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abundance_of_fiction's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
2.75 ⭐️ rounding to 3 for Good reads.
This book has an intriguing premise, exploring the themes of grief and classism through two different groups.
On one side, you have the tormented family of Marie, Leo, Brendon, Penelope, and Hannah. The family recently lost their daughter/sister/twin Phoebe to an accident, and have relocated to Marie’s family’s home in the country to cope with the loss. There are A LOT of alternating POVs that simultaneously give you insight to the characters but also feel a bit messy.
On the other hand, we have Davina aka “the river witch”, who is actually a veteran and mother of a lost daughter? Davina was endearing in her wisdom but towards the end, her storyline seems more befitting a totally different book than the themes we have seen.
The book had a lot of interesting plot moments, but ultimately Marie seems more like a villain than an angry and grieving mother. It was almost like two separate stories were merged together, and neither had any real resolution. There is no real resolution to the grief of the family, Davina is just abused, and POOR BINGO THE DOG! Overall, I didn’t hate if but there wasn’t enough of a resolution for me to feel content with the ending.
This book has an intriguing premise, exploring the themes of grief and classism through two different groups.
On one side, you have the tormented family of Marie, Leo, Brendon, Penelope, and Hannah. The family recently lost their daughter/sister/twin Phoebe to an accident, and have relocated to Marie’s family’s home in the country to cope with the loss. There are A LOT of alternating POVs that simultaneously give you insight to the characters but also feel a bit messy.
On the other hand, we have Davina aka “the river witch”, who is actually a veteran and mother of a lost daughter? Davina was endearing in her wisdom but towards the end, her storyline seems more befitting a totally different book than the themes we have seen.
The book had a lot of interesting plot moments, but ultimately Marie seems more like a villain than an angry and grieving mother. It was almost like two separate stories were merged together, and neither had any real resolution. There is no real resolution to the grief of the family, Davina is just abused, and POOR BINGO THE DOG! Overall, I didn’t hate if but there wasn’t enough of a resolution for me to feel content with the ending.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
4.25
I loved "In an Instant" from this author. I liked this, but didn't connect as much, although I had no trouble finishing. Included in Kindle Unlimited, read and listen (text and audio). Several POVs, and other than a letter as the Prologue (2002) everything was 1st person/present tense. In audio, there were different narrators (six) for the various POVs ... Marie, Penelope, Hannah, Leo, Brendon and Davina. Little Penelope's voice was SO cute. I'm not a fan of Kate Rudd as a narrator (she does a ton, and I know others like her, just some odd inflections and timing) and she voiced Marie. Marie (the mother) was a little hard to like, even knowing her personal story/mind (she gets a really bad wrap from others who only know part of the story here). Pen and Hannah, and Davina, were all extremely likeable. Leo was a little vanilla, and Brendon had some issues. Complex characters and situations.
I don't know how I would have attempted to pronounce the last name of the family - Egides. I listened to the audio ... but I can't remember the pronunciation, other than thinking "how is that spelled?"
The chapters were listed numerically, and the Table of Contents indicates the POV, also included as a header at each chapter/POV change. There was an Author's Note (not included in the audio) that was interesting (a bit about some of the inspiration for the story). There were discussion questions included in the Kindle copy too, and I appreciated them. There were some that gave me pause and made me think and delve a little deeper.
I was a little bugged that (did I miss it?) it was never really explained (and I don't think this is a spoiler because it's talked about right at the start) why Davina and her mother fled from her father, what the situation was.
I don't know how I would have attempted to pronounce the last name of the family - Egides. I listened to the audio ... but I can't remember the pronunciation, other than thinking "how is that spelled?"
The chapters were listed numerically, and the Table of Contents indicates the POV, also included as a header at each chapter/POV change. There was an Author's Note (not included in the audio) that was interesting (a bit about some of the inspiration for the story). There were discussion questions included in the Kindle copy too, and I appreciated them. There were some that gave me pause and made me think and delve a little deeper.
I was a little bugged that (did I miss it?) it was never really explained (and I don't think this is a spoiler because it's talked about right at the start) why Davina and her mother fled from her father, what the situation was.
kbarton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Child death
Moderate: War
Minor: Animal death
danapr's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lorilynn44's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bookanonjeff's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My Scars Remind Me That The Past Is Real. Wait. Sexton. You're quoting *Papa Roach* to title your review of an emotional women's fiction tale? I mean, you've done some crazy shit in your reviews over the years, but come on, dude. Really??
