Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loved the sweet spot but this was more of a struggle to feel excited about reading. Starts like The Holiday and is frustrating in how quickly the characters move without thinking.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The audiobook narration was excellent. I enjoyed this book and the intertwining relationships of the characters.
Well that was a book.
I was interested enough to finish it. But I’ll be honest, this wasn’t funny. It wasn’t cute.
And the bullying from everyone in that TX town toward the family? Adults, other teens, the school board even carrying it on, telling the mother she should voluntarily unenroll their two younger daughters from the school because they’ll basically be bullied by the other students and parents (and the school will sanction it because it’s the overwhelming feeling of the general public)???? Throw the whole town away.
Somehow this bullying behavior is able to travel internationally because the son, bless him, is bullied by a random German girl and her friends who know the daughter of family #2 (who meets one of the aforementioned popular girls who gives her some BS story and she automatically believes it)?
Oh, and the husband is “on Mars” (it’s literally just a simulation in NM) as an astronaut? Just vanished for months. No contact? Or there is contact (we get letters or something)? Idk what the deal is with that couple to be honest. They magically are fine at the end I guess?
Which brings me to family #2. Greta seems a bit standoffish, but maybe it’s the culture? Idk. But Otto is a sexist asshole. And their daughter? Idk. She’s a bit gullible I guess but she’s a teenager (I think) so I suppose it’s forgivable. I kinda predicted the demise of Greta & Otto’s relationship, and her relationship with Adam (the American expat who lives downstairs in Berlin).
3⭐️
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun read for anyone in need of a different perspective and a summer escape.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This extremely readable, un-put-downable book made me laugh out loud (literally!) and smile at the sweetness by turns. I love the characters. There’s a huge cast with multiple POVs, but they are all distinct and easy to tell apart.
In Dallas, TX, Lucy is holding her family together while her husband spends six months in a Mars simulation. With a son graduating high school, twins ready for summer, a new job in hotel design, and a house full of pets her days are full. Suddenly she gets news that brings her world crashing down and leaves her desperate to get away. In Berlin, Germany, Greta’s husband has suddenly announced that rather than moving to New York with their daughter, he’s taken a job in Texas and wants to move immediately. The two meet over Instagram and arrange to swap houses for the summer. What follows is a hilarious and heartfelt adventure for both women and their families.
So many parts had me laughing. When the smart house started playing Goodbye Earl on repeat and Greta couldn’t turn it off and just lived with it for 24 hours. When her husband discovered Costco. When Lucy’s husband came home to a house full of strangers. But ultimately this book is about connection. Between family and those that become family. The sweetness of opening your heart to others, despite the cultural differences.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @atriabooks for the chance to review this ARC. I’m definitely buying a copy of this one for my shelf.
In Dallas, TX, Lucy is holding her family together while her husband spends six months in a Mars simulation. With a son graduating high school, twins ready for summer, a new job in hotel design, and a house full of pets her days are full. Suddenly she gets news that brings her world crashing down and leaves her desperate to get away. In Berlin, Germany, Greta’s husband has suddenly announced that rather than moving to New York with their daughter, he’s taken a job in Texas and wants to move immediately. The two meet over Instagram and arrange to swap houses for the summer. What follows is a hilarious and heartfelt adventure for both women and their families.
So many parts had me laughing. When the smart house started playing Goodbye Earl on repeat and Greta couldn’t turn it off and just lived with it for 24 hours. When her husband discovered Costco. When Lucy’s husband came home to a house full of strangers. But ultimately this book is about connection. Between family and those that become family. The sweetness of opening your heart to others, despite the cultural differences.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @atriabooks for the chance to review this ARC. I’m definitely buying a copy of this one for my shelf.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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:
No
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Far and Away has cemented Amy Poeppel as an author I’ll read every new release from. Once again, she creates a sprawling cast of vivid, distinct characters. I found myself rooting for every single one of them, but especially the two main characters: Lucy and Greta. The story alternates its focus between them each chapter, and I always wanted to keep reading to see what was happening in parallel on the other side of the world.
I’ll be recommending this book to:
-fans of Beth O’Leary or Katherine Center
-anyone seeking a new beach read
-lovers of the golden-age rom-coms, when even the side characters were perfectly developed
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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