Let’s talk about Seth, baby.

I’ve been on a big Rainbow Rowell re-read lately. I got all of her books on audible, and with the new job, I’m in the car a lot. Seriously, so much. And I find Rebecca Lowman’s voice to be so soothing, that even the Beltway traffic doesn’t bother me too much when I’m listening to her.

And FYI, this review is pretty much a big huge spoiler. If you haven’t read it, go ahead and pick up a copy. I’ll wait.

The other day I finished Landline for the second time (first read it back in CBR6) and I think this time I loved it even more than I did the first time. I think the fact that I didn’t even bother to think about the magic phone this time and instead focused on Neal and Georgie and their journey certainly added to my love.

But also, this time I thought a lot about Seth. And I realized that I had a Seth, way back in the day. And we wrote a show together that we were sure would be the next BIG THING. But that I’m always glad I chose my Neal instead. Sure, my Seth is huge out in Hollywood now, and I could be riding on those coattails. But what kind of a friend expects you to leave behind your Neal simply so that he can keep you in his pocket, as his  “secret weapon”? That’s no kind of life. I never regret saying No to my Seth and instead choosing the life I have now.

So I really got what Georgie was going through this time. Not really the marriage problems (although, really, every marriage has the lows that Georgie and Neal experience, just maybe not to that extent), but making the choices that were right for her and her family.

And Seth really infuriated me this time around. Every time he wondered just what the hell was wrong with her, I wanted to punch him in his smug Brooks Brothers face. He asked her to make an impossible choice and didn’t understand when she suffered for it. Seth doesn’t get a vote in what goes on in their marriage.

When Georgie finally tells Seth off outside of her mom’s house, I did a little cheer in my minivan.

I love that the book ends without closure for Georgie and Seth. Maybe they’ll be able to postpone that meeting. Maybe they won’t. Maybe they’ll continue to be a great team, but maybe not. I’d like to think that Georgie will be fine on her own.