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cansail's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't want to take this book with me on vacation because I was worried about scarring the beautiful cover... but I was already hooked and couldn't leave it behind. I raced to finish it and then was disappointed it was over. Wherever you prefer to read (at the beach, in bed under winter covers, or anywhere else)... read this book. Although the main theme is murder, it is hardly "dark" or "depressing." Instead it's a surprisingly hopeful story about moving on after a tragedy and how two very different sisters deal with their lives. The writing is luxuriously understated and elegant, and the ending will surprise you. Enjoy!
rachelp's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the characters in this book. Most of the characters were both likable and unlikable, which made them seem very real. Aunt Cilla was only unlikable, which also added realness to the story. (Because there are always unlikable people in this world). I enjoyed the progression of the story from Lulu and Merry's childhood through their adulthood. I wished a different ending for Merry, though.
manderz219's review against another edition
4.0
I knew from the first couple of pages that I was going to love the way this book was written. I loved seeing both Merry and LuLu's opinions, as well as what was going on in their heads psychologically. I was too emotionally attached but it was great that Meyers was able to do that. Definitely a good read!
ibeforem's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a tough read, not because the prose was bad, but because it’s so full of pain. When Lulu is 10 and Merry is 5, their father does the unthinkable — he kills their mother, and then tries to kill Merry and himself. Lulu is only spared because she ran for help.
What follows is the never-ending aftermath of such a horrific event. Do I believe that the girls’ family could essentially abandoned them? Yes. Not everyone reacts gracefully after a tragedy. Do I believe that Merry could continue to visit her father year after year after year, despite carrying the physical evidence of what he did to her? Yes. You can see every bit of manipulation, even if she can’t. Do I believe that Lulu could really stick her head in the sand and just pretend none of it ever happened? Yes. The guilt of being the survivor, the “one who got away”, is strong. Especially for an older sister who was already treated as a surrogate mother. Especially for the one who opened the door.
It’s not a perfect book. There’s a lot of criticism that it’s repetitive, with Lulu and Merry revisiting the same situations and arguments over and over again. But I think that’s part of the strength of the story, showing that those things don’t just go away. You can’t just grow out of it. You can’t party it away. You can’t just ignore it and move past it. You eventually have to embrace it and hope to turn it into something positive, or at least, something you can live with.
When there’s a report of a terrible crime or event, I think a lot about those who are left behind. Not just the survivors of the dead, but the ones who are injured. Those wounds, mental and physical, never completely go away. I think this book is a good illustration of that. No matter how much you want to yell at them “Just get over it already! Move on with your life!”, it’s not that easy. That pain is deep, and it may never go away.
What follows is the never-ending aftermath of such a horrific event. Do I believe that the girls’ family could essentially abandoned them? Yes. Not everyone reacts gracefully after a tragedy. Do I believe that Merry could continue to visit her father year after year after year, despite carrying the physical evidence of what he did to her? Yes. You can see every bit of manipulation, even if she can’t. Do I believe that Lulu could really stick her head in the sand and just pretend none of it ever happened? Yes. The guilt of being the survivor, the “one who got away”, is strong. Especially for an older sister who was already treated as a surrogate mother. Especially for the one who opened the door.
It’s not a perfect book. There’s a lot of criticism that it’s repetitive, with Lulu and Merry revisiting the same situations and arguments over and over again. But I think that’s part of the strength of the story, showing that those things don’t just go away. You can’t just grow out of it. You can’t party it away. You can’t just ignore it and move past it. You eventually have to embrace it and hope to turn it into something positive, or at least, something you can live with.
When there’s a report of a terrible crime or event, I think a lot about those who are left behind. Not just the survivors of the dead, but the ones who are injured. Those wounds, mental and physical, never completely go away. I think this book is a good illustration of that. No matter how much you want to yell at them “Just get over it already! Move on with your life!”, it’s not that easy. That pain is deep, and it may never go away.
nancyrobs's review against another edition
5.0
This had been on my to read list for a long time so I was glad to finally get it at my local library. Worth the wait. I really liked this book.
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