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mollieh14's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The premise of this book had me really excited, I thought there would be a super complex back story that lead to lots of secrets and issues within the family in the present day- I was wrong.
The back story involved lots of recounting of hunting (can’t relate) and the development of one relationship with some glossing over of other characters, meaning that the focus was drawn away from these characters who then become important later. I personally felt that there were too many characters and too little description within these, leading to them lacking depth.
I also felt that the pacing was really off, it was so so slow throughout the whole book until the last few chapters in which it ramped right up and absolutely everything happened at once- this would usually be fine but the slow chapters had nothing building and nothing happening which just meant it was a bit boring.
I didn’t love the main character I felt she was a bit whiny and this just caused me to not want to read on- however I did really love some of the supporting characters and the book was quite well written apart from the pacing issues. Unfortunately this one definitely wasn’t for me!
The back story involved lots of recounting of hunting (can’t relate) and the development of one relationship with some glossing over of other characters, meaning that the focus was drawn away from these characters who then become important later. I personally felt that there were too many characters and too little description within these, leading to them lacking depth.
I also felt that the pacing was really off, it was so so slow throughout the whole book until the last few chapters in which it ramped right up and absolutely everything happened at once- this would usually be fine but the slow chapters had nothing building and nothing happening which just meant it was a bit boring.
I didn’t love the main character I felt she was a bit whiny and this just caused me to not want to read on- however I did really love some of the supporting characters and the book was quite well written apart from the pacing issues. Unfortunately this one definitely wasn’t for me!
tdk's review
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bananatricky's review
4.0
Flora is a single mother, divorced for 17 years but still madly in love with her ex-husband, even though he has been happily married to his second wife for 15 years. Persuaded against her better judgment to paint a portrait of her former father-in-law she returns to her ex-husband's family home in Cornwall for the Summer. Soon it seems as though everyone else has also come to Cornwall, Flora's son Peter, Flora's best friend and fellow artist Celia, Flora's ex-husband Hugo, his wife Christina and their two children, Hugo's best friend, the American ladies man Tommy Rochester, with his 'friend' Janey, Hugo's parents Roger and Belinda, Roger's mistress Babs and his sister Iris.
Forced into close proximity with Hugo and his family for the first time in decades Flora is finally forced to confront her own feelings and reconcile her teenage feelings for the young boy she fell in love with, and her adult emotions now. But Flora's feelings aren't the only things drawing to a head as the summer continues and more family secrets may be forced into the open.
I enjoyed this but I would take issue with the blurb that describes this as a hilarious romantic comedy, I wouldn't even say it was funny per se. That's not to say this was all angst, angst, angst, Roger in particular was a fun character with his booze and his boats and his trysts with Babs, but as tensions between townies and the locals, the big house and the village, the Brits and the Yanks come bubbling to the surface Flora starts to realise that she has been wrong about a lot of things.
If a novel about spending the summer in a big Cornish mansion with a gaggle of weird and wacky family members, horse-riding, sailing, walking the cliffs, painting and finding romance is your idea of heaven then this is your perfect holiday reading.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Forced into close proximity with Hugo and his family for the first time in decades Flora is finally forced to confront her own feelings and reconcile her teenage feelings for the young boy she fell in love with, and her adult emotions now. But Flora's feelings aren't the only things drawing to a head as the summer continues and more family secrets may be forced into the open.
I enjoyed this but I would take issue with the blurb that describes this as a hilarious romantic comedy, I wouldn't even say it was funny per se. That's not to say this was all angst, angst, angst, Roger in particular was a fun character with his booze and his boats and his trysts with Babs, but as tensions between townies and the locals, the big house and the village, the Brits and the Yanks come bubbling to the surface Flora starts to realise that she has been wrong about a lot of things.
If a novel about spending the summer in a big Cornish mansion with a gaggle of weird and wacky family members, horse-riding, sailing, walking the cliffs, painting and finding romance is your idea of heaven then this is your perfect holiday reading.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
dlperin's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
betweenthelinesbookclub's review
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
The book overall is a very slow burner, with lots of characters. It can be very difficult to keep track of all of the characters & how they link together. I don't think all of them where necessarily essential to the story. Iris, for example, would not be missed from the story & does not really add any substance to the plot. Once it got to the last 20% of the book, after a couple of plot twists, I couldn't put the book down. It is the first one I've read by this author and I'm sure to read more.
The book overall is a very slow burner, with lots of characters. It can be very difficult to keep track of all of the characters & how they link together. I don't think all of them where necessarily essential to the story. Iris, for example, would not be missed from the story & does not really add any substance to the plot. Once it got to the last 20% of the book, after a couple of plot twists, I couldn't put the book down. It is the first one I've read by this author and I'm sure to read more.
sharonleavy's review
3.0
3.5/5
Flora is hired by the family of her ex-husband to paint a portrait. She and her friend Celia aren't expecting to be greeted by half the family - including said ex husband and his new wife. Flora is still in love with her ex, will this be the Summer she's finally able to move on and find herself?
I went into this book expecting a character-focused book and wasn't disappointed. It's a slow burner - the first half is more about establishing who's who and what went on in the past to get them to where they are at the moment. I can't say I took to Flora immediately - I much preferred her friend Celia and I really loved Babs from the first time she appeared on the page.
There are a few different storylines happening simultaneously - a serious one about business, a secret, and Flora's own journey. Out of all of these, I liked seeing Flora's personal journey the most. I felt like "the secret" was a little predictable and I'm really not a fan of that particular thing being used as a plot device - I feel like it's overused in TV dramas, movies and books. I do have to say that here, it was done more respectfully than I've seen it done before - the addition of Christina was really good and I liked her character a lot.
While I felt like there were a lot of characters to keep track of, I had my favourites and didn't feel overwhelmed. I enjoyed the writing and thought that the story ended well. If you're looking for a character-driven beach or plane read, this is your one! For me, I'm a fast reader and this style of book doesn't really suit me all the time because I tend to rush through without meaning to. This is the type of book that needs to be savoured a little slower, so that you can get the full benefit of knowing all the characters.
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC.
Flora is hired by the family of her ex-husband to paint a portrait. She and her friend Celia aren't expecting to be greeted by half the family - including said ex husband and his new wife. Flora is still in love with her ex, will this be the Summer she's finally able to move on and find herself?
I went into this book expecting a character-focused book and wasn't disappointed. It's a slow burner - the first half is more about establishing who's who and what went on in the past to get them to where they are at the moment. I can't say I took to Flora immediately - I much preferred her friend Celia and I really loved Babs from the first time she appeared on the page.
There are a few different storylines happening simultaneously - a serious one about business, a secret, and Flora's own journey. Out of all of these, I liked seeing Flora's personal journey the most. I felt like "the secret" was a little predictable and I'm really not a fan of that particular thing being used as a plot device - I feel like it's overused in TV dramas, movies and books. I do have to say that here, it was done more respectfully than I've seen it done before - the addition of Christina was really good and I liked her character a lot.
While I felt like there were a lot of characters to keep track of, I had my favourites and didn't feel overwhelmed. I enjoyed the writing and thought that the story ended well. If you're looking for a character-driven beach or plane read, this is your one! For me, I'm a fast reader and this style of book doesn't really suit me all the time because I tend to rush through without meaning to. This is the type of book that needs to be savoured a little slower, so that you can get the full benefit of knowing all the characters.
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC.
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