Likes: The overall tone of the story. It had that haunting quality that I love and it kept the ex3 Stars
I thought this was good, but I didn't love it.
Likes: The overall tone of the story. It had that haunting quality that I love and it kept the expectation pedal down on the impending answers to come. I also loved the time period and the setting.
Mehs: The writing was a little more over the place then I prefer. A lot of filler and pages/descriptions that did nothing to move a scene, character, or the story itself forward. There were also POVs seemingly out of the blue that felt unnecessary. And I felt connected to exactly zero of them. And don't even get me started on Jacob. His whole character and arc felt gratuitous. What he brought to the ending could have been accomplished in a much more realistic, nuanced way through another character or method that didn't feel so out of place.
Dislikes: The ending. So many loose ends. I love a good open ending, but this left me unsatisfied all around. So much could have been done with it. So much detail and pages of character arcs and efforts that went exactly nowhere.
Oh well, as I said. I think I'm an outlier on this one....more
I kept waiting for the point of everything to become clear…but it never did. At least not fully. Instead, the book just felt sad (and not1.5 - 2 Stars
I kept waiting for the point of everything to become clear…but it never did. At least not fully. Instead, the book just felt sad (and not in a good way). The ending, if you can even really call it that, was abrupt and out of the blue. It just left you flailing. I love solidly ambiguous open endings in my literary fiction. But this just wasn’t done all that well, in my opinion.
The premise sounded so interesting…and I liked the writing style…but this was miss for me.
Favorite quote:
"I wanted to see if she would worry the way the teacher worried when recess ended and they couldn't locate a student who'd found a winning hiding spot in hide-and-seek. I purposefully chose places that were relatively obvious, both at school and around the apartment, because the thrill of being undetected was paltry compared to the relief of being found."...more
Being the quintessential dumbass that I am, I decided to start this at 7:30PM last night...and proceeded to stay up until close to 1AM to finis5 Stars
Being the quintessential dumbass that I am, I decided to start this at 7:30PM last night...and proceeded to stay up until close to 1AM to finish it in one sitting. Never mind my 4:30 wakeup today.
And thus my dumbassery. Because I know I have a tendency to do this, I try to avoid starting new books right before bed on work nights. So I'm super tired today.
But?
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I loved everything about this book. And I felt so unbelievably connected to Phoebe. And Lila. And the setting. And all things. My favorite book I've read this year thus far, for sure....more
I enjoyed this well enough. I figured out a lot of the twists before they happened, but I was still very entertained. In fact, I ended up re3.75 Stars
I enjoyed this well enough. I figured out a lot of the twists before they happened, but I was still very entertained. In fact, I ended up reading this is in one sitting, which always bumps a book's rating up for me.
The tone was a good blend of haunting/creepy and I am always game for a creepy kid with potential psychopathy. So there's that.
All in all a decent read. I like author.
Favorite Quote:
"'Often, what we see in art is a reflection of us. Of our optics. Our mindset. Have you ever tried to read a novel and not enjoyed it, then gone back at another point in time and loved it? The story didn't change. But you did.'"...more
It's very...of its time among other things. But I really enjoyed it once I got used to the writing sThis book will definitely not appeal to everyone.
It's very...of its time among other things. But I really enjoyed it once I got used to the writing style. It's a heartfelt look at marriage, personal expectations, the expectations of others...and our own assumptions and push/push in regard to all of those things.
That said, I don't think I could say it any better than my friend Julie G., so I will just be lazy and point to her outstanding her review instead. Enjoy....more
To be blunt, the whole story is practically told in the blurb. Sure, there is a little more to it, but overall? Blurb. Which, hey, that'3.75 - 4 Stars
To be blunt, the whole story is practically told in the blurb. Sure, there is a little more to it, but overall? Blurb. Which, hey, that's what made me read it in the first place...but it was also like one of those movie trailers that shows all the best parts of the movie. In fact, word on the street is that this was optioned for a TV show before it was even finished (starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman). Which gives me the ick a little, but I suppose that's the norm these days in the cutthroat world that is book-to-movie deals. Plus, I think this will actually be a great show if done right.
