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divroyalty's review against another edition
2.0
I don't like Smidge. I really don't. I guess I am supposed to feel sorry for her and understand her major character flaws is exaggerated due to her fear of dying but I don't.
Danielle is so weak, she made me physically shake my book while pretending it was her. I get that they have a deep friendship and she feels a deep gratitude to Smidge for taking over her life and filling in a motherly role for her but she really does not develop a backbone at all.
I kept reading in hopes for the moment that Smidge realizes how unfair she is being to Danielle and at least changes a bit. It feels a bit like I missed that moment if indeed it did happen.
I do love novels with an epistolary form to them. However, until the end we never really learn what Danielle's motive is for writing to Jenny. Also, since it seems like Jenny is in most of the scenes and is aware of most of what was going on. What was the point?
Extremely disappointed.
Danielle is so weak, she made me physically shake my book while pretending it was her. I get that they have a deep friendship and she feels a deep gratitude to Smidge for taking over her life and filling in a motherly role for her but she really does not develop a backbone at all.
I kept reading in hopes for the moment that Smidge realizes how unfair she is being to Danielle and at least changes a bit. It feels a bit like I missed that moment if indeed it did happen.
I do love novels with an epistolary form to them. However, until the end we never really learn what Danielle's motive is for writing to Jenny. Also, since it seems like Jenny is in most of the scenes and is aware of most of what was going on. What was the point?
Extremely disappointed.
nullasalus3's review against another edition
3.0
As always, Pamela Ribon's writing is very funny and poignant here, but I just didn't enjoy this book as much as I did her previous novel, Going in Circles. I know that Pamie drew on real life experience for this book, just as she did for Going in Circles, but for some reason this book doesn't feel as real to me, which is funny because I've never been through a divorce or even a big break-up, but I have lost a grandmother to a debilitating lung disease.
I know that Smidge is supposed to be a frustrating, infuriating, difficult-to-like character -- I'm not sure I ever did get to like her -- but I think my biggest hang-up with the novel was that I never understood why Danielle was so devoted to this judgemental, critical, sometimes even mean-spirited woman. Why they were friends never really crystallized for me. I also never really cared for Tucker, so buying him as a love interest was difficult.
All in all, I would say I liked the book. I was involved enough in the plot that reading it was enjoyable, but I don't think I ever really cared enough about what happened to Smidge to get the full impact of the story.
I know that Smidge is supposed to be a frustrating, infuriating, difficult-to-like character -- I'm not sure I ever did get to like her -- but I think my biggest hang-up with the novel was that I never understood why Danielle was so devoted to this judgemental, critical, sometimes even mean-spirited woman. Why they were friends never really crystallized for me. I also never really cared for Tucker, so buying him as a love interest was difficult.
All in all, I would say I liked the book. I was involved enough in the plot that reading it was enjoyable, but I don't think I ever really cared enough about what happened to Smidge to get the full impact of the story.
kdurham2's review
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two friends are headed on an annual trip that will forever change the course of their friendship because one is battling cancer for the second time and the outcome doesn't look to be so positive. The friend that is counting her days will ask the ultimate question of both her friends and eventually her family, to say goodbye swiftly.
Two friends are headed on an annual trip that will forever change the course of their friendship because one is battling cancer for the second time and the outcome doesn't look to be so positive. The friend that is counting her days will ask the ultimate question of both her friends and eventually her family, to say goodbye swiftly.
ula_j's review against another edition
3.0
The format was a bit wonky for me at times (it is written as a long letter to the narrator's best friend's daughter) but overall this was a really enjoyable quick read. It's a really nice story of 2 female best friends with None of the annoying stereotypes of competitive back-stabby passive aggressive friendship often seen in popular portrayals of female friends. These women loved each other and dearly and I respect the book for respecting the characters.
adw7984's review against another edition
5.0
This book needs to come with a warning because I was crying so hard at the end of it! I have a love/hate relationship with books like this. I loved it because it was so well-written that I felt like I actually was friends with Danny and Smidge. I hated it because it was so freaking sad, I hate being sad!
