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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book gives me mixed feelings. The first half was slow and boring and I found it hard to get attached to and as a tarot reader, she gave cards and explanations with it that weren’t correct until the second half. the second half however was good. thoroughly enjoyable and so easy to follow and almost page turning. I recommend it, but it wasn’t the best of the best
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I finished this book a day it was so good! Ruth Hogan’s writing is beautiful with a touch of magic that makes you feel fully immersed. The heroes and the villains are all delightfully fun and well written. I loved the multiple points of view which added so many layers to the story. As for main characters,. both Imelda and Billie were great characters and I fell in love with them.
I also enjoyed the split timelines that jumped from the 1970's to present. The setting in the 1970s definitely had a touch of magic that made you feel like you were watching an old movie. The timelines were woven together intricately and it really added depth to the story..
Overall this was lovely, uplifting, and beautiful story that anyone would enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC
I also enjoyed the split timelines that jumped from the 1970's to present. The setting in the 1970s definitely had a touch of magic that made you feel like you were watching an old movie. The timelines were woven together intricately and it really added depth to the story..
Overall this was lovely, uplifting, and beautiful story that anyone would enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC
I finished this in a day it was so good! Ruth Hogan’s writing is beautiful with a touch of magic that makes you feel fully immersed. The heroes and the villains are all delightfully fun and well written. I loved the multiple points of view and split timelines, both of which helped create an in-depth story. Overall this was lovely, uplifting, and beautiful story that anyone would enjoy.
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have never read a Ruth Hogan book I didn't enjoy. This one was no exception. Thoughtfully told and beautifully written. The love story of Madame Burova told in the 1970s and present day. She tells fortunes on the promenade in Brighton where she is the keeper of secrets. In present day, she is tasked with sharing a secret with Billie. I loved all the secondary characters, the settings, and the descriptions of the time at The Larkins, a family camp. This was wonderful.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
"She had seen the lovers and the liars, the angels and the devils, the dreamers and the fools."
A lovely read, charming characters. Loved Henry and despised Vivienne from the start. Imelda was an interesting character with her Romany mum and Russian dad and adopted stray Grisha. I liked Billie's character with art, history, antiques and all, but she also felt hardly there in the overall narrative. I did love the fortune telling element woven in the story of Billie finding out her past, seeing her present and looking towards future with what she learns! Bless Treasure and Clive, loved their interactions. Felt bad for Treasure as a kid, but him and Star were a dream team for each other. Billie's mother reveal was a little underwhelming, but then I guess the characters were narrowed down pretty easily for who it could be- I guessed Imelda, Jeanie or Vivienne sooo.... yeah. The father reveal was a shock but not in a "no way" but "what the hell?" Like... really? I love the character but.... really? I'm glad Billie was happy and also Imelda, because it meant all this time Cillian had never betrayed her. I felt so bad when he died and their child never made it either. But the end made up for it all as Imelda finally went to Cillian's hometown, saw the sight he always spoke of, met the family in a warm and emotional welcome and finally tells Cillian she loves him when walking home, spotting an apparition of him and Grisha.
A lovely read, charming characters. Loved Henry and despised Vivienne from the start. Imelda was an interesting character with her Romany mum and Russian dad and adopted stray Grisha. I liked Billie's character with art, history, antiques and all, but she also felt hardly there in the overall narrative. I did love the fortune telling element woven in the story of Billie finding out her past, seeing her present and looking towards future with what she learns! Bless Treasure and Clive, loved their interactions. Felt bad for Treasure as a kid, but him and Star were a dream team for each other. Billie's mother reveal was a little underwhelming, but then I guess the characters were narrowed down pretty easily for who it could be- I guessed Imelda, Jeanie or Vivienne sooo.... yeah. The father reveal was a shock but not in a "no way" but "what the hell?" Like... really? I love the character but.... really? I'm glad Billie was happy and also Imelda, because it meant all this time Cillian had never betrayed her. I felt so bad when he died and their child never made it either. But the end made up for it all as Imelda finally went to Cillian's hometown, saw the sight he always spoke of, met the family in a warm and emotional welcome and finally tells Cillian she loves him when walking home, spotting an apparition of him and Grisha.
DNF @ 52%.
When I realized I was already 50% in with no real attachment to the characters OR the plot, I knew it was time to quit.
When I realized I was already 50% in with no real attachment to the characters OR the plot, I knew it was time to quit.