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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
McMahon always craft a good supernatural story. This one focuses on a story within a story about two young sisters in the 50's and three friends in 2013. It is a quick read and overall satisfying. It did not find it as enjoyable at The Winter People, but worth the read. If you enjoy suspenseful tales without a lot of gory, you should check this one out.
The Night Sister was a bit predictable. Nevertheless, it was either really great or I was really in the mood for it because I read it in an afternoon.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't hate it but it was by far my least favorite of Jennifer McMahon's books.
While I typically find McMahon's books to be a fun, creepy, enjoyable read this one has too many problems for me.
My thoughts will contain spoilers! You've been warned...
Firstly, there were too many storylines and time jumps that made this plot so hard to follow for most of the first half of the book. I had a very difficult time knowing who was who, how they were all connected, and what timeline we were in.
One consistency with McMahon's books that I don't love, is her characters making odd, unrealistic choices in an effort to "add mystery." While our 2nd generation of characters were kids, they "find out" some of what is happening at the motel. I use the term "find out" loosely because they really didn't get the whole story, or if they did, the author just didn't tell us? But Amy, who's family the motel belongs to, is the driving force for "solving the case" and is constantly daring her friends to keep searching or calling them chicken if they get scared. Yet, when they "find out" (but not really) she has this insane overreaction and wants her friends to leave, makes them promise they will never say anything or she'll kill them, and then never speaks to them again....not even in adulthood. This makes absolutely no sense! They only reason to do this is lazy writing? We also had a shitty, useless father! That's pretty consistent in her books too.
And our speculative element....all her books have one and they are usually a good time for me. But first you're lead to believe......moths? Come on now! Then when you get the whole picture, it's just really disappointing and not very well fleshed out in the end. Are Rose and Lou just going to stay in animal form forever? How can Rose prevent Lou from hurting anyone else while she's still too young to have control? And Rose won't live forever and Lou needs a family! And why does Piper just stop giving a shit about Lou now that she's an aunt? It just felt incredibly unfinished and like the author was like, "I'm over this. Just.....everyone is happy I guess, done!"
I will still continue to read from this author, but so far My Darling Girl was my favorite and I would highly recommend that over this one.
While I typically find McMahon's books to be a fun, creepy, enjoyable read this one has too many problems for me.
My thoughts will contain spoilers! You've been warned...
Firstly, there were too many storylines and time jumps that made this plot so hard to follow for most of the first half of the book. I had a very difficult time knowing who was who, how they were all connected, and what timeline we were in.
One consistency with McMahon's books that I don't love, is her characters making odd, unrealistic choices in an effort to "add mystery." While our 2nd generation of characters were kids, they "find out" some of what is happening at the motel. I use the term "find out" loosely because they really didn't get the whole story, or if they did, the author just didn't tell us? But Amy, who's family the motel belongs to, is the driving force for "solving the case" and is constantly daring her friends to keep searching or calling them chicken if they get scared. Yet, when they "find out" (but not really) she has this insane overreaction and wants her friends to leave, makes them promise they will never say anything or she'll kill them, and then never speaks to them again....not even in adulthood. This makes absolutely no sense! They only reason to do this is lazy writing? We also had a shitty, useless father! That's pretty consistent in her books too.
And our speculative element....all her books have one and they are usually a good time for me. But first you're lead to believe......
I will still continue to read from this author, but so far My Darling Girl was my favorite and I would highly recommend that over this one.
http://www.girllostinabook.com/2015/08/review-night-sister-by-jennifer-mcmahon.html
Spooky and intriguing, with just enough fantasy that it’s not overwhelming. A perfect book to get you into the fall spirit on a rainy Friday night. Sometimes the people who seem the craziest are the only ones who are honest...
Jennifer McMahon usually writes really stellar stories. Her ability to write like a young girl is pretty uncanny. But something in this story just went off track for me. I didn't find it as interesting. I found the characters boring and silly...keeping secrets that really weren't all that worthy of being kept...and the big reveal at the end was really obvious and anticlimactic.
While it's good enough...it wasn't what I wanted it to be...it didn't live up to the other books I have read by McMahon.
While it's good enough...it wasn't what I wanted it to be...it didn't live up to the other books I have read by McMahon.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author manages to make even the most innocent things seem ominous. I loved the mysterious aspects of the story, I tried to think of all of the possibilities and while I got a few things right, I was wrong too. I liked the characters, Sylvie and Rose in the 50's and Amy, Piper and Margot in the late 80's and in the present. The one thing I didn't like was the ending. For me, the ending was kind of an easy way to explain what happened, both in the past and in the present. Having said that, I should say that I was surprised by the ending. Not a bad book and I would be interested in reading more from this author...
I have really enjoyed the other books she has written, but this one was not as well developed. In her other books, the story and the moments of clarity, creepiness, and understanding happen organically and are experienced by the reader; in this one too much had to be explained and wrapped up. Told instead of shown. It made for a less engaging and less impactful read.