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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another enjoyable read.
I've quickly become a fan of Abbi Waxman's writing. Her stories tend to be clever, funny and real without being too heavy, and I enjoy her characters, the writing, and original plots. Her characters are usually smart, savvy, often with quirks and real problems; this one dealt with a single mom and her teenage daughter as they embark on college tours. They're both fairly self-aware but there are always discoveries to make, truths to be faced.
The book is finished but I definitely want more - and isn't that one of the best compliments a reader can offer?
I've quickly become a fan of Abbi Waxman's writing. Her stories tend to be clever, funny and real without being too heavy, and I enjoy her characters, the writing, and original plots. Her characters are usually smart, savvy, often with quirks and real problems; this one dealt with a single mom and her teenage daughter as they embark on college tours. They're both fairly self-aware but there are always discoveries to make, truths to be faced.
The book is finished but I definitely want more - and isn't that one of the best compliments a reader can offer?
3.75 stars. Honestly, I picked this book up because I really enjoyed Waxman's, at times, laugh-out-loud writing style in her previous book entitled "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill", and because of the interesting premise of a mother-daughter 'bonding' story. (My mom died before I had a chance to go to college, so I thought that it would be a good book to 'bring on the feels')
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book, because I felt that the characters acted a bit of 'uppity', and 'snobbish', but after my initial reluctance, I really got into this book.
Maybe it was because I was stuck at for two nights and an entire day at work on-call, during a snow and ice storm, but I seemed to really read this book fast. Waxman's quirky characters and writing style really MADE this book for me. Waxman fleshed out her characters extremely well. I felt that they had some characteristics that I could definitely identify with in both the 'mother' character and the 'daughter' character. Waxman definitely worked in some touching moments, while sprinkling and some laugh-out-loud moments within the character's inner-most thoughts.
What dropped the 1 1/4 stars from a perfect rating (and what also made this book an interesting read) is the tediousness of switching back-and-forth between the mother's POV and the daughter's POV.
Still, I enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from Abbi Waxman!
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book, because I felt that the characters acted a bit of 'uppity', and 'snobbish', but after my initial reluctance, I really got into this book.
Maybe it was because I was stuck at for two nights and an entire day at work on-call, during a snow and ice storm, but I seemed to really read this book fast. Waxman's quirky characters and writing style really MADE this book for me. Waxman fleshed out her characters extremely well. I felt that they had some characteristics that I could definitely identify with in both the 'mother' character and the 'daughter' character. Waxman definitely worked in some touching moments, while sprinkling and some laugh-out-loud moments within the character's inner-most thoughts.
What dropped the 1 1/4 stars from a perfect rating (and what also made this book an interesting read) is the tediousness of switching back-and-forth between the mother's POV and the daughter's POV.
Still, I enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from Abbi Waxman!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first chapter set me up for a plot I didn’t get but wanted (male partner tells female partner they can’t promote her mentee or any female partner bc of #metoo timing. SAY WHAT! I was ready to watch her whomp his ass in court over that!)
Instead I got a mother-daughter novel (both 45yo mom and 16yo daughter narrate). I liked how the author showed the different interpretations each person had about the same situation they were in. For example, mother leaves daughter alone in her room bc she feels her daughter finds her annoying and daughter feels mother values her work over her and doesn’t care.
I also found myself feeling nostalgic. I think most women who went to college would enjoy this easy read with some warm fuzzies.
SUMMARY: mother and daughter are on a tour of potential college campuses. They are also (unbeknownst to the other) having an internal struggle: mother is thinking about quitting her job and daughter isn’t sure she even wants to go to college. The book ends with mother and daughter understanding each other better and declaring their love while seeing the other is “human” and a “person”
I did the audio via audible. Made for an easy car ride listen!
Instead I got a mother-daughter novel (both 45yo mom and 16yo daughter narrate). I liked how the author showed the different interpretations each person had about the same situation they were in. For example, mother leaves daughter alone in her room bc she feels her daughter finds her annoying and daughter feels mother values her work over her and doesn’t care.
I also found myself feeling nostalgic. I think most women who went to college would enjoy this easy read with some warm fuzzies.
SUMMARY: mother and daughter are on a tour of potential college campuses. They are also (unbeknownst to the other) having an internal struggle: mother is thinking about quitting her job and daughter isn’t sure she even wants to go to college. The book ends with mother and daughter understanding each other better and declaring their love while seeing the other is “human” and a “person”
I did the audio via audible. Made for an easy car ride listen!
I actually really enjoyed this book! While I got frustrated at times with the lack of communication and misunderstanding that was present between Jennifer and Emily, I really enjoyed the dynamic of the book and would recommend it!!
Okay I know I was a teenager at one point in my life, but if I ever sounded like this I would hope my mother would have knocked some sense into me because I found myself wanting to slam my head into a wall every time she spoke.
Laugh out loud funny. If you’re the mother of a teenage girl you have to read this book. Or maybe don’t, as it’s a painfully accurate portrayal of dialog and interactions between mother and daughter. There are some good lessons here too. Great writing.
Good narration in the audio version.
Good narration in the audio version.
Abbi Waxman is quickly growing to be one of my absolute favorite authors. Her stories are often relatable, quirky, and funny with a side of social commentary, and this book was no exception.
Jessica and Emily are on a week-long college tour and are trying to figure out their mother daughter relationship as well as their different ideas for Emily‘s future. They are both strong-willed, independent women with great moral compasses. Both women have to make tough decisions and stand behind those decisions despite the difficult consequences. Because they are so similar, they often butt heads. I felt like a lot of their issues could have been resolved if they just sat down and actually talked to each other for even just an hour – but I guess that is very similar to how teenage parent relationships actually work in the real world.
What knocked it down to four stars for me is the ending felt a bit rushed. I feel that we could have spent another 20 or 30 pages finishing the book in a better, more thoughtful way. The ending wasn’t Waxman’s usual tidy ending, but more rushed – as if her publisher or someone was hurrying her to finish the book quickly, and there was one plotline in particular that wasn’t really resolved.
That being said, it was still a lovely read, and I really enjoyed it.
Jessica and Emily are on a week-long college tour and are trying to figure out their mother daughter relationship as well as their different ideas for Emily‘s future. They are both strong-willed, independent women with great moral compasses. Both women have to make tough decisions and stand behind those decisions despite the difficult consequences. Because they are so similar, they often butt heads. I felt like a lot of their issues could have been resolved if they just sat down and actually talked to each other for even just an hour – but I guess that is very similar to how teenage parent relationships actually work in the real world.
What knocked it down to four stars for me is the ending felt a bit rushed. I feel that we could have spent another 20 or 30 pages finishing the book in a better, more thoughtful way. The ending wasn’t Waxman’s usual tidy ending, but more rushed – as if her publisher or someone was hurrying her to finish the book quickly, and there was one plotline in particular that wasn’t really resolved.
That being said, it was still a lovely read, and I really enjoyed it.