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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I'd give it a 5 for research and I couldn't put it down due to great suspense. The characters and their relationships were not as gripping for me. I will read her other novel.
I was between 3 and 4 stars on this one so I’m going to round up for once. An interesting story of history, family and forgiveness.
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars - this book had a little bit of everything: family secrets, Austrian royalty, drama, the FBI, and a surprise inheritance - a light, but fun and entertaining summer read.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Grandma died and leaves a mysterious diamond as her inheritance. Family drama ensues.
The Imperfects is a delightful story that centers two of my favorite things: family and diamonds. It's part mystery, part historical fiction, with a good amount of family discord and a dash of romance, which all make for an engaging read.
The family matriarch, Helen, passes away. Beck, the closet grandchild, inherits a gaudy brooch referred to in Helen's will as having a "yellow diamond." Helen never lived lavishly, and Beck assumes it's costume jewelry. To her utter surprise, the center stone is a genuine 137.27 carat yellow diamond with dimensions and characteristics matching that of the infamous, missing Florentine diamond. The Florentine Diamond disappeared around the time of World War II, after an illustrious life--worn by Marie Antoinette, part of the Austrian royal family, and more. Beck and her family have no idea how Helen ended up with The Florentine in an ugly brooch wedged behind her dresser. The Imperfects is their path to trace Helen's history, through the journey of The Florentine.
The Imperfects features each of the Millers: Beck, Ashley, and Jake. Their mother Deborah has a supporting role, which is in line with her peripheral role in their upbringing. Ashley is a stay-at-home mom living an upper-class lifestyle in Westchester County, Jake is a struggling screenwriter in LA, and Beck is a driven paralegal. Deborah flits from business venture to business venture (37 to date), and hasn't ever put down serious roots. The relationships between the Millers have been challenging--fighting and forgiveness is par for the course--and the entry of a $10 million diamond obviously adds to the tension.
The research they do to prove ownership of The Florentine is interesting, fun, and often surprising. While it isn't a traditional mystery, it has plenty of plot twists and turns that kept me guessing up until the very end. The family dynamics are well-written and believable, even if the story hinges on unbelievable. Toward the end, I thought it went on a tad too long (like a movie that adds one more twist that makes you think, really? Was that necessary??), but overall, truly enjoyed. Recommended. Also, be sure to read the Author's Note for a brief history on the true story of The Florentine.
The family matriarch, Helen, passes away. Beck, the closet grandchild, inherits a gaudy brooch referred to in Helen's will as having a "yellow diamond." Helen never lived lavishly, and Beck assumes it's costume jewelry. To her utter surprise, the center stone is a genuine 137.27 carat yellow diamond with dimensions and characteristics matching that of the infamous, missing Florentine diamond. The Florentine Diamond disappeared around the time of World War II, after an illustrious life--worn by Marie Antoinette, part of the Austrian royal family, and more. Beck and her family have no idea how Helen ended up with The Florentine in an ugly brooch wedged behind her dresser. The Imperfects is their path to trace Helen's history, through the journey of The Florentine.
The Imperfects features each of the Millers: Beck, Ashley, and Jake. Their mother Deborah has a supporting role, which is in line with her peripheral role in their upbringing. Ashley is a stay-at-home mom living an upper-class lifestyle in Westchester County, Jake is a struggling screenwriter in LA, and Beck is a driven paralegal. Deborah flits from business venture to business venture (37 to date), and hasn't ever put down serious roots. The relationships between the Millers have been challenging--fighting and forgiveness is par for the course--and the entry of a $10 million diamond obviously adds to the tension.
The research they do to prove ownership of The Florentine is interesting, fun, and often surprising. While it isn't a traditional mystery, it has plenty of plot twists and turns that kept me guessing up until the very end. The family dynamics are well-written and believable, even if the story hinges on unbelievable. Toward the end, I thought it went on a tad too long (like a movie that adds one more twist that makes you think, really? Was that necessary??), but overall, truly enjoyed. Recommended. Also, be sure to read the Author's Note for a brief history on the true story of The Florentine.
3.5 stars. I found myself wondering... even when I wasn't reading... how the grandmother ended up with the brooch.
‘The Imperfects’ by Amy Meyerson, tells the story of the dysfunctional Miller family who are brought together by the death of their grandmother Helen. When Helen leaves her granddaughter Beck a brooch in her will, the family are forced to work together to uncover the truth about the brooch’s jewels and the secrets of both their grandmother and great grandmother. This novel combines family drama with historical fiction and even a little touch of mystery. I found the character of Helen to be so, so interesting and I wish that the book had focused more on her rather than on the three siblings. I enjoyed this book and really liked the premise of it but I did find the incessant fighting of the siblings a bit much. I actually really liked the character of Deborah and couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. A good, interesting read. A solid 3.5 stars from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the copy of this book.
I featured this novel in my book feature for July 2020 of Naples Lifestyle magazine. Travel Far, Through the Pages
Facing personal struggles and resentments all around, The Miller family reluctantly gathers after the death of their matriarch, Helen. When they uncover a truly priceless inheritance—the Florentine Diamond, a 137-carat yellow gemstone that went missing from the Austrian Empire a century ago—they also discover a past more tragic and powerful than they ever could have imagined. Each family member, their connections to each other, and their heritage will be transformed though the publicity of their discovery and investigation into whether they are the rightful heirs.
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