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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
If you read one book this summer, let it be this one. This book takes place in the 1990s and follows one family in a small town whose lives become irrevocably changed when newcomer Marley West moves into town with her mother. It reminded me of East of Eden (also a great summer read)—it’s very much a family drama and explores how certain decisions or traumas reverberate through generations
Very well-written. Just melancholy and I already have seasonal depression.
Had all the things I like in books, but it didn’t come together for me.
I hated the writing in this book. It felt like mad libs for Dramatic Family Fiction. It would say things (loosely) like, “even though they’d only met 15 seconds earlier, she could see in his eyes that he carried the weight of his father’s dreams of roofing and his mother’s lifelong sacrifices and frustration.” And “at 13 months old, he felt a rage toward his brother that would last a lifetime.” There were so many sentences that were heavy on drama and light on sense. I’m disappointed that BOTM is promoting this book.
3.5 stars rounded up. Pro: well-developed, believably flawed and endearing characters. Con: I found the timeline incredibly confusing. Also potentially overwritten; I honestly couldn’t decide.
It took me a bit to get into this one, but I was never bored. These characters felt so real! It was so emotional and when they would go through the hardships, I really felt for them. I was captivated by this family and town. I will definitely not forget this one anytime soon. Highly recommend it!!
It's been awhile since I've read a good family fiction story. This is a character driven story so if you don't enjoy those, I wouldn't recommend but if you do, this one was so well done and the writing was captivating. What kept it from being 5 stars for me was the ending, it just seemed like a lot of Elise & Mick's origin story crammed in at the end.
Marley is new to town, and the first thing she sees is the Joseph brothers. The more she gets to know them, the more she becomes part of their family. She starts dating one brother, but quickly falls for the other. As she integrates into their life, their mother fades away, and Marley becomes the woman of the house, and leads them all.
This book is one that is going to stick with me a while, it hits deep, and it is so beautifully and elegantly written. I absolutely loved reading this one and felt transported to the characters’ world.
This is a slow burn, character driven book, that really gets to the heart of the characters. I loved how the characters developed and the story unfolded through their eyes. Life doesn’t always work out how we plan it, and this book is a showcase in that.
So much happened in this book, but at the same time, so little happened. It is a strange thing to describe. I think most of all, this book is about family, the family we get at birth, and the family we find and develop. While no family is perfect, family means being there for each other in times of need, and this book highlighted several different ways that can be shown. This book really highlighted how complex family is.
This book made me emotional and it was so deep. There was love, and loss, and togetherness. At times I wanted to cry, and at others I felt a lot of joy. It was a journey and it toyed with my emotions, and one I would sign up for again.
If you are looking for a truly amazing book, then I suggest you check this one out, you won’t want to miss it. I think that this one would make a great book for discussion, so maybe a book club?
This book will be featured on my blog, speedreadstagram.com on January 2, 2024
Thank you so much to Celadon, @celadonbooks for sending me a copy of this one, and @netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book is one that is going to stick with me a while, it hits deep, and it is so beautifully and elegantly written. I absolutely loved reading this one and felt transported to the characters’ world.
This is a slow burn, character driven book, that really gets to the heart of the characters. I loved how the characters developed and the story unfolded through their eyes. Life doesn’t always work out how we plan it, and this book is a showcase in that.
So much happened in this book, but at the same time, so little happened. It is a strange thing to describe. I think most of all, this book is about family, the family we get at birth, and the family we find and develop. While no family is perfect, family means being there for each other in times of need, and this book highlighted several different ways that can be shown. This book really highlighted how complex family is.
This book made me emotional and it was so deep. There was love, and loss, and togetherness. At times I wanted to cry, and at others I felt a lot of joy. It was a journey and it toyed with my emotions, and one I would sign up for again.
If you are looking for a truly amazing book, then I suggest you check this one out, you won’t want to miss it. I think that this one would make a great book for discussion, so maybe a book club?
This book will be featured on my blog, speedreadstagram.com on January 2, 2024
Thank you so much to Celadon, @celadonbooks for sending me a copy of this one, and @netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the way that Amy Jo Burns captured the tale of Marley West and the Joseph Family. The narration is multi-layered with multiple perspectives that layer and provide the reader with each of the characters' unique and complex view points. It is almost as if the author began sharing the story from the outside - in and then finished by writing it from the inside - out. This story takes on so many important topics - motherhood, brotherhood, marriage, family business, friendship, family drama and the way it shapes future generations, and so much more. This story is not a straight forward family drama. The twists and turns in the story also make it a mystery that will keep the reader engaged - I couldn't stop reading.
When Marley West, a beautiful, adventure filled young woman moves to Mercury, Pennsylvania, she captures the attention of Baylor Joseph. While what they shared could not be defined as a traditional relationship, their arrangement earns Marley a seat at Elise Joseph's table each night and soon Marley finds that she is folded into the Joseph dynamics.- as dysfunctional as they may be. When Baylor's affection is put on pause during football season, his younger brother Waylon steals Marley's heart. While this upsets the balance in the family, Marley is now a permanent fixture in the family and does her best to keep wily father, Mick, in line while tiptoeing around Elise and her lack of affection. My favorite relationship might well be the one that Marley forms with the youngest Joseph, Shay.
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for this Advanced Copy.
When Marley West, a beautiful, adventure filled young woman moves to Mercury, Pennsylvania, she captures the attention of Baylor Joseph. While what they shared could not be defined as a traditional relationship, their arrangement earns Marley a seat at Elise Joseph's table each night and soon Marley finds that she is folded into the Joseph dynamics.- as dysfunctional as they may be. When Baylor's affection is put on pause during football season, his younger brother Waylon steals Marley's heart. While this upsets the balance in the family, Marley is now a permanent fixture in the family and does her best to keep wily father, Mick, in line while tiptoeing around Elise and her lack of affection. My favorite relationship might well be the one that Marley forms with the youngest Joseph, Shay.
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for this Advanced Copy.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes