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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Kept expecting a twist or a revelation like her other books. This ine just felt flat and took a lot of effort to finish.
I'll read anything by Liane Moriarty after being so impressed by a few of her books. But this one, I struggled with. It took me a good six months to finish it, but 70% of that was done the day I finished it, when I literally put time aside to finish this book so I could get it out of my sight. I think this book has some beautiful examples of humanity, showcasing forgiveness, redemption, friendship, and seasons of life. I was brought to tears at times by the "antagonist" of this story. Her actions to me seem like a dramatization of what many of us think and feel during a breakup, and in that, there is a lot to relate to. I really felt for her and her isolation. That said, her portions were also repetitive. About halfway through, I felt as though I had already read what she was saying. The climax of the plot was disappointing, and the drama stirred up near the end was pointless. I don't think I would read this if I had known how I would feel about it in the end.
I loved Moriarty's two other books, her two latest ones, "Big Little Lies" - a phenomenally told story and "The Husband's Secret" which is probably my current favorite. So I had naturally high expectations with "The Hypnotist's Love Story" and while I finished it and was racing to get to the end, I didn't LOVE love love it the way I loved those two other books, hence the 4 stars, which is more like 3.9.
Why I didn't love the book as much: Well, I felt nearly nothing for Patrick or Jack, and Moriarty is skilled at her female characters so then there is protagonist Ellen, and antagonist Saskia, and I wasn't crazy about either of them. The trio dynamic of a stalker and a couple just didn't intrigue me as much. I didn't know where it was going but I wasn't that interested.
The writing is still tight and well-done and interesting, and it's all about relationships, with themes of letting go of loss, managing grief, having faith, friendship, dating, relationships and complicated families coming together. Honestly, I feel that it was a good book but maybe there weren't enough dynamic characters.
The author did a great job of helping us like Saskia, and in fact, I liked this heart-broken stalker far more than Ellen and her whims and fancies and doubts and miseries of ex-boyfriends and her insecurities. At least, Saskia was determined, she had absolute clarity - even though she was wrong in the end, poor thing - about how it all should be.
There was one part where I felt so bad for Saskia and could see her pain so clearly. She wanted to be able to grieve, just like you would if you lose someone, but how society was pressuring her to move on after a breakup. Why, she wondered, doesn't a breakup deserve a mourning period? After all, the person is out of your life for good, they might as well be dead. Can we not mourn them?
One thing I loved about this book is the true portrayal of not being able to let go and move on when a relationship comes to a sudden end. Some of us manage grief better than others, and a few of us simply refuse to accept the reality. That was Saskia. She refused to accept that her boyfriend had dared leave her. Kinda egotistical, yes, but it was done well. She was bold, brazen, and brash. She was also funny - her sections in the book were my favorites. How it all seemed to happen to her and how it was out of control, and how she wanted to casually be a part of their lives when it was so wrong. Yes, there was much humor with Saskia.
Moritarity won me over towards the end with Ellen and Patrick's new life and Saskia's hopeful friendships and signs of moving on. I loved it. And I am still thinking of reading "What Alice Forgot" by the same author.
Why I didn't love the book as much: Well, I felt nearly nothing for Patrick or Jack, and Moriarty is skilled at her female characters so then there is protagonist Ellen, and antagonist Saskia, and I wasn't crazy about either of them. The trio dynamic of a stalker and a couple just didn't intrigue me as much. I didn't know where it was going but I wasn't that interested.
The writing is still tight and well-done and interesting, and it's all about relationships, with themes of letting go of loss, managing grief, having faith, friendship, dating, relationships and complicated families coming together. Honestly, I feel that it was a good book but maybe there weren't enough dynamic characters.
The author did a great job of helping us like Saskia, and in fact, I liked this heart-broken stalker far more than Ellen and her whims and fancies and doubts and miseries of ex-boyfriends and her insecurities. At least, Saskia was determined, she had absolute clarity - even though she was wrong in the end, poor thing - about how it all should be.
There was one part where I felt so bad for Saskia and could see her pain so clearly. She wanted to be able to grieve, just like you would if you lose someone, but how society was pressuring her to move on after a breakup. Why, she wondered, doesn't a breakup deserve a mourning period? After all, the person is out of your life for good, they might as well be dead. Can we not mourn them?
One thing I loved about this book is the true portrayal of not being able to let go and move on when a relationship comes to a sudden end. Some of us manage grief better than others, and a few of us simply refuse to accept the reality. That was Saskia. She refused to accept that her boyfriend had dared leave her. Kinda egotistical, yes, but it was done well. She was bold, brazen, and brash. She was also funny - her sections in the book were my favorites. How it all seemed to happen to her and how it was out of control, and how she wanted to casually be a part of their lives when it was so wrong. Yes, there was much humor with Saskia.
Moritarity won me over towards the end with Ellen and Patrick's new life and Saskia's hopeful friendships and signs of moving on. I loved it. And I am still thinking of reading "What Alice Forgot" by the same author.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ik had dit bedoeld als luchtig tussendoortje voor de zomerse dagen, maar het was verrassend vermoeiend om te blijven verder lezen. Ik werd hier niet warm of koud van, en het duurde allemaal zo lang... Op naar iets beters!
Good book, but it drags on for some time. I kept thinking "how can there be so much more left to go?" And "Are we not wrapping this up yet?"
Satisfying ending and some great depictions of inner turmoil.
I always enjoy a Liane Moriarty book.
Satisfying ending and some great depictions of inner turmoil.
I always enjoy a Liane Moriarty book.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Stalking, Abandonment
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Death, Alcohol