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laurenshikari's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful book! The protagonist is so keenly aware of his shortcomings and flaws but is so honest that his story is a gift. The story is about love, grief, regret and essentially what it means to be human. Evoked such huge feelings in me and the author has a special simplicity in the way they write.
absolute_bookery's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.0
A lovely but sad reflection on grief and losing a loved one. Felt like a mirror being held up to us to take notes of everything we take for granted in our relationship and not to make the same mistakes. Loved it.
chaptersbymidnight's review against another edition
4.0
this book got me thinking about my own coping mechanisms and kubler-ross' five stages of grief.
eleanorareads's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
sandrinamenzi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sharshey's review against another edition
4.0
A surprising hit in the Women's Prize list for me. This story is a quiet and contemplative examination of grief that I was completely invested in. On paper, David is not a likable character; still, I found myself so invested in his story, and pleased with the tentative happy ending it came to. This was an incredibly meaningful and insightful book and I very much enjoyed it.
madeline29's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
Minor: Fatphobia
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book about grief. And marriage, and the parts of you that you sacrifice to make it work. It's about how life can change in an instant. It's about learning to move forwards after you've been derailed.
David lost his wife Mary Rose around 18 months ago. They used to go to the Costa Brava every summer and so he has travelled there again this year, but this has stirred up memories. As he tells us about their marriage he and (we realise) that while it was a good marriage, it was also a flawed one.
Kathleen MacMahon's writing is descriptive and real and often I felt myself nodding in recognition at her observations. At the halfway point I was convinced that it was a book without a plot and I was getting irritated by the way every little thing sent David down memory lane. But towards the end I realised how things tied back in and that there was a payoff for coming to understand David's back story so well. The ending was both moving and satisfying.
David lost his wife Mary Rose around 18 months ago. They used to go to the Costa Brava every summer and so he has travelled there again this year, but this has stirred up memories. As he tells us about their marriage he and (we realise) that while it was a good marriage, it was also a flawed one.
Kathleen MacMahon's writing is descriptive and real and often I felt myself nodding in recognition at her observations. At the halfway point I was convinced that it was a book without a plot and I was getting irritated by the way every little thing sent David down memory lane. But towards the end I realised how things tied back in and that there was a payoff for coming to understand David's back story so well. The ending was both moving and satisfying.
sazziehams's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
lmclar12's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars. This was a beautifully written novel about love and loss. I loved that while Mary Rose and David have bumps in their marriage it’s ultimately a happy one.