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rachel_mft's review against another edition
2.0
Probably wouldn't have picked this up on my own--too chick-lit-y for my usual taste--but someone lent it to me. It wasn't bad for what it was--I got immersed in the story and cared somewhat about the characters. But a lot of things drove me crazy--it was over dramatic, and too crammed with minutiae and backstory, and just too pat. Plus I didn't like how she dropped one of the main characters mid-story. Still, I got more than I expected to out of it.
bookclubtrivia's review against another edition
4.0
The book is written well enough, but idk, it just gives me bad vibes. Basically all of the characters are in shitty marriages (and one of them is only shitty because she makes it that way). There’s a lot of cheating. Maybe it is realistic for such a large percentage of couples to be unhappy? It’s not that common in my circles; I just found it depressing.
And the part that really bothered me (spoiler): one of the women goes as far as like oral sex with this dude, despite having a husband who loves her, and THEN realizes she just liked the idea of having sex with him but doesn’t really want to. And it’s treated like “oh, well she didn’t go through with it, so it wasn’t really cheating and she doesn’t need to discuss it with her husband when they do work things out later.” UM. Oral is still cheating?? That was not okay??
So yeah. Stuff like that. AND they barely discuss the books in the book club; I wanted the books to be a bigger part of the story.
I’d say the story is fine and intriguing enough, but it was not my cup of tea. I think the author and I have very different worldviews.
And the part that really bothered me (spoiler): one of the women goes as far as like oral sex with this dude, despite having a husband who loves her, and THEN realizes she just liked the idea of having sex with him but doesn’t really want to. And it’s treated like “oh, well she didn’t go through with it, so it wasn’t really cheating and she doesn’t need to discuss it with her husband when they do work things out later.” UM. Oral is still cheating?? That was not okay??
So yeah. Stuff like that. AND they barely discuss the books in the book club; I wanted the books to be a bigger part of the story.
I’d say the story is fine and intriguing enough, but it was not my cup of tea. I think the author and I have very different worldviews.
ebol's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jessmarie945's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jenicatreads's review
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Dementia, and Pregnancy
ericadeb's review against another edition
This book is just not for me. I just didn't care.
esmu's review against another edition
1.0
Disappointing. I kept expecting the books to have some sort of meaning, but they didn't really.
kiwialexa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
spillie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An enjoyable British story that follows the life of participants (and their families) in a reading group for a year. There were moments that were laugh-out-loud, brought tears, joy, and so much more. There were elements of each main character that resonated with me. The best and worse of women are revealed through the story. While I enjoyed the book, I found there were too many characters and I had trouble keeping everyone straight. I am not a fan of the structure where there aren’t chapters but only headings. Recommended.