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kleedc73's review against another edition
4.0
I love Jennifer Weiner's books. They resonate with a genuineness that I find pretty rare. Some of them have felt like the author got inside my head and the characters were speaking my thoughts and living my life. This was not one of those books but I still enjoyed living and breathing characters that felt very real to me. The subject matter could have been trite and titillating, much like the television coverage of similar situations, including some of the ones mentioned in this book. Instead, the book gets behind the "newsworthy" aspect of the story and reveals its sad, ugly underbelly in a way that removes the sensationalism and makes it about real people. Jennifer Weiner always tackles painful, difficult material but in a way that doesn't lack for humor and irony. Her books aren't sappy but are still filled with emotion in a way that makes it tremendously satisfying to read them. As long as she keeps writing, I will keep coming back for more.
moogen's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted something that was easy to read and that didn't offend my intelligence too much. This fit the bill. Beach reading only.
andrearbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Fly Away Home was a book I picked up because I knew what I was going to get. Jennifer Weiner is one of those authors that always just "hits the spot" for me. This book was really focused on three women's stories - A mother and her two daughters. The story begins with it coming to light that the father in this family has had an affair. As he is a senator, this story is national news. However, this is only one layer of this family's drama. One of the sister's is a recovering addict, and the other is a successful doctor, but in a loveless marriage. Each of the women narrates throughout as they each try to make sense of what's happening with the scandal, the aftermath, and all the other "stuff" they have happening in their life and relationship(s). For me, this book was just what I needed it to be. I couldn't decide what to read next, and this one delivered a captivating story about humans as I hoped it would. I love the way Jennifer Weiner writes about relationships, and I always enjoy the time I spend in her universe.
ajrenshaw99's review against another edition
I skimmed a lot of the description. The characters and their situations didn't grab me as much as her previous books.
meglobello's review against another edition
4.0
I would have loved one more chapter or a where are they now!
sueking365's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars. The story of a wife who’s politician husband cheats on her, and her 2 daughters who are at crisis points in their lives as well. We dig into the mother-daughter relationships, the reasons people cheat on their spouses, and if forgiveness can be given, or deserves to be.
judyward's review against another edition
2.0
A disappointing story about the "perfect" Senator's wife who has neglected her two adult daughters (the "good" daughter is an ER doctor and the "bad" daughter is a drug addict fresh from rehab) to devote her life to her husband and his career. Then CNN, and every other news outlet, breaks the news that the Senator has had an affair with a young legislative aide and reports that he used his political influence to find her employment in a top D.C. law firm. Predictably, chaos ensues. Talk about a plot ripped from the headlines. I will admit that I've always been fascinated by the sight of political wives standing by their husband's side during the news conference while the "bad boy" tries to explain himself and his behavior (kudos to you, Jenny Sanford) and wonder how these women, who appear to be either shell-shocked or drugged, or perhaps both, react once the cameras aren't rolling. This book is the story of what happens after the news conference. Each chapter is told from the perspective of the wife, or one of the daughters. Unfortunately, I really didn't connect with any of the characters, except for Milo, the Senator's grandson, and didn't really care what happened. I expected more.