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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol
Damn one thing that keeps me from rating this higher is that damn annoyance of the child. Ellie is just, well acting like a spoiled two-year-old! And that's my first thought about this book. All that child does is going into SPEAKING MODE like this and THEN ALL over AGAIN. Its just so annoying I can see why someone would want to sleep away their days away to avoid the kid. The eternal screaming at these pages I did do cause of this character.
For writing style and ability, I will give where credit is due. Ditto on the idea of the book. But there were just some issues (besides a brat of a child) One of which is the Allison's own mothers addiction to alcohol that after a car accident let her stop driving because Allison was in the car with her at a tender age of 4 but Allision has no memory of it It goes nowhere and adds nothing to the story. And then there is the mysterious L character that gets a brief mention of Dave's what? Is she an affair? Or what? Nothing is made out of it. Another thing that seems to be tropes of residence/inpatient hospital stay stories is that the main character is bound to escape or leave before the hospital wants to discharge them. I've read at least three books last year alone that deal with that aspect of a character fleeing and that's when the big change in the character occurs. Is this just to move the plot along in a faster pathway than a typical recovery? I didn't know. All I know it happens.
Overall, I love the idea. I love the writing but had problems with certain (brat of a child) characters and some points of the book that goes nowhere
For writing style and ability, I will give where credit is due. Ditto on the idea of the book. But there were just some issues (besides a brat of a child) One of which is the Allison's own mothers addiction to alcohol that after a car accident let her stop driving because Allison was in the car with her at a tender age of 4 but Allision has no memory of it It goes nowhere and adds nothing to the story. And then there is the mysterious L character that gets a brief mention of Dave's what? Is she an affair? Or what? Nothing is made out of it. Another thing that seems to be tropes of residence/inpatient hospital stay stories is that the main character is bound to escape or leave before the hospital wants to discharge them. I've read at least three books last year alone that deal with that aspect of a character fleeing and that's when the big change in the character occurs. Is this just to move the plot along in a faster pathway than a typical recovery? I didn't know. All I know it happens.
Overall, I love the idea. I love the writing but had problems with certain (brat of a child) characters and some points of the book that goes nowhere
Allison Weiss is living the ideal suburban mom life - husband, daughter, dream job, and fancy house in the suburbs. While taking a magazine addiction quiz in a doctor's office waiting room, she starts to question whether her use of prescription medication is getting out of control. What started as an aid for a physical injury quickly becomes a method of dealing with her piling responsibilities - difficult child, distant husband, money issues, and parent issues.
I really wanted to like this story but had the hardest time connecting with any of the characters. Although I empathized with the main character's struggles with her ongoing list of responsibilities (and her desire to be hands on to get things done correctly), she drove me insane with her decisions. I completely understand the thought process behind writing the character as she is because of her addiction, however, I felt like the portray of addiction was superficial and lacked depth. Additional, her family was completely useless and just served as a vessel for justifying her addiction. This story felt like it dragged on for so long and then the ending felt rushed. I did not enjoy the minor time skip at the end and the lack of resolution.
I really wanted to like this story but had the hardest time connecting with any of the characters. Although I empathized with the main character's struggles with her ongoing list of responsibilities (and her desire to be hands on to get things done correctly), she drove me insane with her decisions. I completely understand the thought process behind writing the character as she is because of her addiction, however, I felt like the portray of addiction was superficial and lacked depth. Additional, her family was completely useless and just served as a vessel for justifying her addiction. This story felt like it dragged on for so long and then the ending felt rushed. I did not enjoy the minor time skip at the end and the lack of resolution.
When I read Jennifer Weiner I want something fun - this was not that. The book itself was fine but if I'm looking for something heavy Id rather read someone else
not finished - I made it to page 149 and I've had enough of this woman's whiny daughter, spaced-out mom and indifferent husband. Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass about her, either.
Pain killer addiction is a tough topic to tackle; the author was able in some instances to very compellingly convey the addict’s desperation and the impact addiction has in every facet of life; but a lot of the story was underdeveloped, I didn’t really like the main character, and some of it was just ridiculous (planning a musical to escape rehab for her daughter’s birthday party).
I've always liked Jennifer Weiner's books, but this was my least favorite by far. The main flaw for me was that I did not like the main character. I found her weak, stupid, selfish & annoying. I didn't believe that her life was so bad that it drove her to such crazy levels of addiction. I'd skip this one Chick Lit fans & it's not good enough to warrant more serious reading.
Did Weiner really just refer to this woman's words as ghetto vernacular and colorful patois? I think I'm just about done with her.
I hadn't read a Jennifer Weiner book since my 20s. I loved her back and then and remember relating to her characters. This book just seemed obnoxiously upper-middle class housewife, which I'm guessing is what JW has become herself. But all the brand name dropping, trips to Whole. Also,the addiction/recovery aspect of the book was kind of depressing, and moved slowly for me. I was annoyed enough by the main character that I found myself hoping that she'd lose everything at the end of the book... Still giving it three stars since it kept my attention enough to finish!
Unread shelf project 2022: book 35.
Pros:
* this book pulled me in and kicked me out of my reading slump.
* the story was fast paced and immersive.
Cons:
* the MC was not very likable. Stuck up, white, wealthy, privileged, snobby, the list goes on.
* constant fatphobia and weight discussions throughout the book.
That being said, I think I needed a more salacious snooty society read to get me out of my recent reading slump feels. So that was a perk!
Pros:
* this book pulled me in and kicked me out of my reading slump.
* the story was fast paced and immersive.
Cons:
* the MC was not very likable. Stuck up, white, wealthy, privileged, snobby, the list goes on.
* constant fatphobia and weight discussions throughout the book.
That being said, I think I needed a more salacious snooty society read to get me out of my recent reading slump feels. So that was a perk!