Reviews

I bought this book for the cover and because it was set where I grew up and was disappointed.
I didn't even realize this author is also Lemony Snicket - maybe understanding that might have given me different expectations.

Maybe I didn't get it? I don't now what this book was really about. None of the characters were likable. It was kinda creepy and the writing style was very odd.

Two stars only because it was a fairly short read.

hollygo12345's review against another edition

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2.0

I had high hopes for this book because of the writing talents of Daniel Handler. However, I was disappointed, perhaps because the bar was set too high due to A Series of Unfortunate Events.

As I read, I found myself not caring about anyone or what would ultimately happen to them. I kept reading, until the very last page, because I was hoping and expecting it might develop more — the story, the characters and/or the relationships. But it never did. I neither felt invested in the story nor did it matter to me what happened next or at the end. I didn’t feel like I got to know any of the characters well enough to care. They all seemed rather selfish, entitled and self-absorbed.

At times, I found myself re-reading paragraphs several times because I was confused. Nothing seemed to flow - the story, the characters or the relationships. The story-telling felt disjointed at times leading to more confusion.. There were some great metaphors throughout the book but the writing was not up to par to what I expect from Daniel Handler.

Bottle Grove never lived up to expectations and while they may have been high, this book fell very far short.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

dianab6807's review against another edition

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tense slow-paced

2.0

balfies's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

A weird little book about secretive ferocious wildness of Silicon Valley marriages. Not my favourite from Handler but once again his prose really is delightful. Felt like it was leaning too hard on too many metaphors, there were just a few too many plates spinning in the air for it to cohere narratively. Read Why We Broke Up instead.

madeincanada82591's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective tense 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

3.75

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