Scan barcode
ameliajerden's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jrumack's review
2.0
2.5 Stars
I wanted to read books that had "summer" or "August" in their titles. This one disappointed a bit. The story of 4 strangers sharing a cottage seemed very far fetched - who would do that?
This book was inspired by "Enchanted April" which I never had any desire to read/watch - Lesson Learned.
I wanted to read books that had "summer" or "August" in their titles. This one disappointed a bit. The story of 4 strangers sharing a cottage seemed very far fetched - who would do that?
This book was inspired by "Enchanted April" which I never had any desire to read/watch - Lesson Learned.
heyitsyii's review
2.0
The men in this book (with the exception of Beverly) are...the worst. Jon got better, but Fred? And Robert? What the hell, Robert...why are you so creepy.
jerkyf's review
2.0
Audiobook
I'm not sure about the narration. I don't dislike the narrator, but there is no attempt to voice the various characters differently. I'm having a hard time keeping track, especially if my mind wanders a bit. And my mind is wandering more than a bit. Not one of their stories is especially compelling. It reads like a YA book, with awkward adult scenes.
A small ad for a vacation home on a small Maine island attracts two mothers, who then find two more people to share the space. Each is looking for something from the seclusion, including anonymity, isolation, adventure, and separation. I'm not relating to any of them so far. Rose takes a month away from her husband and preschool-aged twins to figure out how to handle her difficult son and her relationship with her author husband. Leaving both for a month doesn't make sense to me. Lottie wants adventure, but so far she's letting everyone else make all of the decisions while she takes their drink orders and worries about money. I don't understand that either. Beverly is dealing with the loss of a beloved cat and a great love, grumpily and grudgingly. And Caroline is an actress trying to get over the devastation of almost winning an Oscar. She's rude and demanding, and I certainly can't relate to her. Every character is a cliché. I seem to be back in the 'more money than sense' spiral.
I'm not sure about the narration. I don't dislike the narrator, but there is no attempt to voice the various characters differently. I'm having a hard time keeping track, especially if my mind wanders a bit. And my mind is wandering more than a bit. Not one of their stories is especially compelling. It reads like a YA book, with awkward adult scenes.
A small ad for a vacation home on a small Maine island attracts two mothers, who then find two more people to share the space. Each is looking for something from the seclusion, including anonymity, isolation, adventure, and separation. I'm not relating to any of them so far. Rose takes a month away from her husband and preschool-aged twins to figure out how to handle her difficult son and her relationship with her author husband. Leaving both for a month doesn't make sense to me. Lottie wants adventure, but so far she's letting everyone else make all of the decisions while she takes their drink orders and worries about money. I don't understand that either. Beverly is dealing with the loss of a beloved cat and a great love, grumpily and grudgingly. And Caroline is an actress trying to get over the devastation of almost winning an Oscar. She's rude and demanding, and I certainly can't relate to her. Every character is a cliché. I seem to be back in the 'more money than sense' spiral.
beckmank's review
3.0
This was a 2.5 star for me.
Ms. Bowen does a good job in keeping with the original spirit of the foursome and their characteristics. I must say that her update to Mrs. Fisher was my favorite. Beverly Fisher had a lot more character and felt more real to me than the original Mrs. Fisher did.
Enchanted August didn’t have the charm of it’s predecessor, The Enchanted April. The update was lacking in the loveliness of language. There were some bits with locals thrown in that really didn’t seem to go anywhere – Max the handyman especially. I’ve been wondering what I would have thought of this book if I hadn’t read The Enchanted April first. Would I have liked it more or less? I’m not sure.
I would recommend to people who like chick-lit books. This would probably be a fun poolside read. I personally preferred the original to the update.
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Thanks to First to Read for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ms. Bowen does a good job in keeping with the original spirit of the foursome and their characteristics. I must say that her update to Mrs. Fisher was my favorite. Beverly Fisher had a lot more character and felt more real to me than the original Mrs. Fisher did.
Enchanted August didn’t have the charm of it’s predecessor, The Enchanted April. The update was lacking in the loveliness of language. There were some bits with locals thrown in that really didn’t seem to go anywhere – Max the handyman especially. I’ve been wondering what I would have thought of this book if I hadn’t read The Enchanted April first. Would I have liked it more or less? I’m not sure.
I would recommend to people who like chick-lit books. This would probably be a fun poolside read. I personally preferred the original to the update.
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Thanks to First to Read for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
carissa230's review
2.0
Lottie Wilkes is at her wits end with her husband, she decided that she would not have sex with him again until he kissed her, that was last year. She spots a sign for Hopewell Cottage Little Lost Island Maine. She decides to take things into her own hands and go away for the month of August. She leaves for the entire month of August.
Rose Arbuthnut is a stay at home mom of twins Ben and Bea. Ben is a troublemaker and has recently been kicked out of preschool. Rose meets Lottie at the sign for the cabin and quickly decides she needs a month to get away and have her own life. Her husband is a famous book author but that is a secret and he is currently sleeping on the couch.
Caroline Dester is an actress that has recently been made of fool of at the Oscar's. She is amazing and the most beautiful woman in the world (according to her). he decides that she should take the month of August to recover from her recent trauma, she decides to join Lottie and Rose at the cabin for the month of August.
Beverly Johnson is a man and he is color blind. He is crotchety and wants to spend his entire August alone in his room, at the cottage on Little Lost Island. He has recently lost his cat of 20 years and the love of his life his husband.
All these people come together to spend an enchanted August together. They are 4 people with nothing in common that need to get away and hide.
The book wasn't terrible but the ending felt forced. Also the characters were not very likeable. I hated Caroline, Beverly just seemed angry all the time, Rose seemed pitiable, and Lottie was just kind of annoying.
