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booksinbama's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
switchbacksarah's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
rebroxannape's review
3.0
Early in this “slice of life” novel, I said to myself, “Are we supposed to like these people?” Our main character, Bridget, though very wealthy and elite, was letting her summer cottage fall down around her ears, and wore stretched-out sweatpants when going visiting in public. It struck me as something that only a rich privileged person would feel OK doing. As if, along with her deliberate ignorance of internet-based technology, she was trying to cultivate a phony “Look how normal and down-to-earth I am!” reputation. It really put my back up. Later we learn why she is like she is and I felt better about her.
And I had the same mixed feelings about her best friend Will, her adult children, her sister, and her father, all of whom we spend a great deal of time with. Also, Gavin, another main character but separate from the family. There were a lot of characters in this book, and all were interesting and well-drawn. But the more I got to know the main ones, the more I found to disapprove. They, most of them, were essentially all good people at heart, which I recognized. But I was still irritated. I guess that’s a compliment to Amy Poeppel’s writing and her deft true-to-life characterizations. The core group ended up growing and changing for the better and by the end, I wished them well in their, thankfully, new directions. But thank goodness for Marge, the housekeeper, Kevin the handyman, and to a lesser extent, Jackie, her father’s new P.A. (although she was a bit prissy about the cats drinking out of the faucet.)
This book, like the previous two I have read by this author, is centered around first-world problems. But for some reason, this did not bother me in those. In fact, I enjoyed that aspect. It seemed like there were more important things at stake and their problems and dramas were not entirely of their own making. And they did things about them.
I was entertained by this book. There was humor, a little drama, a little suspense, a little romance, and I loved the ending. Everything came together nicely.
**3 1/2 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/books/
Bridget was not a messy person by nature. She was clean, and she had good taste. But she had a blind spot when it came to seeing when change was needed. When a lightbulb burned out, it stayed burned out. When a window latch broke, it stayed broken. Screens stayed torn; floors stayed damaged. She was sentimental, keeping T-shirts for decades, regardless of their condition, and driving the same car she’d gotten when the kids were born, convinced it would have its feelings hurt if she sold it. Marge was no therapist, but it was clear that losing a mother to cancer at only eleven, the greatest, most difficult loss imaginable, had left Bridget wanting to keep everything in her life steady. The same house, the same job, the same music partner.
And I had the same mixed feelings about her best friend Will, her adult children, her sister, and her father, all of whom we spend a great deal of time with. Also, Gavin, another main character but separate from the family. There were a lot of characters in this book, and all were interesting and well-drawn. But the more I got to know the main ones, the more I found to disapprove. They, most of them, were essentially all good people at heart, which I recognized. But I was still irritated. I guess that’s a compliment to Amy Poeppel’s writing and her deft true-to-life characterizations. The core group ended up growing and changing for the better and by the end, I wished them well in their, thankfully, new directions. But thank goodness for Marge, the housekeeper, Kevin the handyman, and to a lesser extent, Jackie, her father’s new P.A. (although she was a bit prissy about the cats drinking out of the faucet.)
This book, like the previous two I have read by this author, is centered around first-world problems. But for some reason, this did not bother me in those. In fact, I enjoyed that aspect. It seemed like there were more important things at stake and their problems and dramas were not entirely of their own making. And they did things about them.
I was entertained by this book. There was humor, a little drama, a little suspense, a little romance, and I loved the ending. Everything came together nicely.
**3 1/2 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/books/
jodeezle's review
4.0
This is the fist book that I have read by Amy Poeppel and I have to say that I will definately add her to my 'to read' author list.
This is the story of Bridget and Will. They have that kind of relationship that everyone hopes to have with their partner. They are loving, compatible and completely devoted to each other. But wait, they are not married. This is one of the things about this book that I really liked. So much happens in this book. The Stratton family has a life changing summer when they spend it at Bridget's house. Now not only their family will experience this but also their group of friends. This book isn't just a rom com. This book give you very real take on how it all comes out, and dep insight to how what we want later in life is going to be different than what we wanted when you were young.
I am definately ging to recommend this book to my friends. I think they will enjoy it as much as I did.
Thank you NetGalley & Atria publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Bridget and Will. They have that kind of relationship that everyone hopes to have with their partner. They are loving, compatible and completely devoted to each other. But wait, they are not married. This is one of the things about this book that I really liked. So much happens in this book. The Stratton family has a life changing summer when they spend it at Bridget's house. Now not only their family will experience this but also their group of friends. This book isn't just a rom com. This book give you very real take on how it all comes out, and dep insight to how what we want later in life is going to be different than what we wanted when you were young.
I am definately ging to recommend this book to my friends. I think they will enjoy it as much as I did.
Thank you NetGalley & Atria publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
jusuwa's review
5.0
4.5 Ok, this is a book about the problems of rich white people BUT I really enjoyed that this focussed on a middle-aged woman reevaluating her life and making different choices. It's funny and heart-warming and I really liked the depiction of the decades-long friendship between Bridget and Will. Pure comfort reading.
kobby34's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
Bridget and Will have been friends since Juilliard, but that is it, they are strictly friends. They form 2 of the Forsyth Trio - the third being Gavin, their classmate. However, Gavin left them, and has become a star, while their trio is floundering.
One night, Bridget wants to have a child, and has sex with a very handsome man. The next day, she goes to the doctor to be artificially inseminated. She has twins (Isabelle and Oscar), but doesn't know who the dad is.
Now, years later Bridget is at her home in CT, and her dad, wealthy Edward, is getting married. A series of mishaps and family crises follow.
Comical, romantic, and a nice story of friendship.
One night, Bridget wants to have a child, and has sex with a very handsome man. The next day, she goes to the doctor to be artificially inseminated. She has twins (Isabelle and Oscar), but doesn't know who the dad is.
Now, years later Bridget is at her home in CT, and her dad, wealthy Edward, is getting married. A series of mishaps and family crises follow.
Comical, romantic, and a nice story of friendship.