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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this plot and appreciated the research that went into Egyptology, as well as quantum physics and even modern art. It fleshes out the characters well, and I was definitely swept away by the MC’s relationships in both timelines. I’m also biased in that I love books with multiple timelines for the same characters.
I had conflicting feelings about the ending, but I like that the ending and the story as a whole has kept me thinking and wondering even after finishing the read. I did root for a particular outcome, but I understand the ending chosen and it does fit with the theme of the book.
A few things that irked me (similarly in other books by same author):
-There is a vast departure in behavior of the MC. The choice near the end that the MC makes relating to the promise she makes to a dying client (not a spoiler, MC is a death doula) is a prime example. It felt incongruous to the character, and anathema to someone in the caregiving industry who loves her job and her clients. From a healthcare standpoint, I couldn’t reconcile this decision in the book.
-The author mentions someone “speaking Filipino.” The Philippines have many languages like Tagalog and Ilocano. Maybe I’m unfamiliar with them being all lumped together, but as an Asian reader, it rankled a little.
Overall, I love that the author often tackles timely and/or controversial topics (like with Small Great Things and Nineteen Minutes), and appreciate the amount of research she puts into her books. But in some cases, it’s quite apparent that research can sometimes still fall short of the authenticity of a lived experience.
I had conflicting feelings about the ending, but I like that the ending and the story as a whole has kept me thinking and wondering even after finishing the read. I did root for a particular outcome, but I understand the ending chosen and it does fit with the theme of the book.
A few things that irked me (similarly in other books by same author):
-There is a vast departure in behavior of the MC. The choice near the end that the MC makes relating to the promise she makes to a dying client (not a spoiler, MC is a death doula) is a prime example. It felt incongruous to the character, and anathema to someone in the caregiving industry who loves her job and her clients. From a healthcare standpoint, I couldn’t reconcile this decision in the book.
-The author mentions someone “speaking Filipino.” The Philippines have many languages like Tagalog and Ilocano. Maybe I’m unfamiliar with them being all lumped together, but as an Asian reader, it rankled a little.
Overall, I love that the author often tackles timely and/or controversial topics (like with Small Great Things and Nineteen Minutes), and appreciate the amount of research she puts into her books. But in some cases, it’s quite apparent that research can sometimes still fall short of the authenticity of a lived experience.
You will never catch me sympathizing with a cheater and this book is no exception. I love Jodi Picoult and her writing, it’s always so interesting and her twists in every book usually catch me off guard and make me love the book more. This one though, this one took a turn for the worse. The twist isn’t too big, it’s more of a reveal and it isn’t my issue with the book. It’s the cheating. Which I don’t consider a spoiler bc what do you think is gonna happen when two exes without closure get together? Certainly not respect for their partners that’s for sure! I can see the tension between Wyatt and Dawn and I think they did make a good match. But life happens and they had 15 years apart… it’s just plain disrespectful to their partners to just fall back into each other so quickly. That really made me dislike Dawn. And she tries to justify it too??? Saying that Brian is her rock but some people just soothe your edges better and that person for her is Wyatt??? Hello??? No girl. You can’t have a boyfriend and a husband. Did you not watch that episode of new girl where Schmidt finally gets what’s coming to him once his girlfriends find out about each other?? I feel like people would not be sympathetic to Dawn if she was a man. If it was a man that had flown across the world to be with his ex no one would let that slide. But since it’s a woman it’s okay??? Im just shocked none of the other reviews mention this… are yall okay? Why are we okay with cheating now? Dawn could have had a conversation with Brian before she got on the flight to Egypt. She could have told him that she needs a break, that she wants to be separated, that she wants a divorce. ANYTHING that would make me want to root for her and Wyatt. But no, she doesn’t. And she also talks about having no choice a lot. Like she’s not in charge of the descisions she makes. The direction her life has taken her. I firmly believe that you always have choices. They aren’t pretty and they’re not always easy but they’re fucking choices and to pretend otherwise is cowardice. Dawn is a fucking coward and a hypocrite. Not delivering Win’s letter when she was off to do nearly the same thing??? Hello???? Why the fuck is she allowed to make that decision for Win but she can’t hold back and make that same decision (to leave the past in the past) for herself??? I really don’t get it. Yeah Wyatt’s the one that got away and she didn’t get closure but that’s her own damn fault. She could have reached out to him in a more platonic way. She could have had a conversation with her husband saying she has regrets with a past relationship. She could have done so many other things.
Brian is too forgiving. He’s so chill. I would not be. I don’t think any woman would be if their spouse came home with someone they recently had sex with AND is the parent of their child. Thats just crazy. If she hadn’t gotten in that plane crash I think Brian would have been a lot more bitter. Good on him for finding the grace to interact with Dawn and Wyatt tho.
Joking about having sex on a hospital bed after your husband just left is INSANE.
Going to Egypt for an ex you haven’t seen in 15 years while you have a husband and daughter at home worried about you is INSANE.
Judging another woman for wanting to get in contact with an old flame and then going off to fuck your old flame is INSANE.
Y’all complaining about the textbook vibe of this book while it’s actually trying to get you to sympathize for cheaters is INSANE.
I actually really enjoyed the parts about quantum physics and Egyptian history and death. I don’t think I retained too much but it was interesting nonetheless. And all that talk about the multiverse really made me think that the two slices of Dawns lives we were getting were different dimensions. Her life as different outcomes. I think that would have been a better book. The plane crash could have happened from London to Boston and her reality could have split from her decision to continue home or to break up with Brian and go to Egypt instead. That book would have been awesome. This book is shit. (Minus the educational stuff and Jodi’s writing style, that slaps, the content does not tho).
Brian is too forgiving. He’s so chill. I would not be. I don’t think any woman would be if their spouse came home with someone they recently had sex with AND is the parent of their child. Thats just crazy. If she hadn’t gotten in that plane crash I think Brian would have been a lot more bitter. Good on him for finding the grace to interact with Dawn and Wyatt tho.
Joking about having sex on a hospital bed after your husband just left is INSANE.
Going to Egypt for an ex you haven’t seen in 15 years while you have a husband and daughter at home worried about you is INSANE.
Judging another woman for wanting to get in contact with an old flame and then going off to fuck your old flame is INSANE.
Y’all complaining about the textbook vibe of this book while it’s actually trying to get you to sympathize for cheaters is INSANE.
I actually really enjoyed the parts about quantum physics and Egyptian history and death. I don’t think I retained too much but it was interesting nonetheless. And all that talk about the multiverse really made me think that the two slices of Dawns lives we were getting were different dimensions. Her life as different outcomes. I think that would have been a better book. The plane crash could have happened from London to Boston and her reality could have split from her decision to continue home or to break up with Brian and go to Egypt instead. That book would have been awesome. This book is shit. (Minus the educational stuff and Jodi’s writing style, that slaps, the content does not tho).
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was good, but why are people in books always having to choose between the love of their life and their spouse. Can’t they be one in the same?
Two stars only because I managed to finish the book. The novel constantly jumped between Egypt textbook and second chance cliche. And the only character I ended up liking was the protagonist's daughter.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- “Sometimes you hurt the people you love. And sometimes you love the people who hurt you”
Excellent dual storyline book, ending lost a star