But I digress.
All I'm saying is that I wish whoever wrote the blurb had held a little more back, is all.
All that said, I enjoyed this. I love messy characters and this story was rife with them. Margo was frustrating at times. But I get frustrated when characters do really dumb shit, so that's on me. She was young and naïve and that was the point.
I was like a kid with popcorn watching her interact with her parents. Her and Jinx's relationship was one of my favorite parts of the of the book, second only to the exposition on POV, narration, and writing.
I would read more from this author.
Favorite quote:
"'There's a kind of seventies glamour to it. It's understated.' I said. I knew it didn't have beading or sequins, but in my opinion she didn't need the glitter. She needed a dress that said, I am getting married on purpose, and it it not a mistake."...more
And this was exactly the book I needed right now. It was sad and wistful and joyful and happy and, in my opinion, just theTiming really is everything…
And this was exactly the book I needed right now. It was sad and wistful and joyful and happy and, in my opinion, just the right amount of sappy. It exemplified why I love this author even when some of her books don’t land for me. Cause when they do, it’s all worth it.
The characters… The angst… The amazing banter… The balance of sadness and hope…
I enjoyed this for sure, but I also know I am definitely in the minority in not loving it. I really like Jacob and Briana as characters. Alth3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this for sure, but I also know I am definitely in the minority in not loving it. I really like Jacob and Briana as characters. Although, I will say I was always very aware of them (and everyone else) being just that: characters. I enjoyed the writing, but, again, most of the characters just felt a little flat to me for some reason. Not sure why. Some aspects felt less organic and more like checkboxes, to be blunt.
I appreciate the sentiment and focus on anxiety. But Jacob and Briana read more like friends to me. ...more
I know this has nothing to do with this book (for those reading in the future who don't care and/or don'5 Stars
"Head on straight, heart on straight."
I know this has nothing to do with this book (for those reading in the future who don't care and/or don't know about my personal sentiments and past year-long 2023 reading slump), but I had only one non-smut 5-star read in 2023 (and I only had one of those for perspective), so the fact that I loved this book so early in the year is VERY exciting for me.
That said...
I love books about family drama and the effects of generational habits (some might say "trauma" but I would argue that that's just LIFE), and this book delivered on that front in so many ways. The manner in which this book presented the nuances of parental expectations, familial canons, and relational compromises was so amazing. I just loved it.
And that can all be attributed to the fantastic level of showing versus telling. Just some outstanding storytelling here, folks, that's all I can say. Some character-driven awesomeness all around.
If the blurb interests you, jump on it.
That's all I got.
Will definitely be monitoring this author moving forward....more
To be clear, this rating is not a review or judgment of Page’s life, struggles, or journey. It’s just a reflection on how much I enjoyed the bo2 Stars
To be clear, this rating is not a review or judgment of Page’s life, struggles, or journey. It’s just a reflection on how much I enjoyed the book as a reading experience.
The second I became aware of this book, I added it to my cart. And I was really looking forward to reading it. I have been a fan of Page since Juno. I loved also loved Page in Inception and X-Men. And when Page came out as queer and later trans, I remember sending supportive thoughts into the worldly abyss.
I was really looking forward to hearing Page's story from all the angles of Page's life. Being a child actor who successfully made the transition to adult actor...making Juno and suddenly being catapulted into mega fame...working with acting greats Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Marion Cottillard, etc., in Inception...coming out as queer...transitioning...
And yes, Page definitely touches on some of those things.
But damn, was this clunky.
At first, I was enjoying the writing style. Page writes like a poet. Which, again, I enjoyed at first...
Until I didn't.
Because I think Page has a best friend...and that friend's name is Analogy. And boy was Analogy everywhere here. To the point of diminishing returns, at least for me. Also not for me was the stream of consciousness flair that seemed to get thicker as the book went on.
