3.5 StarsThis is hard to rate, and hard to describe. At the beginning, it seemed pretty juvenile. The characters act like insecure teenagers full of hormones and drugs. I actually put this one down for a couple of weeks because I lost interest after I realized where the plot was headed. However, I'm really gland that I picked it back up and finished it.This is a couple that has major issues, both prior to meeting and after finding one another. They both have some crazy childhood drama to overcome, and add their own adult problems by turning to either drugs and alcohol or...suicide? What?! They just happen to pick the same spot in the sea to try to drown. A bit much to believe, really. But whatever... the sex is hot. And when it turns into more than just sex, I realized that they are no longer consumed with their individual problems. They are now completely consumed with one another. Addicted, even. And their relationship becomes rather beautiful. This is a story that is labeled as erotica because it has explicit sex scenes with one or two slightly taboo happy times. But I began to feel so connected to Kate and Charlie. They are in desperate need of someone to believe in them. And it seems as if all they have is each other, so its hard NOT to root for them. The author is British for sure, and that was a little odd for me to overcome at first. Some of the phrases made me pause to really figure out what she meant (the 'boot', or trunk of the car). It also made me smile. Its not often that an author doesn't try to de-culturize their writing, so it was actually kind of cool. Made me feel as if I had escaped to London for a few hours. So, while I didn't quite understand some of the drama and decisions in Strangers, the romance was touching and the eroticism was well placed and necessary. Overall, better than I expected.
