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wxrldwalker's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really know what I expected from this book.
This is more of a character-driven book. There is no plot, and to me it read more like literary fiction- which I'm not a big fan of. Nevertheless, it was an interesting read. The story follows two siblings (Joaquin and Elena) and their mother. It details their lives in Texas in 1986, with flashbacks to their mothers life in the past.
I liked how the story unfolded. We get this account from three different perspectives. Elena is sixteen, and spirals into a weird phase in her life after meeting J.C, who gets her hooked on smoking, drugs and alcohol. Joaquin is eighteen, and is unsure what to do with his life, but unlike Elena, he wants to leave the island and isn't afraid to stand up to their Mami. Finally, we have Mami- an alcoholic- who is going mad, unable to forget her life of riches in Cuba.
I enjoyed the writing style and shift of perspectives. Joaquin's perspective was more enjoyable than Elena's and I liked learning about their mother. Elena to me was just this lost kid and I found myself disliking her more and more- she made a lot of stupid decisions despite being a smart girl. The ending was a bit abrupt. In my opinion the 'stakes' weren't high enough. The most intriguing part of this book was reading about Mami's struggle. I didn't know anything about the history of Cuba. Operation Pedro Pan was a programme that led to many Cuban children being taken to the U.S after Fidel Castro came into power. It was both heart-breaking and made me want to know more.
Overall, an interesting read, but not a 'psychological thriller' as advertised.
This is more of a character-driven book. There is no plot, and to me it read more like literary fiction- which I'm not a big fan of. Nevertheless, it was an interesting read. The story follows two siblings (Joaquin and Elena) and their mother. It details their lives in Texas in 1986, with flashbacks to their mothers life in the past.
I liked how the story unfolded. We get this account from three different perspectives. Elena is sixteen, and spirals into a weird phase in her life after meeting J.C, who gets her hooked on smoking, drugs and alcohol. Joaquin is eighteen, and is unsure what to do with his life, but unlike Elena, he wants to leave the island and isn't afraid to stand up to their Mami. Finally, we have Mami- an alcoholic- who is going mad, unable to forget her life of riches in Cuba.
I enjoyed the writing style and shift of perspectives. Joaquin's perspective was more enjoyable than Elena's and I liked learning about their mother. Elena to me was just this lost kid and I found myself disliking her more and more- she made a lot of stupid decisions despite being a smart girl. The ending was a bit abrupt. In my opinion the 'stakes' weren't high enough. The most intriguing part of this book was reading about Mami's struggle. I didn't know anything about the history of Cuba. Operation Pedro Pan was a programme that led to many Cuban children being taken to the U.S after Fidel Castro came into power. It was both heart-breaking and made me want to know more.
Overall, an interesting read, but not a 'psychological thriller' as advertised.
zoeb1410's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the overall plot of this story. I thought that the book was quite slow at first but once it picked up, I was hooked. The fact that half of the book was told by each sibling and there were chapters about their mothers past life made it easy to understand and sympathise with the characters. The plot twist at the end boosted it up to 4 stars. It is definitely a book to read in summer on the beach!
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
3.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
More like 3.5
The Liars of Mariposa Island is one of those books that makes you examine the power of words. It is an emotional story that asks us what we are willing to sacrifice for our family, and when is enough, enough? The Liars of Mariposa Island is a story about summer, freedom, parties and boys. Narrated from the perspective of a girl and her older brother, The Liars of Mariposa Island is a story that revolves around family. It features a relationship between the main character, who is 16, and an older teen, 19 years of age. A book that is stewing with secrets, lies, and proving there's a bit of a liar in us all. We are asked what we will do to continue our lies, to protect ourselves, and our family.
But what drew me to The Liars of Mariposa Island were the exploration of truth and lies, the memories of Elena's mother as a refugee from Cuba, and the question of whether we have the strength to break free of our family's hold. Throughout the book we witness scenes of Elena's mother as she flees Cuba, assimilates to life in the US, and her own vulnerabilities, fears, and lies. Every character in this book is a liar. Whether that be a white lie, Mathieu explores their motivations and fears.
