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2.96 AVERAGE
2.96 AVERAGE
Rating: 2/5
Laughing Score: 0/5
Crying Score: 0/5
Plot: Charlotte Perkins submits an essay and wins a trip for her and her estranged kids to become “jet setters.” As Charlotte reunites with her kids overseas, the story unpacks all of the baggage from Lee, the failed actress, Cord, the in-the-closet Venture capitalist, and Regan - the woman with children in an unhappy marriage. The story is about these four adults facing them demons, facing each other, facing their past, and “trying” to change from it.
Thoughts: I hate to say this, but I really did not like this book. I can’t quite put a reason as to why it did not resonate with me as it did with so many others, but I found it really hard to get through this book. The family in this book is a mess, they are all annoying, and have zero redeeming qualities. They all take advantage of their mother, they are all weak, ungrateful, and have their own issues, but then you can’t even feel bad for Charlotte (Mom) because it’s almost as if she asks for it. I know that mothers will do anything for their kids, but given that these people are all adults by the time they take this trip, it makes no sense that she still allows this behavior.
I found this story hard to read, and would not recommend it.
Laughing Score: 0/5
Crying Score: 0/5
Plot: Charlotte Perkins submits an essay and wins a trip for her and her estranged kids to become “jet setters.” As Charlotte reunites with her kids overseas, the story unpacks all of the baggage from Lee, the failed actress, Cord, the in-the-closet Venture capitalist, and Regan - the woman with children in an unhappy marriage. The story is about these four adults facing them demons, facing each other, facing their past, and “trying” to change from it.
Thoughts: I hate to say this, but I really did not like this book. I can’t quite put a reason as to why it did not resonate with me as it did with so many others, but I found it really hard to get through this book. The family in this book is a mess, they are all annoying, and have zero redeeming qualities. They all take advantage of their mother, they are all weak, ungrateful, and have their own issues, but then you can’t even feel bad for Charlotte (Mom) because it’s almost as if she asks for it. I know that mothers will do anything for their kids, but given that these people are all adults by the time they take this trip, it makes no sense that she still allows this behavior.
I found this story hard to read, and would not recommend it.
I liked that the characters worked through the ghosts of their pasts and forged on. And the book kept my interest. On a negative note: I like learning things when I read, fiction or not. Therefore, little falsehoods annoy me. Italians do not eat "pasta, pasta, pasta." Italians eat a first course, which is generally a small serving of pasta, rice, or polenta. This is followed by more of a 'main' meal. Salad is served last. Maybe not the greatest literary achievement, but a good read.
A dysfunctional family tale
The story is told through all fours perspectives which really created connections between the characters and myself. I found I was feeling what they were feeling, I was experiencing their confusion and joy at times. The story is beautiful written and the characters really came to life for me on the page. I really wanted the funny story that it was suppose to be, i didn’t find much humor in the book, it was very good but it wasn’t comical. Some heavy topics were discussed like suicide, and alcoholism. I felt like alcoholism was spot on in her story telling, she really gave me a glimpse into the feelings and the turmoil that the character felt. I loved every second of the beginning and middle of the book, the ending was lacking for me though and is where it lost a star from me. I was still left questioning a lot, I’m not opposed to books that leave me wanting more, those are the best books! But this one had me questioning a lot of what made the characters who they are and who they were. I felt it was rushed, just when i felt the characters were having break throughs and were going to really mend the pieces of they’re family, the chapters bounced back and forth so quick between characters and nothing was really answered. Characters who had had big moments that changed they’re lives and there person, didn’t have the break throughs i thought they should have had with each other, they had personal ones but didn’t really understand each others. Your left to infer that the family mended, the symbolic meaning of a picture is meant to close the story, I didn’t feel like it was done. I really enjoyed the book though, it had me engaged the whole time I was reading it. I will be reading more books by Amanda Eyre Ward in the future, I feel she has a way of telling an engaging story.
The story is told through all fours perspectives which really created connections between the characters and myself. I found I was feeling what they were feeling, I was experiencing their confusion and joy at times. The story is beautiful written and the characters really came to life for me on the page. I really wanted the funny story that it was suppose to be, i didn’t find much humor in the book, it was very good but it wasn’t comical. Some heavy topics were discussed like suicide, and alcoholism. I felt like alcoholism was spot on in her story telling, she really gave me a glimpse into the feelings and the turmoil that the character felt. I loved every second of the beginning and middle of the book, the ending was lacking for me though and is where it lost a star from me. I was still left questioning a lot, I’m not opposed to books that leave me wanting more, those are the best books! But this one had me questioning a lot of what made the characters who they are and who they were. I felt it was rushed, just when i felt the characters were having break throughs and were going to really mend the pieces of they’re family, the chapters bounced back and forth so quick between characters and nothing was really answered. Characters who had had big moments that changed they’re lives and there person, didn’t have the break throughs i thought they should have had with each other, they had personal ones but didn’t really understand each others. Your left to infer that the family mended, the symbolic meaning of a picture is meant to close the story, I didn’t feel like it was done. I really enjoyed the book though, it had me engaged the whole time I was reading it. I will be reading more books by Amanda Eyre Ward in the future, I feel she has a way of telling an engaging story.
“Did all siblings revert to their childhood selves when they were together, or was there a way to transition to functional adulthood even while being in one another’s lives?”
What was this book? I used to read all of Reese's monthly picks and I requested this on audio awhile ago. I kind of forgot about this book until it popped up on my audiobook hold list. I knew the book didn't have very good reviews, but I thought I'd try it anyway. The low rating is not due to boredom, in fact, I was quite entertained throughout the audiobook experience. But the writing and the characters were all just so awful! I didn't like any of the characters in the book and I felt like none of them worked through their issues at all throughout the course of this book. They just fought with each other and searched for unhealthy ways to cope and then the book was over? Big yikes.
Can we talk about the formatting of this book? I felt like there were 8257 parts in this book and the story would have been better suited to be split into fewer parts and more chapters within those parts. The chapters themselves were short and again, the characters sucked so I just kept listening waiting for the moment when I would care about the characters or understand the pacing of the book. I honestly cannot understand a) how this book was okayed for publication and b) how it was picked as a monthly book selection from Reese Witherspoon. This is one to skip and you're not missing a darn thing.
TW: suicide, suicide attempt, alcoholism, cheating, sexual assault
What was this book? I used to read all of Reese's monthly picks and I requested this on audio awhile ago. I kind of forgot about this book until it popped up on my audiobook hold list. I knew the book didn't have very good reviews, but I thought I'd try it anyway. The low rating is not due to boredom, in fact, I was quite entertained throughout the audiobook experience. But the writing and the characters were all just so awful! I didn't like any of the characters in the book and I felt like none of them worked through their issues at all throughout the course of this book. They just fought with each other and searched for unhealthy ways to cope and then the book was over? Big yikes.
Can we talk about the formatting of this book? I felt like there were 8257 parts in this book and the story would have been better suited to be split into fewer parts and more chapters within those parts. The chapters themselves were short and again, the characters sucked so I just kept listening waiting for the moment when I would care about the characters or understand the pacing of the book. I honestly cannot understand a) how this book was okayed for publication and b) how it was picked as a monthly book selection from Reese Witherspoon. This is one to skip and you're not missing a darn thing.
TW: suicide, suicide attempt, alcoholism, cheating, sexual assault
Plot twist at the end was cool. Easy to read since it was written as a beach read. But ehhhhhhh.
None of the main characters were likable people. If this had not been a book club choice I would not have finished.
A very strange read…the story jumped around so much I had a hard time keeping track of the characters. I kept trying to be invested in them, but just wasn’t. The author spent the whole book building up to a resolution for each character that didn’t come because the ending was so rushed.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Eh. Did not love this one. I wanted to like it, but it missed the mark. Cute cover though!
Meh. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Didn’t like a single character except Giovanni. An incredibly selfish family, each wrapped up in their own drama and bonded unknowingly by trauma, are forced together on a cruise. There was so much “poor me” from each character, I had no one to root for. My least favorite of Reese’s pics.