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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I did not like the characters nor the narrator. Did not want to hold it up further after reading 30% of it and many patrons having holds on the eAudiobook.
This book is fantasy while still being frustrating and gloomy with a dissatisfactory ending. Juvenile.
All the characters were immature and underdeveloped--like caricatures.
The relationships are awful and annoying. The descriptions of screen-writing and previewing the movies and hating and healing from them was soo unnecessary and bad.
The mystery of family heritage and the diamond was unexpectedly simple and disappointing. The most exciting part happened in the prologue. Most of the book was terribly slow. I switched the audiobook to a faster speed to wrap it up.
None of the characters were likeable. Even the ones that seemed to be so fleetingly are suddenly given ridiculous and extreme faults to remove them from the story.
There were awkward descriptions of sex and physicality which surprised me every time they were mentioned because they felt so unnatural and uncomfortable. Screaming?? Running your thumb over a stranger's teeth? Ugh. Deborah was the worst but Beck came in close.
Trusting a dishonest diamond seller with your family heirloom was def a good idea.
Surprise proposals abound (denied multiple times) and an eye-rolling, totally unexpected Gasp!-Let's-name-the-illegitimate-baby-girl-after-the-grandmother moment.
Man. I wanted the emperor to be the father of the baby because that aristocratic family line seemed way more exciting and the gift of the stone to an employee does seem unbalanced.
Final thoughts: Stay away from the Millers.
Spoiler
All the characters were immature and underdeveloped--like caricatures.
The relationships are awful and annoying. The descriptions of screen-writing and previewing the movies and hating and healing from them was soo unnecessary and bad.
The mystery of family heritage and the diamond was unexpectedly simple and disappointing. The most exciting part happened in the prologue. Most of the book was terribly slow. I switched the audiobook to a faster speed to wrap it up.
None of the characters were likeable. Even the ones that seemed to be so fleetingly are suddenly given ridiculous and extreme faults to remove them from the story.
There were awkward descriptions of sex and physicality which surprised me every time they were mentioned because they felt so unnatural and uncomfortable. Screaming?? Running your thumb over a stranger's teeth? Ugh. Deborah was the worst but Beck came in close.
Trusting a dishonest diamond seller with your family heirloom was def a good idea.
Surprise proposals abound (denied multiple times) and an eye-rolling, totally unexpected Gasp!-Let's-name-the-illegitimate-baby-girl-after-the-grandmother moment.
Man. I wanted the emperor to be the father of the baby because that aristocratic family line seemed way more exciting and the gift of the stone to an employee does seem unbalanced.
Final thoughts: Stay away from the Millers.
I didn’t love this book and it took me a lot longer to finish than usual. I found the overall plot very interesting, and was more invested after learning that it is loosely based on a true story (the Florentine diamond is still missing!). I just didn’t love the characters and found myself getting annoyed in the repeat arguments. I didn’t find any real character development throughout the novel and didn’t find myself getting invested in any of the characters. There was a twist at the end but I did not really like the ending either.
The book is supposed to be about family relationships, breaking generational trauma, and learning family history, but to me, it felt like there was too much going on. If there was more of an emphasis on moving forward from the past, I would have enjoyed it more.
The book is supposed to be about family relationships, breaking generational trauma, and learning family history, but to me, it felt like there was too much going on. If there was more of an emphasis on moving forward from the past, I would have enjoyed it more.
A secret inheritance… family saga. Really great characters.
This book features many of my favorite themes (in books and in life)—family, genealogy, history, mystery, etc. It's not too surprising, then, that I really enjoyed it. The story is engrossing, the characters are complex, the history is interesting, and the mystery is compelling. All of these elements work together to create a rich, entertaining novel that proves money can't buy the things that are really important in life.
The Millers are an imperfect family, who have trouble getting along. When their grandmother dies, they all put aside their troubles to attend the shiva. Beck, who was closest to Helen, their grandmother, inherits a jeweled brooch that contains a yellow diamond. Beck has it appraised by her friend Vicktor, who tells her that it is the missing Florentine diamond which is worth millions if the Millers can prove that Helen acquired the diamond legally.
This sets the Millers off on a journey to find out about their family history, while at the same time dealing with their current family issues. In discovering Helen's past, they discover themselves and they develop an understanding of their relationships with each other.
This story encompasses two separate time periods of present day and WWII. It explores how family and love grows and changes. It shows how the past can influence your future. The story teaches you that you can have an imperfect life but still have a life worth living.
This story will make you laugh and cry. It will make you take a look at your own life and your own family history. It will take you on a history ride back to Vienna. It will both break your heart and fill it with love.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.
This sets the Millers off on a journey to find out about their family history, while at the same time dealing with their current family issues. In discovering Helen's past, they discover themselves and they develop an understanding of their relationships with each other.
This story encompasses two separate time periods of present day and WWII. It explores how family and love grows and changes. It shows how the past can influence your future. The story teaches you that you can have an imperfect life but still have a life worth living.
This story will make you laugh and cry. It will make you take a look at your own life and your own family history. It will take you on a history ride back to Vienna. It will both break your heart and fill it with love.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own.
Mostly it was a really good book, if a bit slow.
The ending was frustratingly disappointing.
The ending was frustratingly disappointing.
this is a great example of successful "telling, not showing". i know a lot of people prefer the latter, but i'm perfectly fine with this writing style. family drama's are fascinating to me because it all feels so REAL. all families are fucked up in someway.
these characters were frustrating as hell but felt very real. stubbornness runs rampant, and damn if that isn't the truth.
3.25 plot dragged a little but i really, really enjoyed my time reading this.
these characters were frustrating as hell but felt very real. stubbornness runs rampant, and damn if that isn't the truth.
3.25 plot dragged a little but i really, really enjoyed my time reading this.