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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Car accident
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I found out this book was set in Wisconsin, and the author was born in Wisconsin, I had to read it because I am also from Wisconsin and I love anything that has anything to do with Wisconsin because it’s is such a unique and quirky place, especially for people who were forced to live there against their will, and then leave and then come back because you don’t appreciate the beauty of it until you come back. (me) When I heard the words Spotted Cow (local WI beer) and Kwik Trip (Midwestern superb gas station) I giddied like a schoolgirl. If you are from Wisconsin, you know these two things quite well.
I absolutely loved the story. It was so realistic & believable especially in such a tiny Midwestern town. growing up as Catholic and going to a Catholic church and a Catholic school throughout my entire childhood, I have multiple church cookbooks and they are quite literally the best thing I own. There is nothing like making a homemade tater tot casserole and getting the most authentic recipe in those cookbooks.
The story about Ivan & Cooper was also so realistic, the form of grief that both men experienced in different ways is such a good representation of how grief can be. Cooper’s PTSD I think can also be considered a form of grief because it seemed to get worse as he stayed in the town where his beloved step mom grew up. that’s one thing I feel like society doesn’t talk about, is PTSD and paramedics and first responders. We talk a lot about PTSD in veterans and domestic/sexual abuse survivors, but I feel like we leave out first responders. I applaud the author for talking about it because we need to talk about it more I think, so bravo.
I absolutely loved the setting of this book, I grew up with a cabin in Wisconsin and some of my core memories are at that lake with my friends, with my family, my grandparents also had one of the best cabins on the lake and giving that cabin up is something I do not ever want to think about or do in the span of my life. It is such a core part of who we are as a family. I really related to that story.
All in all this was a fantastic and fun read, filled with joy and emotion and casseroles. The recipe at the end was such a great touch too. Highly recommend!
I absolutely loved the story. It was so realistic & believable especially in such a tiny Midwestern town. growing up as Catholic and going to a Catholic church and a Catholic school throughout my entire childhood, I have multiple church cookbooks and they are quite literally the best thing I own. There is nothing like making a homemade tater tot casserole and getting the most authentic recipe in those cookbooks.
The story about Ivan & Cooper was also so realistic, the form of grief that both men experienced in different ways is such a good representation of how grief can be. Cooper’s PTSD I think can also be considered a form of grief because it seemed to get worse as he stayed in the town where his beloved step mom grew up. that’s one thing I feel like society doesn’t talk about, is PTSD and paramedics and first responders. We talk a lot about PTSD in veterans and domestic/sexual abuse survivors, but I feel like we leave out first responders. I applaud the author for talking about it because we need to talk about it more I think, so bravo.
I absolutely loved the setting of this book, I grew up with a cabin in Wisconsin and some of my core memories are at that lake with my friends, with my family, my grandparents also had one of the best cabins on the lake and giving that cabin up is something I do not ever want to think about or do in the span of my life. It is such a core part of who we are as a family. I really related to that story.
All in all this was a fantastic and fun read, filled with joy and emotion and casseroles. The recipe at the end was such a great touch too. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced