Scan barcode
heresbea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emilywehner's review against another edition
5.0
No words for this one. WOW. The story is so deep and emotional and beautiful. What a beautiful portrayal of the many facets of being a sister with many sisters. I loved this one so much.
hradunnington's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
meganbharrison2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
catrinarayanne's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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
jessicah672's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed the second half more that the first. My biggest critique is that much of the beginning of the book was just telling the reader facts about the characters - total opposite of “show don’t tell”
maggie_blakeney's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the beginning of this book. Napolitano creates four distinct, believable characters for the Padavano sisters and also William Waters, the oldest sister’s first boyfriend. I loved how she paid homage to Little Women without slavishly recreating it. You could spend an hour or two with a bunch of friends arguing about how the Padavano sisters and the March sisters parallel each other and don’t. (My spicy take: Julia seemed most closely aligned with Florence Pugh’s version of Amy from the 2019 movie.)
But after the first half, the book changes gears and instead of showing the details and complications of the sisters’ lives, Napolitano gives just brief snippets from different points of view that cover a few months or even a few years in a few pages, an approach that went on for twenty or so chapters. It’s like skipping stones across the surface of a story. I really started to lose interest.
She could easily have skipped all of that and started with “25 years later….” And then she might have had enough energy to do justice to the ending. Because the ending just didn’t work for me.
There were some lovely moments, but the actual ending made very little sense. The phrase “No bullshit, no secrets” is so much a part of the family dynamic that they actually call it their mantra, and yet when one character who hasn’t been seen for twenty-five years reappears, the sisters agree that it will be easier if they just pretend nothing happened. Whaaaat? How does that make sense, after all they’ve been through?
Everything is tied up with a big pretty bow that is completely unearned. And then it ends right as it was starting to get interesting again. I even wondered if Napolitano just got tired of writing it and took the easy way out by resorting to insta-forgiveness. Ugh. Very disappointing.
I did love the beginning, though, so I’m still giving it four stars (three and a half rounded up). I need to stop before I talk myself into dropping it to three.
But after the first half, the book changes gears and instead of showing the details and complications of the sisters’ lives, Napolitano gives just brief snippets from different points of view that cover a few months or even a few years in a few pages, an approach that went on for twenty or so chapters. It’s like skipping stones across the surface of a story. I really started to lose interest.
She could easily have skipped all of that and started with “25 years later….” And then she might have had enough energy to do justice to the ending. Because the ending just didn’t work for me.
There were some lovely moments, but the actual ending made very little sense. The phrase “No bullshit, no secrets” is so much a part of the family dynamic that they actually call it their mantra, and yet when one character who hasn’t been seen for twenty-five years reappears, the sisters agree that it will be easier if they just pretend nothing happened. Whaaaat? How does that make sense, after all they’ve been through?
Everything is tied up with a big pretty bow that is completely unearned. And then it ends right as it was starting to get interesting again. I even wondered if Napolitano just got tired of writing it and took the easy way out by resorting to insta-forgiveness. Ugh. Very disappointing.
I did love the beginning, though, so I’m still giving it four stars (three and a half rounded up). I need to stop before I talk myself into dropping it to three.
suzettmolina's review against another edition
5.0
Rounded up to 5 stars. I loved this book. Thought it was beautiful but the first half felt a bit sluggish felt like it picked up after 40% read. But at the end I just felt aweness, love, heartbreak just all the humanity in this book.