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its_hay's review against another edition
2.0
This one gets two stars based on the fact that a lot of what happened I predicted early on before the halfway mark in the book.
It was easy to read, but I have to critique Huntley's writing because it took until EXACTLY halfway through this book for the plot to move forward. I understand establishing your characters, but I felt there was almost TOO much time spent on Nancy's obsession with Ana. The idea of Nancy being so naive toward Ana's con was also a bit beyond what I could believe because the scam was SO obvious.
The summary in this book's inner sleeve promotes Ana and Nancy's friendship as "dangerous," but when we got to the "dangerous" part - it happened and then was glossed over. It was incredibly underwhelming to have that happen when there was only 20% of the book left to read.
Essentially, Ana wasn't as dangerous as this book wanted to suggest. She was incredibly petty and annoying - another con artist vying for attention because she had a shitty childhood. Meh.
It was easy to read, but I have to critique Huntley's writing because it took until EXACTLY halfway through this book for the plot to move forward. I understand establishing your characters, but I felt there was almost TOO much time spent on Nancy's obsession with Ana. The idea of Nancy being so naive toward Ana's con was also a bit beyond what I could believe because the scam was SO obvious.
The summary in this book's inner sleeve promotes Ana and Nancy's friendship as "dangerous," but when we got to the "dangerous" part - it happened and then was glossed over. It was incredibly underwhelming to have that happen when there was only 20% of the book left to read.
Essentially, Ana wasn't as dangerous as this book wanted to suggest. She was incredibly petty and annoying - another con artist vying for attention because she had a shitty childhood. Meh.
smd's review against another edition
3.0
This seemed really long to me - maybe because I realized very quickly what it took the main character an eternity to get. At one point, I was like why am I still reading this?
I liked the writing, but the storyline was tough in spots. It was hard to connect with or have sympathy or empathy for anyone in this book.
Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the writing, but the storyline was tough in spots. It was hard to connect with or have sympathy or empathy for anyone in this book.
Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
carolmia's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about Nancy who recently moved with her husband Chuck and their teenage twins to Hawaii. In the island she meets Ana (pronounced "O-na") who is a yoga instructor, among other things. They start a friendship where Nancy is more of a traditional stay-at-home mom and Ana is sort of an adventurer, their personalities complement each other.
When I started reading I thought the book was mainly about female friendships and bonding and to some degree it is, but soon turns out to be darker than it appears after some events and this is where it gets very interesting. I will not go into any details as I love discovering things as I read and will not spoil the fun for you.
This is the second book I've read from the same author, the first one was We Could Be Beautiful which I loved.
Overall I enjoyed the book and recommend it to all those who love self-discovery journeys, themes of female friendship or just a good contemporary book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Swan Huntley, and Dobleday for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted on blog
About the author:
Website
Twitter
Last note, here's a beautiful and relaxing picture of Hawaii...
Source: http://sbhawaii.com/
When I started reading I thought the book was mainly about female friendships and bonding and to some degree it is, but soon turns out to be darker than it appears after some events and this is where it gets very interesting. I will not go into any details as I love discovering things as I read and will not spoil the fun for you.
This is the second book I've read from the same author, the first one was We Could Be Beautiful which I loved.
Overall I enjoyed the book and recommend it to all those who love self-discovery journeys, themes of female friendship or just a good contemporary book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Swan Huntley, and Dobleday for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted on blog
About the author:
Website
Last note, here's a beautiful and relaxing picture of Hawaii...
Source: http://sbhawaii.com/
alapp6's review against another edition
2.0
What a bizarre book. I didn’t really need to read this but having read it, I’ll say it’s a story about manipulation but also giving other people control when you don’t want to be in control. So if that’s the lesson I learned from the book, perhaps I could have learned it elsewhere.
xenabobeena's review against another edition
4.0
3 1/2 stars.
No specific spoilers, but you’ve still been warned.
A very enjoyable read, however maybe not your typical psychological thriller.
From the get go, I sort of had an idea of what would unfold, I just wasn’t sure which way it would get there. The “thriller” part is not very prominent until the last part of the novel, however the build up to it is beautiful, and the domestic drama was well written. I found myself really resonating with Nancy, in that I wanted to be like Ana at first. Huntley does a wonderful job of getting you into the water and turning up the heat. You don’t realize it’s heating up until it’s boiling, and at that point it’s too late to jump out (or stop reading in this case).
