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lisaeirene's review against another edition
3.0
Wish I could give it 3.5 stars because it's better than just 3.
This book read like a memoir and reading through the interview with the author at the back of the book it was based on her own life and struggles with alcoholism so it kind of was...just turned into fiction. Because of that it often read like a memoir and that left me feeling a little disjointed with the character's voice vs. the author's voice. It felt like it was at battle at times.
Why I didn't give it 4 stars--the actual alcoholism part wasn't really discussed much. There were a few chapters, a few paragraphs here and there where she described the alcoholism and what happened but I never felt like it was enough. Like she didn't hit ROCK BOTTOM...I feel like the author could have developed this part of the story more instead of focusing so much on her relationship with the kid. The very long dialogues and interactions with the 5 year old kid felt a little boring to me. I wanted to read more about the fall and then the rise back up.
Despite those minor annoyances, it was a pretty good book and I liked the author's writing style and character development.
This book read like a memoir and reading through the interview with the author at the back of the book it was based on her own life and struggles with alcoholism so it kind of was...just turned into fiction. Because of that it often read like a memoir and that left me feeling a little disjointed with the character's voice vs. the author's voice. It felt like it was at battle at times.
Why I didn't give it 4 stars--the actual alcoholism part wasn't really discussed much. There were a few chapters, a few paragraphs here and there where she described the alcoholism and what happened but I never felt like it was enough. Like she didn't hit ROCK BOTTOM...I feel like the author could have developed this part of the story more instead of focusing so much on her relationship with the kid. The very long dialogues and interactions with the 5 year old kid felt a little boring to me. I wanted to read more about the fall and then the rise back up.
Despite those minor annoyances, it was a pretty good book and I liked the author's writing style and character development.
renflew's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent novel about an ordinary woman/mother's descent into alcoholism. Difficult to read at times because it was so raw and real. Highly recommend.
janmel77's review against another edition
4.0
This book had me from the first page, I could not put it down. It was sad yet hopeful and seemed to give an accurate portrayal of a mother falling into alcoholism.
gettinglostinagoodbook's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me interested from the first page. While I am not a drinker, it was easy to see how Cadence could be led to this. Her trials and frustrations were made very real by the emotions written into the work. Definite would recommend this. Actually bought mother Hvatny book today.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.0
An intriguing look at a woman who becomes an alcoholic after a difficult divorce, and then she loses custody of her child. The book shows how she becomes an alcoholic as well as part of her recovery. The book rotates between flashbacks and the present, which is confusing since the chapters aren't labeled with a timeframe and the flashbacks are only a year or two before the present.
Not being an alcoholic myself,I found the introspection and inner thoughts of the main character very intriguing. Given that she wasn't an alcoholic her whole adult life, it's refreshing to see that she can dig herself out of her mess.
The alcoholics I know don't acknowledge that they have a problem, and they are/were alcoholics for most of their lives. A book about a career alcoholic would be far less sympathetic toward the main character and very depressing. The hope in this book is quite uplifting.
Not being an alcoholic myself,I found the introspection and inner thoughts of the main character very intriguing. Given that she wasn't an alcoholic her whole adult life, it's refreshing to see that she can dig herself out of her mess.
The alcoholics I know don't acknowledge that they have a problem, and they are/were alcoholics for most of their lives. A book about a career alcoholic would be far less sympathetic toward the main character and very depressing. The hope in this book is quite uplifting.
laceylkhoury's review against another edition
2.0
I felt like this was a g-rated, unrealistic look at addiction.
kristacapp92's review against another edition
5.0
Hard to read, especially if you have alcoholism in you life in one way or another.
ceuran's review against another edition
5.0
Hatvany is the best at showing and not telling emotions. Best Kept Secret was very eye opening. It shows you how people can spiral to find themselves in such a bad place and why it's always worth it to give them a second chance. I have much love for this woman and the books that she writes. If anybody can write about a hard and potentially controversial topic and handle it well, it's this girl.