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suannelaqueur's review against another edition
4.0
It’s tricky to like or appreciate a book about rich people having rich people problems. There were little to no likable characters here, but I still enjoyed it. At its heart, it was about a couple madly in love. A marriage so perfect, it warps their perception of the outside world.
lisawhelpley's review
3.0
Beautifully written book about a couple from their wedding until their children are young adults, and the many fortunes they gain over their charmed life. I'm not going to write a spoiler, but I'd love to discuss the last chapter with someone.
michellemjeffers's review
3.0
I was engrossed in this book and then the last 50 pages turned into something else and the ending seemed so abrupt. Made me feel like I wasn't smart enough to get it, that I'm missing something.
emjay2021's review
2.0
I'm at a loss as to how to rate this book. I thought the opening chapter was fantastic, the next one was ok, then it went rapidly downhill. It's the story of a golden couple who are not really that interesting. They're not particularly nice but they're not evil or obnoxious, either. They're sort of...bland. Yes, they turn out to be financial high flyers with the ethics of a toadstool, but even so, when I should have been enraged I was just...meh. I just had a hard time caring about them. Their children end up being a lot like them. And the ending! What was up with that? I turned the page, expecting another chapter. Not good.
Two stars because I loved the opening chapter. I only wish the rest of the book had the same sense of grand, effervescent glee.
Two stars because I loved the opening chapter. I only wish the rest of the book had the same sense of grand, effervescent glee.
fwlichstein's review
3.0
This was quite good until the end. Quite seriously, the ending ruined this book.
sasha_in_a_box's review
4.0
Ah, 2019. This was the first book of the year for me, I believe. What a time of innocence and problems that weren't even that bad, and being able to hug people and go to annoyingly loud public places. I read this book with a very hopeful eye on the year, and it really delivered a good one - except I didn't meet my reading goal and didn't review things I was supposed to. OH WELL.
I don't remember much of the plot, but I weirdly remember the very strange last several chapters, which I didn't even like that much. I enjoy these kinds of books, about dysfunctional families and wealth slowly turning people into low key sociopaths, so since this was decently written and well-paced, I was inevitably a fan. Like I said, the ending was odd and didn't seem to fit the rest of the book, but it certainly made an impression on me, who read it almost 2 years ago now. If you're into these types of books and don't think super hard about how the candy texture is a little off when you're almost done with it, you'll enjoy it too.
I don't remember much of the plot, but I weirdly remember the very strange last several chapters, which I didn't even like that much. I enjoy these kinds of books, about dysfunctional families and wealth slowly turning people into low key sociopaths, so since this was decently written and well-paced, I was inevitably a fan. Like I said, the ending was odd and didn't seem to fit the rest of the book, but it certainly made an impression on me, who read it almost 2 years ago now. If you're into these types of books and don't think super hard about how the candy texture is a little off when you're almost done with it, you'll enjoy it too.
ceelabee's review
3.0
well written, but with such distasteful characters that I found it hard to like. I guess it's different (and realistic?)that the main character, an amoral upper east sider, gets rich from insider trading and never gets caught or sees any negative consequences from his actions.
moirastone's review
4.0
Absorbing. The first long chapter is especially impressive and controlled. Ultimately a portrait of how a great, epic love blinds the two lovers to their children's needs, their community obligations, their own moral and ethical selves. Any judgement of these people is left to the reader, though. The author shows us a story and gets out of the way.
emilybryk's review
2.0
The first 30 pages are so good, and the rest of the book is so vapid. Just big piles of nothing -- nothing at stake, no development, no authorial tension.
bonaldi's review
3.0
You know those authors who can't ever live up to their spectacular first novels? This book can't live up to its first chapters.