Yes, really, because ultimately this is a tale of scars and the beauty and pain of healing from them - and of allowing them to get you stuck in the first place. Pretty well everyone in this tale has lost loved ones. For many of the perspectives we live in through this tale - a family who recently lost one of their youngest members - the scars are on the inside, and are eating them alive in various forms. For another of the perspectives we live inside in this tale, the scars are much more open and visible, though even these hide just as many internal scars.
And yet, with her usual skill, Redfearn once again turns in an excellent story of healing and hope, even in some of the darkest times unfortunately far too many face. Hopefully, you, the reader of my review, won't actually have these *exact* scars and thus the exact particulars here won't resonate *as* much with you. Read this book anyway, as it could well provide at least a touch of catharsis and magic for even your own scars, no matter what they may be.
And if you *are* one of those who happens to have some remarkably identical scars to our characters here... you have my sympathies and condolences. Read this book anyway as well, and perhaps find at least a modicum of healing and hope in these fictional words. Hell, maybe even learn a lesson from our family here and use this tale as a catalyst to talk to others about your pain and perhaps heal even more from that.
No rooms ever got particularly dusty while I was reading this tale, but I'm also not one who has suffered these particular kinds of scars. Still, the overall quality of the tale and the writing of it is Redfearn's usual excellence, and ultimately the story is truly quite good on so many levels. Very much recommended.
Yes, really, because ultimately this is a tale of scars and the beauty and pain of healing from them - and of allowing them to get you stuck in the first place. Pretty well everyone in this tale has lost loved ones. For many of the perspectives we live in through this tale - a family who recently lost one of their youngest members - the scars are on the inside, and are eating them alive in various forms. For another of the perspectives we live inside in this tale, the scars are much more open and visible, though even these hide just as many internal scars.
And yet, with her usual skill, Redfearn once again turns in an excellent story of healing and hope, even in some of the darkest times unfortunately far too many face. Hopefully, you, the reader of my review, won't actually have these *exact* scars and thus the exact particulars here won't resonate *as* much with you. Read this book anyway, as it could well provide at least a touch of catharsis and magic for even your own scars, no matter what they may be.
And if you *are* one of those who happens to have some remarkably identical scars to our characters here... you have my sympathies and condolences. Read this book anyway as well, and perhaps find at least a modicum of healing and hope in these fictional words. Hell, maybe even learn a lesson from our family here and use this tale as a catalyst to talk to others about your pain and perhaps heal even more from that.
No rooms ever got particularly dusty while I was reading this tale, but I'm also not one who has suffered these particular kinds of scars. Still, the overall quality of the tale and the writing of it is Redfearn's usual excellence, and ultimately the story is truly quite good on so many levels. Very much recommended.
that_bookaholic_gal's review against another edition
5.0
She sat on the edge of the bank, letting the cool river water rush past her feet. She sunk her fingers into the dirt and let the earth ground her. Birds chirped in the branches above, while a soft wind blew and whispered through the long grasses beside her. Time stood still right here in this moment, granting her some peace and a moment to let the trouble of life disappear.
Where Butterflies Wander is a contemporary fiction following a family struggling with grief as they move to a new place to try and reset their lives and move forward.
This book… simply put… amazing. Told through multiple POVs of a struggling family after the loss of a child/sibling and a woman who enters their lives and stirs things up, also struggling with her own losses. This was emotional and heart-breaking, yet heart-warming and a true hug at the same time. I loved watching these characters grow, learn, deal with their grief, transform into who they were meant to be… it was just such a wonderful read. Suzanne Redfearn’s stories always capture my heart and once again she’s penned another beautiful book.
I highly recommend this one, especially if you’re a fan of contemporary stories dealing with growth, working through grief, and the power of family.
Where Butterflies Wander is a contemporary fiction following a family struggling with grief as they move to a new place to try and reset their lives and move forward.
This book… simply put… amazing. Told through multiple POVs of a struggling family after the loss of a child/sibling and a woman who enters their lives and stirs things up, also struggling with her own losses. This was emotional and heart-breaking, yet heart-warming and a true hug at the same time. I loved watching these characters grow, learn, deal with their grief, transform into who they were meant to be… it was just such a wonderful read. Suzanne Redfearn’s stories always capture my heart and once again she’s penned another beautiful book.
I highly recommend this one, especially if you’re a fan of contemporary stories dealing with growth, working through grief, and the power of family.