Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Book of Two Ways

I had a bit of a tough time understanding time in this book, but based on the author’s descriptions of the concept of the multiverse and there being multiple planes of reality within which we and other versions of ourselves exist, I think it was meant to be a bit confounding. I loved the characters of this book and the way that Picoult talks about how love isn’t singular or static, how you can love more than one person at the same time, how you can not be with someone but still never fall out of love with them. I loved the conversations about death and how it should teach us something about life — they brought me some peace in my own grieving. This is the kind of book I wish I could experience again for the first time.

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adriennne's review

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emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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ambersbooks's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Struggled to feel an emotional connection, which has always been the appeal of JP’s writing for me. It finally hit during the last 50ish pages, but it wasn’t enough to rally the entire experience. Also, it’s been quite a while since an ending has left me feeling this dissatisfied. Oof.

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thesaltiestlibrarian's review

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slow-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

This took me way too long. Dawn is insufferable as a main character and is exactly the type of person who pisses me off. You don’t just up and leave your family for someone else. I don’t care about circumstances or past love or regrets. You made a commitment. You finish that commitment or annul it after discussion. I’m so annoyed that this is my first Picoult novel and not even diehard fans liked it. UGH.

Thanks to Libro.fm for an ALC.

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eternalparadox's review

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adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Instead of her usual switching POVS, Picoult takes this book through two stories, two choices, from one POV. I never found this confusing. Per the usual, there is a lot of content throughout that pertains to the characters jobs and interests- this time those are Egyptology and quantum physics. While this text could be expansive at times, I found it really interesting and, as always, wonderfully steeped in metaphor.

Picoult’s Book of Two Ways will get you thinking about your life and your choices and leave you rooting for everyone. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it. Once again, Picoult’s newest book seems to top her last.

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