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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
I won this book as a FirstRead.
Divorce lawyer Leigh Huyett thinks she has the perfect family with her second husband, Peter Conley, and their 5 kids from their first marriages. While returning from a weekend trip to celebrate their anniversary, Leigh and Peter receive a call that their children Kip and Chrissy were in a car accident and are at the police station because Kip had been driving drunk without a license. Twelve hours later, Chrissy is dead, and Kip is charged with manslaughter. Leigh does her best to support Peter and Kip through this until Kip changes his story and says that Chrissy was actually the one driving, and he took the fall for her. He also claims there was a witness. Peter clings to this story to save his son, while Leigh can't believe Kip would lie about such a thing when Chrissy isn't even here to defend herself. Their family crumbles as Peter and Leigh struggle with loyalties to their children and to each other.
The first 90% of the novel is a story that covers the effects of grief well, as well as looks a bit into the life of a lawyer. Then the last 10% of the book combines all elements of the book into a fantastical plot that doesn't match up with the rest of the book. I liked the look into the grief and how the family dealt with the aftermath of the wreck. I wish I could have seen how the story would have ended without the plot twist that made it unreal.
2.5 stars
Divorce lawyer Leigh Huyett thinks she has the perfect family with her second husband, Peter Conley, and their 5 kids from their first marriages. While returning from a weekend trip to celebrate their anniversary, Leigh and Peter receive a call that their children Kip and Chrissy were in a car accident and are at the police station because Kip had been driving drunk without a license. Twelve hours later, Chrissy is dead, and Kip is charged with manslaughter. Leigh does her best to support Peter and Kip through this until Kip changes his story and says that Chrissy was actually the one driving, and he took the fall for her. He also claims there was a witness. Peter clings to this story to save his son, while Leigh can't believe Kip would lie about such a thing when Chrissy isn't even here to defend herself. Their family crumbles as Peter and Leigh struggle with loyalties to their children and to each other.
The first 90% of the novel is a story that covers the effects of grief well, as well as looks a bit into the life of a lawyer. Then the last 10% of the book combines all elements of the book into a fantastical plot that doesn't match up with the rest of the book. I liked the look into the grief and how the family dealt with the aftermath of the wreck. I wish I could have seen how the story would have ended without the plot twist that made it unreal.
2.5 stars
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book was a bit disjointed. There were certain events that didn't seem relevant to the "plot".
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first half of the book was fairly slow moving and really depressing! It felt like there were a ton of different storylines happening at once, and obviously they (mostly) come together at the end, but there were definitely some plot holes and unnecessary plot lines.
A solid book all the way through with twists and turns that kept me engaged until the very last page!
emotional
medium-paced
A tense emotionally charged domestic drama with some questionable subplots.
This is a really hard book for me to review. I was completely compelled and addicted to the main storyline. BUT there were some subplots in this book that were over the top. It’s like when somebody puts too much salt on your french fries. I mean french fries are the best, right? I am perfectly fine with just a little salt, but if you overdo the salt they become really unpalatable. However, that is not the fault of the french fry it is the fault of the salt. SO in this book I really enjoyed the french fries, but not the salt. The problem is it’s hard to separate the salt from the french fries, and you can’t dip a book in ranch!🙃
The main storyline is about a blended family and how they handle and are impacted by a terrible tragedy. Leigh and Pete are coming home early from an anniversary getaway when they get the call. Pete’s son Kip and Lee’s daughter Chrissy have been in an accident, and Kip has been charged with drunk driving. The next day Chrissy is rushed to the hospital where she dies of a brain embolism, and Kip is charge with manslaughter. Leigh is tremendously supportive of Pete and Kip until the story changes and Kip claims that Chrissy was driving. I was so compelled by the story putting myself in both Leigh and Pete’s positions. As a mother I completely understood Leigh was completely distraught. But Pete understandably needs to stand by his child. I felt as though the book portrayed a very real and honest look at grief and conflict. The court case was intriguing and I was keeping my fingers crossed for a satisfying conclusion.
The subplots involved a Sheikha, a minister, A Russian temptress, and a mystery house. Now in the beginning I really felt as though these subplots added some color to the book. But as the book goes on they became more and more outlandish and detracted from The riveting main plot. The ending was pretty wild and I’m still not certain what to think? I really like how the main plot was tied up, but the rest? I think this was just a case of a debut author wanting to put too much in her book. I am really looking forward to what she has in store for us next because I think she did a very good job with that main storyline and I was most impressed with her writing.
*** many thanks to atria for my copy of this book ***
This is a really hard book for me to review. I was completely compelled and addicted to the main storyline. BUT there were some subplots in this book that were over the top. It’s like when somebody puts too much salt on your french fries. I mean french fries are the best, right? I am perfectly fine with just a little salt, but if you overdo the salt they become really unpalatable. However, that is not the fault of the french fry it is the fault of the salt. SO in this book I really enjoyed the french fries, but not the salt. The problem is it’s hard to separate the salt from the french fries, and you can’t dip a book in ranch!🙃
The main storyline is about a blended family and how they handle and are impacted by a terrible tragedy. Leigh and Pete are coming home early from an anniversary getaway when they get the call. Pete’s son Kip and Lee’s daughter Chrissy have been in an accident, and Kip has been charged with drunk driving. The next day Chrissy is rushed to the hospital where she dies of a brain embolism, and Kip is charge with manslaughter. Leigh is tremendously supportive of Pete and Kip until the story changes and Kip claims that Chrissy was driving. I was so compelled by the story putting myself in both Leigh and Pete’s positions. As a mother I completely understood Leigh was completely distraught. But Pete understandably needs to stand by his child. I felt as though the book portrayed a very real and honest look at grief and conflict. The court case was intriguing and I was keeping my fingers crossed for a satisfying conclusion.
The subplots involved a Sheikha, a minister, A Russian temptress, and a mystery house. Now in the beginning I really felt as though these subplots added some color to the book. But as the book goes on they became more and more outlandish and detracted from The riveting main plot. The ending was pretty wild and I’m still not certain what to think? I really like how the main plot was tied up, but the rest? I think this was just a case of a debut author wanting to put too much in her book. I am really looking forward to what she has in store for us next because I think she did a very good job with that main storyline and I was most impressed with her writing.
*** many thanks to atria for my copy of this book ***
"House on Fire" actually wasn't a bad book. It would be, in fact, a great book if the editing was done better. To begin with, advertising the book as a thriller was misleading. The thriller element didn't kick in until the last 20% and everything was explained and over with in few chapters. The premise of the book, the protagonist's stepson was accused of being responsible for her own daughter's death, was not even directly related to the thrilling incident.
When I read the book as a thriller, the whole experience was tormenting. Once I adjusted my mindset to read "House on Fire" as a literary fiction, it was in fact quite a decent read. There were some thought-provoking elements, some legal knowledge, some family drama that eventually tie to the incident that would define the book as a thriller.
To do the book justice, the author obviously put in a lot of effort in creating the story. What I most appreciated was that "House on Fire" wasn't a commercial grade thriller. A solid 3-star to me because I neither l loved it or disliked it.
When I read the book as a thriller, the whole experience was tormenting. Once I adjusted my mindset to read "House on Fire" as a literary fiction, it was in fact quite a decent read. There were some thought-provoking elements, some legal knowledge, some family drama that eventually tie to the incident that would define the book as a thriller.
To do the book justice, the author obviously put in a lot of effort in creating the story. What I most appreciated was that "House on Fire" wasn't a commercial grade thriller. A solid 3-star to me because I neither l loved it or disliked it.