Unfortunately, a place where The Liars of Mariposa Island fell short for me was in the ending. I appreciated that half of the book is narrated from Elena's perspective and the other half Joaquin's (besides the chapters from their mother), but I didn't feel much resolution from the ending. I wasn't expecting there to be a very happy ending, because the book is a full of family drama and tension, but I was looking for more closure.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-the-liars-of-mariposa-island-by-jennifer-mathieu/
More like 3.5
The Liars of Mariposa Island is one of those books that makes you examine the power of words. It is an emotional story that asks us what we are willing to sacrifice for our family, and when is enough, enough? The Liars of Mariposa Island is a story about summer, freedom, parties and boys. Narrated from the perspective of a girl and her older brother, The Liars of Mariposa Island is a story that revolves around family. It features a relationship between the main character, who is 16, and an older teen, 19 years of age. A book that is stewing with secrets, lies, and proving there's a bit of a liar in us all. We are asked what we will do to continue our lies, to protect ourselves, and our family.
But what drew me to The Liars of Mariposa Island were the exploration of truth and lies, the memories of Elena's mother as a refugee from Cuba, and the question of whether we have the strength to break free of our family's hold. Throughout the book we witness scenes of Elena's mother as she flees Cuba, assimilates to life in the US, and her own vulnerabilities, fears, and lies. Every character in this book is a liar. Whether that be a white lie, Mathieu explores their motivations and fears.
Unfortunately, a place where The Liars of Mariposa Island fell short for me was in the ending. I appreciated that half of the book is narrated from Elena's perspective and the other half Joaquin's (besides the chapters from their mother), but I didn't feel much resolution from the ending. I wasn't expecting there to be a very happy ending, because the book is a full of family drama and tension, but I was looking for more closure.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-the-liars-of-mariposa-island-by-jennifer-mathieu/
samwlabb's review against another edition
4.0
This was a story filled with lies - some they told to others, but many, they told to themselves. The whole time, I wondered, if this family would be able to untangle all the lies and face their realities before it was too late.
• Pro: I adore Mathieu's writing, and once again, she has treated me to a beautifully written story, which was sort of sad, but deeply moving.
• Pro: Three points of view were used to tell this story, and I thought Mathieu used them in an engaging way. It was really important for me to have the mother's flashbacks, because they helped me understand her a little more, and allowed me develop a bit of empathy for her.
• Pro: I have actually been reading a different series, which also features the Cuban Revolution, but this book offered the story of what happened to the children. It was interesting to see how Caridad (the mother) was affected by being a part of Operation Pedro Pan.
• Con: This was a sad portrait of a dysfunctional family led by an alcoholic mother, who was so stuck in her past, that she could not move forward. Though the ending had a glimmer of hope, I could have used a little more, because I did feel invested in Elena and Joaquin's lives, and I wanted MORE for them.
• Pro: I was well aware of all the little lies the characters told during the course of the story, but there were two B I G lies, with one that really surprised me. Well played.
• Pro: Though both Joaquin and Elena had to constantly tread lightly around their mother, they did manage to find some joy. They both found some romance, and they always had each other.
Overall: A beautifully told, but heartbreaking portrait of a family stuck in a life filled with lies and dysfunction.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
• Pro: I adore Mathieu's writing, and once again, she has treated me to a beautifully written story, which was sort of sad, but deeply moving.
• Pro: Three points of view were used to tell this story, and I thought Mathieu used them in an engaging way. It was really important for me to have the mother's flashbacks, because they helped me understand her a little more, and allowed me develop a bit of empathy for her.
• Pro: I have actually been reading a different series, which also features the Cuban Revolution, but this book offered the story of what happened to the children. It was interesting to see how Caridad (the mother) was affected by being a part of Operation Pedro Pan.
• Con: This was a sad portrait of a dysfunctional family led by an alcoholic mother, who was so stuck in her past, that she could not move forward. Though the ending had a glimmer of hope, I could have used a little more, because I did feel invested in Elena and Joaquin's lives, and I wanted MORE for them.
• Pro: I was well aware of all the little lies the characters told during the course of the story, but there were two B I G lies, with one that really surprised me. Well played.
• Pro: Though both Joaquin and Elena had to constantly tread lightly around their mother, they did manage to find some joy. They both found some romance, and they always had each other.
Overall: A beautifully told, but heartbreaking portrait of a family stuck in a life filled with lies and dysfunction.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
ashleu's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed The Liars of Mariposa Island. It's dark, it's twisty, it's sad as hell, by far it is Mathieu's saddest book and she has written some doozies. But it also worked it's way into my heart and I love it so.
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