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lamom77's review against another edition
3.0
I have always really enjoyed Beatriz Williams's books, but this one sat on my TBR for a few years. I guess maybe my subconscious somehow knew I wouldn't love it. It started strong and the idea was great, but it was fairly predictable, there were a few mistakes in the writing, and I got bored in the middle. The ending was fine.
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
Alternating between scenes set in 1947and excerpts from a biography, this historical fiction novel follows a female photojournalist's hunt for the truth about a renowned, but forgotten, aviation pioneer, Sam Mallory. Janey, the photojournalist, finds herself in a remote surfing village in Kauai trying to extract details about Mallory's life and fatal final flight from Irene Lindquist, a woman Janey believes is actually the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory's one-time student and flying partner. The story is set primarily in Hawaii but also takes the reader to locations such as California, Australia, and Spain during that country's Civil War. The locations drew me into the story and I felt transported to a different time and place due to the historical details that brought these worlds to life. Both women are strong and have pushed the boundaries, but have also put up walls around their true selves despite their apparent fearlessness. I found this to be a page-turner and I kept wanting to learn more about each intriguing woman. While I did deduce certain plot points before they were ultimately revealed, I enjoyed the story and how it unfolded. This was the first book I've read by this author and it certainly won't be my last. I found this novel to be just the right bit of escapism I needed. This review was based on the Advanced Reader Edition I received via NetGalley. Many thanks to William Morrow and Book Club Girl for this early read!
larlane's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book - some parts dragged on a bit, but for the most part it was an enjoyable read. Similar story to Amelia Earhart, which made me want to read about her story too.
3twirlygirls's review against another edition
4.0
Slow start, had a hard time liking the characters for most of the book, but ended up liking it more than I expected.
shayner's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cbh2584's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book which tells two stories, one unfolding in the “present” of 1947 and the other spanning twenty years prior about the mystery surrounding the fatal plane crash of a famous pilot and the disappearance of another. Definitely kept me entertained and had a couple good surprises.
4.5 stars....knocking it down a little cause one of the characters drove me nuts at times, but that’s also a credit to the author to make character personalities come off so strong.
4.5 stars....knocking it down a little cause one of the characters drove me nuts at times, but that’s also a credit to the author to make character personalities come off so strong.
littlelady_28's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me a while to get into, but about halfway through I realized I was really invested in these characters and the last half of the book flew by. The book is told through a “present” (1947) storyline about a young woman who has found Irene Foster, a famous aviator, who mysteriously “disappeared” about 10 years prior. Her goal (or so she claims) is to interview Irene so she can write a book about Sam Mallory, a friend of Irene’s, who was also an aviator prior to his plane crash in a desert in Spain. The second-tier story is told through excerpts of the book which tell of Irene and Sam meeting and falling in love, despite Sam being married to another woman.
The author manages to draw readers in to both women’s stories, slowly revealing details of their pasts that allow readers to understand the women’s actions and motives. The ending, while not necessarily what I wanted, was satisfactory, though sad, and I found myself tearing up which is something that normally doesn’t happen to me when reading. The characters likeability gets a 9 out of 10, as does the overall plot. I give this a B-.
The author manages to draw readers in to both women’s stories, slowly revealing details of their pasts that allow readers to understand the women’s actions and motives. The ending, while not necessarily what I wanted, was satisfactory, though sad, and I found myself tearing up which is something that normally doesn’t happen to me when reading. The characters likeability gets a 9 out of 10, as does the overall plot. I give this a B-.
kdunst's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
laure24's review against another edition
3.0
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book from Goodreads. I enjoy the historical fiction of Beatriz Williams. She excels at telling a story in multiple timelines and then bringing the threads together at the end. The book is no exception and the reader follows both Irene and Janey to an interesting and unexpected conclusion. I would recommend this book!
kimskim's review against another edition
This book was alright but it did not hold my attention that well.