The pièce de résistance though has to be what was one of the most confusing timelines I've ever read. And I've read some doozies in my day, folks. Now to be fair, Page basically disclaims in the forward (or whatever it was titled, I can't remember) that the book might jump around a bit as related to time and pronoun use - and I can totally get that and get behind that. But Page did it to such a degree that it became frustrating.
So again...not a personal critique of Page's life...merely my experience reading this memoir. Still looking forward to seeing him in whatever movies/shows he makes in the future. And hoping he finds his happy....more
The whole time I was reading this, I kept thinking to myself, "Wow, this author really understands grief." And after seeing the author's notes 4 Stars
The whole time I was reading this, I kept thinking to myself, "Wow, this author really understands grief." And after seeing the author's notes at the end, yes. Yes, she does.
That said, I read this in one sitting and was very invested in the story. I figured out the "secrets" way before the were revealed. But that's fine. I had a few quibbles with the ending (thus this not being a five star for me), but overall I really thought this was a great read.
I will definitely read more from this author. ...more
I liked this well enough, but none of the characters felt...real. Especially the aunt and the sister. They seemed to only exist (both in the 2.5 Stars
I liked this well enough, but none of the characters felt...real. Especially the aunt and the sister. They seemed to only exist (both in the story and for the main character) when she needed to take them off the shelf and vent.
I also won't remember any of their names or the majority of this story by next week. Or perhaps even tomorrow.
Still, it was cute...a decent enough way to pass an afternoon....more
I'm short on both time and motivation, so this will be brief...
I really enjoyed this story and how all the characters were so layered. In true 4 Stars
I'm short on both time and motivation, so this will be brief...
I really enjoyed this story and how all the characters were so layered. In true Elin fashion, no one is all good…or all bad. They are just humans trying to get through life the best they can.
I really enjoyed the Nantucket world (as always) and the mini hotel community world that lived within it. And I really liked the ending. No loose ends and very cute....more
I wanted to write a long, fully-fleshed out review for this book; but, alas, I just can't be bothered right now.
Because tired. Lazy. Sadly lac4 Stars
I wanted to write a long, fully-fleshed out review for this book; but, alas, I just can't be bothered right now.
Because tired. Lazy. Sadly lacking in any motivation for actual effort.
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You get the picture.
Instead I just figured I would lay something down here before I completely forget to do so. So off we go.
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After really, really not liking Katherine Center's last book (which I found WAY too cheesy sweet and the review for which you can find HERE), I didn't look toward her next release with all that much excitement; however, after seeing that this book featured a character with Prosopagnosia, I was 100% on board.
You see, a few years ago, I remember reading an article that talked about Brad Pitt having Prosopagnosia, or "face blindness," and he talked about his struggle to recognize people outside of environmental context, etc. As I often do when I find something particularly interesting, I fell down a research rabbit hole and read alllllll up on Prosopagnosia. So I was super intrigued by this book premise.
And overall, I feel like this delivered for me on the intriguing Prosopagnosia front AND the sweet romance-lite (without being TOO sticky sweet) front. Sadie was a nice character and I enjoyed her. Was she borderline Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Yes. But at least she wasn't as obnoxious as What You Wish For's Samantha.
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Man, I could not stand those characters. At ALL. So I was a little worried Sadie would head in that direction. Thankfully, she didn't. And add in these quotes:
"'Are you telling me that love isn't real?' But Dr. Nicole pulled rank on me then. Pausing a good while before saying, 'Is that a question designed to get us closer to the truth or to steer us away from it?' God, she was good."
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Stop it, you magical mage.
Followed up with:
"If there were a dog hall of fame, Peanut would be on all their merchandise. He was cute as hell without being full of himself. He was endlessly cheery. He was a good eater without being a glutton. He was just as happy to go on a walk as he was to spend the entire day napping. He loved a good squeaky toy, but he lost interest at exactly the same rate I did...His self-esteem was solid. His fashion sense was legendary. His sense of humor was totally deadpan. I preferred him to most people even in normal times, is what I'm saying."
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SOLD.
