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soobooksalot's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
The book Hadley & Grace has been compared to the movie Thelma & Louise, and with reason.
Two women, practically strangers at the beginning, end up on the road together, on the run. Circumstances from their damaged lives have driven them away from their homes, and into running from the law. Add in their mix of children and it's quite a travelling road show.
This character-driven drama will grab you early on and keep you entertained throughout. It's sad, funny, hopeful, and secrets from each other's pasts keep the action moving.
Hadley & Grace by Suzanne Redfearn is rather unlike most books I've read and I was pulled in - by not only the characters (Skipper!) and the morphing friendships, but also the empowerment resulting through the journey.
It's a story of women navigating lives they never intended, and being stronger together because of it.
Recommended!
Two women, practically strangers at the beginning, end up on the road together, on the run. Circumstances from their damaged lives have driven them away from their homes, and into running from the law. Add in their mix of children and it's quite a travelling road show.
This character-driven drama will grab you early on and keep you entertained throughout. It's sad, funny, hopeful, and secrets from each other's pasts keep the action moving.
Hadley & Grace by Suzanne Redfearn is rather unlike most books I've read and I was pulled in - by not only the characters (Skipper!) and the morphing friendships, but also the empowerment resulting through the journey.
It's a story of women navigating lives they never intended, and being stronger together because of it.
Recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Infidelity
serendipitysbooks's review
adventurous
fast-paced
3.5
Hadley and Grace features a fast-paced, fun road trip where two women - virtual strangers - along with their three kids, inadvertently find themselves on the run from the FBI. It’s plot is highly implausible and you have to be able to suspend belief - realism is not the point of this one - but if you can you’ll find yourself cheering for Hadley and Grace, despite their imperfections. I did have some very complicated feelings about one character but I haven’t seen anyone else with the same feelings, so I’ll chalk it up as one of my personal quirks. Content warnings for domestic abuse and gambling so take care if these are triggers for you. Otherwise this is a good pick if you are in the mood for a real escapist read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Title: Hadley & Grace
Author: Suzanne Redfearn
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: February 1st 2021
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an e-ARC from via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
T H R E E • W O R D S
Fun • Chaotic • Delightful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the traditions of Thelma & Louise (without as much violence), Hadley and Grace is a modern day tale of two women escaping their lives, children in tow, to start anew. When they coincidentally find their fates intertwined, they will plot and race to stay ahead of the trouble chasing them. A tale packed with misfortune, chaos and danger, it is a story of motherhood, unlikely friendships, self-discovery and what it means to be a family.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Let me just start out my saying what a fun and wild ride! Hadley and Grace are both such loveable characters, as are the kids, and I couldn't help but root for them in their dramatic, and often times hilarious, roller-coaster ride. I particularly loved the theme centering around what it means to be a family. The author also did a wonderful job keeping me engaged, although at time the plot was highly unbelievable. The added touches of kindness as they run from the law, were a beautiful touch.
If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced story similar to Thelma & Louise, or an escape from everyday life definitely check this book out. It would also make for many interesting discussions within a book club, sure to offer a lot of laughs.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of Thelma & Louise
• anyone longing for a roadtrip
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Time is a thief, she thinks. You believe you have an infinite amount of it, but then you blink and everything that was has been replaced with something else entirely."
"'No. Like there's this really great person buried deep inside, and she really wants to get out, but she can't because you're already this other person, and I don't know, it's like she's in the way or something, blocking the better you from getting out.'"
"She wants to tell her it's okay. Smiling doesn't mean she doesn't care. It's only a symptom of life carrying on, which inevitably it does. No matter how cataclysmic the events, and even in light of the worst tragedies, hearts continue to beat, lungs continue to draw air, and something things continue to be funny.
Some pain changes you, alters you permanently and tattoos your soul. 'Forever pain,' her grandmother called it, but amazingly you still live through it. And eventually, even forever pain recedes and grows less sharp. You wake up one day to discover it no longer fills every corner of your mind. It's still there, lurking in the background, but it's less present and pronounced [...]"
Author: Suzanne Redfearn
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: February 1st 2021
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an e-ARC from via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
T H R E E • W O R D S
Fun • Chaotic • Delightful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the traditions of Thelma & Louise (without as much violence), Hadley and Grace is a modern day tale of two women escaping their lives, children in tow, to start anew. When they coincidentally find their fates intertwined, they will plot and race to stay ahead of the trouble chasing them. A tale packed with misfortune, chaos and danger, it is a story of motherhood, unlikely friendships, self-discovery and what it means to be a family.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Let me just start out my saying what a fun and wild ride! Hadley and Grace are both such loveable characters, as are the kids, and I couldn't help but root for them in their dramatic, and often times hilarious, roller-coaster ride. I particularly loved the theme centering around what it means to be a family. The author also did a wonderful job keeping me engaged, although at time the plot was highly unbelievable. The added touches of kindness as they run from the law, were a beautiful touch.
