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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Clever construction, sensitive examination of a difficult topic, believable characters and a great twist at the end.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This book was not one bit riveting and took me an age to finish.
It is my first one-star review on Goodreads, which is a pretty amazing feat given that I am an avid reader. I hesitate to give one-star reviews to authors, yet this time I just can't resist.
I was very angry upon finishing this book. The amount of graphic descriptions that detail the protagonist's imaginings of how she is going to kill each of her three children is absurd and gross. One description, yes, maybe; I couldn't reconcile why there had to be countless full-on descriptions of the bludgeoning of children to death. The discourse on maternal angst dragged on and on for 422 pages - this, that could have been written and closed on in 150.
What I was reminded of constantly as I read this novel was Margaret Atwood's sentiment in 'A Handmaid's Tale' that, sometimes, bored people get sick to make their lives interesting. This is truly the rut I felt the protagonist's murderous musings were borne of. A non-working, well-off mother-of-three, 'Jess', the protagonist, I found to be a hateful character - not relatable in the slightest. She is described to the reader as having an 'anxious' temperament (why - no reason is given), and shows zero humility or gratitude for the privileged life she leads as a stay-at-home parent with three beautiful children to care for.
I was rooting for the husband's emotional escapades with The One That Got Away, Charlotte, to turn physical, as I felt that his having an affair would have somewhat salvaged this flop of a novel. (As some other random misfortune befalling the insufferable Jess would have.) Alas, no such titillating saving grace occurred. As for Jess's character development from beginning to end, it amounts to her admitting that, yes, she may have been neglectful by leaving her children alone for 20 minutes to run to the shop, BUT she's been no more neglectful than Charlotte (!!!).
Not even my librarian liked this novel, admitting it was 'not nice' (quote) and that it should never have been published. I hold out hope that the other two Sarah Vaughan ones she recommended to me - Anatomy of a Scandal and Revelation - will be better.
It is my first one-star review on Goodreads, which is a pretty amazing feat given that I am an avid reader. I hesitate to give one-star reviews to authors, yet this time I just can't resist.
I was very angry upon finishing this book. The amount of graphic descriptions that detail the protagonist's imaginings of how she is going to kill each of her three children is absurd and gross. One description, yes, maybe; I couldn't reconcile why there had to be countless full-on descriptions of the bludgeoning of children to death. The discourse on maternal angst dragged on and on for 422 pages - this, that could have been written and closed on in 150.
What I was reminded of constantly as I read this novel was Margaret Atwood's sentiment in 'A Handmaid's Tale' that, sometimes, bored people get sick to make their lives interesting. This is truly the rut I felt the protagonist's murderous musings were borne of. A non-working, well-off mother-of-three, 'Jess', the protagonist, I found to be a hateful character - not relatable in the slightest. She is described to the reader as having an 'anxious' temperament (why - no reason is given), and shows zero humility or gratitude for the privileged life she leads as a stay-at-home parent with three beautiful children to care for.
I was rooting for the husband's emotional escapades with The One That Got Away, Charlotte, to turn physical, as I felt that his having an affair would have somewhat salvaged this flop of a novel. (As some other random misfortune befalling the insufferable Jess would have.) Alas, no such titillating saving grace occurred. As for Jess's character development from beginning to end, it amounts to her admitting that, yes, she may have been neglectful by leaving her children alone for 20 minutes to run to the shop, BUT she's been no more neglectful than Charlotte (!!!).
Not even my librarian liked this novel, admitting it was 'not nice' (quote) and that it should never have been published. I hold out hope that the other two Sarah Vaughan ones she recommended to me - Anatomy of a Scandal and Revelation - will be better.
A group of women found a bond after meeting at a birthing class, but each of them has a secret if you take the time to look close enough. Jess brought her baby into the emergency room for illness; however, she walked out with an accusation of abusing her child.
This is a very subtle thriller. The story that anybody can relate to. Do you know your friends even after a long time without seeing each other? The characters are alive and the dialogues are well thought out. This is a page-turner as it's not overly dramatic but rather a roller coaster. It's a suspicion behind each page. When you think you know someone until you don't.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very subtle thriller. The story that anybody can relate to. Do you know your friends even after a long time without seeing each other? The characters are alive and the dialogues are well thought out. This is a page-turner as it's not overly dramatic but rather a roller coaster. It's a suspicion behind each page. When you think you know someone until you don't.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Physical abuse, Pregnancy
Perhaps it was the lengthy wait list for this book that made me think ultimately it is disappointing. The 4 female characters are not at all likeable and the main narrator, a Dr., is remarkably unobservant. And why on earth are they friends with someone they don’t particularly like?
I really struggled to finish this book. Not that it wasn't well written - it was. The characters were highly developed. But there didn't seem to be much of a mystery here until there was. It seemed to go on and on, covering the issue of post natal anxiety ad nauseum. I usually read suspense novels but this reads more like a family drama (or several family dramas). As the numerous positive reviews illustrate, many will enjoy this, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader’s copy for review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader’s copy for review.
I went from thinking this was a bit dull with the opening chapter giving away the entire plot, to loving the increasing complexity and depth of characters and enjoying the story immensely.
The last turnaround was mildly disappointing and felt like a "last-minute shock" that wasn't entirely necessary for the book to work.
In all, great read, definitely brought back all my fears about motherhood to the forefront!
The last turnaround was mildly disappointing and felt like a "last-minute shock" that wasn't entirely necessary for the book to work.
In all, great read, definitely brought back all my fears about motherhood to the forefront!
I don’t feel that this is a book for that was really meant for me. I’m not a parent and this was definitely geared towards feelings of parenthood and mental health. It think if those themes are relevant to you then it’s a decent read. A little drama, a little thriller, and a whole lot of parental feelings. The only thing didn’t love about he writing was there were way too many named people that didn’t matter. A little more focus would have helped.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES AUGUST 18, 2020.
The story will resonate with many mothers, but not being a parent didn’t prevent me from relating to the book. In fact, the opposite was true as I wondered if I possessed the selflessness needed to raise children.
Little Disasters was a well-paced psychological drama with an excellent multi layered plot. As the story reveals layer by layer, we get to know a heartbreaking truth behind an incident and how it affects the whole family and friends. Both main characters are well portrayed and extremely believable and I could not help but felt sorry for them. I really enjoyed the twist at the end which I definitely did not see coming.
This is definitely not and easy read but very compelling and beautifully written. Highly recommend.
The story will resonate with many mothers, but not being a parent didn’t prevent me from relating to the book. In fact, the opposite was true as I wondered if I possessed the selflessness needed to raise children.
Little Disasters was a well-paced psychological drama with an excellent multi layered plot. As the story reveals layer by layer, we get to know a heartbreaking truth behind an incident and how it affects the whole family and friends. Both main characters are well portrayed and extremely believable and I could not help but felt sorry for them. I really enjoyed the twist at the end which I definitely did not see coming.
This is definitely not and easy read but very compelling and beautifully written. Highly recommend.