All poorly worded metaphors aside, Goddesses was an enjoyable read. Would I read it again? Probably not, but it makes for a good casual read.
No specific spoilers, but you’ve still been warned.
A very enjoyable read, however maybe not your typical psychological thriller.
From the get go, I sort of had an idea of what would unfold, I just wasn’t sure which way it would get there. The “thriller” part is not very prominent until the last part of the novel, however the build up to it is beautiful, and the domestic drama was well written. I found myself really resonating with Nancy, in that I wanted to be like Ana at first. Huntley does a wonderful job of getting you into the water and turning up the heat. You don’t realize it’s heating up until it’s boiling, and at that point it’s too late to jump out (or stop reading in this case).
All poorly worded metaphors aside, Goddesses was an enjoyable read. Would I read it again? Probably not, but it makes for a good casual read.
longtimereader's review against another edition
3.0
I appear to have lost the goddess part of this book, and have instead found a lack of common sense. I know, it's not common anymore, but the main charters do some really stupid things. They are impaired on low levels that felt out of place. Cooking, cleaning, relating, ignoring the people who are suppose to be the most important in your life for, a mid-life crisis or becoming a co-depending personality? This book, it's the slow dissolving of several relationships into a larger mess that didn't add up to me.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free choosing.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free choosing.
bookally's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this one up purely because storygraph suggested it for me and I can definitely understand why storygraph suggested it. Although I didn't really rate it high, it did have been intrigued from the get go and mostly throughout.
This book follows Nancy and her family as they move to hawaii. Its like a last ditch attempt to save their marriage. Nancy befriends Anna, things happen, drama ensues. It gets tied up nicely at the end.
I liked the twist end. I didn't see it coming because I dont think it's something you really even think of for the ending but it was good. I couldn't stand Anna which is guess is the point. I like the whole is it isn't greener on the other side look at things and the characters learning that the hard way. I like that self love was a strong plot in this for both Nancy and Chuck. None of the characters really stood out to me. Its not a book I will probably remember in a few months time.
This book follows Nancy and her family as they move to hawaii. Its like a last ditch attempt to save their marriage. Nancy befriends Anna, things happen, drama ensues. It gets tied up nicely at the end.
I liked the twist end. I didn't see it coming because I dont think it's something you really even think of for the ending but it was good. I couldn't stand Anna which is guess is the point. I like the whole is it isn't greener on the other side look at things and the characters learning that the hard way. I like that self love was a strong plot in this for both Nancy and Chuck. None of the characters really stood out to me. Its not a book I will probably remember in a few months time.
nikiverse's review
1.0
Nancy is a stay-at-home housewife and her husband Chuck works at Costco. Chuck has recently cheated on Nancy so they decide to move to Hawaii (with their two sons) to start a new chapter in their life.
Nancy starts taking yoga with Ana (pronounced On-a). Ana starts calling Nancy "Nan" and they start to hang out in a jacuzzi and hand out sandwiches to homeless people in their personal crusade to feel better about themselves (Sandwich Sistahs, holla). Nan starts leaning out and dressing boho chic while she rolls her eyes about her other stay-at-home housewife friends who are still dressing in mumus and 10# overweight.
As they story progresses, Nan starts bail out on her family by hanging out with Ana instead (and LIES about it for no god-damned reason).
Without spoiling the book - Ana starts to have serious trouble in her life and, as a result, Nancy helps Ana. Ana does some bullsh*t to which Nan responds by shrugging her shoulders and "going with the flow."
I hate the characters. Nancy's reactions didn't make sense. Her choices didn't make sense and she's a horrible representation of a 40-something mother trying to get her groove back. She lies or omits the truth from her family ("I settled on a half-lie"), she does not protect them, she runs from her problems, and has little to no meaningful growth throughout the book. She's also judgmental af.
EXAMPLES
Nancy is making leis with another housewife and comments how her friend "pushed her small wire-framed glasses up her big nose." Un-necessary.
Making leis with the other housewives: "I eyed the other women and thought they were homely. And very serious about their leis- almost sadly serious, because this was obviously the highlight of their day. I may have felt a little superior knowing it would not be the highlight of mine. I may have noted that my laid-back position in the chair and my who-cares workout attire suggested I had a life beyond stringing flowers. I may have also noted that everyone at the table had covered their flabby middle-aged arms with distracting floral fabrics while my shoulders were proudly exposed."
