him. Dance class is a much-needed distraction, at least for the moment.
The two women begin an unlikely kinship, with Taryn offering insight based on her own experiences, and Rachel giving Taryn as much room as she needs to rediscover who she is now that her life isn’t as structured or predictable. I appreciated how both characters share similarities when it comes to past traumas that bleed into the way they handle romance and relationships. I could identify with both, given the place I’m at now, in mid-life, and remembering my own tough times with love in my 20s. Taryn and Rachel share a lot more than they’d ever anticipate, which was a welcome surprise and one I didn’t really see coming.
I liked how despite Taryn’s age, she wasn’t created to act her age. Or, what some people might deem as how she should be at her age. She’s wild and impulsive, with a lot of passion and heart within her. I could see why she fears settling down with Neil, concerned that doing so might mean she has to slow down. But even Rachel’s influence helps Taryn to see that taking time to enjoy the smaller moments doesn’t mean you have to slow down; it means you are making a conscious effort to really focus on life, bit by bit. We don’t do that near enough.
Rachel has a lot to learn and the reader is with her the whole way while she navigates what’s most important to her, often not prioritizing herself and her own needs in lieu of making others happy. At points in the story I wasn’t sure what choices either woman would make along the way, or what direction they’d go in when it comes to matters of the heart. Learning the truth and facing it head on seemed to really bring on character development and evolvement, which was an awesome thing to see for both. The Tango Chain was an enjoyable experience, for people who love dancing, or for anyone really who has ever been perplexed by love.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.
After studying psychology at Goldsmiths' London, Linda trained as a secondary science and biology teacher. She taught these subjects for several years before moving to a sixth-form college to teach psychology. In 2012, she retired from teaching to focus fully on writing.
Linda was born and brought up in Cockermouth, on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria and after half a lifetime in south-east London, she moved to Weymouth where she lives with her husband and dog.
Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.
Listen to this book on Speechify!
No comments:
Post a Comment