Scan barcode
ionno's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
thatlibrarynerd's review
2.0
I suppose this book was... meh? It was fine, a little repetitive and lacking in any real rising action, more like slice-of-life post-kidnapping. A lot is either not address or not dealt with, it's just kind of there, and ultimately the idea of Sam being healed felt anti-climactic and not like the point.
heathermassareads's review
3.0
Sam disappeared three years ago, abducted. Now he's been found. He's different, as one would imagine.
The interesting thing here, though, is that the story is told through the perspective of two alternating characters - Sam's older sister, Beth and the last person to see Sam before he disappeared, Josh. They both carry a lot of guilt, and they're both trying to resolve it.
I guess I feel like their is so much unresolved, but, hey. That's life.
The interesting thing here, though, is that the story is told through the perspective of two alternating characters - Sam's older sister, Beth and the last person to see Sam before he disappeared, Josh. They both carry a lot of guilt, and they're both trying to resolve it.
I guess I feel like their is so much unresolved, but, hey. That's life.
tcweeks24's review
4.0
This book made me have all kinds of feelings and I got very emotional at some things so I don't know if I am in a neutral position to think about some of the more technical aspects.
I do like Wilson's style of writing, short, kinda clipped. If I wanted anything it was a little more depth to characters outside of Beth and Josh. Sometimes I got really angry at them and their reactions. This probably has to do with me and my first-person POV issues. Also, I wanted more about Sam. Yes exposition is good, but we didn't get that deeper reflective pain until the very end.
Also, as always, the ending felt rushed. I say this on almost every review, so I am starting to wonder if it's me that has the problem...
I do like Wilson's style of writing, short, kinda clipped. If I wanted anything it was a little more depth to characters outside of Beth and Josh. Sometimes I got really angry at them and their reactions. This probably has to do with me and my first-person POV issues. Also, I wanted more about Sam. Yes exposition is good, but we didn't get that deeper reflective pain until the very end.
Also, as always, the ending felt rushed. I say this on almost every review, so I am starting to wonder if it's me that has the problem...
amandasettell's review
5.0
This story is told between two perspectives, Sam's sister Beth and Sam's childhood friend Josh. At first I didn't think I would like it but once I was a 4 chapters in I was used to the style and didn't mind it at all. As a psychology major I really wanted to get inside Sam's head but I thought the author did an excellent job at conveying Sam's story in Beth and Josh's point of view.
imofish's review
4.0
Gripping, but deeply disturbing. I agree that some major points were left unresolved.
avalith's review
3.0
I feel like I'm having a really hard time with endings lately. I don't mind a conclusion that doesn't wrap up everything nicely, or one that's bittersweet. What I do mind is an ending that's unsatisfying, one that leaves character arcs hanging or happens too quickly. I think that's my big problem here.
The rest of the book was really good, exploring the aftermath of a kidnapping victim's return home on his family and friends. I enjoyed both of our PoV characters equally and found their different struggles with Sam's return home. I found Josh's conclusion to be less satisfying as there's still a lot left unsaid and his relationships with Sam and his friend Nick ended in weird places for me.
I liked the book, I'd probably say it's a 3.5 star kind of a deal. I was just annoyed with the ending.
The rest of the book was really good, exploring the aftermath of a kidnapping victim's return home on his family and friends. I enjoyed both of our PoV characters equally and found their different struggles with Sam's return home. I found Josh's conclusion to be less satisfying as there's still a lot left unsaid and his relationships with Sam and his friend Nick ended in weird places for me.
I liked the book, I'd probably say it's a 3.5 star kind of a deal. I was just annoyed with the ending.
nation_1996's review
5.0
I could not put this book down! I expected to be disappointed because it's not a book I would normally pick up, but wow. The author really kept me interested and even though the ending wasn't necessarily what I was hoping for, it really was an amazing read.
spacepanda120's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
erickabdz's review against another edition
4.0
A woman walks by on the sidewalk in a puffy coat. I think, if that woman watches the interview, she’ll know who we are, she’ll know all the horrible truths about our lives. She’ll think, what an incredible story, and then flip the channel and get on with her life. I think how amazing that is, and how unfair.
This book broke my heart. Repeatedly. Then throw it into the sea and made a funeral in its honor.
[b: We Now Return to Regular Life|28169304|We Now Return to Regular Life|Martin Wilson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1478584177s/28169304.jpg|48183737] begins in the middle of lots of things; begins in a "happy ending" where Sam Walsh returns after being missing for three years. Except, this is not Sam's story: this is about his big sister, Beth, and his friend, Josh, and how an horrible thing can alter all your life. He see Sam's hurt and trauma and recovery from their eyes, and we also learn about love and grief and family.
This book brings some serious questions, works with the morality of losing, and then dealing with the trauma of an important person in your life. Until what point should I grieve? How much time should their happiness be above my own? Does moving on make me a bad person? Should I forget all the bad things this person did because something awful happened to them? All this questions are dealt in this book, and while we don't get the answer (like in real life) they are an important part of the journey. I felt sometimes uncomfortable with Beth's narrative, because she wasn't ~supportive enough by my standards, but it made me ask myself, what would I do in her place? What would I do if I knew somebody's pain was bigger than mine, but my own heart ache would not go away? Those are important questions and make you reflect in your own hypocrisy and moral high ground.
I also really liked Sam; as Beth, he was very compelling character and you really could see his struggle. I could not understand it, but I could try to and it made sense, all the mess in his heart. I liked that the author did not make him a "perfect victim", someone that we had to sympathize with. Sam was flawed, before and after, and he still deserved compassion, didn't deserve any of what happened to him.
I loved this book because it was real and raw, and because I loved all the support and love that came from the adults; their love was imperfect, like everything is, but is always present. I especially loved that this book demanded an introspection of my own values and an analysis of our society as a whole. The only things I did not like are part of the realness of the story, of how you could never have all the answers; but it went through some important topics without given them much importance and they were not brought back again
Spoiler
like... the thing with the boys. And Josh asking him to stop and Sam not stoppingOverall, this was a heart-wrenching story that raises some important questions and deals with relevant subjects, but finally has one message for us: hope. I really liked Martin Wilson story-telling and I'm certainly looking for more of his books in the future.