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bibliobrandie's review
4.0
This is a sparse, character driven novel set on the coast of Maine. You really get inside Jill's head as she traverses the complexities of modern-day parenting and marriage. Jill's husband, Kit, comes from a long line of fisherman and I appreciated the inside look at the current lives of coastal Mainers and the hardships everyone in the fishing industry is facing. This is done with a skilled hand and not overdone. The uncomfortable way in which teens talk to parents felt genuine, "...no one will love you more or be meaner to you than your own kids.". This is also a book about grief. I really enjoyed it.
lillycano's review
4.0
Loved this book. All the characters were so likable I just wanted to hug them all. I hope I’m as cool of a mom as Jill one day.
bethreadsandnaps's review
4.25
4.25 stars
Jill and her family live on a remote Maine island, and her husband is a fisherman. When he's hurt in an accident, he's in a hospital in Canada. The already fractured family that Jill has been keeping together by a thread becomes broken as she can't keep together the separateness and be all the things.
Part of me had a bit of a hard time adjusting to Jill referring to her sons as "wolves," but I understand that it can be apt descriptor of teenage boys. Her younger boy Sam is smoking pot and seems uncontrollable. Her older son is getting a little too close to his girlfriend.
The character of Jill did frustrate me a bit, as it laid out what could be going on with Sam early on in the story.
While I liked the path the characters were taking toward the end of the novel, it might come across as a bit too simplistic.
I really thought the characters were well-formed, and the situations they were put in were true to life. Also, I thought the rural Maine ambiance was terrific.
Jill and her family live on a remote Maine island, and her husband is a fisherman. When he's hurt in an accident, he's in a hospital in Canada. The already fractured family that Jill has been keeping together by a thread becomes broken as she can't keep together the separateness and be all the things.
Part of me had a bit of a hard time adjusting to Jill referring to her sons as "wolves," but I understand that it can be apt descriptor of teenage boys. Her younger boy Sam is smoking pot and seems uncontrollable. Her older son is getting a little too close to his girlfriend.
The character of Jill did frustrate me a bit, as it laid out what could be going on with Sam early on in the story.
While I liked the path the characters were taking toward the end of the novel, it might come across as a bit too simplistic.
I really thought the characters were well-formed, and the situations they were put in were true to life. Also, I thought the rural Maine ambiance was terrific.
isaarusilor's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
nyawiese's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ekranefuss's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bethtmorris's review
4.0
This was so intense and honest. I’m not ready for teenagers, that’s for sure. Some of her sentences knocked me out.
deniser821's review
4.0
I loved and identified with this book so much. There is something about reading books about characters that are in the same stage of life as I am, mid marriage with teenage children, that makes me feel seen.
Jill is living in a New England fishing community with her teenage sons and husband. Her husband is in a fishing/ boat accident and is hospitalized in Canada. Her life, finances, marriage, and children seem to be crumbling around her.
Although my life is not like Jill’s and I don’t have two teenage boys ( I do have two teenage children), I still could relate to her feelings and the choices she makes. Her children’s relationships to each other and where they are at in life, are similar to my children’s. I could also understand her choosing to stay to monitor her children instead of staying by her husbands side in the hospital as he recovers, especially when she finds out her marriage isn’t as stable as she thought.
As a mother, I think you always feel like your children need you more than your grown husband but maybe that’s the mistake most women make. I don’t know. It’s hard to not want to put your children first, especially if there is disappointed in your relationship, which there always is because people aren’t perfect.
This book is character driven and it is one of my top books I’ve read this year.
‘Marriage is long, and you have to will yourself to choose it. Change or die.’
#landslide #susanconley #bookreview #igbooks #igbookstagram #igbookreview #bookrecommendations #booksaboutmarriage #booksaboutteenagers #bookstoread
Jill is living in a New England fishing community with her teenage sons and husband. Her husband is in a fishing/ boat accident and is hospitalized in Canada. Her life, finances, marriage, and children seem to be crumbling around her.
Although my life is not like Jill’s and I don’t have two teenage boys ( I do have two teenage children), I still could relate to her feelings and the choices she makes. Her children’s relationships to each other and where they are at in life, are similar to my children’s. I could also understand her choosing to stay to monitor her children instead of staying by her husbands side in the hospital as he recovers, especially when she finds out her marriage isn’t as stable as she thought.
As a mother, I think you always feel like your children need you more than your grown husband but maybe that’s the mistake most women make. I don’t know. It’s hard to not want to put your children first, especially if there is disappointed in your relationship, which there always is because people aren’t perfect.
This book is character driven and it is one of my top books I’ve read this year.
‘Marriage is long, and you have to will yourself to choose it. Change or die.’
#landslide #susanconley #bookreview #igbooks #igbookstagram #igbookreview #bookrecommendations #booksaboutmarriage #booksaboutteenagers #bookstoread