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greatexpectations77's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book, and I was impressed at how the author could so intimately describe the characters' emotions. It was also a really complex look at the characters, which made them feel really human. People are extremely imperfect and make mistakes that hurt people, but we can't easily put them into boxes that are as simple as "good" and "bad." Will definitely read this author again. He had some really good turns of phrase.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Infertility, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Outing, and Homophobia
fuguballoon's review against another edition
I had to stop reading after the second outing (homophobia). It was too upsetting.
This is a character-driven novel, but ironically, most of the reader's insight into the characters comes via external action. I think the author was much better at writing Ned, the main male character, than any of the women. Some of the women's choices just didn't have the same clear motivations as Ned, and their characters were less consistent. (My pet peeves were Betty and Florence, who both read as classic narcissistic parents, but magically became thoughtful when it was convenient to the story, which--if you know any real narcissistic parents--is not a thing.)
Even so, this book wasn't badly written on a craft level. I just couldn't stomach the homophobia, and from reading the other reviews, it sounds like it was only going to get bleaker the rest of the way.
This is a character-driven novel, but ironically, most of the reader's insight into the characters comes via external action. I think the author was much better at writing Ned, the main male character, than any of the women. Some of the women's choices just didn't have the same clear motivations as Ned, and their characters were less consistent. (My pet peeves were Betty and Florence, who both read as classic narcissistic parents, but magically became thoughtful when it was convenient to the story, which--if you know any real narcissistic parents--is not a thing.)
Even so, this book wasn't badly written on a craft level. I just couldn't stomach the homophobia, and from reading the other reviews, it sounds like it was only going to get bleaker the rest of the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Outing, and Homophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse
kyriannaj's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Completely disregard the summary. It doesn't accurately set the book up, and having read and expected that to be what was delivered, I spent the first 100 pages confused and frustrated that what I was promised was no where to be found. However, after that 100 pages? I fell in love. I was fascinated by the characters, their choices, their development, everything. Ned was a confusing character to me and I have mixed feelings on him. His relationship with Mariel also perplexed me. To me though, Florence stole the show. Her innate humanity throughout, the good choices, bad decisions, compromises, consequences, successes, and changes throughout her life were the heart of the book. I felt the ending was rushed and st uggling to figure out a way to wrap it up. I think it would've benefitted from another few chapters to really finalize and let the ending build.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Outing, Pregnancy, Infertility, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Death of parent, Car accident, Death, and Child abuse
diana_reads_and_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infertility, Homophobia, Child death, Outing, and Infidelity
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