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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
It always pains me when I don't connect with a book by an author I adore and that I have been looking forward to but, unfortunately, that was the case with this one. The story overall was fine but somewhat forgettable, mainly due to the lack of connection I felt with the characters. If it had been more overtly focused on the point on view from one character, maybe the impact would have been greater and I would have felt more empathy towards them.
It was an interesting choice in my mind to not have many redeeming qualities for the character of Evvie. The mere fact that she was not honest with someone who was her best friend and also the fact that she was quite superficial right from the get go was disappointing and at no point did my heart really empathize with her for her actions. Maggie seemed like if she was more developed she would have been more interesting in likable but I found her personality pretty bland and not strong enough to stand on its own, which was cemented in the fact that she was most frequently related to only in regards to her relationship with "Evil Ben". Even when he was out of the picture, I didn't feel she really caught my interest.
I most appreciated the character of Topher. I found him and his background the most interesting and would have loved to know more about both his childhood and relationship with his parents. He seemed to me to be the most sympathetic character and the most humanized throughout the book.
Overall, the book just felt like it was missing some key pieces for me that would have tied the story together better and would have made the friendship between the three people more realistic for the reader. If given the chance to prolong the histories of the characters and deepen the berth of their thoughts and emotions through their time both together and apart, I feel the story overall could have been more compelling and fulfilling.
It was an interesting choice in my mind to not have many redeeming qualities for the character of Evvie. The mere fact that she was not honest with someone who was her best friend and also the fact that she was quite superficial right from the get go was disappointing and at no point did my heart really empathize with her for her actions. Maggie seemed like if she was more developed she would have been more interesting in likable but I found her personality pretty bland and not strong enough to stand on its own, which was cemented in the fact that she was most frequently related to only in regards to her relationship with "Evil Ben". Even when he was out of the picture, I didn't feel she really caught my interest.
I most appreciated the character of Topher. I found him and his background the most interesting and would have loved to know more about both his childhood and relationship with his parents. He seemed to me to be the most sympathetic character and the most humanized throughout the book.
Overall, the book just felt like it was missing some key pieces for me that would have tied the story together better and would have made the friendship between the three people more realistic for the reader. If given the chance to prolong the histories of the characters and deepen the berth of their thoughts and emotions through their time both together and apart, I feel the story overall could have been more compelling and fulfilling.
I liked The Friends We Keep, but it wasn't my favorite Jane Green book. Jane Green tells the story of three college friends who go in and out of friendship for many years after college. I personally found it hard to really like any of the characters and that was one reason I had to give the book three stars. When one of the three has a child with the husband of the other friend, you knew ultimately that it would be the twist at the end that throws their friendships for a loop. There were also a lot of body image issues that had not really been discussed to the full potential, and were left a little unsaid.
That being said, I love Jane's writing and her stories read so easily. It's hard not to fall in love with her books. I would recommend reading this one, if you have the chance to, but it's not her best.
That being said, I love Jane's writing and her stories read so easily. It's hard not to fall in love with her books. I would recommend reading this one, if you have the chance to, but it's not her best.
Adult realistic contemporary fiction. Topher, Evvie, and Maggie met on their first day of university in England, and stayed close their whole time there. They got used to cooking and eating together, living together, and knowing the ins and outs of their daily lives. Despite promises to keep in touch, they drifted apart after graduation. Infrequent check-ins made it easy to hide things from each other, which all of them took advantage of, but none more than Evvie. When they reconnect at their 30th reunion, they are surprised at both how easy and how hard it is to be together again.
Well-written story, with a great setting (mostly English countryside, some in NYC). I especially loved Topher's character and his relationships. I felt he was the strongest individual character. A great summer read.
Well-written story, with a great setting (mostly English countryside, some in NYC). I especially loved Topher's character and his relationships. I felt he was the strongest individual character. A great summer read.
I'll round up, but I'm sitting at a 2.5/5 for this.
There's something about the story that encouraged me to continue it to completion. It could have been the topic of friendships, and how those can change over time (even with all the secrets we keep, and the different masks we put on for those closest to us). The storylines themselves were well thought through, but I was increasingly frustrated with the narration. They weren't distinct enough between the characters, and it detracted from what could have made me more empathetic to each of the characters.
