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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Setting: Nantucket. Definitely not my favorite EH book, but of course, I couldn’t put it down. Parts of the book are pretty cringy, but I also really did enjoy a few of the characters, and relationships that evolved.
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This has been my favorite of her books so far. Still not a huge fan of the characters. I guess a bunch of rich people that live on Nantucket are hard for me to feel sorry for. But, this story was better and felt like it all fit together better with the various storylines.
This was a decent story but I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters. I enjoyed the letters from the deceased mom throughout the book, though felt they were a bit controlling rather than sweet and special. It was an easy light read.
I wasn't going to review this one, even though I so enjoyed it. However....after my decision, I read the first few reviews listed on Goodreads....and I I felt a bit irritated! So here I am....So many of the 2 star reviews were from people that have read Elin Hilderbrand in the past and just didn't think this one was as good as the some others....several said, "good characters, good story, good writing, but I liked x or y better".....So this kind of validates Margaret Mitchell and Harper Lee's decision to never write a second book, eh? Ha Ha! I jest! I jest! Of course this isn't a masterpiece. I'm not trying to imply that! I'm sure Hilderbrand didn't mean for this to measure up to a renowned classic....My point is that, not all books are the same....not even the ones written by the same author! How boring would that be? Now, I confess....there are tons of books/authors just like that. I for one, usually grow tired of these very quickly. I guess some don't....not only do they not grow bored, they almost expect it. Again, this is my first Hilderbrand novel...but if this is her worst....hey ho! I am so excited to read the others!
The second group of people that rated the book low were those that said the story was boring. That the characters were not likable....HELLO!!!!????? That's exactly why I liked it. I confess (this is not the first time I've confessed this) I am not the biggest HEA fan. Life is NOT always a HEA ending wrapped up in huge pretty bow. Life is full of people just like those you will find in this novel. In real life, we often find ourselves out of sorts with those we love the most. To me, THAT is HEA!!!! When we can see something not pleasant about those around us....yet, at the end of the day....no matter how upset we are.....no matter how much something seemed so wrong....no matter how unattractive we found a trait in someone we love....well...at the end of the day, we still love them....we are still committed to them.....a place where we face our mistakes....and we pick up and we move on....NO ONE IS PERFECT!!!!! How frustrating would that be? I mean seriously....if my spouse (I love you, J.) were perfect, I can't even begin to tell you how annoying that would be! There's only room for one of us to be perfect! bwhahahhahaha...I jest I jest! Seriously though, isn't it when we are at our maddest....our most annoyed....where we are looking at someone and wondering WTH did this person come from? and then something happens and we laugh....well....that is the times when we know it's all worth it, isn't it?
This is a story that takes place during the last few days before the wedding of a youngest daughter....The story is mostly told in the oldest daughter's voice....but we also have many others that pick up the story as well....including a notebook left behind by a mother that passed away several years earlier....
There isn't a person in this novel that I loved completely.....but they weren't my family.....This novel shows us what *real* life is like....how special events bring together all sorts....You have extended families....you have broken families....you have personalities of all sorts...and for a few days....or a few hours....you throw them all together and then you are forced to sit back and pray for everything to go smoothly.....it very often does not! Here, Hilderbrand presents all of these personalities....often giving them a voice at some point....current spouses, past spouses, children, step children, absent parents, adulterers and innocent bystanders!
I loved this story simply because it didn't have a clean HEA ending wrapped up in a clean bow. All of the story lines weren't finished in the end....but we all know that some people live for drama and as their stories started long before the wedding, it's only fair that they continue on indefinitely as well....I suppose that's why I don't care for so many HEA books.... I realise that some people need them in their life...they need everything to be settled and happy at the end...but my life has never been that way....I need to believe in a story a bit (yes, even the fantasy stuff I read from time to time).....I believed in this one.....
okay....my rant is over.....I think you should give Hilderbrand a try....I know I shall be trying more of her books.....
www.RandomBookMuses.com
The second group of people that rated the book low were those that said the story was boring. That the characters were not likable....HELLO!!!!????? That's exactly why I liked it. I confess (this is not the first time I've confessed this) I am not the biggest HEA fan. Life is NOT always a HEA ending wrapped up in huge pretty bow. Life is full of people just like those you will find in this novel. In real life, we often find ourselves out of sorts with those we love the most. To me, THAT is HEA!!!! When we can see something not pleasant about those around us....yet, at the end of the day....no matter how upset we are.....no matter how much something seemed so wrong....no matter how unattractive we found a trait in someone we love....well...at the end of the day, we still love them....we are still committed to them.....a place where we face our mistakes....and we pick up and we move on....NO ONE IS PERFECT!!!!! How frustrating would that be? I mean seriously....if my spouse (I love you, J.) were perfect, I can't even begin to tell you how annoying that would be! There's only room for one of us to be perfect! bwhahahhahaha...I jest I jest! Seriously though, isn't it when we are at our maddest....our most annoyed....where we are looking at someone and wondering WTH did this person come from? and then something happens and we laugh....well....that is the times when we know it's all worth it, isn't it?
This is a story that takes place during the last few days before the wedding of a youngest daughter....The story is mostly told in the oldest daughter's voice....but we also have many others that pick up the story as well....including a notebook left behind by a mother that passed away several years earlier....
There isn't a person in this novel that I loved completely.....but they weren't my family.....This novel shows us what *real* life is like....how special events bring together all sorts....You have extended families....you have broken families....you have personalities of all sorts...and for a few days....or a few hours....you throw them all together and then you are forced to sit back and pray for everything to go smoothly.....it very often does not! Here, Hilderbrand presents all of these personalities....often giving them a voice at some point....current spouses, past spouses, children, step children, absent parents, adulterers and innocent bystanders!
I loved this story simply because it didn't have a clean HEA ending wrapped up in a clean bow. All of the story lines weren't finished in the end....but we all know that some people live for drama and as their stories started long before the wedding, it's only fair that they continue on indefinitely as well....I suppose that's why I don't care for so many HEA books.... I realise that some people need them in their life...they need everything to be settled and happy at the end...but my life has never been that way....I need to believe in a story a bit (yes, even the fantasy stuff I read from time to time).....I believed in this one.....
okay....my rant is over.....I think you should give Hilderbrand a try....I know I shall be trying more of her books.....
www.RandomBookMuses.com
I enjoyed this book. There are a lot of characters to keep track of. Story about family and the notebook their mother left behind when she died.
As usual, EH nails it with the gustatory and visual imagery. I honestly don’t feel like I should ever visit Nantucket because I don’t think it will live up to how EH portrays it in her novels: sumptuous, liberating, and pastoral. The author definitely had her hands full with this one, as she’s telling the story from multiple characters from two different families. As a result, some of the characters are neglected and we don’t fully understand their actions, thoughts, motivations, etc. ( I want to like Ann but why is she such a doormat? IYKYK). And while I understand her choice to not tell the story from the bride’s perspective at all, it made Jenna a boring character for this circus to revolve around. But I loved Margot and would love to see her pop in another EH tale as a guest star so I can be sure she gets her redemption arc.
Pretty damn enjoyable for chick-lit, and got me pretty teary. PLus, a Chucklehead reference!
Simply a good book. Likable characters with a couple of unlikables thrown in. Lots of situations to get through.