Okay, I didn’t really hate it, but it really did affect me. How would you live your life if you knew it would be over soon? Smidge had a clear plan, but that plan did not include telling her family. I could not get on board with that, I thought she was being so selfish. Honestly, I don’t know how Danny put up with Smidge for too long…but on the other hand, they were best friends and that is what friends do!
I felt that Tucker was a little harsh with Danny, but he didn’t know the whole story and it’s easy to say why he felt that way. In fact, I felt a little guilty that I wanted Danny to drop Smidge and be with him…I mean she is dying, so that’s pretty low of me, right?
This was such a well-written, nicely paced book and since I’m a new Ribon reader, I cannot wait to read some of her other books! However, please take my warning if you are going to read this:
WARNING: This book will make you cry ugly tears, please read in private.
*This book was provided for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic… All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Okay, I didn’t really hate it, but it really did affect me. How would you live your life if you knew it would be over soon? Smidge had a clear plan, but that plan did not include telling her family. I could not get on board with that, I thought she was being so selfish. Honestly, I don’t know how Danny put up with Smidge for too long…but on the other hand, they were best friends and that is what friends do!
I felt that Tucker was a little harsh with Danny, but he didn’t know the whole story and it’s easy to say why he felt that way. In fact, I felt a little guilty that I wanted Danny to drop Smidge and be with him…I mean she is dying, so that’s pretty low of me, right?
This was such a well-written, nicely paced book and since I’m a new Ribon reader, I cannot wait to read some of her other books! However, please take my warning if you are going to read this:
WARNING: This book will make you cry ugly tears, please read in private.
*This book was provided for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic… All thoughts and opinions are my own.
apasc's review against another edition
4.0
http://sessastories.tumblr.com/post/28876485430/book-story-this-book-was-given-to-me-on-vacation
janicerm79's review against another edition
4.0
I loved/hated Smidge and I couldn't decide if I should allow her behavior because she was dying or not tolerate it because it was crazy. I loved that about the book it had dynamic, flawed characters who I actually cared about. I love books about friendships and while I think I would have made different choices than Danny I haven't walked in her shoes so I truly don't know what I would have done. I read this one in under a week which says a lot these days (four kids in my life).
mo_whales's review against another edition
5.0
When I woke up this morning I had a to do list, and I had determination to get it done. That was before I got my hands on this book. I started reading and immediately began to feel readers remorse, that feeling you get when you are reading a book so good, you know you are going to be sad when you finish it. I told myself to read slowly, I could drag this book out for weeks, keep it around like a visiting friend. Now it's midnight. I read every page, the laundry is still sitting in a pile and I am missing Danielle & Smidge, wondering where you have to go to meet a man like Tucker (apparently a small town air port), and seriously considering calling my best friend, just to tell her I love her, because goodness knows we don't say it enough. Pamela Ribon has really captured the intensity of friendship facing the uncertainty of illness, as well as the laughter and tears, and occasional fits of insanity that go along with it.
I won't call my best friend, because I know she loves me enough to answer, but in the morning I am going to call her and tell her about the new book she has to buy. I would loan her my copy, but I have a feeling I am going to want to read it again soon.
I won't call my best friend, because I know she loves me enough to answer, but in the morning I am going to call her and tell her about the new book she has to buy. I would loan her my copy, but I have a feeling I am going to want to read it again soon.
rachelini's review against another edition
3.0
This was good and emotional and beautifully written. But I spent the whole book being annoyed at the relationship between the two friends, so I didn't exactly enjoy reading it.
kwugirl's review against another edition
3.0
A lot more sophisticated than [b:Going in Circles|7312933|Going in Circles|Pamela Ribon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1303222320s/7312933.jpg|8810267]. It's a little...[a:Jodi Picoult|7128|Jodi Picoult|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1475775448p2/7128.jpg] but in a good way? The ending seemed a little rushed and didn't quite justify the framing format, but the climax before that was well done.