Scan barcode
franklola's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Police brutality
Moderate: Abandonment and Infidelity
Minor: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, and Bullying
victoriarosalesvt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
amyvl93's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
We are told this story in three timelines; we have the 'now', the day of Lottie her daughter's 16th birthday, a few months earlier where we start to get insights as to why the relationships on the page are in the state that they are now, and going way back to the start of Grace's career and when she meets Ben, Lottie's father. These timelines are generally effectively used; though there were times when I wanted to go back to understanding the relationships, rather than reading about Grace's present day 'snap' which mostly consisted of her shouting at people as she walked through a heatwave to Lottie's birthday.
I did appreciate Littlewood discussing the impact of aging on women's lives within this novel, and who is and isn't seen, and who gets to hold space publicly as they age - particularly when children are added into the picture. I felt that the depictions of the mother/daughter relationship often felt very real. I felt the event that sat behind Lottie and Grace's estrangement was dealt with well - even if I'm not sure other character's reactions felt particularly understandable.
There is, however, at times almost too much going on in this novel and some of those layers weren't always effective. I had to re-read a couple of sections to understand the source of tension between Grace and Ben. I'm also tiring slightly of female characters in novels being open about not wanting children and then the plot being that they have them anyway.
Moderate: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage
jillwedemeier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Compared to the likes of Eleanor, Rosie, Ove, and Bernadette, I was expecting a lighthearted comedy, but what I got was a gripping, emotional story about joy, love, grief, and hope. Yes, there were some very funny moments, but this novel was incredibly moving and, at times, heartbreaking. I found myself laughing out loud and also wiping away tears. This was an unforgettable read that had me captivated until the very end. Just a beautiful debut novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Child death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage
raincityreads's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Adult/minor relationship