This Too Shall Pass- a Novel Review

I recently finished reading Milana Busquet's book This Too Shall Pass.  It was originally written in Spanish so I was a tad concerned about losing some of the meaning and zest when translated into English.  Unfortunately, I believe that was the case.  I had a hard time getting invested into the story line.  

The story centers around Blanca, a 40 something two time divorcee who has to deal with the loss of her mother, the matriarch of the family and how she, was to handle becoming the new matriarch of the family. The story is narrated by Blanca who came off as arrogant and snobbish.  Blanca doesn't have a purpose; she has no job or drive.  Her life consists of shopping and dining. There is a lot of talk about sex, not explicit but the who, where, when type.  I understand the grief and hopelessness of a person suffering through grief and how a person can feel lost and without purpose however, this novel didn't show me any growth or potential and as a result didn't capture my attention.  The characters, often men, are unsurprising and a bit mundane. I kept hoping it would build into something greater but it didn't.

The highlight is a clearly wonderful love Blanca had for her mother and the gaping loss that her mother's death left. Anyone can appreciate that.

A little about the author; 
MILENA BUSQUETS was born in Barcelona where she attended the Lycée Français de Barcelone. She obtained a degree in archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology at University College London, began work in publishing, and has since founded her own publishing house. She currently works as a journalist and as a translator.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review however, as always, all opinions are my own.