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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
This is the second Ethan Joella book that I have read, and I can confidently proclaim that I am a big fan of his writing. I love all of the descriptions, details, and emotions. I love feeling like I’m sitting in the room he’s describing, across the table from the character he’s introducing me to. It’s lovely. I love the underlying themes of community, connection, grief, and hope. Like Iris in the book says: “Life is always possible.” I love the overlapping and intertwining storylines. This book did have a LOT of characters, and while Joella did a great job with character development, guiding me to really get to know each them, there were so many that it was hard to keep them straight at times. His second book, A Quiet Life, had fewer characters and was easier to follow, so for that reason, it is my favorite book of his so far. But both are great reads, and I am officially an Ethan Joella fan. So excited to see what he shares with us next! I give this book four sets of hopeful, connected hearts. 💞💞💞💞
Melancholy is the best word to describe this book. It’s full of the melancholy of being a human- the highs and the lows (especially the lows), the relationships, and the changes we experience as we age (if we are lucky enough to age). I know it sounds depressing, and it very much so is, but this book is also so heartwarming and reassuring. It shows resilience and forgiveness and strength in beautiful ways. Perfect when paired with a sleepy puppy on your lap (who then decided to take a bite out of the book, oops). 4 ⭐️
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very much a character driven novel which I love. A little hope is an emotional roller coaster. I only wish it was longer.
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
3 1/2 stars. He’s a good author - reminded me of Anne Tyler. More characters perspectives than I usually like but he made it work. It was a nice pallet cleanser after a heavier/longer book. I will definitely read the author again.
In a nutshell this book was about the unexpected in life. Loss, grief, forgiveness, love. This wasn’t a particularly happy read, though thought provoking and a good reminder that life is fragile. It was a pretty quick read and I was captivated from the beginning.