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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Fast-paced, post Gone-Girl mystery that wraps up just a little too neatly.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I borrowed this book to try out Hoopla. I knew that it was popular and had some interest in the description. This book just never really grabbed me. I kept wanting it to just end, and that is rare for me.
The description of this book sounded so interesting and promising. However, the description was a little bit deceptive to me. The focus of the description is on a letter that a wife finds, which her husband wrote to be opened upon his death. However, this letter is not opened until halfway into the book. Leading up to that, not much happened that interested me. I was not interested in these women at all. One would think that after the letter is opened that things would become interesting. They did not. The revelation of the letter was pretty big, yet nothing really happened still until around chapter 49 and 50, which was a bit of a wait.
I also did not like the epilogue of this book. It changed things about the story. I do not think that the whole pandora’s box thing tied in as well as the author thought that it did either.
If you are pulled into the book because of the description, think twice. That is not really what the book is about. It is about three ladies that do not really know each other and are loosely connected because of some strange circumstances. For me, these ladies were shallow, uninteresting, and annoying at times. Read a mix of good and bad reviews to get to get a better description of this book before trying this one.
The description of this book sounded so interesting and promising. However, the description was a little bit deceptive to me. The focus of the description is on a letter that a wife finds, which her husband wrote to be opened upon his death. However, this letter is not opened until halfway into the book. Leading up to that, not much happened that interested me. I was not interested in these women at all. One would think that after the letter is opened that things would become interesting. They did not. The revelation of the letter was pretty big, yet nothing really happened still until around chapter 49 and 50, which was a bit of a wait.
I also did not like the epilogue of this book. It changed things about the story. I do not think that the whole pandora’s box thing tied in as well as the author thought that it did either.
If you are pulled into the book because of the description, think twice. That is not really what the book is about. It is about three ladies that do not really know each other and are loosely connected because of some strange circumstances. For me, these ladies were shallow, uninteresting, and annoying at times. Read a mix of good and bad reviews to get to get a better description of this book before trying this one.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Infidelity, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying
The conflicts were all so petty, and none of the characters were likeable
Another great one from Liane! I love the mystery surrounding all stories and it completely sucks me in! Midway I couldn’t figure out HOW it could end well but she did it! Kinda weird but I still loved the ending!
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As soon as I got a couple chapters in, I knew exactly what the big secret was going to be. I think that's just because I watched Big Little Lies on HBO, and the author clearly has an MO she likes to utilize. Still, knowing the twist doesn't take away from the story at all, and I'm very glad to have read it. There were some aspects of the book that hit very close to home for me, but it was all handled with delicacy and care.
3.5-4 stars. I liked this but I'm not sure I'd say "REALLY liked it" so it's almost a 4, but not quite. It wasn't bad, the writing was good, it just didn't blow me away. I enjoyed that the story focused on 3 sets of people and as the book progresses they are all intertwined in some way.
Cecelia…I felt bad for her. She was put in a situation that was tough.
Tess….hmmm….I hated what her cousin and husband did. I think how she felt about that whole situation was spot on. She absolutely felt the right way about how they felt about each other. Her actions though, I'm not so sure about.
Rachel…I like to think that she came to peace with her life. And that is what I got out of the book. I think she finally came to terms with the death of her daughter and was able to "live".
I enjoyed the epilogue very much. You can "what-if" anything and everything. It was neat to see how a certain action could create various chain of events. Who knows….anything can happen if you really think about it!
Cecelia…I felt bad for her. She was put in a situation that was tough.
Spoiler
I think she and her daughter Polly suffered the most for Jean-Paul's incident. As much as I felt that he got what he deserved by what happened to Polly, that is super sad, because I wouldn't wish that for anyone including the little girl.Tess….hmmm….I hated what her cousin and husband did. I think how she felt about that whole situation was spot on. She absolutely felt the right way about how they felt about each other. Her actions though, I'm not so sure about.
Spoiler
It seemed awfully easy for her to just throw away her marriage and have an affair. And only 3 days after she found out about her husband and cousin's feelings for each other. But again, who would be in their right mind after finding that out. Being under that kind of devastation, one may react unreasonably. So I can see how one may do that. Will their marriage work out? Who knows. One can only hope since there are children involved.Rachel…I like to think that she came to peace with her life. And that is what I got out of the book. I think she finally came to terms with the death of her daughter and was able to "live".
Spoiler
I also think since she seemed to finally come around to her daughter in law, she moved to New York with them and lived with them and cared for Jacob and any other future children.I enjoyed the epilogue very much. You can "what-if" anything and everything. It was neat to see how a certain action could create various chain of events. Who knows….anything can happen if you really think about it!