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emleyb's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is the perfect read for a summer Up North. I love how Claire captures the spirit of the Northwoods and Northern Midwest. I absolutely loved the first half, the second half wasn’t as good for me but still enjoyed the whole thing and would recommend. Warning for PTSD, gun violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol
arthur_pendrgn's review
3.0
TW: PTSD
The book blurb and title do NOT match the plot and it suffers from not meeting its audience.
The first 1/3 may be about quirky church ladies, but that is just a distraction from the PTSD.
The book blurb and title do NOT match the plot and it suffers from not meeting its audience.
The first 1/3 may be about quirky church ladies, but that is just a distraction from the PTSD.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Alcohol
read_with_riley's review against another edition
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy
dr_amy_k_west's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Moderate stakes cozy-ish read. This was more emotional than the summary implied. Hits on some serious topics (scamming the elderly, PTSD) I really wanted to line this book but it didn't connect. It fell flat and felt shallow in parts, like being told instead of shown. Technically DNF; skimmed the last 25% to get to the end. It wasn't a happy ending but it was realistic. I wasn't invested enough in the characters to care, but was curious how the author would wrap things up given the lack of depth and length of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
bibliobaggins_'s review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
From the description of the book, I expected a fun story about meddling elderly ladies and their place in the community. I was super disappointed to find that the funeral ladies were hardly featured.
The book started alright but got progressively worse, as I felt the book veer from the plot that was set up in the opening chapters. The characters mostly felt flat and one dimensional.
As an aside was excessive to the point of distraction ("booze backpack" for a Christmas market, morning beers at grandma's, drinking and driving casually mentioned many times as something "everyone does"). I kept waiting for it to be a plot point, but the closest it got to that was when one character was accused of excessive drinking when everyone around him seemed to be drinking the same amount. He also showed zero signs of having slowed down after making progress with his issues.
The book started alright but got progressively worse, as I felt the book veer from the plot that was set up in the opening chapters. The characters mostly felt flat and one dimensional.
As an aside was excessive to the point of distraction ("booze backpack" for a Christmas market, morning beers at grandma's, drinking and driving casually mentioned many times as something "everyone does"). I kept waiting for it to be a plot point, but the closest it got to that was when one character was accused of excessive drinking when everyone around him seemed to be drinking the same amount. He also showed zero signs of having slowed down after making progress with his issues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Mass/school shootings
emmas_bookshelf's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is such a good book if you like heartwarming stories about community and family. It’s also a little bit of an ode to Midwest culture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Mass/school shootings
michfiske5's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, and Medical content
diana_reads_and_reads's review
1.5
Oh, where to begin. First of all, this cover and title of the book do not convey at all what this is mostly about, which is PTSD and family trauma. This is not the happy old broads story that any of the outsides indicate.
Second, I’m not sober and I’m not even sober curious but holy shit these people drink a lot, and I don’t even mean the one who does it to cope with the aforementioned PTSD. If you’ve ever known a kid with fetal alcohol syndrome, you too will think the casual chat about drinking in pregnancy is appalling. And do we even need to talk about the cavalier way DUI is discussed?
When we get down to the story parts, it is never explained why Cooper would be Cricket’s guardian even though she has a totally capable father. And then when things go off the rails completely, NO ONE says hey, maybe we shouldn’t leave a 13 year old alone with her father dying of cancer and no other supports while she does (or does not do) online school???
I honestly can’t believe a 26 year old would be shocked by a Tesla or that they would mock a 23 year old for living at home. And since the problem with the house was paying the taxes, it’s not like this is a one and done pay the bank situation, right? How’s Esther going to pay the taxes next year? The characters act like it’s done and dusted.
And finally, the politics were exhausting. So many little zingers that seemed unnecessary.
Second, I’m not sober and I’m not even sober curious but holy shit these people drink a lot, and I don’t even mean the one who does it to cope with the aforementioned PTSD. If you’ve ever known a kid with fetal alcohol syndrome, you too will think the casual chat about drinking in pregnancy is appalling. And do we even need to talk about the cavalier way DUI is discussed?
When we get down to the story parts, it is never explained why Cooper would be Cricket’s guardian even though she has a totally capable father. And then when things go off the rails completely, NO ONE says hey, maybe we shouldn’t leave a 13 year old alone with her father dying of cancer and no other supports while she does (or does not do) online school???
I honestly can’t believe a 26 year old would be shocked by a Tesla or that they would mock a 23 year old for living at home. And since the problem with the house was paying the taxes, it’s not like this is a one and done pay the bank situation, right? How’s Esther going to pay the taxes next year? The characters act like it’s done and dusted.
And finally, the politics were exhausting. So many little zingers that seemed unnecessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Gun violence
lilalhreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved the idea of this book and was really anticipating the release but unfortunately I was not a fan.
The things I didn’t enjoy:
— Everyone annoyed me. Literally every character. I know they were tackling some serious issues (ptsd, alcoholism, etc.) but I just could not stand any of them. Esther is supposed to be this help anyone who is need, kind christian woman and her internal monologue was so incredibly judgmental.
— Cooper was supposed to be dealing with the fact that he’s taking custody of his little sister and she was hardly in it?? I just feel like if him taking custody was supposed to be a big plot point she should have been more prevalent to the plot. Also I know their dad only stuck around because he was sick but what was the point of Cooper even taking custody if they were all living together anyways
— Iris is 26, doesn’t have a steady job/income and yet is somehow able to afford not one but two houses?? Make it make sense
I would have preferred if the story had focused on just the funeral ladies and the ups and down of putting together the cookbook
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Car accident, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Cancer
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