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rachelkay1821's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley, author Heidi Reimer, and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
I'm feeling all the feelings finishing this book. What daughter doesn't have a slightly complicated relationship with her mother, even if they are close? I love my mother and do feel close to her, but finding out I was queer and wanted to live a different life than her proved to be difficult and is still something I'm working through both with and in regard to her going on 6 years now. And I don't anticipate it will ever end. Reimer's writing is SO beautiful; this was truly a gripping story filled with lovely prose that hit me so hard. I could empathize with both Sadie and Jude in so many different ways. The pacing of the story and the narrative thread of sharing perspectives from each woman worked incredibly well and benefitted the story. As a reader, it was difficult to be the only person with both sides of the story, as Jude and Sadie moved through their own experiences only seeing their own and a limited view of the other's. Both women are flawed, and no one is correct. Sadie is definitely way more unlikable than Jude, but as a woman who values independence, I could still relate to her. My biggest complaint was that there were big jumps in the timeline from when we would see a character and then next pick up their story, and I think it would have been a bit better to get an inside glance to some of those "lost" years. Reimer's storytelling and writing was so compelling though that this was the only major flaw I felt the book had, and I am already so ready to read her next novel.
I'm feeling all the feelings finishing this book. What daughter doesn't have a slightly complicated relationship with her mother, even if they are close? I love my mother and do feel close to her, but finding out I was queer and wanted to live a different life than her proved to be difficult and is still something I'm working through both with and in regard to her going on 6 years now. And I don't anticipate it will ever end. Reimer's writing is SO beautiful; this was truly a gripping story filled with lovely prose that hit me so hard. I could empathize with both Sadie and Jude in so many different ways. The pacing of the story and the narrative thread of sharing perspectives from each woman worked incredibly well and benefitted the story. As a reader, it was difficult to be the only person with both sides of the story, as Jude and Sadie moved through their own experiences only seeing their own and a limited view of the other's. Both women are flawed, and no one is correct. Sadie is definitely way more unlikable than Jude, but as a woman who values independence, I could still relate to her. My biggest complaint was that there were big jumps in the timeline from when we would see a character and then next pick up their story, and I think it would have been a bit better to get an inside glance to some of those "lost" years. Reimer's storytelling and writing was so compelling though that this was the only major flaw I felt the book had, and I am already so ready to read her next novel.
soph_i's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
justreaditalreadypod's review
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
bunbun22's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
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