Speaking of dogs, the "twist" here was so obvious that any one of my four dogs would have seen it from a mile away if they could actually read. And one of my dogs is arguably and legitimately mentally challenged.
Was the evil Parker stepsister character seemingly right out of Cinderella? Yes. Was the ending completely ridiculous and overly convenient? Yes. Did I still appreciate the overall optimism and feelings of HOPE Katherine Center always goes for? Yes.
In fact, the author's note in this book was one of my favorite parts of the reading experience and it actually made me enjoy the book that much more. It made me appreciate Katherine Center's brand of storytelling and the hopefulness with which she paints the page. What You Wish For had the same underlying theme, but did not land for me. Well this one did.
Perhaps it all comes down to timing. Who knows. Either way, I really enjoyed this book for what it was: a book about humanity and hope with a sprinkle of romance and an interesting premise....more
This book was about a marriage in crisis, which is one of my favorite contemporary fiction topics de jour; however, this didn't do it fo2 Stars
Oooof.
This book was about a marriage in crisis, which is one of my favorite contemporary fiction topics de jour; however, this didn't do it for me. Malcom and Jess were beyond crisis. They were leading - and had always led, in my opinion - very separate lives. They were also extremely immature with zero communication skills.
I've read a lot of books about marriages on the rocks and I obviously love the ensuing angst and the relatability of the complex emotions involved. But this one just stressed me out.
Before I get into why though, I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I am childfree by choice and have never wanted children of my own. However, I intellectually understand that having children is a magical thing. And I cannot even begin to imagine how painful it must be to potentially be unable to have them, especially if you've always dreamed of being a parent.
That said, infertility treatments are VERY expensive as well as stressful and I think any involved parties need to 100% be on the same page when making joint decisions for each round of treatment and/or each procedure. And Malcom and Jess definitely were not.
Unless you are made of money, large purchases and expenditures are something partners should decide together. Failure to do so is simply another form of infidelity. Between the above issue and Malcom's decisions regarding the bar...ugh. My secondhand financial stress on behalf of these two was almost visceral.
The self-centeredness and complete lack of disregard both displayed for each other was astounding. And neither of them changed or grew at ALL, in my opinion. In fact, the story ends (view spoiler)[with Malcolm making a unilateral decision for HIS future and basically asking Jess to, you know, give up her job and tag along. The subtext being he was going with or without her.
In addition to the hot mess story and characters was what I consider hot mess writing. Aside from seemingly stream of consciousness sentence structure, the timelines and POVs were all over the place with no hallmarks.
In short, not my cuppa all around and I don't if I would try another book by this author unless it was rated highly by certain GR friends I trust....more
I decided to settle on almost four stars here as I did think about this book a bit in the days after reading it. I find myself with not all 3.75 Stars
I decided to settle on almost four stars here as I did think about this book a bit in the days after reading it. I find myself with not all that much to say about it though, which is odd. So we shall see how this goes...
Adelaide.
I struggle with doormat characters who allow themselves to be treated poorly by other people again and again. I firmly believe that people (even good ones sometimes) will treat you the way you demand or allow yourself to be treated. And Rory treated Adelaide like someone he didn't care about. And let me make something clear: I didn't dislike Rory for this...I disliked Adelaide. Rory continually showed Adelaide through his actions that he didn't care about her the way she wanted him too. And she just kept coming back. And in my opinion, that's on her.
The Writing.
Once I got used to the use of italics instead of quotes, I did enjoy this author's writing style. I did find it interesting that she continuously mentioned other books and authors, such as Sally Rooney and Call My By Your Name (which she must have referenced at least ten times) which made me believe she might have been going for that style of story-telling; however, having read neither Sally Rooney nor Call Me By Your Name means that is simply a guess and I could be totally off base. I do want to read Sally Rooney now that the Normal People hype has died down a bit, so I'll have to report back on this later.
Overall.
I enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. Despite my gripes with Adelaide's doormat tendencies, I also appreciated her endless positivity and zest for life. I thought Wheeler did a great job fleshing her (and most of the other characters) out and enjoyed the writing style as I said above.
