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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
"I did think, let’s go about this slowly. This is important. This should take some really deep thought. We should take small thoughtful steps. But, bless us, we didn’t.—MARY OLIVER, I DID THINK, LET’S GO ABOUT THIS SLOWLY"
This is the story of a woman who goes back to working after taking a break in her career. She joins this small architecture firm and the woman she works for there becomes her idol, her best friend and makes her revisit all of her values, thoughts and way of life.
"She wasn’t trying to be a martyr. She handled things on her own because she liked being the sort of person who could, and because it made her feel less like her mother, who routinely asked other people for help just so she could judge the extent of their affection for her based on their willingness to give it."
The book covers many topics around parenthood, marriage, friendship, career, being a woman and more. I loved the voice of the author and I really enjoyed the characters even though I'd say especially the male characters weren't nearly as three-dimensional as they could have been.
"She was preoccupied with trying to remember why she’d ever thought it was necessary to throw a party for a human who was too young to form memories. Parents everywhere did this. Why? Parents were adults."
It's possible that many readers will not enjoy this book as it definitely takes a stance and does not soften things for the reader. I personally enjoyed that and found myself swept up in the story and cheering for the characters.
"She didn’t know where she would go, just that she needed to experience the sensation of moving forward through space. If it were an option to put herself into a catapult and be hurled into the air, she would’ve done it without hesitation."
There's a quote about getting to the end of your life only to realize you haven't lived it. This book reminded me of that quote. I loved it.
Thank you to netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of a woman who goes back to working after taking a break in her career. She joins this small architecture firm and the woman she works for there becomes her idol, her best friend and makes her revisit all of her values, thoughts and way of life.
"She wasn’t trying to be a martyr. She handled things on her own because she liked being the sort of person who could, and because it made her feel less like her mother, who routinely asked other people for help just so she could judge the extent of their affection for her based on their willingness to give it."
The book covers many topics around parenthood, marriage, friendship, career, being a woman and more. I loved the voice of the author and I really enjoyed the characters even though I'd say especially the male characters weren't nearly as three-dimensional as they could have been.
"She was preoccupied with trying to remember why she’d ever thought it was necessary to throw a party for a human who was too young to form memories. Parents everywhere did this. Why? Parents were adults."
It's possible that many readers will not enjoy this book as it definitely takes a stance and does not soften things for the reader. I personally enjoyed that and found myself swept up in the story and cheering for the characters.
"She didn’t know where she would go, just that she needed to experience the sensation of moving forward through space. If it were an option to put herself into a catapult and be hurled into the air, she would’ve done it without hesitation."
There's a quote about getting to the end of your life only to realize you haven't lived it. This book reminded me of that quote. I loved it.
Thank you to netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my goodness I am in love with this book. Merit, a want-to-be artist, wife, and mother of two, is going back to work. For years, her life has been stale, full of boring conversations with her husband and the annoyances of being a mother. For years, she tried making a career as an artist, but it hadn't panned out, so, to make life better at home, she gets hired to work for Jane, an endlessly intriguing and beautiful Danish architect. Merit is swept up by Jane’s fearlessness, how she’s unapologetically herself, and by how Jane sees her, truly sees her. She is not just a doting wife or a mother, but a woman with desires, thoughts, and so much to give. Through her relationship with Jane, Merit discovers what it is to live fully and completely, leading to a pivotal moment in which, if she chooses to, will change her life forever. The prose is spectacular, the characters beautifully crafted, and the conflict of wanting to be two people at once incredibly honest and real. I cannot recommend this book enough.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In some ways, it was a good book. I was intrigued by the premise, and the story itself wasn't bad, but it was filled with a lot of repetitive navel-gazing, brooding, and so, so much drinking. (That actually bothered me a lot. So much drinking and it was presented very much as a norm and never questioned.) A lot of the repetitive sad life musings and gazing at naked self in the mirror-ness reminded me of why I often avoid literary fiction.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely loved this book. I didn't know much going in, and because it's an ARC I really didn't know where it was going at all. I think that's the best way to read it, honestly, so if you're interested I wouldn't read any more of this review, and I'd just wait and experience it all with as few expectations as possible.
I couldn't put this book down; I read it in about a day and a half, and couldn't stop thinking about it. So much of it feels so real, and true, and well-written.
Vague spoilers ahead: I found myself surprised by the ending, and at this moment I desperately wish this book was already out so that I could find other people online talking about it. It's satisfying, but also leaves me wanting more discussion about it. (Less vague spoilers ahead:Also this feels like a modern version of Portrait of a Lady on Fire, except with a happier ending. )
I'm amazed this is a debut novel. I hope to have the chance to read more of McBrayer's work in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to review this ARC.
I couldn't put this book down; I read it in about a day and a half, and couldn't stop thinking about it. So much of it feels so real, and true, and well-written.
Vague spoilers ahead: I found myself surprised by the ending, and at this moment I desperately wish this book was already out so that I could find other people online talking about it. It's satisfying, but also leaves me wanting more discussion about it. (Less vague spoilers ahead:
I'm amazed this is a debut novel. I hope to have the chance to read more of McBrayer's work in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Islamophobia
4.5 stars
This was a great read - funny, thoughtful, and very readable. I enjoyed this one a lot.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy
This was a great read - funny, thoughtful, and very readable. I enjoyed this one a lot.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy