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emilywemily6's review
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I adored this book. It was such a lovely treat to listen to, I could just dwell in the audiobook for as long as it would go on. It was a slow and calming read with a lot of nostalgia and romance (in the sense that life was romanticized, past and present, because of the good that came out of it in the end). It made me want to have more children and revel in their individuality and dreams and share with them my own past and dreams. It made me want to get involved with community theatre again. It made me want to move to Michigan and work on a cherry tree farm. There are definitely hardships/traumas mentioned, but not explicitly, since Lara is telling the story after years have gone by and she has a broader perspective. She also dictates how her story is told to her grown children and keeps a couple secrets to herself, though the reader gets let in on those secrets covertly. There isn’t really a climax or big reveal, though a few small twists and turns as you follow the story. I felt like Lara’s fourth daughter listening in on this story being told and I’m in a bit of a book hangover now that that world is over for me. It felt so realistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death, Bullying, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Addiction, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Drug use, Vomit, Sexism, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion and Classism
leahgustafson's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the first book I finished this year, and I already know it will be on my “Best of the Year” list. I loved everything about this one!
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This is simultaneously a coming of age story and a reflective look at the past from a middle-aged narrator. It is looking back on a life well-lived with all the ups, downs, and turns along the way. I love how the family relationships were depicted, especially the relationships between sisters.
•
This book highlights the importance of stories, especially in difficult times (as it’s set during the COVID lockdown in the spring of 2020). It also illuminates how we CHOOSE to tell our stories. This is something I hadn’t thought much about previously. However, it leads to questions about how well we can truly know others and in this case, how well children can know their parents.
•
The Midwest charm filled my heart with so much joy! Also, while this is technically a pandemic novel, COVID is simply the backdrop that allows this story to happen. I enjoyed the duality Lara very beautifully articulates—the world is falling apart AND she feels immense gratitude for the opportunity to slow down and just “be” with her adult children.
•
This one absolutely lived up to the hype for me, and it’s one I will likely revisit someday. Meryl Streep is fantastic on the audio version if you’re looking for something good to listen to 🎧📖
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Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Abortion
robin_b_93's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion
kelliepalmer's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion
hannahksc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed this book, it’s well written and easy to read (or listen to, as I listened to some of it) however sometimes you have to guess at which character is speaking. The story itself was nice but it didn’t have a strong hook, and though I enjoyed reading it, I probably could have put it down part way and not thought of it again. (Though I didn’t because it was for my book club) There were a few random parts such as Emily’s reason for not wanting children . It’s fine to not want children, but to have a small climate change speech out of the blue and then never mention it again was weird. I also thought “what was the point of that, other then to be randomly depressing” when the talked about Brian and then the abortion. Overall I enjoyed the book other then the two mentioned parts, and am glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion, Addiction, and Child death
gkaltam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abortion
emilythebarwench's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wasn't sure going into this if it was going to be my cup of tea, but each chapter pulled me into the next. The characters and development were great.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Abortion
mdavis26's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Abortion, Alcohol, Vomit, Racism, Cancer, Blood, and Drug use
moack_5's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An interesting walk through the life of a young woman. Involving fame, career, family, and sickness. A retelling of a story of fame to a sweet family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion and Alcoholism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Pandemic/Epidemic, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Racism
karolinez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Abortion