Scan barcode
jmj697mn's review against another edition
2.0
The first 250 pages of this book were DULL. From the synopsis, I was expecting a missing girl to be the main story line. Instead, I felt as though I was suffering through the pampered protagonist's boring day to day life. The last 75 pages or so were great, and that is the only reason this got 2 stars instead of 1. Very misleading. Don't waste your time, unless you have a LOT of time to waste.
jdemarest's review against another edition
3.0
This is a subtle mystery, unfolding slowly over many years and in the midst of many complicated relationships. We get so many glimpses into Sadie’s thoughts, but I still don’t feel like I really know her.
It was a little too drawn out for me at places, and I don’t think that all of the storylines were really followed through, but overall it was tied up pretty nicely, but not so nicely that you don’t finish the book still wondering about the secrets we keep, the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the longing for lives that are not our own.
It was a little too drawn out for me at places, and I don’t think that all of the storylines were really followed through, but overall it was tied up pretty nicely, but not so nicely that you don’t finish the book still wondering about the secrets we keep, the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the longing for lives that are not our own.
kdurham2's review against another edition
2.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A different take on small town life, by having the main character stay in town and tell the story both in the past and in the present and the changes and similarities in the town and its people. I loved the concept and the overall plot of the book. I love small town books and I loved the mystery and intrigue about girls going missing in this small town.
A different take on small town life, by having the main character stay in town and tell the story both in the past and in the present and the changes and similarities in the town and its people. I loved the concept and the overall plot of the book. I love small town books and I loved the mystery and intrigue about girls going missing in this small town.
robinqw's review against another edition
1.0
I tried to like this book, but should have quit reading 50 pages in. I kept hoping it would turn a corner, and become interesting. Alas, it did not. I stayed up late one night finishing it, not because I couldn't wait to see what happened but because I wanted to end it. I didn't care much for the ending (or the beginning or the middle, for that matter). However, upon reflection, I do see that the ending suited the main character, a character I couldn't become interested in because neither the author nor the character in the book seemed interested.
mrsmtthws's review against another edition
3.0
This got a little confusing at times with the convoluted vocabulary and lengthy sentences but the relaying of emotion was extraordinary as was establishment of setting.
byashleylamar's review against another edition
2.0
This one was mediocre at best. The synopsis made it sound so good but it really let me down. It alternated between the past and present chapter-by-chapter to show Sadie as a precocious young girl and Sadie as a married mother of two. When she was young two girls from her neighborhood went missing about 5 years apart and we find that Sadie had a hand in the disappearance of the second girl. It was supposed to be a mystery but it was poorly executed and pretty boring. The big reveal at the end was disappointing and it just didn't feel like it was worth reading. It's an easy book, it's short and it's not terrible but it's not great. It's the kind of book I'd pick up for a long flight and then forget about shortly after landing. It was average at best.
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
There's a buzz book for the summer - you might have heard of it already -- [b:The Shining Girls|16131077|The Shining Girls|Lauren Beukes|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352227705s/16131077.jpg|21956898] by Lauren Beukes. Featuring a time traveling serial killer, it has huge potential for a beach read thriller, but I don't know. Despite enjoying the main character, I felt it was missing something and my overall reaction after reading it was lukewarm.
This book on the other hand is much more to my liking. Probably closer to three and a half stars, it's an easy four in my books because it features all the elements I adore -- suburban New England setting, family secrets and lies, prepubescent girls doing naughty things with tragic consequence. It's an "all grown up and looking back" story as the adult tries to untangle the mysterious events of a dark childhood summer. It's a dual narrative that flips back and forth in time -- from the summer of 1979 to the summer of 2003. There's mood and atmosphere and dread and intrigue. It's a voyeuristic look into the oft-twisted and inappropriate shenanigans of life in the 'burbs.
Sadie is a pushy, bratty kid, with razor sharp smarts and a vivid imagination that's only going to get her into trouble. Her mother is a domineering, manic depressive drunk who isn't going to be there for Sadie when she needs her the most. Out of boredom and as an act of rebellion, Sadie hatches an elaborate ruse to amuse herself and her best friend. It's the summer of 1979 and her victim is the neighborhood outcast, a young girl with a miserable home life. The consequences of this cruel prank will have a tragic ripple effect.
Sadie grows up. The memory of that time is locked away in a deep, dark corner of her mind. She has a husband and two beautiful children. But sorrow has found Sadie. She is grieving her miscarriage and in this vulnerable state, back walks the boy she crushed on as a young girl. He's all grown up and stirring up more than the overwhelming sexual attraction she feels for him. Sadie begins to think about that summer long ago, seeking truth to all the unanswered questions she's lived with her entire life.
For a debut novel, The Longings of Wayward Girls (great title) shows a lot of promise. In the best ways, I was reminded of Megan Abbott's The End of Everything, and Gillian Flynn's [b:Sharp Objects|66559|Sharp Objects|Gillian Flynn|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298431315s/66559.jpg|3801]. Author Karen Brown is on my radar now and I will definitely be seeking out more of her writing.
This review also posted to Shelf Inflicted.
jaycrust's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
laurenbe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0