After reading Lisa’s glowing review of The Dive from Clausen's Pier I was inspired to read it. After the first page, I couldn’t put the book down. The story was beautiful. I found the dialogue to be authentic which helped me to relate to the characters. The book reminded me of how we are all so fragile. Every decision we make not only impacts our own life, but the lives of others.

Carrie has grown up in Madison, Wisconsin. She’s led a safe life with the same friends and is engaged to her high school sweetheart Mike. Carrie and Mike once had a great relationship but she is no longer happy. After a tragic incident for which Carrie feels partly responsible, Mike is paralyzed. She is torn between staying in Wisconsin and marrying him, essentially “doing the right thing” or pursuing a life of her own outside of Madison.

I fell in love with Carrie. I loved how she wanted to do the right thing but at the same time she knew that she needed more from life. She was expected by everyone to stay in the relationship and had no one to discuss her wants and needs. I couldn’t wait to finish the book to see how it ended but at the same time I didn’t want it to end because I loved the story and I was scared it wouldn't end the way I was hoping. I haven’t been able to start a new book yet because I’m still mourning the end of this book.