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biolog_e's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Car accident, Infertility, Grief, Cultural appropriation, and Miscarriage
franklola's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Car accident, Death, Infidelity, and Infertility
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Outing
tara3117's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was excited for this book because I loved The Plot last year and then I found out that Julia Whalen narrated the audiobook. She said in an interview that a certain plot point made her stand up in shock. That's all my favorite words!
But...
This book didn't have any of those effects on me. I get that the language used was a whole mood unto itself and I'm fine with that. But it was very formal and at times off-putting, especially when you find out that the narrator is 17 . If she was an aspiring journalist or something, that would be one thing, but she isn't and I can't figure out why this read like an essay when it wasn't.
The book is too long. None of the characters are likable, at least through the first 2/3. You can kind of feel for Johanna because she got the raw deal time and time again, but I feel like there's more she could have done. She spends most of the book in denial. I didn't like the implication that the 3 triplets didn't have a bond because they were conceived through IVF. I'm pretty sure most IVF multiples would say differently. I didn't need to hear all the recounting of how awful they were to each other in high school and college. A few stories would have been fine, but this was too much and too long. For as long as it was, it had one of the least satisfying endings. Rachelle left the island the night after her wedding? The only thing they all did together was drop Pheobe off for her weirdo college? She even wanted to go to the same school as Harrison? I call BS on the whole thing.
Here's the big part that is really bothering me. School was in session on September 11th. I get that the triplet's birthday is September 10th (which I don't think we knew until the end?) but in reality, they would have had to celebrate their birthday early because they definitely would have had class on their birthday. Maybe not Harrison, but Cornell was definitely back. You're set up to think that maybe this is Labor Day weekend and then you don't know it isn't until Salo dies. It just really bothered me that we're supposed to suspend belief about something that we all lived through. Those of us who are the triplets' age lived through it in our dorms like Sally and Lewin would have. I'm not mad that she killed him off in 9/11, just that the whole set up of it is completely wrong.
But...
This book didn't have any of those effects on me. I get that the language used was a whole mood unto itself and I'm fine with that. But it was very formal and at times off-putting, especially when you find out that the narrator is 17 . If she was an aspiring journalist or something, that would be one thing, but she isn't and I can't figure out why this read like an essay when it wasn't.
The book is too long. None of the characters are likable, at least through the first 2/3. You can kind of feel for Johanna because she got the raw deal time and time again, but I feel like there's more she could have done. She spends most of the book in denial. I didn't like the implication that the 3 triplets didn't have a bond because they were conceived through IVF. I'm pretty sure most IVF multiples would say differently. I didn't need to hear all the recounting of how awful they were to each other in high school and college. A few stories would have been fine, but this was too much and too long. For as long as it was, it had one of the least satisfying endings. Rachelle left the island the night after her wedding? The only thing they all did together was drop Pheobe off for her weirdo college? She even wanted to go to the same school as Harrison? I call BS on the whole thing.
Here's the big part that is really bothering me. School was in session on September 11th. I get that the triplet's birthday is September 10th (which I don't think we knew until the end?) but in reality, they would have had to celebrate their birthday early because they definitely would have had class on their birthday. Maybe not Harrison, but Cornell was definitely back. You're set up to think that maybe this is Labor Day weekend and then you don't know it isn't until Salo dies. It just really bothered me that we're supposed to suspend belief about something that we all lived through. Those of us who are the triplets' age lived through it in our dorms like Sally and Lewin would have. I'm not mad that she killed him off in 9/11, just that the whole set up of it is completely wrong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Car accident, Miscarriage, and Outing
carolibrary's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Infertility, and Outing
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