by Bethany (link)
Genre het, romance, drama
Pairings Isaac/Nikki, Taylor/Natalie, Zac/Kate, Zac/OFC
Length prologue and 26 chapters
Status Completed (first in the Sweetest Downfall Series)
I have read Cause and Effect before but decided to reread it and review it because honestly I just love it that much.
Right from the start of it we are introduced to the problems in Zac and Kate’s marriage. Problems that this time around I found myself almost wishing they had fixed. But I guess for the sake of storyline it’s better that they didn’t.
During the weight of his marriage problems, Zac also starts a friendship with Spencer, a character who is quite quirky and maybe just a bit of a lush. But it’s soon realized that their friendship won’t always stay platonic and both wind up kissing.
A kiss which leads Spencer to realize that Zac is uh oh, married. She comes to a resolution not to do anything else with him but of course that fails, doesn’t it always in fan-fictions centered on cheating and love triangles.
As Zac tries to stay a float with his growing feelings for Spencer, that I reckon he doesn’t even realize, and his failing marriages, something has got to give and that something is being caught by Kate after a night spent with Spencer. That is what seals the deal for the end of his marriage to Kate, which kind of made me sad. I think I realized the second go round that I don’t think I would have minded if Kate and Zac had worked things out, but then again there wouldn’t be a sequel that I also love.
Speaking of sequels, Cause and Effect doesn’t have the happiest of endings but not every story can, which is something that I like. Yes I love happy endings but let’s be honest real life does not always give happy endings to people and after all every character has been through in this story I don’t think a happy ending would be right.
The only thing I can hope for in the sequels of this story is that Zac and Spencer both grow and maybe one day find their way back together if the fates align.
I think my one downside for the story was a big decision Spencer makes. I feel like it was something she should have told Zac, regardless of her mind being made up. He deserved to know.
Review by Elizabeth (tumblr)