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2.96 AVERAGE
2.96 AVERAGE
Jetsetters starts with Charlotte Perkins mourning the passing of her best friend. Late in her life, long-widowed, with distant adult children, she decides to try something new. Soon after, she and her children are whisked away on a Mediterranean cruise.
As the journey unfolds, you see from each person's perspective the burdens they are hiding, how they have been dealing with them, the impacts on their lives - and what happens when this dysfunctional family gets together.
This book starts slow. You root for the characters, but sometimes different parts of their stories are so scattered it's hard to keep track. It is a great summer beach read, or perhaps for spring break by the pool?
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballentine Books, and Random House Publishing Group for an opportunity to review an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
#TheJetsetters #NetGalley #travelfiction #cruisefiction #mediterranean #BallentineBooks #dysfunctionalfamilycomedy #fictionreads
As the journey unfolds, you see from each person's perspective the burdens they are hiding, how they have been dealing with them, the impacts on their lives - and what happens when this dysfunctional family gets together.
This book starts slow. You root for the characters, but sometimes different parts of their stories are so scattered it's hard to keep track. It is a great summer beach read, or perhaps for spring break by the pool?
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballentine Books, and Random House Publishing Group for an opportunity to review an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
#TheJetsetters #NetGalley #travelfiction #cruisefiction #mediterranean #BallentineBooks #dysfunctionalfamilycomedy #fictionreads
3.5 stars – I liked this book, but really wanted to love it! I generally enjoy dysfunctional family drama books, and this was no different. While none of the characters were really very likeable, I didn’t find that to be an issue. I agree with an earlier reviewer that I expected this book to be a bit more fun and a little less heavy, but overall the author did a good job of dealing with some difficult themes and I enjoyed the read!
3.5 for me. The writing was really good but I just didn’t care for the sad story.
Like any GoodReads user, I read the reviews for The Jetsetters before I read it. And panicked.
So many people were disappointed that I kind of excepted this to be a DNF.
But alas, it just shows that a bad review doesn’t mean you won’t love it. A solid 4 stars for me.
Let me start off by first saying I completely agree with the comments re: the cover. It makes it look like it’s an airy-fairy, rom-com beach read which in a way does it an injustice. Nothing wrong with those reads (I adore them) but this isn’t one of them. FYI, this is more of a contemporary about family dynamics and personal struggles, with a big dose of mental health (Massive TW for suicide & alcoholism).
I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but let’s be honest, we do. People pick it up thinking it’s one thing, and then get disappointed when it isn’t what they thought hence the reviews. If it had a more reflective cover, the average rating would be much higher.
On to the plot. I loved how each character was an individual with their own struggles. Some were super problematic, but I kinda liked that. It made them feel much more believable and authentic. I also loved that it didn’t shy away from serious topics too and actually did them justice.
A few reviews said that they felt mislead as they thought ‘the Jetsetters’ was only a small part of the book. For me, it was a HUGE part of the book. It’s the reason the family are on a cruise. They are travelling around the Med. What could be more jetset than that?’
I know some people found the writing style a bit disjointed and dry, but I was completely absorbed into the Perkins’ family holiday. Whether that is because I’ve done a near-enough identical cruise so a lot of it felt familiar, I don’t know.
So why 4 stars and not 5? Well, I really liked it, BUT at the same time, I don’t think it’s going to be one that I’m desperate to reread.
All in all, I would definitely recommend giving The Jetsetters a read, just pick it up knowing it’s not a rom-com.
So many people were disappointed that I kind of excepted this to be a DNF.
But alas, it just shows that a bad review doesn’t mean you won’t love it. A solid 4 stars for me.
Let me start off by first saying I completely agree with the comments re: the cover. It makes it look like it’s an airy-fairy, rom-com beach read which in a way does it an injustice. Nothing wrong with those reads (I adore them) but this isn’t one of them. FYI, this is more of a contemporary about family dynamics and personal struggles, with a big dose of mental health (Massive TW for suicide & alcoholism).
I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but let’s be honest, we do. People pick it up thinking it’s one thing, and then get disappointed when it isn’t what they thought hence the reviews. If it had a more reflective cover, the average rating would be much higher.
On to the plot. I loved how each character was an individual with their own struggles. Some were super problematic, but I kinda liked that. It made them feel much more believable and authentic. I also loved that it didn’t shy away from serious topics too and actually did them justice.
A few reviews said that they felt mislead as they thought ‘the Jetsetters’ was only a small part of the book. For me, it was a HUGE part of the book. It’s the reason the family are on a cruise. They are travelling around the Med. What could be more jetset than that?’
I know some people found the writing style a bit disjointed and dry, but I was completely absorbed into the Perkins’ family holiday. Whether that is because I’ve done a near-enough identical cruise so a lot of it felt familiar, I don’t know.
So why 4 stars and not 5? Well, I really liked it, BUT at the same time, I don’t think it’s going to be one that I’m desperate to reread.
All in all, I would definitely recommend giving The Jetsetters a read, just pick it up knowing it’s not a rom-com.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was fine. I enjoyed it while I was reading it and felt the want to keep going so I could find out what happened, but I finished the book feeling unsatisfied. Too many unanswered questions at the end - What happened with the contest? What did Regan’s telegram say? - and not enough of a resolution. There were things alluded to so that the reader could draw their own conclusion of what happened, but I was looking for things that were more concrete.
This hasn’t turned me away from other books by Amanda Eyre Ward, but I was hopeful for a better conclusion to this one.
This hasn’t turned me away from other books by Amanda Eyre Ward, but I was hopeful for a better conclusion to this one.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this book. The switching POVs were great and I went through many emotions while listening: laughter, shock, encouragement, disbelief and many more. I was fully immersed in the story and just loved all of it.
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had a hard time getting through this book. I didn’t find the characters very likable. Some parts were better than others but I just had a hard time picking it up for some reason.
I loved this one! A fun romp with an assortment of zany family characters on a cruise, an easy read.