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elliemck's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.0
rachellherrington's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lauralovefeild's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
booksadoodle's review against another edition
4.0
This was a bit of a slow starter for me, but once going, I became more interested in the story and characters. Having been to Ireland several times, I did really enjoy all the location references, and was already familiar with many of them.
cindy_f's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the general plot of this book. It takes place in Northern Ireland post GFA with a threat of a new Republic Army. It is told from the perspective of Tessa, a mother of a six month old baby boy who discovers from police video that her sister is suspected of being a member of the IRA. Refusing to believe her sister Marian had anything to do with this army, she confronts her. She admits to being a member of the IRA for seven years but feeds information to MI5. Due to heavy surveillance, it’s not safe for her to meet her handler so she recruits Tessa to be a spy along with her.
This is the moral dilemma for Tess as she wants to help her sister, but also has different priorities now that she has her baby Finn to protect. But she also thinks of a future for Finn with a conflict-free Belfast.
I really loved the moments when Tessa is with Finn, and the description of her hometown sounds lovely. Beautifully written book about choices, motherhood, loyalty and consequences.
This is the moral dilemma for Tess as she wants to help her sister, but also has different priorities now that she has her baby Finn to protect. But she also thinks of a future for Finn with a conflict-free Belfast.
I really loved the moments when Tessa is with Finn, and the description of her hometown sounds lovely. Beautifully written book about choices, motherhood, loyalty and consequences.
dpikkert's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Audio book.
I went in and out of this book as far as interest went. I can most hauaratee I would have rated it higher had a I read the book rather than listened. The author did an incredible job describing the main character's love and observations of her son - I could vivid picture the baby cooing, sleeping, eating, etc with the playful description provided. The spy section and sisters in the story were good as well. I just found myself lacking a bit of focus here and there which took away from the storyline at times. Overall a good book focusing on family loyalty and spy/intrigue.
I went in and out of this book as far as interest went. I can most hauaratee I would have rated it higher had a I read the book rather than listened. The author did an incredible job describing the main character's love and observations of her son - I could vivid picture the baby cooing, sleeping, eating, etc with the playful description provided. The spy section and sisters in the story were good as well. I just found myself lacking a bit of focus here and there which took away from the storyline at times. Overall a good book focusing on family loyalty and spy/intrigue.
sameda's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
iceangel32's review against another edition
3.0
I am torn with this review. It was a good book, but I did not find it great. I was unhappy with the ending. I don’t think that it gave anything to the story. I feel like there was build up and it was not satisfying at the end and the epilogue added nothing to it.
jmusbach's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars leaning towards 2.
This makes sense as a pick by Reese because it has the same inauthenticity that most of her housewife fodder does. It's the kind of writing that masquerades as saying a lot through a little when in fact it's actually just flat and borders on arrogant.
The plot meanders along progressing rather quickly in terms of page count, but in the end, very little actually happens. The main character is one of those to whom things happen and takes little or no action throughout the story. Her love for her son isn't special in any way and indeed needn't be, but there's no reason to root for this mother or this child over any other. The climax is little more than a bump in a flat road.
The dialogue sits on the page and seems to be there for no other reason than it's what a book has to have. The characters outside of the narrator are ill-defined and motionless. Because of the first-person narrative, it feels like the author either doesn't put in the effort to create these other characters, or the narrator is so wrapped up in her own head that she doesn't notice a thing about people around her. The latter is a strange concept since she seems to have almost no emotion other than missing her kid when he's at daycare. If her internal monologue isn't based on her own feelings, one would think it would turn outward?
I was so excited for this book based on the description thinking it would be a portrait of strong women within a cultural struggle that isn't as common in popular literature. Instead it's a dull read with almost no drive and not a shred of real emotion.
This makes sense as a pick by Reese because it has the same inauthenticity that most of her housewife fodder does. It's the kind of writing that masquerades as saying a lot through a little when in fact it's actually just flat and borders on arrogant.
The plot meanders along progressing rather quickly in terms of page count, but in the end, very little actually happens. The main character is one of those to whom things happen and takes little or no action throughout the story. Her love for her son isn't special in any way and indeed needn't be, but there's no reason to root for this mother or this child over any other. The climax is little more than a bump in a flat road.
The dialogue sits on the page and seems to be there for no other reason than it's what a book has to have. The characters outside of the narrator are ill-defined and motionless. Because of the first-person narrative, it feels like the author either doesn't put in the effort to create these other characters, or the narrator is so wrapped up in her own head that she doesn't notice a thing about people around her. The latter is a strange concept since she seems to have almost no emotion other than missing her kid when he's at daycare. If her internal monologue isn't based on her own feelings, one would think it would turn outward?
I was so excited for this book based on the description thinking it would be a portrait of strong women within a cultural struggle that isn't as common in popular literature. Instead it's a dull read with almost no drive and not a shred of real emotion.