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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
feeling empathy for myself, my mother, and all women bc of this book.
When I picked up my hold I was like why did I even request this it's just another infidelity/working mum does all the child/house care etc etc book... and it is. But I did like it mostly, zoomed through it. I feel the dialogue in particular it felt kind of true to life! So it was heading to a 4 star but then that bloody time skip at the end dropped it to a 3...
Spoiler
Don't 5 years later me McBrayer, especially when the meat of the last third is who is she gonna pick? Show us the picking and fallout??
Okay so this was a waste of goddamn time! 1 star because of the unlikable characters, absolutely 0 consequences for Merit’s selfish actions, shitty ending, terrible writing, and I think the only appeal for me to keep reading was the ending. I also don’t get Merit’s attraction to Jane, she’s literally just a milf??? But anyways, Merit is just a shitty character in general, she projects all her issues onto her husband, who obviously has his flaws too, but even when he does something really kind she absolutely tears him down for it even when she herself is barely putting in any effort. I really wanted an interesting twist at the end, but the synopsis was definitely more interesting than the book itself, and was a grand disappointment. Not sure what I was supposed to get out of this book (clearly not entertainment either) other than ‘shitty people sometimes don’t get any repercussions for their actions.’
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2022: Read a romance where at least one of the protagonists is over 40.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I devoured this book in a couple of days! When the pressures of earning an income, motherhood, and an ailing marriage dampen and deflate her creative energies, Merit returns to her pre-children career in architecture. Jane, her new boss, projects confidence and embodies competence in their male-dominated office. The two women develop an immediate rapport, sharing a similar sense of humor and workday lunch meetings that develop into more. These characters are a compelling blend of imperfection, vulnerability, and charm. Author Lauren McBrayer embraces a wealth of topics, seamlessly merging everything from job dissatisfaction to parenthood, marriage, sexual identity, and age-gap, workplace relationships. Merit’s and Jane’s stories (as individuals and as romantic partners) challenge readers to ask themselves the tough questions: What would you do and what would you risk to live a full life and truly be seen for who you are? “Like a House on Fire” is well-written, empathetic, and full of relatable details that will resonate with women discovering their queerness while in long-term relationships with men, and what this means for every other facet of their lives.
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes