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annikamcgraw's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
Such a good twist at the end!
jansbookcorner's review
3.0
This book was the perfect read for what I needed. A light read, that still had a little something to think about. Nothing earth shattering, but entertaining.
carrieannw's review
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ezoots's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
We started watching the show I discovered it was a book. So I jumped on to Libby and was so surprised I could get the book…now I see why. The premise was cool I was vibing but the end was all open ended and the characters were just mid at best. Plus you got no closure on like anything.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
From the book jacket: What would you do if you knew your life’s potential? That’s the question facing the residents of Deerfield, Louisiana, when the DNAMIX machine appears in their local grocery store. Its promise is amazing: with just a quick swab of your cheek and two dollars, the device claims to use the science of DNA to tell you your life’s destiny. With enough credibility to make the townspeople curious, the machine soon has the teachers, nurses, and shopkeepers of Deerfield abruptly changing course to pursue their new destinies – including Douglas Hubbard and his wife, Cherilyn, who both believed they were perfectly happy until they realized they could dream for more…
My reactions:
My F2F book club chose this book for discussion; I doubt I would have picked it up otherwise. I knew nothing going into it and expected a charming, quirky character-driven ensemble of small-town Southern America. I got some of that, certainly, but so much more.
There are some pretty heavy issues here, including unrealized dreams, peer pressure, drug abuse, grief, suicidal ideation, and domestic terrorism. The characters weren’t all fully realized, with some being little more than stereotypical sketches.
I came to really like some of these characters; Douglas, Cherilyn, Father Pete, and Principal Pat stand out. My heart broke for Trina and Jacob who cannot see a way to process their trauma and grief, and like too many teenagers, struggle alone.
There are scenes that are introspective and give the reader some insight into what these characters are thinking (whether or not they’ve used the DNAMIX machine to reveal their potential). Other scenes are light-hearted and break the tension. And there are very dramatic scenes that made me afraid to look, and more afraid to look away. There were enough plot points left hanging that several in my book club suspect a sequel in the works.
My reactions:
My F2F book club chose this book for discussion; I doubt I would have picked it up otherwise. I knew nothing going into it and expected a charming, quirky character-driven ensemble of small-town Southern America. I got some of that, certainly, but so much more.
There are some pretty heavy issues here, including unrealized dreams, peer pressure, drug abuse, grief, suicidal ideation, and domestic terrorism. The characters weren’t all fully realized, with some being little more than stereotypical sketches.
I came to really like some of these characters; Douglas, Cherilyn, Father Pete, and Principal Pat stand out. My heart broke for Trina and Jacob who cannot see a way to process their trauma and grief, and like too many teenagers, struggle alone.
There are scenes that are introspective and give the reader some insight into what these characters are thinking (whether or not they’ve used the DNAMIX machine to reveal their potential). Other scenes are light-hearted and break the tension. And there are very dramatic scenes that made me afraid to look, and more afraid to look away. There were enough plot points left hanging that several in my book club suspect a sequel in the works.
nitsabean's review
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mariahthemartian's review against another edition
3.0
I like the Apple TV+ show quite a bit so I figured I’d check out the book it was based on. The book and show are a good deal different! I liked the book. It’s a fine book and it’s hard to truly compare the two since they’re so different, but I think this might be one of those rare instances where I liked the onscreen adaptation more! 🤔 (I’m very curious to see what season 2 of the show brings!)
blue_goose's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
2.75
kristynwithay's review
1.0
I tried, but I just could not get into this one. Life is too short to read mediocre books with ridiculously long sentences (the ADHD struggle is real).
“It therefore became part of the normal and innocious Deerfield soundscape, where it would be hard to find any place that wasn't generally, almost excruciatingly quiet, unless you counted Getwell's Bar on LSU football Saturdays, or the Straight Pin Bowling Alley whenever they had that eighties cover band for the Fourth of July.” -page 106
“But this new forty-year-old version of Douglas would never cancel a trombone lesson, not only because of what it might mean to his future career, what it might metaphorically suggest about his commitment to the art form if he was already making excuses not to practice, but also because, even though he had a lot on his mind, he actually did want to practice.” -page 107
DNF at 107ish pages.
“It therefore became part of the normal and innocious Deerfield soundscape, where it would be hard to find any place that wasn't generally, almost excruciatingly quiet, unless you counted Getwell's Bar on LSU football Saturdays, or the Straight Pin Bowling Alley whenever they had that eighties cover band for the Fourth of July.” -page 106
“But this new forty-year-old version of Douglas would never cancel a trombone lesson, not only because of what it might mean to his future career, what it might metaphorically suggest about his commitment to the art form if he was already making excuses not to practice, but also because, even though he had a lot on his mind, he actually did want to practice.” -page 107
DNF at 107ish pages.