Rose Arbuthnut is a stay at home mom of twins Ben and Bea. Ben is a troublemaker and has recently been kicked out of preschool. Rose meets Lottie at the sign for the cabin and quickly decides she needs a month to get away and have her own life. Her husband is a famous book author but that is a secret and he is currently sleeping on the couch.
Caroline Dester is an actress that has recently been made of fool of at the Oscar's. She is amazing and the most beautiful woman in the world (according to her). he decides that she should take the month of August to recover from her recent trauma, she decides to join Lottie and Rose at the cabin for the month of August.
Beverly Johnson is a man and he is color blind. He is crotchety and wants to spend his entire August alone in his room, at the cottage on Little Lost Island. He has recently lost his cat of 20 years and the love of his life his husband.
All these people come together to spend an enchanted August together. They are 4 people with nothing in common that need to get away and hide.
The book wasn't terrible but the ending felt forced. Also the characters were not very likeable. I hated Caroline, Beverly just seemed angry all the time, Rose seemed pitiable, and Lottie was just kind of annoying.
myworldtoread's review
1.0
I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't stomach the characters, Beverly was the only one I could tolerate. The story teliing itself was also weird- some of the events seemed slapped together and there were a lot of parts where the timing of things didn't make sense. I had high hopes for it- the synopsis seemed so lovely- but everything just fell short.
readingstewardess's review
4.0
I received an ARC of Brenda Bowens "Enchanted August" as part of Penguin ' First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.
Brenda Bowen's updated take on the classic "The Enchanted April" I found to be not only a wonderful modern day update but one that was far more enjoyable for me than the original book which it is based upon. I loved that Brenda Bowen moved the story to modern day with it's main characters traveling from the fast paced lifestyle of New York City to the quiet and laid back place of Little Lost Island, Maine.
Brenda gives Lott not on an over bearing husband who is unhappy in his job at a law firm, but an adorable son who wants nothing more than love and affection from his father. The character of Rose finds herself saddled with twins, one of whom is facing expulsion from his preschool due to being unruly, and a writer husband who doesn't seem to have time to help manage the raising of their children. Caroline Deter is made an indie movie star seeking seclusion and privacy following a humiliating loss at the Academy Awards. Finally, the less than happy old woman from the original story, Beverly, is made into an unhappy older gay man who is still reeling from not only from the loss of his long term partner but more recently from that of his beloved cat.
Just as in "The Enchanted April", each of the main characters finds themselves and come to format new and enduring relationships with one another. Lottie and her husband are reminded of why they married in the first place and through the reawakening of their love for one another, that love extends towards their son Ethan who is finally receiving the attention he's craved from his father. Lottie's husband comes to realize just how miserable he was at his job and looks for other means of work in order to not only continue the happiness and rekindled love he's found with his family but to also be happy in his life overall. Rose and her husband are also given a second chance at happiness with one another, unfortunately this happiness may not last for them. Caroline is able to escape from the paparazzi back home and to finally meet someone who loves her for her and not because she's a famous actress; while Beverly begins to truly live his life as it is now without his loved ones around anymore, but with the new convoluted family which has formed on the island.
I highly doubt I would ever re-read "The Enchanted April", but I would definitely re-read "Enchanted April" and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great summer read.
"Enchanted August" is published by Penguin Publishing Group and is available now in Hardcover and ebook formats.
Brenda Bowen's updated take on the classic "The Enchanted April" I found to be not only a wonderful modern day update but one that was far more enjoyable for me than the original book which it is based upon. I loved that Brenda Bowen moved the story to modern day with it's main characters traveling from the fast paced lifestyle of New York City to the quiet and laid back place of Little Lost Island, Maine.
Brenda gives Lott not on an over bearing husband who is unhappy in his job at a law firm, but an adorable son who wants nothing more than love and affection from his father. The character of Rose finds herself saddled with twins, one of whom is facing expulsion from his preschool due to being unruly, and a writer husband who doesn't seem to have time to help manage the raising of their children. Caroline Deter is made an indie movie star seeking seclusion and privacy following a humiliating loss at the Academy Awards. Finally, the less than happy old woman from the original story, Beverly, is made into an unhappy older gay man who is still reeling from not only from the loss of his long term partner but more recently from that of his beloved cat.
Just as in "The Enchanted April", each of the main characters finds themselves and come to format new and enduring relationships with one another. Lottie and her husband are reminded of why they married in the first place and through the reawakening of their love for one another, that love extends towards their son Ethan who is finally receiving the attention he's craved from his father. Lottie's husband comes to realize just how miserable he was at his job and looks for other means of work in order to not only continue the happiness and rekindled love he's found with his family but to also be happy in his life overall. Rose and her husband are also given a second chance at happiness with one another, unfortunately this happiness may not last for them. Caroline is able to escape from the paparazzi back home and to finally meet someone who loves her for her and not because she's a famous actress; while Beverly begins to truly live his life as it is now without his loved ones around anymore, but with the new convoluted family which has formed on the island.
I highly doubt I would ever re-read "The Enchanted April", but I would definitely re-read "Enchanted April" and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great summer read.
"Enchanted August" is published by Penguin Publishing Group and is available now in Hardcover and ebook formats.
susanw's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Light, sweet, beach read. Literally. The book is about 4 people renting a large Maine cottage, to escape problems in real life. Their growth, and realizations of what's important blooming over the month. While an easy enjoyable read, I wanted something more from the book. This is a retelling of Enchanted April, which I have not read, but it is apparently pretty faithful. I might have to read it to see if it has the 'more' I wanted from this one.