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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
tense
This book badly needed editing. Tangents that led nowhere, over explaining, wayyyy too much about the weather.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really, really hate rating a book 2 stars. I tried so hard to find some redeeming qualities in this book to push my rating up. There was one - the opening of this book really grabs you. It's every parents worst nightmare. And I just knew from there this was going to be a book I couldn't put down. Unfortunately the opposite happened... this was a book I had a hard time finishing. Family drama, divorce, affairs, secrets, stealing embryos, crazy weather - all the makings for a homerun book, but this one struck out for me. I honestly didn't connect, or even like, any of the characters. The story jumps between storylines too much that it gets frustrating to follow. I thought the structure of the book following the family over the course of a year was clever, just poorly executed.
Does the Alvardo family "weather" the storm of the their chaotic life? You'll have to read to find out. People either seem to really like this book or not care for it. While this is not a book I cared for, or one I'd recommend, that doesn't mean this isn't for other readers.
My thanks to the author, Flatiron Books and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Does the Alvardo family "weather" the storm of the their chaotic life? You'll have to read to find out. People either seem to really like this book or not care for it. While this is not a book I cared for, or one I'd recommend, that doesn't mean this isn't for other readers.
My thanks to the author, Flatiron Books and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As someone who grew up in LA, it was fun to read a book with so much familiarity. This novel touched on so many important, pertinent issues. Climate change being the most obvious, but also topics such as gentrification, mental health, and political turmoil. This book was well written and had an incredibly strong opening, but I didn't find myself completely absorbed in the story all the way through and did have to push myself to get through a chunk in the middle. Overall, this is a story worth reading
2.5
In various parts felt very cheesy, preachy and inauthentic.
In various parts felt very cheesy, preachy and inauthentic.