Give it a read if you want to read about the realities of friendships changing, and how we relate to those we consider our best friends.
There's something about the story that encouraged me to continue it to completion. It could have been the topic of friendships, and how those can change over time (even with all the secrets we keep, and the different masks we put on for those closest to us). The storylines themselves were well thought through, but I was increasingly frustrated with the narration. They weren't distinct enough between the characters, and it detracted from what could have made me more empathetic to each of the characters.
Give it a read if you want to read about the realities of friendships changing, and how we relate to those we consider our best friends.
I am pretty sure that this is my first Jane Green novel, but it won't be my last. I loved the story of the friendships Maggie, Evvie, and Topher formed. The story follows their lives from uni in the 1980s to 2019. Life throws a lot at these three. Success, love, heartbreak, grief, betrayal. And I was right there, feeling it all with them. When I wasn't reading the book, I found myself thinking about them. This is a great summer read.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Berkley for providing an ebook in exchange for a review.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Berkley for providing an ebook in exchange for a review.
This was a quick read and I was interested in the characters. However, it was one of those books that was enjoyable but didn't leave me with anything to think about. The three main characters, Evvie, Maggie, and Topher all had their fair share of baggage (the author did want to include as many social issues as possible between these three and their families). A lot was covered, but nothing was really memorable.
I don’t think I’m capable of the level of suspension of disbelief required to enjoy this book. It was ridiculous
This is not a good book. The characters are horrible clichés. The book flies through time, which is fine just don’t expect me to feel nostalgic along with the characters on page 86 for something that happened 3 years ago for them when that was just 10 pages ago for me. The gay man with a history of physical abuse - come on; I am tired of this plot device. The woman who gets knocked up and tells the man she’s having an abortion then gets knocked up by the same man again and doesn’t tell him about having his child... because she doesn’t want to lose her friend (his wife)? Not plausible to me. And the ending? Give me a break. The friend (wife) finds out about the affair and the child, and then forgives everything and they go on living together and ALSO open a business together called “My Two Moms.” I just cannot.
This will make for interesting conversation at my friend reunion beach trip (the only reason I read the book), but it was not good.
This will make for interesting conversation at my friend reunion beach trip (the only reason I read the book), but it was not good.
Evvie, Topher, and Maggie become best friends at university. They can't imagine their lives without one another. But, as time passes, they drift apart. Evvie is now a former supermodel besieged by eating disorders and unhealthy relationships--and she's spent a good part of her life keeping a big secret from her friends. Maggie finally married Ben, the boy she carried a torch for at university. But their life together isn't all it cracked up to be thanks to his drinking problem. And Topher, while a successful actor, is plagued with demons from his childhood. When their thirtieth university reunion comes up, the friends find each other again. Can they reclaim the closeness they once had?
"I wish it could be the three of us just like this, forever."
This is a pretty easy read, though a little slow at times. If you like getting caught up in the somewhat twisted existences of others, you will probably enjoy this one. It covers the trio's lives from university and graduation up to the reunion--and then discusses what happens after they, well, reunite. So there's no big story here, just the tale of three friends and the stories and secrets they share. But it's an interesting read, if not a bit melodramatic at times.
You may have to suspend some disbelief at various points, but I did think it was a good portrait of friendship overall. I found it to be a satisfying tale of relationships, and I certainly felt a part of everyone's lives. 3.5 stars.
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"I wish it could be the three of us just like this, forever."
This is a pretty easy read, though a little slow at times. If you like getting caught up in the somewhat twisted existences of others, you will probably enjoy this one. It covers the trio's lives from university and graduation up to the reunion--and then discusses what happens after they, well, reunite. So there's no big story here, just the tale of three friends and the stories and secrets they share. But it's an interesting read, if not a bit melodramatic at times.
You may have to suspend some disbelief at various points, but I did think it was a good portrait of friendship overall. I found it to be a satisfying tale of relationships, and I certainly felt a part of everyone's lives. 3.5 stars.