How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard

4.23 AVERAGE

lynnrn's review

5.0
I was holding my breath as I turned the pages at the end and loved the unlikely hero of this story.

radleberg1's review against another edition

4.0
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
amyalpert's profile picture

amyalpert's review

4.0
This book is such a beautiful tribute to the complexity of families, relationships and motherhood. There are second chances, tragedies and miracles, love and loss. I loved Count the Ways and was worried I needed to re-read it before this book, but Maynard does an incredible job of weaving in the backstory in a way that brings you up to speed and moves things forward at the same time. Seeing the full life of a character is such a gift and I am so grateful Maynard continued on with Eleanor's story.
pariahassouri's profile picture

pariahassouri's review

3.0
3.5 stars… the sequel to Count the Ways. Eleanor is now in her 50’s. It was a little too slow. There was too much recounting if recent history without adding anything to it.

loraglasel's review against another edition

4.25
challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

kellyelizanicho's review against another edition

5.0
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

vypham's review against another edition

4.0
emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
If you want a character driven multi-generational messy family story, this is for you. 

All about the mundane and ordinary with a LOT of references and discussions about real life events. It was a bit jarring but I overall enjoyed it.

I feel it could have been maybe 20% shorter though? 
heysusie's profile picture

heysusie's review against another edition

3.0
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Diverse cast of characters: No
esxteriic's profile picture

esxteriic's review against another edition

4.5
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-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

ginia552's review

4.25
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