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shelfreflectionofficial's review against another edition
2.0
Unrealistic and unrelatable. Maybe I'm not the target audience. I don't know. But this book had all measures of dysfunction. The premise is basically a mother with 4 grown children who all make bad choices and have to overcome "the odds" to have a happy and successful life. But these are not your run of the mill bad choices- these are all BIG life decisions and they all know the mother disapproves and they all know their choices are risky and not very wise but they all STILL do them! Am I the only one who cares and respects my parent's opinion about big life decisions? I don't know how we're supposed to feel about the characters in this story, but this book feels like a story about 5 stupid people (yes five- the mother makes her own poor choice) and it's really hard to root for any of them. There are some things people have to go through, mistakes they make, to learn from them- yes, I understand that. But sometimes bad choices are so bad that, hear me out, you actually DON'T need to do them. Because your choices affect more than just yourself. And you are an intelligent human being who can see the logical, most likely, consequences and say- 'Yeah, I don't think I want that life. I guess I'll just pass on this.'
I am the first who is willing to suspend 'realism' for the sake of a story because every story needs conflict and character development, but this story was just too much. And honestly there was no character development that I saw. They were the same people before and after the bad choices and worse consequences. There was no growth.
And I know this is simplistic to say, but it's what I was thinking the whole time I read the book so I'll put it here for sake of sharing my observations. If these characters knew Jesus and desired to live a life pursuing His glory, literally all of these 'hard/bad' choices would be irrelevant and gone. Christians absolutely have hardships and tragedies in their lives- knowing Jesus doesn't equal perfect lives, but frankly, there are a lot of hardships that come as direct consequences to stupid choices and if you try to follow Christ, **chances are**, you aren't going to sleep with a drug-dealing coke addict you lawyered out of jail who won't get a job, takes all your money and puts your life in danger. *shrugs* Am I wrong?
In summation. This book did not interest me. It only evoked frustration, eye rolls, and silent beggings of 'No... just please... don't do that...' But that's just one man's opinion.
Against all odds... you might like this book....
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
I am the first who is willing to suspend 'realism' for the sake of a story because every story needs conflict and character development, but this story was just too much. And honestly there was no character development that I saw. They were the same people before and after the bad choices and worse consequences. There was no growth.
And I know this is simplistic to say, but it's what I was thinking the whole time I read the book so I'll put it here for sake of sharing my observations. If these characters knew Jesus and desired to live a life pursuing His glory, literally all of these 'hard/bad' choices would be irrelevant and gone. Christians absolutely have hardships and tragedies in their lives- knowing Jesus doesn't equal perfect lives, but frankly, there are a lot of hardships that come as direct consequences to stupid choices and if you try to follow Christ, **chances are**, you aren't going to sleep with a drug-dealing coke addict you lawyered out of jail who won't get a job, takes all your money and puts your life in danger. *shrugs* Am I wrong?
In summation. This book did not interest me. It only evoked frustration, eye rolls, and silent beggings of 'No... just please... don't do that...' But that's just one man's opinion.
Against all odds... you might like this book....
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
michelle_lovesbooks9's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
foreveralicexox's review against another edition
I'm sorry but I just am not invested in this at all, this book is truly not peaking my interest and I don't think it's my thing.
cmurph93's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. I got about half way and had to stop. The characters weren’t relatable at their best and most of them made terrible decisions. I didn’t even get into Julie’s and Willie’s plots, but I couldn’t stand Izzie or Kate.
The writing style of the wasn’t for me. She kept starting sentences with “And then” and it drove me crazy.
The writing style of the wasn’t for me. She kept starting sentences with “And then” and it drove me crazy.
caitlin1599's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
Having read Girl, Woman, Other earlier this year, I was wanting to read another character driven book and so when I pulled Against All Odds out of my TBR jar I was thrilled! The story follows Kate and her four grown up children - Izzie, twins Justin and Julie, and Willie. Although the stories do interwine, which I think Steel does quite well, I'll discuss each plotline surrounding each character separetely.
