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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
Fantastic work from one of my most beloved authors. I cannot recommend this book enough. Beautiful. Heart wrenching.
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I ended up listening to the book as I was under time constraints. I enjoyed the storyline. It was well thought out and fairly well executed. It felt like there weren't any major ends left undone or questions left unanswered... I greatly appreciate that. Some parts felt slightly unnecessary, but even those were few.
My biggest complaint is with the Audible "actors" (narrators). It was done as a production with two narrators. The voices were often wrong for the tone of the storyline. The French accent was a little rough to understand at first, but did end up getting a little easier. Hanson's voice was just terrible (admittedly played by a woman, but even so, his tone of voice seemed completely off). It made it hard at times to want to keep listening and wishing I had had the time to just sit and read the book. I'm glad it ended the way it did, though. All-in-all, it was a pretty good listen and definitely kept me wanting to keep listening until the end.
My biggest complaint is with the Audible "actors" (narrators). It was done as a production with two narrators. The voices were often wrong for the tone of the storyline. The French accent was a little rough to understand at first, but did end up getting a little easier. Hanson's voice was just terrible (admittedly played by a woman, but even so, his tone of voice seemed completely off). It made it hard at times to want to keep listening and wishing I had had the time to just sit and read the book. I'm glad it ended the way it did, though. All-in-all, it was a pretty good listen and definitely kept me wanting to keep listening until the end.
I listened to this book on audible and perhaps that is part of my frustration. The voice of Soline has a very thick accent that eventually you either get used to or it softens up but makes it difficult to immerse yourself. Both narrators voices for Rory make her sound like she is 8 years old. This book is SO predictable even if you give credit to a little magic. I am typically happy when things are all tied up but this was simply too contrived. However, I finished it so was generous with my rating. A beach read that is not at all challenging or new but fine.
Where do I begin?
Is this a book about second chances, fate, how something lost and then found could make a difference maybe?
Or...
Can this also be a book about friendship, family, and possibilities?
Or...
Is it about all the various tragedies along the way that any one character can endure?
Or...
Is it about the coincidences that seem to occur that has everything to do with how this story plays out?
Or...
Is it how we as readers wonder if we will ever get to the happy endings?
And…
After everything, by the time we reach the end, does it all feel contrived? Happy? Satisfying?
Of course, I can’t tell you, because if I do, I would be giving away the plot, and that is not what I do.
What happened in the past with Soline, and what happens with Rory… and how it all comes together in the present, well, if you want to know…
Is this a book about second chances, fate, how something lost and then found could make a difference maybe?
Or...
Can this also be a book about friendship, family, and possibilities?
Or...
Is it about all the various tragedies along the way that any one character can endure?
Or...
Is it about the coincidences that seem to occur that has everything to do with how this story plays out?
Or...
Is it how we as readers wonder if we will ever get to the happy endings?
And…
After everything, by the time we reach the end, does it all feel contrived? Happy? Satisfying?
Of course, I can’t tell you, because if I do, I would be giving away the plot, and that is not what I do.
What happened in the past with Soline, and what happens with Rory… and how it all comes together in the present, well, if you want to know…
4.5 stars. Started out slow for me and almost put it up. Glad I stuck with it and loved the story.
I thought the use of “magic” in the description was a figure of speech, but it isn’t, and that threw me off to begin with. The premise is good, even though it starts off slow. The ending is very predictable but was well written and nicely paced.
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
More like a 3.5 due to the ending.
I enjoyed many aspects of this book: the characters, their relationships and the parallel storylines enough to round up to a 4. But the ending was just too...much.
I enjoyed many aspects of this book: the characters, their relationships and the parallel storylines enough to round up to a 4. But the ending was just too...much.
Loved the story! I’m not sure if they all needed to be connected, but…
Fast, compelling read.
Fast, compelling read.
Heart strings pulled hard
I loved this book. I loved the characters and their complexity and charm. The stories of each character are artfully woven together and yet apart.
Highly recommend.
I loved this book. I loved the characters and their complexity and charm. The stories of each character are artfully woven together and yet apart.
Highly recommend.