Scan barcode
ciara_g's review against another edition
4.5
I always love a small-town-Ireland plot; the nosiness, the gossip, the sheer drama of it all. Mind you it’d be my idea of hell to live in a community like that but reading a fictional version is always fun.
It Could Never Happen Here obviously exceeded my expectations upon discovery of the extent of this small town “scandal”. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor numerous times while reading - Mrs. Rodgers, I genuinely gasped.
Alongside some incredibly depressing moments (check trigger warnings), there was also some very funny writing and as a children’s swim teacher in my past life, I had a lot of sympathy for Nuala Patterson. Special mention to one of my favourite side plots; One of the children, during an incredibly chaotic rehearsal of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, insisted he would play the Munchkin mayor after taking inspiration from the book, and demanded he wear a gold chain. His mother later, endorsing his demands claims he’s been putting lots of effort into “character development” i.e; pretending to chair meetings and sitting on the floor to eat dinner because “he reckoned his Munchkin legs wouldn’t be able to get him up onto the chair.” 😭
I enjoyed the multiple POVs but found the transitions between voices and timelines really blurred. Oftentimes, I’d have to backtrack to figure out whose POV we were in but it was an interesting way to develop a storyline. The depths to this story were surprising and intriguing, the kind of book you’d fly through in a day, and enjoy every second doing so.
It Could Never Happen Here obviously exceeded my expectations upon discovery of the extent of this small town “scandal”. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor numerous times while reading - Mrs. Rodgers, I genuinely gasped.
Alongside some incredibly depressing moments (check trigger warnings), there was also some very funny writing and as a children’s swim teacher in my past life, I had a lot of sympathy for Nuala Patterson. Special mention to one of my favourite side plots; One of the children, during an incredibly chaotic rehearsal of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, insisted he would play the Munchkin mayor after taking inspiration from the book, and demanded he wear a gold chain. His mother later, endorsing his demands claims he’s been putting lots of effort into “character development” i.e; pretending to chair meetings and sitting on the floor to eat dinner because “he reckoned his Munchkin legs wouldn’t be able to get him up onto the chair.” 😭
I enjoyed the multiple POVs but found the transitions between voices and timelines really blurred. Oftentimes, I’d have to backtrack to figure out whose POV we were in but it was an interesting way to develop a storyline. The depths to this story were surprising and intriguing, the kind of book you’d fly through in a day, and enjoy every second doing so.
cribbin_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gemjar321's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
suthsub's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
The recording was a little odd with pauses that are way too long and way too silent for my liking. I thought a few times my earphones had unpaired. Story itself was alright, just not really for me. Very Desperate Housewives/Big Little Lies-ish, but slow-paced.
jdurkan91's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well. This wasn’t what I was expecting. I saw at the back there was a school scandal but little did I expect it to be a sexting scandal.
Oh the lives of school parents. Some get so involved don’t they. Beverley is Glass Lake. I can understand some of her character but she does come across as a dose for most of the book. Her mum however I’d die for.
I liked where the book led. What it led you to believe and then twisted all away. Knifes and daggers.
The story was there, and each story got wound up in its own way. Why people are who they are, and why some people seem cold but are fighting another battle.
Frank’s attitude at the end rings very true.
I wasn’t expecting it to be as funny as it was so that was different.
Overall, 3.5 stars from me.
Oh the lives of school parents. Some get so involved don’t they. Beverley is Glass Lake. I can understand some of her character but she does come across as a dose for most of the book. Her mum however I’d die for.
I liked where the book led. What it led you to believe and then twisted all away. Knifes and daggers.
The story was there, and each story got wound up in its own way. Why people are who they are, and why some people seem cold but are fighting another battle.
Frank’s attitude at the end rings very true.
I wasn’t expecting it to be as funny as it was so that was different.
Overall, 3.5 stars from me.
ali_w15's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this. Finished it in 3 days. Easy to read and interesting characters. I was hooked and desperate to find out what happened in the end. Would like to read more of this author.
raclmac's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sarahliz__'s review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
pixiewilo's review against another edition
3.0
So I wasn’t sure about this book, and I’m not sure how best to review it, the last quarter of the book is where the action is, the rest was made up of small town gossip and characters who were all pretty dreadful. It’s three stars from me and that’s only because the last quarter was so well written.