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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
Dr. Hart is a distinguished, important man in the Sag Harbor community. As he wins Man of the Year his life begins to fall apart. He sees things that aren’t as they seem, he hears things wrongly, and he acts on all of these things.
I started this book expecting a thriller. It was not a fast start and I began to wonder when the story was going to pick up when the story was going to start moving. About 1/3 the way through it picked up. The characters started acting out, the storyline got moving, and I couldn’t stop reading. I liked that the majority of the book is told from Dr. Hart’s point of view. There are a few chapters mixed in told from the other characters that added just the right mix to the book.
The ending is interesting. I couldn’t wait to see how it would all come together, I couldn’t wait to see how Dr. Hart and Mrs. Hart would find their happily ever after or if they would find it. I read the last page, closed the book, and thought that the ending wasn’t quite what I expected.
I started this book expecting a thriller. It was not a fast start and I began to wonder when the story was going to pick up when the story was going to start moving. About 1/3 the way through it picked up. The characters started acting out, the storyline got moving, and I couldn’t stop reading. I liked that the majority of the book is told from Dr. Hart’s point of view. There are a few chapters mixed in told from the other characters that added just the right mix to the book.
The ending is interesting. I couldn’t wait to see how it would all come together, I couldn’t wait to see how Dr. Hart and Mrs. Hart would find their happily ever after or if they would find it. I read the last page, closed the book, and thought that the ending wasn’t quite what I expected.
Fans of unreliable narrators – get ready to love this book. Each character looks out for himself (some more than others), tells lies, and behaves oddly, and they all desperately want to avoid punishment for the tragedy that happens in the latter half of the book. The author is generous with tropes (narcissism, infidelity, money, desperation) and it mostly works to create this sometimes fast-paced story. I was not sure if I hated or felt sorry for the main character, the eponymous Man of the Year.
The author is skilled at creating circumstances that change with perception. Each chapter is told in the point of view from each character, so the disconnect between perception is magnified. Some characters get to speak only once, which is jarring. I had to think for a moment or two when a minor character took over the narration. Some of these narrators are never heard from again; they tell their story just for the reader to see things from yet another angle.
Dr. Hart is a tragic figure, cuckolded by his son’s friend, who is staying with the family over the summer. The stereotypical “guest staying in the pool house” provides a convenient location for some activities that muddy the plot and/or provide tension. His wife Elizabeth seems self-centered and vacuous – I am not sure if that was what the author intended, or if she was written that way on purpose. I disliked her almost from the start and did not change my feelings when the book was finished. However, I did end up disliking the rest of the characters towards the end, regardless of how the plot twisted. At that point, I was heartily sick of everyone’s machinations and drama and self-servitude.
I would give the book four and a half stars, for while the plot was engaging there were a few draggy spots and as mentioned above, some characters faded in and out. This fading caused me to disengage a bit when they reappeared since I thought they were on the fringe, not actually moving the story along.
The author is skilled at creating circumstances that change with perception. Each chapter is told in the point of view from each character, so the disconnect between perception is magnified. Some characters get to speak only once, which is jarring. I had to think for a moment or two when a minor character took over the narration. Some of these narrators are never heard from again; they tell their story just for the reader to see things from yet another angle.
Dr. Hart is a tragic figure, cuckolded by his son’s friend, who is staying with the family over the summer. The stereotypical “guest staying in the pool house” provides a convenient location for some activities that muddy the plot and/or provide tension. His wife Elizabeth seems self-centered and vacuous – I am not sure if that was what the author intended, or if she was written that way on purpose. I disliked her almost from the start and did not change my feelings when the book was finished. However, I did end up disliking the rest of the characters towards the end, regardless of how the plot twisted. At that point, I was heartily sick of everyone’s machinations and drama and self-servitude.
I would give the book four and a half stars, for while the plot was engaging there were a few draggy spots and as mentioned above, some characters faded in and out. This fading caused me to disengage a bit when they reappeared since I thought they were on the fringe, not actually moving the story along.
This book left me with the feeling that I did not know what happened in the story. Each character told their part from their own perspective. They all had their own version of the events but you never really find out if certain things did or did not happen. Maybe that is exactly what was meant to be but it just wasn't what I expected.
This was... a letdown. Had all the promise I'd the genre but there were no monsters lurking around the corner. No cut-you-down-and-stop-your-heart surprises. Just a meh pile of miserable rich people.
I really loved this book. I thought it was very engaging and moved along at a great pace. It had some massive twists that I did NOT see coming! And I love that. I don’t know if I wasn’t looking for them or if I was just so engrossed I was caught off guard but wow, this was a well crafted book! Thank you to Netgalley for the copy! I will definitely be buying this book for my shelves when it’s released on June 11th!
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this novel. I tried to push through what seemed like all the nonsense in the Man of the Year's head, but there was just too many thoughts that seemed like filler and not enough substance.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a slow pacing psychological thriller. The beginning was fine if not a little jumbled but this was cleared up fairly quickly. The middle is where the "heart" of the story lays. Then there is the ending. It is where all of the secrets were revealed but it felt a bit rushed.
When I read the reveal, I did have a moment of "ah ha". Ok, I did not really see that coming. Always a good result of a psychological thriller. Yet, I was a bit disappointed in the fact that Robert's reaction to Nick was more reserved. I thought for a man who seemed to have a lot going for him with a successful career and a family that he would have gone off the deep end with rage over someone honing in on his space.
Despite some bumps along the way and the slow pacing, I did like this book. I would read another book from this author. Fans of these types of books may want to give this book a try.
When I read the reveal, I did have a moment of "ah ha". Ok, I did not really see that coming. Always a good result of a psychological thriller. Yet, I was a bit disappointed in the fact that Robert's reaction to Nick was more reserved. I thought for a man who seemed to have a lot going for him with a successful career and a family that he would have gone off the deep end with rage over someone honing in on his space.
Despite some bumps along the way and the slow pacing, I did like this book. I would read another book from this author. Fans of these types of books may want to give this book a try.
Wow.
I thought I knew the truth of the story, and then I amended that thought, and amended it again. Turns out I was right in one part, but I did not see the revelations coming that unfolded — and then the real truth behind even those. I’m still pondering over the characters, the men and the women, and who they turned out to be inside, as opposed to how others saw them. Motivations, inner lives … some fascinating stuff here. A satisfying book of suspense that hinges on the characters and their views of life. This is one I want to discuss with others who have read it to see what their take was on the ending(s), told from the perspectives of a few of the characters.
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/man-of-year-fiction-book-review/
I thought I knew the truth of the story, and then I amended that thought, and amended it again. Turns out I was right in one part, but I did not see the revelations coming that unfolded — and then the real truth behind even those. I’m still pondering over the characters, the men and the women, and who they turned out to be inside, as opposed to how others saw them. Motivations, inner lives … some fascinating stuff here. A satisfying book of suspense that hinges on the characters and their views of life. This is one I want to discuss with others who have read it to see what their take was on the ending(s), told from the perspectives of a few of the characters.
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/man-of-year-fiction-book-review/