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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
This was a really interesting experience, mostly because I enjoyed this so much at the beginning, I was already mentally rating it five stars, downgraded to maybe three in the middle and came back up to four at the end.
This book suffers from a bit of bloat regarding the triplets' years in college. There's a lot of detail that isn't necessarily interesting or contributing to an understanding of their mindset or struggle at the time, but the chapter goes on about these circumstances for far too long. A good edit in this part of the book would have been constructive. Still, things pick up again and become interesting with the entrance of the titular Latecomer, Phoebe, who is the youngest sibling, but technically was one of four options to be used and happened to be the one left behind.
The characters are all unlikeable but interesting, particularly in the triplets' aversion to being a group in any sense and immediately gravitating away from each other.
TL;DR: It took me three days to read this because the middle is bogged down with incredible amounts of detail that isn't necessary or interesting but an engaging start and satisfying conclusion made up for it.
This book suffers from a bit of bloat regarding the triplets' years in college. There's a lot of detail that isn't necessarily interesting or contributing to an understanding of their mindset or struggle at the time, but the chapter goes on about these circumstances for far too long. A good edit in this part of the book would have been constructive. Still, things pick up again and become interesting with the entrance of the titular Latecomer, Phoebe, who is the youngest sibling, but technically was one of four options to be used and happened to be the one left behind.
The characters are all unlikeable but interesting, particularly in the triplets' aversion to being a group in any sense and immediately gravitating away from each other.
TL;DR: It took me three days to read this because the middle is bogged down with incredible amounts of detail that isn't necessary or interesting but an engaging start and satisfying conclusion made up for it.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This sweeping family of drama and detail. It follows the Oppenheim family…starting from the beginning when Salo and Johanna, the parents, meet. It details their early relationship, their struggles with infertility and their eventual IVF that led them to having triplets. Sally, Lewyn, and Harrison, the triplets, could not be more different and didn't get along from the beginning. Meanwhile, an event from their father’s past keeps him disengaged. As the triplets are growing up, Johanna decides now is the time to have one more child, the “latecomer” to their family.
This audiobook is over 16 hours long, but because it’s narrated by the audiobook queen Julia Whelan, it’s a great listen. This story is filled with so much detail which made it feel very slow at times, but all of those details and complexities come together in a way that makes so much sense for the final 25%. It took me a bit to get into this story, and to be honest, I really didn’t fully enjoy it until the last quarter of the story. Julia Whelan really is what got me through this book.
If you enjoy discussion of art, slow burn character driven novels, and lots of family drama, this one may be for you!
Thanks to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the gifted copies.
This audiobook is over 16 hours long, but because it’s narrated by the audiobook queen Julia Whelan, it’s a great listen. This story is filled with so much detail which made it feel very slow at times, but all of those details and complexities come together in a way that makes so much sense for the final 25%. It took me a bit to get into this story, and to be honest, I really didn’t fully enjoy it until the last quarter of the story. Julia Whelan really is what got me through this book.
If you enjoy discussion of art, slow burn character driven novels, and lots of family drama, this one may be for you!
Thanks to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the gifted copies.
Another excellent audiobook. I got about 70% through and then could not put it down
First book of the year, and I know it is silly but having a great first book of the year makes me feel like a great year of reading ahead. I’m going to have some mild spoilers (really just the mood on which it ends) in this review at the end. I listened to this (narrated by Julie Whalen) and it was a longer listen than I usually prefer (16ish hours), but I could not stop listening. A family is deeply affected by a tragic event in their father’s youth, the majority of the book is spent on the three oldest and their two parents. The first part and all the damaging relationships is so tragic, but well written and a “page turner”.
Spoiler:
I like endings with hope and redemption and I loved this book.
Spoiler:
I like endings with hope and redemption and I loved this book.
The book is long & sometimes hard to get through, but I enjoyed the storyline & personal growth of the characters. And there were many characters.
Despite the unlikeable characters, I enjoyed this read, particularly the third section. I wish the characters or their relationships drew me in more, but I was still interested enough.