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kindleandkettle's review against another edition
4.0
My Daughter’s Wedding is the perfect light hearted read, full of humour & a cast of crazy characters.
The story is focused on Nora, her daughters, Joy & Hope and her mother Daphne. Four years ago, Hope vanished without and explanation and refused to acknowledge any contact from Nora. She was in contact with her sister Joy. Flash forward to today & Hope rings out of the blue telling Nora she is getting married and that she will be planning the wedding (of course, without any input from Nora because she always makes things about herself…so basically Nora is expected to foot the bill).
The book is primarily written from the perspective of Nora, in her diary as a record of the events in the lead up to the wedding. What follows is a crazy, constant, recollection of events. Nora takes every opportunity to record things in her diary, sometimes too consistently. The diary format allows Nora to lay everything out there, her innermost thoughts and worries. At times, I thought the characters were as mad as hatters. But given the light hearted nature of the story, it made me enjoy it even further. While it is a comedy, it does truly represent the family dynamic and how mothers can feel. It also does a wonderful job of representing mothers from different generations.
If you are looking for a fun read, I definitely recommend this. Overall, I rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
Thank you to @tandemcollectiveglobal @hachetteaus & @gretalkilleen for my gifted copy of My Daughter’s Wedding.
The story is focused on Nora, her daughters, Joy & Hope and her mother Daphne. Four years ago, Hope vanished without and explanation and refused to acknowledge any contact from Nora. She was in contact with her sister Joy. Flash forward to today & Hope rings out of the blue telling Nora she is getting married and that she will be planning the wedding (of course, without any input from Nora because she always makes things about herself…so basically Nora is expected to foot the bill).
The book is primarily written from the perspective of Nora, in her diary as a record of the events in the lead up to the wedding. What follows is a crazy, constant, recollection of events. Nora takes every opportunity to record things in her diary, sometimes too consistently. The diary format allows Nora to lay everything out there, her innermost thoughts and worries. At times, I thought the characters were as mad as hatters. But given the light hearted nature of the story, it made me enjoy it even further. While it is a comedy, it does truly represent the family dynamic and how mothers can feel. It also does a wonderful job of representing mothers from different generations.
If you are looking for a fun read, I definitely recommend this. Overall, I rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
Thank you to @tandemcollectiveglobal @hachetteaus & @gretalkilleen for my gifted copy of My Daughter’s Wedding.
cec_loves_to_read_books's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this thinking, oh great a little light-hearted read...but turns out that’s not what I got. This book is very, very funny and quirky and bizarre in places too but as you can see by my multiple sticky notes it’s also a really insightful look at the complexities of mother/daughter relationships. Maybe it was because my mother and daughter were in hospital while I read most of the book, maybe it was because I can clearly recall planning my own wedding and the pressure I placed on my mother at that time, maybe it was just because I am bone achingly tired in that ‘been a parent for 16 years and a daughter for 43 years’ kind of way...whatever the reason the book resonated with me deeply.
Written in diary style you get only the main character Nora’s point of view for most of the book which worked well but at times you were left thinking is she the most reliable narrator here?!
Prepare to be surprised by some very outlandish plot twists and a lot happening in a very short space of time. Prepare too, to feel deeply for Nora and her mother and daughters and the oddball characters that form up their ‘family’.
Written in diary style you get only the main character Nora’s point of view for most of the book which worked well but at times you were left thinking is she the most reliable narrator here?!
Prepare to be surprised by some very outlandish plot twists and a lot happening in a very short space of time. Prepare too, to feel deeply for Nora and her mother and daughters and the oddball characters that form up their ‘family’.
bookshelfbybee's review against another edition
3.0
From the start, I enjoyed this one immensely - I always wanted to keep reading and despite starting the readalong later than everyone else, I caught up quickly. This book was fun and fantastical and hilarious. I often found myself smiling and laughing out loud.
There were times when the plot and characters felt a little bizarre, but I just reminded myself that the nature of this book is light-hearted comedy. As discussed with the readalong group, I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters and felt like Nora’s daughters were (excuse the language) ungrateful bitches. They did redeem themselves a little at the end, but barely.
I appreciated the insight and commentary into the relationship between mother’s and their daughters. It was also interesting to see how those relationships differ to those between mother’s and their sons. Given the story was told almost entirely through Nora’s diary entries, I can appreciate that it was slightly bias; however, I finished this book very quickly and really liked it.
When to Read - If you want something silly and lighthearted.
