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mmseitz822's review
4.0
I was so glad this book didn't turn into one of those predictable stories - a daughter and her estranged father find a way back to each other after all of the years apart and become close again after he has a near-death experience blah blah blah. If that had been the case, I would have been really disappointed. As it was, the relationship between Taisy and Wilson isn't even the focal point of the book. Yes, it plays an important part but it is not the main story. It is kind of just the catalyst that causes the rest of the action in the story to take place.
I really liked Taisy and Willow even though there were times they both did things that annoyed me. For instance, I hated Taisy's blind affection for Wilson after what a piece of crap dad he was and especially after ruining her relationship with Ben. I hate how she constantly defends him even when he is being a complete jackass. I hated when Willow acted like a little snot toward Taisy even though Taisy was nothing but nice to her. I also hated how she, too, idolized Wilson. I liked the relationship that formed between Taisy and Willow, as well as between Caro and Taisy.
Am I the only who wonders what Caro possibly ever saw in Wilson though? I get that he had a hard childhood and his dad was a jerk but don't you think that would have inspired him to be better than his father and to treat his children well? I wish the book would have gone into their back story a little bit because it seems like a really unlikely match.
I really liked Taisy and Willow even though there were times they both did things that annoyed me. For instance, I hated Taisy's blind affection for Wilson after what a piece of crap dad he was and especially after ruining her relationship with Ben. I hate how she constantly defends him even when he is being a complete jackass. I hated when Willow acted like a little snot toward Taisy even though Taisy was nothing but nice to her. I also hated how she, too, idolized Wilson. I liked the relationship that formed between Taisy and Willow, as well as between Caro and Taisy.
Am I the only who wonders what Caro possibly ever saw in Wilson though? I get that he had a hard childhood and his dad was a jerk but don't you think that would have inspired him to be better than his father and to treat his children well? I wish the book would have gone into their back story a little bit because it seems like a really unlikely match.
meredithmegan87's review
4.0
*Spoilers*
I have to admit, it took me a while to really get into this book but once I did, I finished it quickly because it swallowed me whole.
I really didn't know what the deal was with Wilson and I hated him. He remains a mystery and character whom I want to scream at for being so selfish, even if he did have some sly way of making his daughters bond.
I loved the evolution of characters, especially Willow. I loved the relationship between her and Taisy. I loved how young at heart Taisy seemed and I loved her and Ben.
Mr. Insley creeped me out the entire time, I'm so glad that took the direction that it did. I could picture Luka and Willow's entire evolution of their relationship like it were a in a movie.. so theatrical and well told.
I've always been a Maria de Los Santos fan. I'm glad I picked this book up, I'll be recommending it to friends (with the warning not to give up on it for the first 1/3, for sure).
I have to admit, it took me a while to really get into this book but once I did, I finished it quickly because it swallowed me whole.
I really didn't know what the deal was with Wilson and I hated him. He remains a mystery and character whom I want to scream at for being so selfish, even if he did have some sly way of making his daughters bond.
I loved the evolution of characters, especially Willow. I loved the relationship between her and Taisy. I loved how young at heart Taisy seemed and I loved her and Ben.
Mr. Insley creeped me out the entire time, I'm so glad that took the direction that it did. I could picture Luka and Willow's entire evolution of their relationship like it were a in a movie.. so theatrical and well told.
I've always been a Maria de Los Santos fan. I'm glad I picked this book up, I'll be recommending it to friends (with the warning not to give up on it for the first 1/3, for sure).
kenzieannreads's review
5.0
Updated review after second read:
Still 5 stars, largely because of Marisa de Los Santos’s writing. There is something positively lyrical about the way she writes. For those that are partial to the “Hemingway-esque” style of writing (read: say what you want to say in as few words as possible), you may not like her writing style. I, however, find it mesmerizing. She has the ability to string words together in a way that leaves me awestruck. De Los Santos paints an absolutely beautiful picture with her prose, and I’m a huge fan.
.....
If I could rate this book 6, 7, 10, 100 stars, I would. One of the absolute best books I've read in recent years. Heartbreaking, funny, emotional, somehow all at once. A+++++!!!!!
