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jackielk2020's review against another edition
3.0
A good read but ended really abruptly. Many characters w predictable story lines
thisismybooknook's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I'm gonna be honest and say this book was not it for me. The last 75 pages were the most interesting. I understand the premise of how you see each others lives from the outside and everyone's got their own problems... but man, I was just bored.
niaforrester's review against another edition
5.0
**HONEST REVIEW IN EXCHANGE FOR AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER**
This author's name isn't new to me, but this is the first book of hers I've ever read. This is ensemble fiction at its best. Four women, distinct, different and very well developed as individual characters. They are neighbors and friends, living in Newport Cove, one of the 20 Safest Communities in America. But privately, they're all facing challenges in their lives and families.
Susan is superwoman on the outside, but inwardly suffering from the loss of her marriage, which she fears, was her own fault. Kellie is a career-woman again after years of being "only" a wife and mother, and suddenly there is someone in her life that reminds her she is also a woman. Gigi's husband is on the campaign trail, pursuing a seat in Congress, while she's left to figure out how to deal with their difficult teen daughter on her own. And Tessa is hiding an explosive secret, something that makes it necessary to keep her new friends at arms' length, no matter how much she may want to do otherwise.
Every story was interesting enough to stand on its own, but Sarah Pekkanen held them all together with impeccable pacing, character-development and plot. I related to all of the women in some way. To Gigi's worry about her daughter growing apart from her, to Kellie's desire to be seen for herself and not just as the manager of her family, to Tessa's fear for her children, and most of all to Susan's realization that in trying to be superwoman, she may just have lost some of what's most important to her.
Sarah Pekkanen's writing is so clean, you don't even feel like you're reading. And it's peppered with humor, poignancy, and just about every other emotion known to man. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Women's fiction at its best.
This author's name isn't new to me, but this is the first book of hers I've ever read. This is ensemble fiction at its best. Four women, distinct, different and very well developed as individual characters. They are neighbors and friends, living in Newport Cove, one of the 20 Safest Communities in America. But privately, they're all facing challenges in their lives and families.
Susan is superwoman on the outside, but inwardly suffering from the loss of her marriage, which she fears, was her own fault. Kellie is a career-woman again after years of being "only" a wife and mother, and suddenly there is someone in her life that reminds her she is also a woman. Gigi's husband is on the campaign trail, pursuing a seat in Congress, while she's left to figure out how to deal with their difficult teen daughter on her own. And Tessa is hiding an explosive secret, something that makes it necessary to keep her new friends at arms' length, no matter how much she may want to do otherwise.
Every story was interesting enough to stand on its own, but Sarah Pekkanen held them all together with impeccable pacing, character-development and plot. I related to all of the women in some way. To Gigi's worry about her daughter growing apart from her, to Kellie's desire to be seen for herself and not just as the manager of her family, to Tessa's fear for her children, and most of all to Susan's realization that in trying to be superwoman, she may just have lost some of what's most important to her.
Sarah Pekkanen's writing is so clean, you don't even feel like you're reading. And it's peppered with humor, poignancy, and just about every other emotion known to man. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Women's fiction at its best.
_alexareads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Reminded me very much of Desperate Housewives. I wouldn't say this is a book that will make you miss the characters long after the last page has been read, however it was entertaining as a flip-the-pages novel.
wondernikel's review against another edition
2.0
2...A bit like watching a bad season of Desperate Housewives...As a stay at home mother, I could connect to multiple characters in this novel BUT it was soooo slow moving! And their wasn't a major mystery...nothing to draw you in. Not the best novel by this author.
trycerabel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I liked learning about the women’s lives but nothing really happened
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Infertility, Murder, and Racism
winona_reads1's review against another edition
3.0
cute summer read
similar to Moriarty story lines, characters weave but all connect.
similar to Moriarty story lines, characters weave but all connect.
mishale1's review against another edition
3.0
The story starts when Tessa and her family move into an idyllic neighborhood, a cul-se-sac where one could easily believe that the biggest drama in town was the dog who used everyone's lawns as his bathroom.
But Tessa isn't the only one hiding a secret.
While her secret is definitely the biggest, one neighbor is stalking her ex husband, one is veering towards an affair and another is wondering which of her many secrets could come to light now that her husband is running for office.
I thought all of the characters were likable.
I thought the town messageboard was an adorable touch.
I wasn't a fan of Tessa's back story. We can quickly make an assumption about what she or her husband did and we can relatively quickly assume we know why. The author did give us a reason for why it happened that I thought was one the reader could accept. I just didn't like that part of the story.
Also, I think each of the characters had good closer to their own storyline. Sometimes when there are a few main characters, something gets left unanswered at the end. I think enough time was wrapping up each character's story.
But Tessa isn't the only one hiding a secret.
While her secret is definitely the biggest, one neighbor is stalking her ex husband, one is veering towards an affair and another is wondering which of her many secrets could come to light now that her husband is running for office.
I thought all of the characters were likable.
I thought the town messageboard was an adorable touch.
I wasn't a fan of Tessa's back story. We can quickly make an assumption about what she or her husband did and we can relatively quickly assume we know why. The author did give us a reason for why it happened that I thought was one the reader could accept. I just didn't like that part of the story.
Also, I think each of the characters had good closer to their own storyline. Sometimes when there are a few main characters, something gets left unanswered at the end. I think enough time was wrapping up each character's story.
cheart's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
booksies_booksies's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book. It's not quite what I expected; it was an emotional grabber, and I very much enjoyed it!