There were times when the plot and characters felt a little bizarre, but I just reminded myself that the nature of this book is light-hearted comedy. As discussed with the readalong group, I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters and felt like Nora’s daughters were (excuse the language) ungrateful bitches. They did redeem themselves a little at the end, but barely.
I appreciated the insight and commentary into the relationship between mother’s and their daughters. It was also interesting to see how those relationships differ to those between mother’s and their sons. Given the story was told almost entirely through Nora’s diary entries, I can appreciate that it was slightly bias; however, I finished this book very quickly and really liked it.
When to Read - If you want something silly and lighthearted.
thelifeoflaura's review against another edition
4.0
Hope vanished four years ago. Her mother, Nora, never knew why. Hope refused to answer her mother’s calls, emails or texts. While she maintained contact with her sister, Joy, her mother heard nothing. Until she suddenly reappears, calling her mother - ‘I’m coming home, I’m getting married’.
I really enjoyed reading this book, but I also simultaneously hated almost all of the characters. Hope and (occasionally) Joy are absolute jerks to their mother, Nora. While they are 20-something year old’s, the way they treated her and acted, reminded me of children or teenage bullies. She’s a woman that has spent her life caring and loving for her daughters (maybe paying a little bit too much attention to Hope than Joy), but they treat her like she’s an idiot. Nora mother is hilarious thought...
It’s a bit silly, a bit crazy and kinda fun and I really did enjoy it!
I really enjoyed reading this book, but I also simultaneously hated almost all of the characters. Hope and (occasionally) Joy are absolute jerks to their mother, Nora. While they are 20-something year old’s, the way they treated her and acted, reminded me of children or teenage bullies. She’s a woman that has spent her life caring and loving for her daughters (maybe paying a little bit too much attention to Hope than Joy), but they treat her like she’s an idiot. Nora mother is hilarious thought...
It’s a bit silly, a bit crazy and kinda fun and I really did enjoy it!
brookesbookstagram's review against another edition
4.0
TW: dementia, mental health, suicide, traumatic/premature birth and death.
What a completely hilarious, hysterical and whimiscal book by Gretel Killeen.
From the first page, I became completely obsessed with reading and learning about the dynamic of Nora, her polar opposite daughters Hope and Joy, and Nora's own mother, Daphne.
I absolutely loved the up's and downs of the mother/daughter relationships within this book and found that they were beautifully crafted and scripted by the author. I found these relationships genuine and highly relatable! So many laugh out loud moments in this book, which had strangers staring at me on the plane!
I was gifted this book by Tandem Collective Global for a readalong.
What a completely hilarious, hysterical and whimiscal book by Gretel Killeen.
From the first page, I became completely obsessed with reading and learning about the dynamic of Nora, her polar opposite daughters Hope and Joy, and Nora's own mother, Daphne.
I absolutely loved the up's and downs of the mother/daughter relationships within this book and found that they were beautifully crafted and scripted by the author. I found these relationships genuine and highly relatable! So many laugh out loud moments in this book, which had strangers staring at me on the plane!
I was gifted this book by Tandem Collective Global for a readalong.
shadowteabooks's review against another edition
3.0
Thankyou better reads for this arc of My Daughter’s wedding by Gretel Killeen.
A fast paced, easy read. Loved it! With the natural mother daughter relationships and the ups and downs the bring. This book in the end was quite heartfelt and humorous all in one, the ups the downs and the in between! Quite cleverly written in the point of view of a diary!
Highly recommended this to anyone that wants a quick read with the occasional serious moment but a laugh as well!
A fast paced, easy read. Loved it! With the natural mother daughter relationships and the ups and downs the bring. This book in the end was quite heartfelt and humorous all in one, the ups the downs and the in between! Quite cleverly written in the point of view of a diary!
Highly recommended this to anyone that wants a quick read with the occasional serious moment but a laugh as well!
similarblonde's review
Note to self: check the rating and reviews BEFORE buying the book!
DNFd at page 150.
I gave it a good chance. I put it down for a few days and just could not bring myself to pick it up again.
There is only so much of the protagonist being blamed for EVERYTHING by her kids and mother, the protagonist accepting it and then whinging about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in a journal that a person can read
DNFd at page 150.
I gave it a good chance. I put it down for a few days and just could not bring myself to pick it up again.
There is only so much of the protagonist being blamed for EVERYTHING by her kids and mother, the protagonist accepting it and then whinging about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in a journal that a person can read
joneva's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Dementia, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy
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