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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
While this book was predictable, I enjoyed it for the most part. The descriptions of the Pacific Northwest make me want to visit.
Meh, it was too perfect and really formulative. No real surprises or mystery.
An enjoyable read, though it often felt a bit formulaic and like a celebration of performative virtue.
challenging
hopeful
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
I enjoyed listening to this story. The main character takes a bad situation and manages to turn it into something beautiful. There are plenty of ups and downs along the way, but overall this story made me feel hopeful.
I treated myself to readIng this book on plane ride and it did not disappoint. It kept me entertained on the trip while also providing much needed information about domestic abuse without being graphic.
This was our January Book Club pick and I couldn't recommend it enough. There were so many topics to discuss that we had no problem filling our 1hr allotment. Also, there were some heavy content in this book, but Susan Wiggs wrote about them in a way that kept the book lighthearted and easy.
Not to mention....THE CHARACTERS. I loved our main trio...Caroline, Will, and Sierra. Any combination of the three was amazing. I could eat up an entire series surrounding the town of Oysterville because there was NOT ENOUGH. I wanted more of Caroline's sisters and brothers, the ladies in the sewing circle, the fashion folks.
Also, things I didn't know I needed: Beach reads in the Pacific Northwest. It sounds absolutely freezing in the winter and folks surfing in the summer. I loved it. I needed it. I need more.
Shoutout to the AMAZING quotes that started each section. They tied in perfectly, and I love a good quote.
Not to mention....THE CHARACTERS. I loved our main trio...Caroline, Will, and Sierra. Any combination of the three was amazing. I could eat up an entire series surrounding the town of Oysterville because there was NOT ENOUGH. I wanted more of Caroline's sisters and brothers, the ladies in the sewing circle, the fashion folks.
Also, things I didn't know I needed: Beach reads in the Pacific Northwest. It sounds absolutely freezing in the winter and folks surfing in the summer. I loved it. I needed it. I need more.
Shoutout to the AMAZING quotes that started each section. They tied in perfectly, and I love a good quote.
I have been a fan of this author for many years now. I actually went to a signing of hers where she was promoting this one. Such a great person. I have always loved her writing style and this one did not disappoint.
Caroline Shelby left her small town in Washington state years ago to pursue her dream of being a fashion designer in New York City. She loves her nonstop, career-oriented life until, in a matter of weeks it all comes crashing down. Shortly following an event that ends her chance of being a successful designer, Caroline finds herself driving cross-country with her friend’s recently orphaned young children in the backseat. She never wanted kids, but now she is the guardian to these 5 and 6-year-old children and she doesn’t know who else to turn to but her family. Returning home, she also runs into Will Jensen, her childhood best friend and longtime crush, who returned to Oysterville after a navy accident. Will is married to Sierra, Caroline’s high school best friend, and Caroline finds herself shoving old feelings and memories away. Meanwhile, Caroline is still trying to make sense of the events that led to the end of her friend Angelique’s life, and she forms the Oysterville Sewing Circle, a support group for survivors of violence and assault. Inspired by the women she meets, Caroline finds the way to pick herself up again, and stand up for herself and what she wants.
Pros:
•This was an easy read with loveable characters and a number of engaging different plots. The pages pretty much turned themselves
•The characters are well-developed, especially Caroline and Will, who we see as children and adults.
•There’s a lot of important content here- violence, immigration, assault, adoption. It’s nice to read a feel-good book with important themes and lots of substance
Cons:
The downside of there being a lot going on: I don’t think she gave enough time to some of the important plots and many of them felt underdeveloped. I wish we’d gotten less of Caroline’s childhood and more of her building a relationship with Addie and Flick. The relationship with the kids was the most interesting and most unique part of the story, and I was disappointed not to get more of it. Primarily, the Sierra plot felt a bit out of place. It was never totally resolved and also never totally developed. Instead we just add a weird unresolved and mostly ignored aspect of losing an old friend to this otherwise nice story. The Will thing definitely should have been more of a subplot anyway since everything else was more important
Recommendation: I recommend if you’re looking for a feel good easy read with darker emotional themes running through. The novel strikes a nice balance between romance and cute children and addiction and abuse. Beware that it definitely had some cheesy and cliche elements to it, but it’s a nice chick lit about powerful women and the power of love.
Pros:
•This was an easy read with loveable characters and a number of engaging different plots. The pages pretty much turned themselves
•The characters are well-developed, especially Caroline and Will, who we see as children and adults.
•There’s a lot of important content here- violence, immigration, assault, adoption. It’s nice to read a feel-good book with important themes and lots of substance
Cons:
The downside of there being a lot going on: I don’t think she gave enough time to some of the important plots and many of them felt underdeveloped. I wish we’d gotten less of Caroline’s childhood and more of her building a relationship with Addie and Flick. The relationship with the kids was the most interesting and most unique part of the story, and I was disappointed not to get more of it. Primarily, the Sierra plot felt a bit out of place. It was never totally resolved and also never totally developed. Instead we just add a weird unresolved and mostly ignored aspect of losing an old friend to this otherwise nice story. The Will thing definitely should have been more of a subplot anyway since everything else was more important
Recommendation: I recommend if you’re looking for a feel good easy read with darker emotional themes running through. The novel strikes a nice balance between romance and cute children and addiction and abuse. Beware that it definitely had some cheesy and cliche elements to it, but it’s a nice chick lit about powerful women and the power of love.