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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
3.5/5 for sure.
A generation-spanning tale of the angst of families, and the legacy of broken families.
...with a twist. The Oppenheimer kids are special... test tube babies brought into the world... just not at the same time. As the three "triplets" grow up, the grow apart, sometimes even causing pain for the others. But when the fouth frozen embryo is thawed and born, could she be the key to bringing the family back together.
A complex tale where characters shine and grow, this was an enjoyable tale, and a well-narrated audio-book.
My thanks to NetGalley for the audio-arc in exchange for an honest review!
A generation-spanning tale of the angst of families, and the legacy of broken families.
...with a twist. The Oppenheimer kids are special... test tube babies brought into the world... just not at the same time. As the three "triplets" grow up, the grow apart, sometimes even causing pain for the others. But when the fouth frozen embryo is thawed and born, could she be the key to bringing the family back together.
A complex tale where characters shine and grow, this was an enjoyable tale, and a well-narrated audio-book.
My thanks to NetGalley for the audio-arc in exchange for an honest review!
This felt almost like 2 separate books - the first half focused on the family and the triplets as they were growing up and headed to college. There were some interesting parts, but it was kind of slow with mostly unlikeable characters with little depth.
The second half of the book was where it got interesting, with the much younger sibling a teenager and taking action that results in the family coming together.
I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first half, but overall enjoyed the entire book. I think it would make for an interesting book club discussion.
The second half of the book was where it got interesting, with the much younger sibling a teenager and taking action that results in the family coming together.
I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first half, but overall enjoyed the entire book. I think it would make for an interesting book club discussion.
This took me a VERY long time to get into. The entire family was all so off-putting and not sympathetic at all, but not even in a love-to-hate-them way. But eventually it got going, right around the fated birthday party, and by the end I was all in. I did not see the (minor?) twist coming but I did love it.
Also this made me look up a lot of outsider art and I love when books do that.
Also this made me look up a lot of outsider art and I love when books do that.
I love a good sweeping family saga, and that's exactly what this is. Starting with the parents and their upbringing all the way through their youngest daughter trying to bring the family back together.
The first 3/4 or so of the book is told from the alternating perspective of the triplet children. These children grew up not really having any sort of family life and certainly no desire to be near one another. When it is time to go to college (which is primarily where the story takes place), they go in different directions, but are still connected. They aren't kind to each other and certainly are not kind to their mother.
The last 1/4 is where it got really good. This part is told from the perspective of Phoebe, the "latecomer." Phoebe is 19 years younger than the triplets, but seems to understand them better than anyone else. Her voice is different than theirs, and it is refreshing. How everything came together and wrapped up was really interesting. If you are looking for a long family saga, this is a good one.
The first 3/4 or so of the book is told from the alternating perspective of the triplet children. These children grew up not really having any sort of family life and certainly no desire to be near one another. When it is time to go to college (which is primarily where the story takes place), they go in different directions, but are still connected. They aren't kind to each other and certainly are not kind to their mother.
The last 1/4 is where it got really good. This part is told from the perspective of Phoebe, the "latecomer." Phoebe is 19 years younger than the triplets, but seems to understand them better than anyone else. Her voice is different than theirs, and it is refreshing. How everything came together and wrapped up was really interesting. If you are looking for a long family saga, this is a good one.
I loved this family dynasty tale about the New York Oppenheimer family. The triplets are conceived via IVF to Johanna and Sal, but they display distaste for each other almost immediately.
The story tracks their fathers early tragedy and withdrawal into his visionary art collection, and their mothers blind devotion. Then we join each of the siblings as their paths diverge through to college years (and beyond) and they share no commonalities. No one in this family is particularly likeable.
When a desperate Johanna sends the fourth (frozen) IVF egg to a surrogate 17 years later, the family secrets unfurl, some in spectacular fashion.
This long book is a slow character build but clever and rewarding, with unexpected outcomes (always a big plus). Themes covered include race, sexuality, politics, loss, betrayal. I listened to the brilliant Julia Whelan narrate it on audio.
The story tracks their fathers early tragedy and withdrawal into his visionary art collection, and their mothers blind devotion. Then we join each of the siblings as their paths diverge through to college years (and beyond) and they share no commonalities. No one in this family is particularly likeable.
When a desperate Johanna sends the fourth (frozen) IVF egg to a surrogate 17 years later, the family secrets unfurl, some in spectacular fashion.
This long book is a slow character build but clever and rewarding, with unexpected outcomes (always a big plus). Themes covered include race, sexuality, politics, loss, betrayal. I listened to the brilliant Julia Whelan narrate it on audio.
I loved this book.
This is a superb example of a character study. The dysfunctional Oppenheimer family brings drama to a new level. They are a family of six, including triplets, and each member has their own unique storyline. I devoured them all. The underlying satire, at times, gave me The Royal Tenenbaums and Arrested Development vibes. I combined print and audio here, which is definitely my new favorite way to consume books
This is a superb example of a character study. The dysfunctional Oppenheimer family brings drama to a new level. They are a family of six, including triplets, and each member has their own unique storyline. I devoured them all. The underlying satire, at times, gave me The Royal Tenenbaums and Arrested Development vibes. I combined print and audio here, which is definitely my new favorite way to consume books
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Latecomer is about a Jewish couple who meet after a traumatic accident and the family they build. It is written in three different parts... the parents, the triplets, and the latecomer's. The story is a tad wordy and I don't believe it needed to be as long as it was but I enjoyed following the Oppenheimer family. The characters were hardly likeable but I believe it added to the book. There are definitely layers that I would have loved to explore if I didn't feel so overwhelmed. Pick this one up if you are into family drama and dysfunctionality.
The Latecomer is about a Jewish couple who meet after a traumatic accident and the family they build. It is written in three different parts... the parents, the triplets, and the latecomer's. The story is a tad wordy and I don't believe it needed to be as long as it was but I enjoyed following the Oppenheimer family. The characters were hardly likeable but I believe it added to the book. There are definitely layers that I would have loved to explore if I didn't feel so overwhelmed. Pick this one up if you are into family drama and dysfunctionality.
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
I enjoyed this book, although it was so gloomy. The end just wrapped up to "prettily", so I found it a bit unrealistic.
I enjoyed this book, although it was so gloomy. The end just wrapped up to "prettily", so I found it a bit unrealistic.
Surprisingly lovely. With so much heartache from each character, I wasn’t sure how I would like the book as a whole. However, the author brought everything together so beautifully. By the end, I loved the Oppenheimer family and find myself wishing I could read even more about them.
DNF. I read 5% of this and quickly realized this book was not for me. I’d read a review from a critic stating it was one of the best books of 2022. Another dysfunctional family I’d rather not meet.