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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was certain this book would receive 3 stars by the time I got roughly to the middle but it turned around for the better. I really liked how the author developed the relationship and perspectives of Diana, the mother in law, and Lucy, the wife. From the beginning almost until the middle, you're antagonistic towards the mother in law. It is deliberately set up that way, even in the synopsis, but by the time you realize, she becomes your favorite character.
I also really liked how the author developed the family dynamic, motherhood, grief, and the complexities in what it means to be born with a silver spoon, and the ideal of privilege. It was skillfully done and in a way that situated you directly within the world of the characters where you felt what they were feeling and empathized even in circumstances where you wished you did not.
The mystery aspect however, was a tad obvious but that still did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. I am not sure whether I would read another book of hers but I would certainly be willing to give her another chance if the mood strikes.
I also really liked how the author developed the family dynamic, motherhood, grief, and the complexities in what it means to be born with a silver spoon, and the ideal of privilege. It was skillfully done and in a way that situated you directly within the world of the characters where you felt what they were feeling and empathized even in circumstances where you wished you did not.
The mystery aspect however, was a tad obvious but that still did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. I am not sure whether I would read another book of hers but I would certainly be willing to give her another chance if the mood strikes.
Things are not quite right with death of a woman's mother-in-law. As the investigation into her death goes on the book flashes back to explore the complicated relationship between the mother and her mother-in-law from both of their perspectives. The book also looks at what parents with money owe their children.
It was a bit predictable but also kept my attention!
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5. It was really good and intriguing & threw me off; it was just dark & needed a major trigger warning on a lot of things
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Suicide
Minor: Infidelity
I love that if I have a long drive I can download a book and listen to it at 2x (thank you Mary for putting that idea in my head) and finish it in a day. It is so satisfying to know the end of a book so quickly! I am not a fast reader so I guess that's why it's a treat. This book unfolded in a nice back and forth between present and past. I always like when a story is told from the point of view of more than one character and in this book it makes the probably all too important fact that we shouldn't assume we know how someone else feels--we're all just different in how we express ourselves.