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radiorobin's review against another edition
2.0
I completely believe I would have a different reaction to this book if I were a parent. The theme is all about what a parent is willing to do for their child, the sacrifices to be made in the name of the child. As a child-free adult, I just couldn't relate, and I found the author's justification difficult to swallow.
panthergirl's review against another edition
2.0
The most telling review I can give for this book would be "I forgot I had even read it". I saw it on a friend's Goodreads list and then saw my 2-star rating, but had to read the reviews to remind myself what it was about. So, "forgettable" would be the best way to describe it for me.
manek_m's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to the audiobook. Author does a good job of pulling us along even though the narrator is a jerk.
fattieflower's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy to the max, this book. Very interesting insight into the white male mind...
sdriscoll05's review against another edition
5.0
Very well written. Told from the point of view of a father, this may be the best written work of a male voice done by a female writer. She seems to get the voice perfectly. The story presents itself, as though there is a big mystery that will not be resolved until the end, but the author allows you to seemingly figure it out within the first couple of chapters, and then moves you on the next piece of the puzzle. Brings into the question of morality, and has a superb ending. Every time you think this book is slowing down, or you;re figuring things out, it does something completely unexpected. Highly recommended.
mjatuw's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book but didn't like it ... well-written and I appreciated the backwards-telling of the story. But it was disturbing (teenager killing her baby, friendships disintegrating, parenting that was just too much) so it wasn't an enjoyable read.
Suburban reflection was particularly good. and the complexities of intimate female friends who are not lovers but one might wish they were....
Suburban reflection was particularly good. and the complexities of intimate female friends who are not lovers but one might wish they were....
emishki's review against another edition
2.0
I listened to the audio book version and the narrator drove me crazy, so it's quite possible I'd give it a higher rating if I had read it....
kelam715's review against another edition
3.0
My review here: https://beingfictional.wordpress.com/2018/01/14/a-friend-of-the-family/
anrobe's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those novels that snuck up on me and surprised me by how much I enjoyed it! I had no idea what the book was about until I began reading. This is a book that I want to be careful not to tell too much about in order to be sure that the future reader will experience the joy of watching this book unfold.
The novel itself is extremely well constructed. It's pacing is fantastic ... keeping you guessing while revealing just enough to keep you engaged and wanting more. The characters are well written and expertly developed over the course of the novel. They are well rounded - flawed, raw and incredibly, refreshingly human. Grostein did an exceptional job of writing the main characters voice - it can be difficult for women to write in an authentically male voice but she excels with it in this novel.
Grodstein's storytelling ability is stellar. Looking back over the novel, I'm amazed at how well she pulled it all together and brought the book to its conclusion. This is a novel about relationships and Grodstein does an amazing job of depicting those relationships as very true to life. The complex relationships and the way those relationships change is where this novel is so successful. This is a gripping tale about family and parental love. It goes to dark and twisty places but is very grounded in love.
I definitely recommend this book. There are some dark places in the book that can be difficult to read. Not scary or frightening but rather disturbing. But, I think that aspect of the novel was handled very well and is not in any way gratuitous. In fact, the story has to go to those places in order to get to the very heart of this novel.
The novel itself is extremely well constructed. It's pacing is fantastic ... keeping you guessing while revealing just enough to keep you engaged and wanting more. The characters are well written and expertly developed over the course of the novel. They are well rounded - flawed, raw and incredibly, refreshingly human. Grostein did an exceptional job of writing the main characters voice - it can be difficult for women to write in an authentically male voice but she excels with it in this novel.
Grodstein's storytelling ability is stellar. Looking back over the novel, I'm amazed at how well she pulled it all together and brought the book to its conclusion. This is a novel about relationships and Grodstein does an amazing job of depicting those relationships as very true to life. The complex relationships and the way those relationships change is where this novel is so successful. This is a gripping tale about family and parental love. It goes to dark and twisty places but is very grounded in love.
I definitely recommend this book. There are some dark places in the book that can be difficult to read. Not scary or frightening but rather disturbing. But, I think that aspect of the novel was handled very well and is not in any way gratuitous. In fact, the story has to go to those places in order to get to the very heart of this novel.