If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced story similar to Thelma & Louise, or an escape from everyday life definitely check this book out. It would also make for many interesting discussions within a book club, sure to offer a lot of laughs.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of Thelma & Louise
• anyone longing for a roadtrip
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Time is a thief, she thinks. You believe you have an infinite amount of it, but then you blink and everything that was has been replaced with something else entirely."
"'No. Like there's this really great person buried deep inside, and she really wants to get out, but she can't because you're already this other person, and I don't know, it's like she's in the way or something, blocking the better you from getting out.'"
"She wants to tell her it's okay. Smiling doesn't mean she doesn't care. It's only a symptom of life carrying on, which inevitably it does. No matter how cataclysmic the events, and even in light of the worst tragedies, hearts continue to beat, lungs continue to draw air, and something things continue to be funny.
Some pain changes you, alters you permanently and tattoos your soul. 'Forever pain,' her grandmother called it, but amazingly you still live through it. And eventually, even forever pain recedes and grows less sharp. You wake up one day to discover it no longer fills every corner of your mind. It's still there, lurking in the background, but it's less present and pronounced [...]"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexism
gamblingabookwanderer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
4.25 stars What a ride! Hadley & Grace by Suzanne Redfearn had me rooting for these accidental criminals forced into an unforgettable road trip when things go from bad to worse, lives are changed forever, and friendships are born from necessity.
Hadley & Grace is my first novel by Redfearn, although I own her previous novel, In an Instant, which I'm even more exited to read now. Redfearn has created characters in Hadley and Grace that are strong, vibrant, and moldable--growing and learning from their experiences, which is refreshing and exciting.
I was thrilled when the author invited me to read an early copy of this novel on Instagram. (Yay for positive social media experiences!) I have a thing for road trips, so anytime I come across a book that features one, I'm instantly intrigued. Not to mention the idea of a modern-day Thelma & Louis--but with kids in tow! I was hooked by the synopsis. And I'm happy to say, Redfearn delivers! I never found myself doubting the plot--even though some aspects might be considered a stretch. I was so wrapped up in the characters and action, all other logical considerations went out the window. And while this story is mostly about mothers and friendship, it also includes some very well-written romance, which makes this hopeless romantic very happy.
I have to mention the kids. Sometimes in books you feel like kids are only added to round out the main characters, but not here. The kids in this book feel fully-formed and essential to the story. And the relationship between the kids and the women is so real, written with honesty and love. My heart broke and soared for these kids.
I could definitely see this one as a movie. You might think it's already been done, but not like this. I think it's time we had an updated version! The only thing I would change--more diversity. I really wanted some people of color in this great cast of characters. So happy I picked this one up, and I can't wait to read more from the author.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #40d)
Hadley & Grace is my first novel by Redfearn, although I own her previous novel, In an Instant, which I'm even more exited to read now. Redfearn has created characters in Hadley and Grace that are strong, vibrant, and moldable--growing and learning from their experiences, which is refreshing and exciting.
I was thrilled when the author invited me to read an early copy of this novel on Instagram. (Yay for positive social media experiences!) I have a thing for road trips, so anytime I come across a book that features one, I'm instantly intrigued. Not to mention the idea of a modern-day Thelma & Louis--but with kids in tow! I was hooked by the synopsis. And I'm happy to say, Redfearn delivers! I never found myself doubting the plot--even though some aspects might be considered a stretch. I was so wrapped up in the characters and action, all other logical considerations went out the window. And while this story is mostly about mothers and friendship, it also includes some very well-written romance, which makes this hopeless romantic very happy.
I have to mention the kids. Sometimes in books you feel like kids are only added to round out the main characters, but not here. The kids in this book feel fully-formed and essential to the story. And the relationship between the kids and the women is so real, written with honesty and love. My heart broke and soared for these kids.
I could definitely see this one as a movie. You might think it's already been done, but not like this. I think it's time we had an updated version! The only thing I would change--more diversity. I really wanted some people of color in this great cast of characters. So happy I picked this one up, and I can't wait to read more from the author.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #40d)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death
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