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ncoleman's review
3.0
3 ⭐️
Pros: loved the story, loved the twists
Cons: writing style was very bland, especially in the first half of the book. I felt a huge disconnect with the characters, I didn’t really love or hate any of them.
Overall happy I read this book, however it could’ve been SO much better!
Pros: loved the story, loved the twists
Cons: writing style was very bland, especially in the first half of the book. I felt a huge disconnect with the characters, I didn’t really love or hate any of them.
Overall happy I read this book, however it could’ve been SO much better!
librariann's review
This gets my vote for half-read, as I read the first 100 pages or so. Then I decided I didn't care that much about the book but did want to know if Max was a murderer and flipped to the last FIFTY pages or so to find out the ending.
Danielle was totally a controlling weirdo.
Danielle was totally a controlling weirdo.
krismca's review
1.0
The only reason to read this book is if you are flying from NYC to South Bend, Indiana. It's exactly the right length. I started it while waiting at the gate and turned the last page just as the plane landed.
The mother character wasn't believable and the writing was unremarkable. Sometimes that's OK for an airplane book, but this one was trying (and failing) to be a lot more.
Like another reviewer, I skipped a horrifically disturbing few pages near the very end.
The mother character wasn't believable and the writing was unremarkable. Sometimes that's OK for an airplane book, but this one was trying (and failing) to be a lot more.
Like another reviewer, I skipped a horrifically disturbing few pages near the very end.
anotherheather's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book. The story moved quickly and I had trouble putting it down. Although it wasn't the highest quality literature I connected with the characters and the storyline.
bethreadsandnaps's review
1.0
Completely ridiculous! Where do I start?
No character development. I'm certainly not a lawyer, but it seems like this violated a ton of legal rules. The main character is unlikeable. It is the most slapdash court scene ever (think "Legally Blonde" with a murder). The main character can commit all sorts of crimes and elude being caught. There is very little discussion of her son's issues.
The sad thing is that the book had an interesting concept. And there are authors who could have brought a ton of justice to the concept. It was poorly executed by this author.
No character development. I'm certainly not a lawyer, but it seems like this violated a ton of legal rules. The main character is unlikeable. It is the most slapdash court scene ever (think "Legally Blonde" with a murder). The main character can commit all sorts of crimes and elude being caught. There is very little discussion of her son's issues.
The sad thing is that the book had an interesting concept. And there are authors who could have brought a ton of justice to the concept. It was poorly executed by this author.
amyjopereira's review
4.0
If you want a to read book about Asperger's, this isn't it. It was a good story, but I was expecting to have it focus more on the autism of this child. If that is the kind of book you are looking for, read House Rules by Jodi Picoult.
redhickory's review
1.0
15 pages in I was annoyed by multiple things (the first of which was that the author could not mentioned without eyes without describing them), so I headed to Goodreads to browse the 1 star reviews. In doing so, I discovered all the things that annoyed me would continue, no pay-off and more annoyance to come. ...DNF
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘To her there is only one Max’
Danielle Parkman is a single mother who has combined a successful career as an attorney with parenting her teenage son Max, who has Asperger’s syndrome. As the story opens, Danielle’s parenting skills are being tested by Max’s violent outbursts and she is concerned for his emotional wellbeing because of his expression of suicidal thoughts and drug use. Danielle takes Max to a psychiatric hospital for assessment in the hope of finding treatment which will help to manage his volatile behaviour. The assessment leads to a recommendation is that Max requires in-patient treatment for more specialized psychiatric assistance and he is admitted to the Maitland Psychiatric Unit.
Thus begins a nightmare for Max and Danielle.
Max is found bloody and unconscious next to the bed of a murdered patient: a boy named Jonas. The circumstances mean that Max is the prime suspect, and Danielle herself becomes implicated in the crime. Danielle’s fight to clear Max leads to an investigation involving a number of interesting characters and events as Danielle seeks to uncover the truth.
I enjoyed this novel although I found parts of it disturbing. On one level, this is suspenseful fiction. On another level, it raises a number of ‘What if?’ questions about medical diagnosis and treatment. The characters, particularly Danielle and Max, are finely realised.
‘To have a child who has friends, goes to school, has a future – these are the dreams of a race of people to whom she and this woman no longer belong.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Danielle Parkman is a single mother who has combined a successful career as an attorney with parenting her teenage son Max, who has Asperger’s syndrome. As the story opens, Danielle’s parenting skills are being tested by Max’s violent outbursts and she is concerned for his emotional wellbeing because of his expression of suicidal thoughts and drug use. Danielle takes Max to a psychiatric hospital for assessment in the hope of finding treatment which will help to manage his volatile behaviour. The assessment leads to a recommendation is that Max requires in-patient treatment for more specialized psychiatric assistance and he is admitted to the Maitland Psychiatric Unit.
Thus begins a nightmare for Max and Danielle.
Max is found bloody and unconscious next to the bed of a murdered patient: a boy named Jonas. The circumstances mean that Max is the prime suspect, and Danielle herself becomes implicated in the crime. Danielle’s fight to clear Max leads to an investigation involving a number of interesting characters and events as Danielle seeks to uncover the truth.
I enjoyed this novel although I found parts of it disturbing. On one level, this is suspenseful fiction. On another level, it raises a number of ‘What if?’ questions about medical diagnosis and treatment. The characters, particularly Danielle and Max, are finely realised.
‘To have a child who has friends, goes to school, has a future – these are the dreams of a race of people to whom she and this woman no longer belong.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
busyreading's review
4.0
Danielle Park is an attorney and lately her son, Max has been giving her grief as his behaviour has been out of control and she's not certain what's causing him to act like this. In her eyes, Max could never do no wrong and was a joy to be around, so why the sudden change in him.
Then one day tragedy strikes and Danielle doesn't know who to turn to for help. When the unimaginable and unthinkable happens, Danielle's world is turned upside down.
Saving Max was an intriguing read which I enjoyed reading. Recommended.
Then one day tragedy strikes and Danielle doesn't know who to turn to for help. When the unimaginable and unthinkable happens, Danielle's world is turned upside down.
Saving Max was an intriguing read which I enjoyed reading. Recommended.