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cheye13's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
I don't know why, but I expected a slower, more morose literary fiction instead of the wonderful whimsical mystery/adventure this story became. There are some heavy topics - life is not without ups and downs - but it was generally just a pleasant little read.
I will say, this is likely not for mystery readers. The foreshadowing is rather direct, so any "twists" are likely predictable, particularly if you're used to puzzling them out yourself. But that wasn't a problem for me, and I enjoyed witnessing Martha grow as a person and come to better understand herself and her family. Not a lot of meat on the bones of the story, but if you're in the market for British Whimsy, this one will likely serve you well.
I will say, this is likely not for mystery readers. The foreshadowing is rather direct, so any "twists" are likely predictable, particularly if you're used to puzzling them out yourself. But that wasn't a problem for me, and I enjoyed witnessing Martha grow as a person and come to better understand herself and her family. Not a lot of meat on the bones of the story, but if you're in the market for British Whimsy, this one will likely serve you well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Infidelity
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Body shaming, Cancer, and Death
Minor: Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Homophobia
includes: mentions of a past mass drowning during a fishing accident/storm; detailed scene of near-drowning; numerous instances of fatal illnesses and caring for aging relatives; detailed scenes of a father/husband manipulating and controlling the family
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