Nancy on her husband, Chuck: "On the side of the pool, Coach Iona with his hands on his knees said something to Jed [their son], and Jed untied his cap and smacked it on the concrete. Great, anger is inherited. Or learned. Either way, it was Chuck's fault." Dude can't fucking win.
Then, towards the end of the book, her son has a pretty life-changing experience (as a result of Nancy's choices), and Nancy seems to want to parent the child WITH the child and not include the father in the conversation.
"Are you going to tell Dad?"
"No," I said. "You're an adult [this is false, btw]. You choose what you want to tell your dad."
Nancy lies or omits the truth during the WHOLE book. She never calls herself out on her own bullshit.
This whole book is #whitepeopleproblems and has no soul. I can not wait to delete it off my Kindle.
EDIT: I got this book for free via netgalley bc I liked the book cover, so some of these quotes might not be accurate to the final copy. Maybe the author changed the whole book and it's not god-awful anymore too.
Nancy starts taking yoga with Ana (pronounced On-a). Ana starts calling Nancy "Nan" and they start to hang out in a jacuzzi and hand out sandwiches to homeless people in their personal crusade to feel better about themselves (Sandwich Sistahs, holla). Nan starts leaning out and dressing boho chic while she rolls her eyes about her other stay-at-home housewife friends who are still dressing in mumus and 10# overweight.
As they story progresses, Nan starts bail out on her family by hanging out with Ana instead (and LIES about it for no god-damned reason).
Without spoiling the book - Ana starts to have serious trouble in her life and, as a result, Nancy helps Ana. Ana does some bullsh*t to which Nan responds by shrugging her shoulders and "going with the flow."
I hate the characters. Nancy's reactions didn't make sense. Her choices didn't make sense and she's a horrible representation of a 40-something mother trying to get her groove back. She lies or omits the truth from her family ("I settled on a half-lie"), she does not protect them, she runs from her problems, and has little to no meaningful growth throughout the book. She's also judgmental af.
EXAMPLES
Nancy is making leis with another housewife and comments how her friend "pushed her small wire-framed glasses up her big nose." Un-necessary.
Making leis with the other housewives: "I eyed the other women and thought they were homely. And very serious about their leis- almost sadly serious, because this was obviously the highlight of their day. I may have felt a little superior knowing it would not be the highlight of mine. I may have noted that my laid-back position in the chair and my who-cares workout attire suggested I had a life beyond stringing flowers. I may have also noted that everyone at the table had covered their flabby middle-aged arms with distracting floral fabrics while my shoulders were proudly exposed."
Nancy on her husband, Chuck: "On the side of the pool, Coach Iona with his hands on his knees said something to Jed [their son], and Jed untied his cap and smacked it on the concrete. Great, anger is inherited. Or learned. Either way, it was Chuck's fault." Dude can't fucking win.
Then, towards the end of the book, her son has a pretty life-changing experience (as a result of Nancy's choices), and Nancy seems to want to parent the child WITH the child and not include the father in the conversation.
"Are you going to tell Dad?"
"No," I said. "You're an adult [this is false, btw]. You choose what you want to tell your dad."
Nancy lies or omits the truth during the WHOLE book. She never calls herself out on her own bullshit.
This whole book is #whitepeopleproblems and has no soul. I can not wait to delete it off my Kindle.
EDIT: I got this book for free via netgalley bc I liked the book cover, so some of these quotes might not be accurate to the final copy. Maybe the author changed the whole book and it's not god-awful anymore too.
ashj_1218's review against another edition
3.0
Very difficult to rate. I found Nancy to be a dynamic and "well-formed" character, in the fact she was a blank slate and almost striving to latch onto something. I related so much to her "domestic ways" and her desire to take something, ANYTHING for herself. But I couldn't wrap my brain around being quite that trusting or gullible. Maybe I'm a natural skeptic. The end had a beautiful 'twist' that was perfect, but such a minute side-story it almost didn't register. But there were flaws in the story and dead spots that didn't make up for themselves. Moderate book with sparks of possibility within.
miajmu's review
3.0
Creepy, cold, sad... a lot like Huntley's previous novel in tone. Interesting characters and story.