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2.96 AVERAGE
2.96 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-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
heavy on the trauma porn, especially in the final chapters. I was interested by the concept at first but the author uses traumatic event after traumatic event in place of an actual plot line and character development
emotional
reflective
sad
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 expected so much more of this book. But unfortunately it didn’t happen… There were just so many arguments and so much (old) resentment between the siblings and their mother, that it got bored really fast. And all the mental breakdowns and stuff, that got repeated so frequently that that too got really boring, really fast. The ending of this book was the best part, but in my opinion still not great.
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.
Seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins yearns for the days when her children were younger, and not so caught up in their adult lives they never think to call their mother. Her daughter Lee is a struggling actress, her son Cord can’t seem to find a bride, and her daughter Regan is busy raising a family of her own. Charlotte is determined to get her family back together, so she submits an essay to the “Become a Jetsetter” contest. Lo and behold, she finds herself packing for a trip of a lifetime.
Seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins yearns for the days when her children were younger, and not so caught up in their adult lives they never think to call their mother. Her daughter Lee is a struggling actress, her son Cord can’t seem to find a bride, and her daughter Regan is busy raising a family of her own. Charlotte is determined to get her family back together, so she submits an essay to the “Become a Jetsetter” contest. Lo and behold, she finds herself packing for a trip of a lifetime.
Sweeping tail of an unhappy family who comes to terms with accepting and loving themselves.
I recently read Emma Straub's All Adults Here, which was quite similar, but not as well done. Both deal with widowed mothers and their three adult, dysfunctional children. Was that a major push in 2020? I found this to be a very fast book. And sometimes I think I like quick books because they make me feel accomplished. But on the other hand if I love a book I'll drag it out. I have several talking points I still question in this book.
1. Didn't you think Reagan was going to kill her husband?
2. When They said Winston had a heart attack then suicide I was like wtf didn't you just tell me he had a heart attack. Oh...
3. The whole Matt/ Reagan thing was confusing. I know it was to build mystery. But the whole what did he do ordeal was a little overdone. Also what did the telegraph say? was it from Reagan or did she pretend it was from his lover?
4. The amount of people spending money they don't have makes me nervous. Giovanni spending his savings for this stupid cruise. Lane spending her ex's money to make her mom believe she won which was kinda a weird gaslighting flex. Matt, well he has money, but paid for the cruise. After we find out that Lane used her ex's money, I found it odd that she is mentioned of buying stuff and putting it on her mom's account when she knew damn well those things were being paid for by her stolen funds.
5. What will happen with Charlotte's Greek lover? Will she move to Greece? I don't feel like he should move to Savannah. He has a house and a family there.
6. I knew as soon as they mentioned him in the cafe that was Picasso. I have not looked up to see if the painting mentioned is real.
1. Didn't you think Reagan was going to kill her husband?
2. When They said Winston had a heart attack then suicide I was like wtf didn't you just tell me he had a heart attack. Oh...
3. The whole Matt/ Reagan thing was confusing. I know it was to build mystery. But the whole what did he do ordeal was a little overdone. Also what did the telegraph say? was it from Reagan or did she pretend it was from his lover?
4. The amount of people spending money they don't have makes me nervous. Giovanni spending his savings for this stupid cruise. Lane spending her ex's money to make her mom believe she won which was kinda a weird gaslighting flex. Matt, well he has money, but paid for the cruise. After we find out that Lane used her ex's money, I found it odd that she is mentioned of buying stuff and putting it on her mom's account when she knew damn well those things were being paid for by her stolen funds.
5. What will happen with Charlotte's Greek lover? Will she move to Greece? I don't feel like he should move to Savannah. He has a house and a family there.
6. I knew as soon as they mentioned him in the cafe that was Picasso. I have not looked up to see if the painting mentioned is real.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was a deliciously readable story of family dysfunction that carefully and gently revealed which family members were hiding which secrets. The unravelling of those secrets, although expected, still made for gripping and entertaining reading. Not the best time to be reading a book set on a cruise ship but it’s the perfect setting for family dynamics to play out. And the sections in Italy are lovely. I really enjoyed Ward’s tone and found her writing style vibrant.
Dysfunctional family drama! Count me in! The Jetsetters is a 3.5 star because I loved the book's tone and enjoyed Amanda Eyre Ward's writing style. The story could have been better, and I didn't connect with all the characters, but I love a story that delves into family dysfunction and tackles topics like suicide, abuse and children coming out to their parents. The Jetsetters is about Charlotte, a 71-year-old widowed grandmother who recently lost her best friend and is all alone now. She is looking for a bit of fun! Charlotte enters a story contest to win a cruise for her and her family in Greece. She thinks this is the best way for her family to come together. Charlotte, her son and two daughters join her on the cruise and during their journey, they uncover secrets about each other that they weren't anticipating!
PS: Charlotte also wants to bone some hot guy! Hilarious, I love a horny grandmother story! Seriously, women are still entitled to some deep dickin in their 70s and beyond!
Activating material: family abuse, suicide, miscarriage, mental health struggles
PS: Charlotte also wants to bone some hot guy! Hilarious, I love a horny grandmother story! Seriously, women are still entitled to some deep dickin in their 70s and beyond!
Activating material: family abuse, suicide, miscarriage, mental health struggles