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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I’ve only read two books from this author, but have THOROUGHLY enjoyed both. Well thought out characters, small twists, and a lovely ending.
TW: adoption
TW: adoption
Interesting story that flowed well. I thought 14-year-old Molly was a bit naive, and thought her family a tad unrealistic is parts… can’t say much more without being a spoiler. And it was obvious pretty early what was going here. Still, a good change of pace from the crime and mystery I’ve been reading. 3.75
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
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
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview of this book.
I always enjoy books by Diane Chamberlain, and was excited to see a new book from her to read. In this story, we meet Molly who is beginning the adoption process with her husband. We immediately find that Molly has some secrets from her past that she hasn't been open about, and that held my attention as I wanted to keep reading and solve that mystery. The book flips between modern time setting and also to Molly's youth. We get to know Molly's past and understand more about her family and how she grew up.
I always enjoy books by Diane Chamberlain, and was excited to see a new book from her to read. In this story, we meet Molly who is beginning the adoption process with her husband. We immediately find that Molly has some secrets from her past that she hasn't been open about, and that held my attention as I wanted to keep reading and solve that mystery. The book flips between modern time setting and also to Molly's youth. We get to know Molly's past and understand more about her family and how she grew up.
I’ve been making my way through Diane Chamberlain’s backlist and you can always depend on her for a great story! Pretending to Dance is a blend between historical fiction, coming of age, domestic fiction, and mystery. I love how this one explored the many themes you expect in a Diane book- family, friendships, love, loss, secrets and regrets- but felt totally unique as it dived into motherhood and adoption. Alternating between the past and present timelines, the build up was slow and steady, and while not as twisty as I’d thought it would be, the ending was satisfying and brought all the feels. I listened to the audiobook and thought it was excellent!
This book was recommended on line. Her review had me convinced I should try the book. Unfortunately, the book wasn't what I was expecting. I knew there was going to be family drama, but I was expecting more mystery. There is no mystery expect in the eyes of a naive and self absorbed teenager(the main character). I figured out the "mystery" within the first chapter and knew the story was going to play out as a family drama from there on. Family drama is not a genre that I usually love, too much drama. I did like how the author showed how little lies can build into huge family destroying problems.
Other issues I had with the book. I hated how an almost 40 year old lawyer still calls her father, "daddy." It's probably a southern thing, but it bugged me every time she said it. Also, she was so upset about her family kicking her birth mother off the family land once her father died, but she never resolves that issue with her adoptive mother. They never discuss it.
There are many trigger topics in this book: adoption failures, miscarriage, statutory rape, right to die, etc.
Other issues I had with the book. I hated how an almost 40 year old lawyer still calls her father, "daddy." It's probably a southern thing, but it bugged me every time she said it. Also, she was so upset about her family kicking her birth mother off the family land once her father died, but she never resolves that issue with her adoptive mother. They never discuss it.
There are many trigger topics in this book: adoption failures, miscarriage, statutory rape, right to die, etc.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Title: Pretending to Dance
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: October 5, 2015
T H R E E • W O R D S
Multi-layered • Reflective • Compelling
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Molly Arnette is very good at keeping secrets.
She lives in San Diego with a husband she adores, and they are trying to adopt a baby because they can't have a child on their own. But the process of adoption brings to light many questions about Molly's past and her family—the family she left behind in North Carolina twenty years before. The mother she says is dead but who is very much alive. The father she adored and whose death sent her running from the small community of Morrison's Ridge. Her own birth mother whose mysterious presence in her family raised so many issues that came to a head. The summer of twenty years ago changed everything for Molly and as the past weaves together with the present story, Molly discovers that she learned to lie in the very family that taught her about pretending.
If she learns the truth about her beloved father's death, can she find peace in the present to claim the life she really wants?
💭 T H O U G H T S
Pretending to Dance was November's selection for our monthly Diane Chamberlain buddy read. I avoided reading the synopsis before picking it up to keep my mind fresh when I started. Because I have had success tandem reading (physical and audio) some of her other books, I decided to do the same with this one.
This dual timeline (1990 & 2014) story is multi-layered and well-crafted. It's part coming-of-age story and part contemporary fiction. The mystery behind Molly's estrangement from her family held my interest, while the present day timeline offered so much space for reflection. The story's pacing was steady - with details being revealed gradually until everything finally comes together in the end. The complex family dynamics felt realistic, and did the flawed characters.
The focus on the process of open adoption is something I've never really thought a whole lot about. Yet this novel had me pausing to reflect on it time and time again. DC always seems to make me see both sides of the coin, which I absolutely love. And while I was so invested in the story, the ending felt a little rushed. I could have used a little more of Aiden's reaction and involvement towards the end, but instead it felt like DC was simply trying to tie everything up with a nice little bow.
I did figure out where the story was going fairly early on, but despite that it didn't detract from my enjoyment. These monthly buddy reads have solidified the fact the Diane Chamberlain is a sure thing for me. I've currently read 12 of her books and look forward to continuing to explore her backlist, while secretly hoping she announces something new soon too.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Diane Chamberlain completists
• Jodi Picoult fans
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"It’s hard to move on if you don’t forgive,” he said. “It’s like trying to dance with a lead weight on your shoulders. The anger can weigh you down forever."
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: October 5, 2015
T H R E E • W O R D S
Multi-layered • Reflective • Compelling
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Molly Arnette is very good at keeping secrets.
She lives in San Diego with a husband she adores, and they are trying to adopt a baby because they can't have a child on their own. But the process of adoption brings to light many questions about Molly's past and her family—the family she left behind in North Carolina twenty years before. The mother she says is dead but who is very much alive. The father she adored and whose death sent her running from the small community of Morrison's Ridge. Her own birth mother whose mysterious presence in her family raised so many issues that came to a head. The summer of twenty years ago changed everything for Molly and as the past weaves together with the present story, Molly discovers that she learned to lie in the very family that taught her about pretending.
If she learns the truth about her beloved father's death, can she find peace in the present to claim the life she really wants?
💭 T H O U G H T S
Pretending to Dance was November's selection for our monthly Diane Chamberlain buddy read. I avoided reading the synopsis before picking it up to keep my mind fresh when I started. Because I have had success tandem reading (physical and audio) some of her other books, I decided to do the same with this one.
This dual timeline (1990 & 2014) story is multi-layered and well-crafted. It's part coming-of-age story and part contemporary fiction. The mystery behind Molly's estrangement from her family held my interest, while the present day timeline offered so much space for reflection. The story's pacing was steady - with details being revealed gradually until everything finally comes together in the end. The complex family dynamics felt realistic, and did the flawed characters.
The focus on the process of open adoption is something I've never really thought a whole lot about. Yet this novel had me pausing to reflect on it time and time again. DC always seems to make me see both sides of the coin, which I absolutely love. And while I was so invested in the story, the ending felt a little rushed. I could have used a little more of Aiden's reaction and involvement towards the end, but instead it felt like DC was simply trying to tie everything up with a nice little bow.
I did figure out where the story was going fairly early on, but despite that it didn't detract from my enjoyment. These monthly buddy reads have solidified the fact the Diane Chamberlain is a sure thing for me. I've currently read 12 of her books and look forward to continuing to explore her backlist, while secretly hoping she announces something new soon too.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Diane Chamberlain completists
• Jodi Picoult fans
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"It’s hard to move on if you don’t forgive,” he said. “It’s like trying to dance with a lead weight on your shoulders. The anger can weigh you down forever."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence
adoption, euthanasia