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reading2staysane's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
geolatin's review against another edition
4.0
I could see reading this again in the future. It's very charming and I enjoyed the interplay between characters.
kaylasbookishlife's review against another edition
3.0
I love novels written in epistolary format! This was set up with a very interesting premise and I really enjoyed the journey the book took. I didn't find the 'shocking twist' to be all that shocking and I felt like the second half of the book moved a bit too slow for me.
krysha's review against another edition
1.0
this book was not enjoyable, yet i couldn’t put it down. i simply had to know who wrote the second half of the manuscript. and i was not disappointed when the author was revealed.
additionally, i loved that it was composed of letters between friends. however the letters began to feel repetitive very quickly, as it felt like everyone was saying the same things. by the end, there were so many names and subplots that during the chapter where it should have all tied together, i found myself with some loose ends.
i don’t regret the read but i would not come back to this story
additionally, i loved that it was composed of letters between friends. however the letters began to feel repetitive very quickly, as it felt like everyone was saying the same things. by the end, there were so many names and subplots that during the chapter where it should have all tied together, i found myself with some loose ends.
i don’t regret the read but i would not come back to this story
ioanaisreading's review against another edition
3.0
The power of books is captured in this epistolary novel. The same book, in different readers' hands, has a different impact on their lives.
Anne-Lise finds a lost manuscript in a hotel and she decides to find the author of this manuscript. Along the way we, the readers, along with Anne-Lise, get to know all the people who have read the manuscript, besides Anne-Lise. The novel is written solely in letters which tell the story of how Anne-Lise "met" all these strangers and the author of the manuscript. I liked how all these seemingly unconnected readers became friends thanks to a book that hadn't been published.
I didn't like Anne-Lise as a character, nor her personality. She's too pushy and determined to do things her way, ignoring other characters' opinions. There are a lot of other characters, all connected to the manuscript. I liked how we got to learn more about them through the letters. A character's background story is always the best part for me.
There are lucky/ happy coincidences that made the whole events of this novel possible, but not very likely to take place in real life. I liked the idea of the novel and I have a soft spot for epistolary novels. However, this is not a particularly memorable novel. I read a few months ago as an advanced copy, and I've already forgotten the ending! It was an enjoyable read at the time, but it didn't make a lasting impression, unfortunately.
I received a free e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
Anne-Lise finds a lost manuscript in a hotel and she decides to find the author of this manuscript. Along the way we, the readers, along with Anne-Lise, get to know all the people who have read the manuscript, besides Anne-Lise. The novel is written solely in letters which tell the story of how Anne-Lise "met" all these strangers and the author of the manuscript. I liked how all these seemingly unconnected readers became friends thanks to a book that hadn't been published.
I didn't like Anne-Lise as a character, nor her personality. She's too pushy and determined to do things her way, ignoring other characters' opinions. There are a lot of other characters, all connected to the manuscript. I liked how we got to learn more about them through the letters. A character's background story is always the best part for me.
There are lucky/ happy coincidences that made the whole events of this novel possible, but not very likely to take place in real life. I liked the idea of the novel and I have a soft spot for epistolary novels. However, this is not a particularly memorable novel. I read a few months ago as an advanced copy, and I've already forgotten the ending! It was an enjoyable read at the time, but it didn't make a lasting impression, unfortunately.
I received a free e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
annakelly's review against another edition
2.0
This epistolary novel focuses on Anne-Lise who finds a manuscript in a hotel drawer and returns it to the author, only to discover that the author lost the manuscript thirty years ago and someone else wrote the ending of his book. The story then follows Anne-Lise on her quest to discover who wrote the ending as she uncovers everyone who has been in possession of the manuscript over the years.
First, I think it should be noted somewhere that this is an epistolary novel! I went into the story very excited by the premise and had no idea the whole thing would be told in back and forth letters. I think personally because of the narrative format I found myself quite bored. Based on the premise I think I was trying to force myself to like this more than I actually ended up liking it.
After awhile this book felt like characters just revealing their traumas to each other that have never met (and realistically would never just write these things in a letter to a stranger!!!). Also, some of the wording within the letters seemed very unbelievable as well. Like, you wouldn't wax poetic (again-in a letter to a stranger!) about nature or speak in metaphors the way these characters often did. This just gave the story an overall sense of unbelievablility that I ultimately couldn't overcome.
In terms of characterization, I found that every character had the same narrative voice in their letters and so I never felt attached to any of them. Now, this may be a direct result of the translation from French, but I can't be sure. The story becomes less about the manuscript and more about the lives of those that it touched (which was obviously inevitable you can't wax on about a manuscript changing hands for over 200 pages) But if you don't care about the characters then you don't care very much at all! Also, Anne-Lise was highly unlikable in my opinion. She's so pushy. For example, after receiving letters from the author to stop pursuing the mystery she's just like "I DON'T CARE!!" and keeps on going! Not cool and she was super hard to like or relate to at all. She also muddled up her best friend's budding relationship by saying the man she was interested in was interested in another woman?! No, just nope.