Kate: I found Kate simply hypocritical and annoying as a character. Yes she loves her children but her own behaviour is no better than theirs. It could have demonstrated how she is equally 'flawed' but it didn't just didn't. I just really did not like her. Also I genuinely thought this book was from the 00s when she was discussing her inability to use the internet but it was published in 2017???
Izzie: Initially I really enjoyed Izzie's storyline...but then it just seemed weird. I felt Steel didn't quite explore just WHY she made the decisions she made. Also Zach is a dick.
Justin: Arguably my favourite character and plotline. He was funny and the way he and Richard dealt with the events that occurred was just lovely.
Julie: I think the 3rd person narration made the things that happened to Julie less powerful to read. Also I felt the entire section her story took part in was completely rushed! Especially in comparison to Izzie!
Willie: it's literally like Steel forgot to write about him and so just chucked him in a chapter at the end.
Having read Girl, Woman, Other earlier this year, I was wanting to read another character driven book and so when I pulled Against All Odds out of my TBR jar I was thrilled! The story follows Kate and her four grown up children - Izzie, twins Justin and Julie, and Willie. Although the stories do interwine, which I think Steel does quite well, I'll discuss each plotline surrounding each character separetely.
Kate: I found Kate simply hypocritical and annoying as a character. Yes she loves her children but her own behaviour is no better than theirs. It could have demonstrated how she is equally 'flawed' but it didn't just didn't. I just really did not like her. Also I genuinely thought this book was from the 00s when she was discussing her inability to use the internet but it was published in 2017???
Izzie: Initially I really enjoyed Izzie's storyline...but then it just seemed weird. I felt Steel didn't quite explore just WHY she made the decisions she made. Also Zach is a dick.
Justin: Arguably my favourite character and plotline. He was funny and the way he and Richard dealt with the events that occurred was just lovely.
Julie: I think the 3rd person narration made the things that happened to Julie less powerful to read. Also I felt the entire section her story took part in was completely rushed! Especially in comparison to Izzie!
Willie: it's literally like Steel forgot to write about him and so just chucked him in a chapter at the end.
gettinglostinagoodbook's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know why I keep reading Danielle Steele books. Oh ya - because I love them. They are predictable and comfortable. They are formulaic with absolutely no surprises. However I must read every new one that comes out!
disasterchick's review against another edition
3.0
Felt this was a bit of a dramatized title for the book. Kate raised her four children when her husband died young and also had a successful high end clothing resale shop. While the entire family is extremely close none of her children listen to her advice or warnings. Each makes mistakes that alter the course of their life, but don't worry because everything works out perfectly. There are some real issues such as spousal abuse and drug abuse that seemed to be conveniently dealt with to move the plot along and make it significant. If you really want to read an author that deals with these issues realistically but in fiction look at Marian Keyes (Rachel's Story for addiction and This Charming Man for domestic abuse).
rachaelreads92's review
3.0
**3 star**
This was my first Danielle Steel, in what feels like several years!
Danielle Steel is my go to when I want something simple to read, with a predictable plot to relieve stress. This was exactly that.
There was nothing special about the plot, similar to other storylines in her novels. It did brush over (very simplistically) some difficult themes such as domestic violence, rape, death of a spouse and surrogacy.
This was my first Danielle Steel, in what feels like several years!
Danielle Steel is my go to when I want something simple to read, with a predictable plot to relieve stress. This was exactly that.
There was nothing special about the plot, similar to other storylines in her novels. It did brush over (very simplistically) some difficult themes such as domestic violence, rape, death of a spouse and surrogacy.
b00kr3vi3ws's review against another edition
4.0
‘Against All Odds’ is a story about Family and Life. After losing her husband early on, Kate raised her children as a single mother. She had taken on anything that life had to throw at her, with hopes of doing right by her children. Now they are all grown up and have lives of their own. All Kate wants now is for her children to settle down in their lives. But it is wishful thinking on her part as her children have their own sets of woes to face.
Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws
Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws