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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Although there is a bit of mystery to this one, it is largely a study of family dynamics, truth, and grief. I found myself thinking about this one while I was up in the middle of the night!
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The author has a great writing style but this book has too many subplots that what could have been the interesting main family plot got lost amongst a million side characters and dead ends. I wish we could've delved deeper into the actual story and seen the emotions of the family in a more in depth way instead of a wild goose chase with a disappointing ending.
I win this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair review. I did not read any other reviews before I finished the book but I have to agree, the last part of the book was odd. The family tragedy was more than enough for me, the politics of blended families, the process of putting together a legal defense, the tragedy of bad choices, but then the priest and the mysterious neighbors and Qatar, etc. ..I read the book in a few hours. For the majority of the book, I was so engrossed in the story, I kept turning the pages, for the last part, I read through the madness just to get back to the meat of the story.
House on Fire by Bonnie Kistler is a family drama that will have the reader wondering where one's loyalty should lie in a blended family in crisis. Attorney Leigh Huyett and contractor Pete Conley have been married for five years. This is a second marriage for both and the couple have brought together their children from their previous relationships. On a weekend when Leigh and Pete have left her daughter Chrissy, 14, with his son Kip, 18, a horrible accident occurs. Chrissy and Kip are on their way home from a party when their vehicle slams into a tree. Within 12 hours, Chrissy is dead and Kip has been arrested for the manslaughter of his step-sister. This tragedy drives a stake through the heart of this family. With broken hearts on both sides, Leigh and Pete are doing their best to be fair and supportive while grieving. What would you do and whose side would you be on? The author has included a few other storylines which seem to deter from the main plot. Hence only 4 stars but definitely a book well worth reading. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
House on Fire is a tense, emotional family drama.
Leigh Huyett is a divorce lawyer, and she knows better than anyone how easily marriages fail. She’s five years into her second marriage with Pete, and they are beating the odds. Their blended family is what many would aspire to.
Leigh and Pete are out for the night celebrating their anniversary, while they left Kip, Pete’s biological son, in charge of Chrissy, Leigh’s daughter.
As Leigh and Peter drive home on a rainy night, their phones blow up. Kip has been out for the night at a big party celebrating, and he crashes his car on the way home…with Chrissy inside. Chrissy later passes away, and Kip is charged with manslaughter.
You can imagine the conflicted feelings Leigh must be working through. At first, she sides with Kip and Pete, until Kip changes the story. He says that Chrissy was driving, and there a witness to that fact. Leigh believes he’s lying; Pete believes his son and continues to back him. All the while, Pete and Leigh must walk the tightrope that is their marriage as they navigate their feelings about Kip and what happened, along with the grief and loss of Chrissy’s passing.
How does it all end for Kip? And will Pete and Leigh’s marriage survive this tumultuous time?
Overall, I found House on Fire to be immersive and psychologically engaging. This is not a “thriller,” but it is fantastic at what it is: a study on family, and a blended family in particular. The topics make you question your own morality and what you would you do if you were Pete- or Leigh. It also left me thinking about these characters long after I turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Leigh Huyett is a divorce lawyer, and she knows better than anyone how easily marriages fail. She’s five years into her second marriage with Pete, and they are beating the odds. Their blended family is what many would aspire to.
Leigh and Pete are out for the night celebrating their anniversary, while they left Kip, Pete’s biological son, in charge of Chrissy, Leigh’s daughter.
As Leigh and Peter drive home on a rainy night, their phones blow up. Kip has been out for the night at a big party celebrating, and he crashes his car on the way home…with Chrissy inside. Chrissy later passes away, and Kip is charged with manslaughter.
You can imagine the conflicted feelings Leigh must be working through. At first, she sides with Kip and Pete, until Kip changes the story. He says that Chrissy was driving, and there a witness to that fact. Leigh believes he’s lying; Pete believes his son and continues to back him. All the while, Pete and Leigh must walk the tightrope that is their marriage as they navigate their feelings about Kip and what happened, along with the grief and loss of Chrissy’s passing.
How does it all end for Kip? And will Pete and Leigh’s marriage survive this tumultuous time?
Overall, I found House on Fire to be immersive and psychologically engaging. This is not a “thriller,” but it is fantastic at what it is: a study on family, and a blended family in particular. The topics make you question your own morality and what you would you do if you were Pete- or Leigh. It also left me thinking about these characters long after I turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
I was so excited to read this domestic thriller. The book's description paints what one would hope to be a thrilling ride of a family torn apart by tragedy. I am just sitting here shaking my head...
I am going to be blunt. I am shocked that a publisher allowed such a disorganized, extra book like this. Extra as in, extra subplots that completely ruined what could have been a wonderful read.
If one were to take out all of the extra subplots in this book, fixed the ending to replace those subplots, and this book would have been a huge winner for me. I still don't understand what the point was in adding things that were so over the top and distracting from the main plot. Those things definitely didn't make this a more interesting read.
I loved the main characters. Their struggles with what happened and what is currently happening are so great. They are raw and real. Their story alone is what kept me from not finishing this book. I wanted to see if they would be able to mend their broken family.
I can't even think of a person I would recommend this book to. I know that sounds harsh, but it's the truth. I would feel guilty if I weren't anything but honest.
I am going to be blunt. I am shocked that a publisher allowed such a disorganized, extra book like this. Extra as in, extra subplots that completely ruined what could have been a wonderful read.
If one were to take out all of the extra subplots in this book, fixed the ending to replace those subplots, and this book would have been a huge winner for me. I still don't understand what the point was in adding things that were so over the top and distracting from the main plot. Those things definitely didn't make this a more interesting read.
I loved the main characters. Their struggles with what happened and what is currently happening are so great. They are raw and real. Their story alone is what kept me from not finishing this book. I wanted to see if they would be able to mend their broken family.
I can't even think of a person I would recommend this book to. I know that sounds harsh, but it's the truth. I would feel guilty if I weren't anything but honest.
This book just seemed to be all over the place, too many different story lines. Struggled to want to pick it up and stay interested. Stuck with it hoping the ending would make it worth it but was just disappointed.