Side note: If there isn't a smattering of snarky dislike for Americans is it really even a French novel?!
The letters made the story a bit jerky in my opinion and it starts getting hard to track how the manuscript moved through peoples lives and you end up going back and getting letters not in any kind of sequence that the manuscript moved and I started to feel a bit jumbled. I also predicted the ending of who wrote the final chapters and it took the drive out of the story. (I think the word "twist" is used too liberally to hook people in to reading a book, because I genuinely didn't feel like their was a twist here...just a logical conclusion.)
I think this story would be wonderfully suited for a TV show or movie adaption and I would probably watch the heck out of it. I feel like on screen you would be able to see everyone's emotions and the places they travel to as well which would bring the story to life a bit more. I would still recommend this book if it sounds interesting to you, or you are looking for a light, fast-paced beach read.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First, I think it should be noted somewhere that this is an epistolary novel! I went into the story very excited by the premise and had no idea the whole thing would be told in back and forth letters. I think personally because of the narrative format I found myself quite bored. Based on the premise I think I was trying to force myself to like this more than I actually ended up liking it.
After awhile this book felt like characters just revealing their traumas to each other that have never met (and realistically would never just write these things in a letter to a stranger!!!). Also, some of the wording within the letters seemed very unbelievable as well. Like, you wouldn't wax poetic (again-in a letter to a stranger!) about nature or speak in metaphors the way these characters often did. This just gave the story an overall sense of unbelievablility that I ultimately couldn't overcome.
In terms of characterization, I found that every character had the same narrative voice in their letters and so I never felt attached to any of them. Now, this may be a direct result of the translation from French, but I can't be sure. The story becomes less about the manuscript and more about the lives of those that it touched (which was obviously inevitable you can't wax on about a manuscript changing hands for over 200 pages) But if you don't care about the characters then you don't care very much at all! Also, Anne-Lise was highly unlikable in my opinion. She's so pushy. For example, after receiving letters from the author to stop pursuing the mystery she's just like "I DON'T CARE!!" and keeps on going! Not cool and she was super hard to like or relate to at all. She also muddled up her best friend's budding relationship by saying the man she was interested in was interested in another woman?! No, just nope.
Side note: If there isn't a smattering of snarky dislike for Americans is it really even a French novel?!
The letters made the story a bit jerky in my opinion and it starts getting hard to track how the manuscript moved through peoples lives and you end up going back and getting letters not in any kind of sequence that the manuscript moved and I started to feel a bit jumbled. I also predicted the ending of who wrote the final chapters and it took the drive out of the story. (I think the word "twist" is used too liberally to hook people in to reading a book, because I genuinely didn't feel like their was a twist here...just a logical conclusion.)
I think this story would be wonderfully suited for a TV show or movie adaption and I would probably watch the heck out of it. I feel like on screen you would be able to see everyone's emotions and the places they travel to as well which would bring the story to life a bit more. I would still recommend this book if it sounds interesting to you, or you are looking for a light, fast-paced beach read.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
jennamae's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a cute read. I enjoyed the letters from each person. I didn’t expect the ending until it was about to happen.
lissalibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this book and was just as absorbed as Anne-Lise waiting to find out who the mystery author was. Kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a delightful read!
i_hype_romance's review against another edition
4.0
A huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
This novel begins with a story about another novel. Anne- Liese discovers a mysterious manuscript while on vacation. It's a manuscript that affects her profoundly, and it provides an escape from the mundane stresses of her life.
The story unfolds in epistolary form through a series of letters as Anne-Liese attempts to ferret out the author's identity. The journey of the manuscript through a series of disconnected readers evolves into its own story. Along the way, lives are fundamentally changed, internal battles are waged, and the fragility of the human condition is exposed.
At its heart, this is a story for bibliophiles everywhere. It is a story about the power of words to transform our lives, and a celebration of the meaning and purpose books bring to our lives.
This novel begins with a story about another novel. Anne- Liese discovers a mysterious manuscript while on vacation. It's a manuscript that affects her profoundly, and it provides an escape from the mundane stresses of her life.
The story unfolds in epistolary form through a series of letters as Anne-Liese attempts to ferret out the author's identity. The journey of the manuscript through a series of disconnected readers evolves into its own story. Along the way, lives are fundamentally changed, internal battles are waged, and the fragility of the human condition is exposed.
At its heart, this is a story for bibliophiles everywhere. It is a story about the power of words to transform our lives, and a celebration of the meaning and purpose books bring to our lives.