Still 5 stars, largely because of Marisa de Los Santos’s writing. There is something positively lyrical about the way she writes. For those that are partial to the “Hemingway-esque” style of writing (read: say what you want to say in as few words as possible), you may not like her writing style. I, however, find it mesmerizing. She has the ability to string words together in a way that leaves me awestruck. De Los Santos paints an absolutely beautiful picture with her prose, and I’m a huge fan.
.....
If I could rate this book 6, 7, 10, 100 stars, I would. One of the absolute best books I've read in recent years. Heartbreaking, funny, emotional, somehow all at once. A+++++!!!!!
bmpicc's review
4.0
I grabbed the advanced reader of this title from work. It was a quick read. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the story itself. There was a nice little twist at the end. I also found myself incredibly happy that the ending was a real ending! I know that is an odd statement, but these days I find authors often leave their ending open (cliffhangers, unanswered questions, confusion). I actually appreciate a simple ending sometimes.
littletaiko's review
4.0
It's been a few years since her last book, so I was pleased to see that she had a new one coming out. The story alternates between Taisy, a ghost writer in her 30's who has been asked by her ailing father Wilson to come home for a few weeks, and Willow, Wilson's youngest daughter and pride and joy. Of course there is a romantic angle, misunderstandings that need to be resolved, and lots of snappy responses. I thought that Willow, while annoying at times, really captured the awkwardness that being a teenager means.
serenitylive's review against another edition
4.0
Really unique premise - Taisy still longs for love and approval from her larger-than-life, unkind and estranged father who left one family (when Taisy was a teen) and started a new one. Willow is the bright, beloved and sheltered daughter of the second family. The father's heart attack is the catalyst to bring the sisters together. I'm a de los Santos fan - I enjoy her style and always get the sense that we love very similar things. She always has sentences I want to read again. There are several layers to each story in the book, and I didn't love them all. But Willow is lovely and Taisy loveable, and the entire book smells like fall.
mellabella's review
3.0
A cold, distant, brilliant, and demeaning father abandons his first wife and children(twins, when they are 18). He then dotes on the daughter he has with the woman he cheated on his first wife with. Taisey (Eustacia) wants her fathers love and affection (or maybe, at the very least... Acknowledgement). It seems odd that she would. Especially after he seems to have forgotten she existed and, treats his daughter Willow like she is the only child he has. But he has a heart attack and all of a sudden wants Taisey to come to his home and "ghostwrite" a book about him. Taisey agrees. After 17 years of estrangement. Her brother Marcus (who is also invited), does not. There were a few things I found not quite right. Willow's behavior for starters. Her father left his first family. Why was she so insecure and threatened with Taisey around? Where did the animosity come from? It was annoying. I wish Taisey would have (gently) given her the business. Most people would sympathize not treat Taisey like she did something wrong. Second, enough with the weird home schooled kid stereotypes. The way Willow spoke is absolutely unrealistic. She might be super pompous and intelligent. But, it was too much. The writing is good. The characters interesting (if not a little unrealistic themselves). There are family secrets, and a love story interwoven through. The ending wasn't what I expected. I did know (no matter how cliched) that Taisey and Willow would grow close. But, I liked this book. It was the first I've read by this author. I'm going to check out her other books too.
kdurham2's review
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Dual narrated by a set of sisters who don't know each other at all, but are thrust into each other's lives and hopefully can form a bond and help each other to find true happiness. Tasiy is a woman who had her father in her life but not quite the most attentive father until she turned 18 and her life fell apart. Willow was born out of the collapse and he was a completely different father to her, almost too attentive.
First, I already know I love dual narratives and then to have two sisters who weren't in each other's lives come together, I knew this book would be a hit. I love a sibling story and that was the core and center of this book and man I adored it. The arc of their relationship felt real and worked for me.
Dual narrated by a set of sisters who don't know each other at all, but are thrust into each other's lives and hopefully can form a bond and help each other to find true happiness. Tasiy is a woman who had her father in her life but not quite the most attentive father until she turned 18 and her life fell apart. Willow was born out of the collapse and he was a completely different father to her, almost too attentive.
First, I already know I love dual narratives and then to have two sisters who weren't in each other's lives come together, I knew this book would be a hit. I love a sibling story and that was the core and center of this book and man I adored it. The arc of their relationship felt real and worked for me.