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laurahny2023's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Death
annamay1021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Rape, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Death
grettypop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Mallory Blessing is dying (this is not a spoiler, you find this out on page 1). On her deathbed, she asks her son, Link, to call up one person Link had no idea had any connection to his mother, Jake McCloud. Jake is the husband of the soon-to-be first female president of the United States.
So how do those two know each other? Well, Mallory and Jake have met 28 years ago, and have agreed to meet up for one weekend a year, every single year, to "catch up". Yes, theirs is a love affair. And we follow this through 28 summers, along with learning about the life, growth, and troubles of each of the characters involved.
I was very torn on what to rate this book, because of my conflicting feelings. I do NOT condone cheating, and while this book definitely romanticizes it and makes it seem "acceptable" and "everyone does it", my moral compass felt off the entire time.
Also I was extremely annoyed with the whole Mal & Jake thing... Why do you CHOOSE to make yourself unhappy?! - as my therapist would say. "Just be with each other!" - I screamed at them.
With that said, I devoured this book. I laughed, cried, and felt along with each of the characters. The book felt fast paced, sprinkled in with real life events that happened in each of those years that lead up to the heartbreaking conclusion you KNOW is coming. I loved this book, but I could not relate to these characters. If you find love, why wait?! Hold onto it!!
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cancer, Toxic friendship, Death, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness
ashleymarie6's review
- 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
Graphic: Terminal illness, Cancer, Death of parent, and Death
lindsayerin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Infidelity
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Sexism and Eating disorder
marlaavery's review
4.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Rape
Minor: Eating disorder
katiejohns's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, Death, Cancer, and Sexual assault
natalieba's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Infidelity and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy and Cancer
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Cancer, and Sexual assault
Minor: Misogyny and Pregnancy
sophiafandel's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent