Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
Although there were some plot weaknesses and holes, there is much to love about this book. Definitely read!
I didn’t really like this book in the beginning. But the story ended up capturing me. It was kinda a beach read in my opinion. A little soap opera-y. But I liked how the characters were presented. Overall it was a scandalous and quick read. 😁
2.5 stars -- interesting enough to finish once I started, but otherwise not worth the effort. Hated all the characters.
A somewhat disappointing psychological thriller. I guess the idea was too simple and obvious - two married couples (one with an adolescent daughter) go on a trip together and things become weird. None of the characters are likable or relatable. The author tries to tell the story from four different standpoints of the adults but it doesn't quite work as the reader constantly needs to switch between four different types of narratives. Don't get me wrong, I think it's quite difficult to carry through four distinct voices (and the author sometimes uses really unusual words to emphasize a person's character). I normally like it but I think it kinda slowed the story down. Most of the book is basically a build-up to the tragic moment in the end (feel free to guess what it is!). I probably would have liked to see some psychological drama after the event but we were pretty much left with nothing. Overall, I can't say it's a bad read but there's nothing really remarkable about it. You can get through the book quite quickly and probably forget it soon after.
I thought this was decently written, but just didn't like it. Two couples and one's ten year old daughter go to Italy on vacation. The little girl is weird and sort of creepy, the adults are varying degrees of dislikable-adulterous, obnoxious, deluded. Nothing much happens for so long I was close to jumping ship a couple of times, but I thought SOMETHING has to, and it does. Here comes the girlfriend of one of the husbands, completely not a believable scenario, and she is as cliched a character as I have come up on in awhile. Then we have this "noir" twist, also stretching credibility. Huh? Overall this left me pretty cold.
I’ve had this book on my shelf since December 14, 2017. I have no idea where I got it or why, but I decided 2021 is the year to finally read all these old TBR shelved books.
I understand why I never felt inclined to read this. I tend to dislike books about affairs, of which this book is wrought with. None of the characters are likable- absolutely none of them. I suppose it’s well-written and I always like alternating viewpoints, which kept the book moving quickly. But mostly I felt infuriated and I’m just glad it’s over.
I understand why I never felt inclined to read this. I tend to dislike books about affairs, of which this book is wrought with. None of the characters are likable- absolutely none of them. I suppose it’s well-written and I always like alternating viewpoints, which kept the book moving quickly. But mostly I felt infuriated and I’m just glad it’s over.
This was a miss. Didn't like the characters at all, nor did I enjoy gawking at their behavior. Found the ending predictable. Was happy it was over once I finished.
Finished this late last night. I really enjoyed it, so don't let the 3-star rating fool you -- it was interesting and well-written and generally, well, enjoyable.
At the same time, I don't think I'll carry much of this with me, having finished it. Five star reads are the ones that stick with me, that I find myself thinking about and wanting to talk to people about. Four star reads are the ones where something pretty great stands out clearly to me, such that it's earned at least a temporary place in my memory. Siracusa, for whatever reason, fell short of that bar.
The book revolves around two couples, one of which brings along their preteen daughter, on a joint vacation to Italy. It's never quite clear to me why these two couples would choose to vacation together, as they don't seem to have a ton of shared history as couples (the husband of one couple and the wife of the other used to date, and it's hard for me to buy that both of the other partners are OK hanging out with their spouse's ex nonstop) or even like each other all that much.
I also found myself constantly struggling to remember which man was which. One of them was a restaurateur struggling with a cigarette addiction, and one of them was a semi-famous writer whose latest book is stalled, who's cheating on his wife with an astoundingly dumb young blond. But which one is named Finn and which one is named Michael? Which one is married to Lizzie and which one to the neurotic one in weird clothes, whose name I can't remember even though I finished reading this book literally 12 hours ago? Which one is the father of kid (whose name, sadly, is Snow)? How old is the kid again, that she can be holding hands with a man not her dad, but it's apparently not sketchy in the least? Seriously, one minute I think she must be 5 years old, the next she must be at least 15. (Turns out I should have split the difference.)
There's a twist that was actually a surprise to me, and reasonably satisfying, though in retrospect it seemed obvious and I am slightly ashamed that I missed the obvious cues.
All in all, the characters just didn't come alive for me, and while bits of the inevitable relationship drama certainly rang true, I guess I didn't care enough about the characters for that drama to be worthwhile.
That said, if this were made into a movie, I would watch it. Not quite Gone Girl, but enough of the sortof romantic comedy turned dark to be interesting, and quite a lot of the book was very visually appealing.
Note: I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
At the same time, I don't think I'll carry much of this with me, having finished it. Five star reads are the ones that stick with me, that I find myself thinking about and wanting to talk to people about. Four star reads are the ones where something pretty great stands out clearly to me, such that it's earned at least a temporary place in my memory. Siracusa, for whatever reason, fell short of that bar.
The book revolves around two couples, one of which brings along their preteen daughter, on a joint vacation to Italy. It's never quite clear to me why these two couples would choose to vacation together, as they don't seem to have a ton of shared history as couples (the husband of one couple and the wife of the other used to date, and it's hard for me to buy that both of the other partners are OK hanging out with their spouse's ex nonstop) or even like each other all that much.
I also found myself constantly struggling to remember which man was which. One of them was a restaurateur struggling with a cigarette addiction, and one of them was a semi-famous writer whose latest book is stalled, who's cheating on his wife with an astoundingly dumb young blond. But which one is named Finn and which one is named Michael? Which one is married to Lizzie and which one to the neurotic one in weird clothes, whose name I can't remember even though I finished reading this book literally 12 hours ago? Which one is the father of kid (whose name, sadly, is Snow)? How old is the kid again, that she can be holding hands with a man not her dad, but it's apparently not sketchy in the least? Seriously, one minute I think she must be 5 years old, the next she must be at least 15. (Turns out I should have split the difference.)
There's a twist that was actually a surprise to me, and reasonably satisfying, though in retrospect it seemed obvious and I am slightly ashamed that I missed the obvious cues.
All in all, the characters just didn't come alive for me, and while bits of the inevitable relationship drama certainly rang true, I guess I didn't care enough about the characters for that drama to be worthwhile.
That said, if this were made into a movie, I would watch it. Not quite Gone Girl, but enough of the sortof romantic comedy turned dark to be interesting, and quite a lot of the book was very visually appealing.
Note: I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Loved it. Would love to read a sequel about creepy little Snow.
I picked this book based on the title- my son graduated from Syracuse, and I wasn't sure if I read anything by this author before- I was definitely familiar with her sister's work.
This book has deceit, false and true friends, travel gone right and wrong, a murder and a child- while on a couples' vacation in Italy! There is so much to love about this book, but the narrative looking both on the inside and outside of each marriage, and trying to figure out which is the stronger, or even healthier one pulls you in to the characters lives.
It is a quick read because you won't want to put it down
This book has deceit, false and true friends, travel gone right and wrong, a murder and a child- while on a couples' vacation in Italy! There is so much to love about this book, but the narrative looking both on the inside and outside of each marriage, and trying to figure out which is the stronger, or even healthier one pulls you in to the characters lives.
It is a quick read because you won't want to put it down