I will definitely try more from this author in the future....more
On one hand, this was a very slow-moving, character driven story about a dysfunctional wealthy fam3 Stars
I feel somewhat conflicted about this book...
On one hand, this was a very slow-moving, character driven story about a dysfunctional wealthy family...and I am always down for all of those things. I always LOVE a good familial shit show.
I also read this in one sitting, which for me always garners a star.
I did feel like the family evolved in some small way (sort of) over the course of the story; however, I can't decide whether or not the author meant this as some sort of discourse on wealth and privilege...or not. I wasn't quite sure. And then I read in the author notes that Jenny Jackson is a publishing executive who lives in the very neighborhood this book is centered on...Hmmmm...so, tongue-in-cheek poking or self-flagellation/virtue-signaling?
I have no idea.
Regardless, I loathed Georgiana. LOATHED. And I'm sorry, she can give all her money away every day (but still have her $37 million and future inheritance from her parents, mind you), spout all the woke bullshit under the sun, and virtue-signal like a boss...she is still a bad person. And it's not the money's fault.
My favorite character in the book was Tilda. At least she owned who she was with no apology....more
I'll be honest and that say this didn't pack quite the emotional punch I was expecting, but I did think it was really cute and I appreciated3.75 Stars
I'll be honest and that say this didn't pack quite the emotional punch I was expecting, but I did think it was really cute and I appreciated a lot of the elements, especially the grumpy/sunshine dynamic I wasn't expecting. And I'm always a sucker for some good forced proximity. Georgie (and her family) were borderline Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but managed to just squeak under being over the top. Barely. So congrats to this book for getting me on a day when that didn't drive me batshit as I typically loathe it. Timing, timing timing...
I enjoyed Georgie working through her list and the way her and Levi connected and came together. I saw the ending tension issue coming the moment the catalyst element was mentioned, but whatever. I also thought that Levi's talk with the brother at the end was super contrived. But again...timing, timing, timing. And whatever. A cute, sweet read overall....more
This was my first Jojo Moyes book and, while I liked it well enough, it definitely didn’t blow me away. I wanted milk toa**spoiler alert** 2.5-3 Stars
This was my first Jojo Moyes book and, while I liked it well enough, it definitely didn’t blow me away. I wanted milk toast Sam to grow a backbone a little sooner and Nisha…I typically love the ice queen character everyone else hates, but her redemption effort felt a little weak.
And the whole scene where they stole the shoes back felt very slapstick.
I appreciated the female forward character efforts and interactions, but couldn’t help but notice a relationship with a new man was still part of the happy ending. Which is fine. But it didn’t match what felt like one of the main threads the author seemed to be trying to loom together.
All in all, a decent-ish read. But what with the length and this author’s former huge hits, I guess I expected more.
And PS the whole fateful shoe switch/working as a maid and suddenly having all these friends rushing to your aid felt very late 90’s/early 2000’s romcom....more
As a child of the 1980's/1990's, I was a HUGE fan of Beverly Hills, 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Melrose Place, Dawson's Creek, My So-Ca2.75 Stars
As a child of the 1980's/1990's, I was a HUGE fan of Beverly Hills, 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Melrose Place, Dawson's Creek, My So-Called Life (a show for which I will NEVER get over there only being one season)...all the things.
Anyone else remember the anticipation you would get when you had to WAIT for every episode...or record an episode on VHS if you weren't gonna be home when it aired? Soooooo good. That delayed gratification, I swear. It made TV magical. And this book definitely triggered some nostalgia for that lost feeling.
The glory days, folks.
But anyway, as I was saying...this book had TONS of nostalgia and was super cute...
However, it was also had really low stakes and ZERO tension. The only character I found remotely interesting was token bitch character Sasha-Kate and the best scene in the book occurred toward the end between her and Liv. Would have liked more Sasha-Kate. Otherwise, every other character in the book was really flat and I felt zero investment.
Overall, super cute...but also super forgettable....more
Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️
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