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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
This novel is supposed to be about a couple with differing political opinions - but really this is just an entertaining subplot. The main story is about a woman having an affair with an old girlfriend, and this isn't quite so interesting.
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Had such potential but too close to todays political scene - didn’t like any of the characters except the kids
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The characters sleep fairly well according to this book.
I want to first start by stating that I was interested in this book by the synopsis given on the inside cover. It first explains how Gabe's husband Ethan wants to run as a Republican and in the second paragraph about how Ethan's sister (Kate) is a lesbian who reconnects with a past fling (Nicole). Now from this, I took it to mean that the main point of this story would focus on Gabe and Ethan or at least an a decent part of the story would; boy was I wrong!
The writing is flat and repetitive (take a shot every time she mentions Nicole's "thick upper lip" and you'll get alcohol poisoning 25% in). For a book that is supposed to take place in present day (considering Jan. 6 is mentioned) this feels so completely dated in the way it refuses to touch on anything. Having a book in which politics and identities are a huge part you'd think that Harris would choose to dive into these topics, however, she decides to consistently brush past them. Any time any of the characters were gearing up to have actual conversations about the way that Ethan's Republican views were impacting their lives or really any politics, they would immediately follow with "I don't want to get into it." OKAY WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET INTO IT THOUGH?! You can't have a book about these things and then refuse to talk about issues involving race, LGBTQIA+, immigration, ect. This book so shallow, so performative and yet by doing that it does create a great message about the way some people deal with politics in their life; by ignoring anything remotely complicated.
I felt this book wanted to actually be about Kate and Nicole's relationship and then tacked on Gabe and Ethan's troubled marriage as extra fluff. If anything this book would go up in rating had it chosen to solely focus the story on the Nicole and Kate. That being said, I kept dreading their chapters because I truly only cared about Gabe and Ethan's story, as it was a far more interesting. And yet all the characters were horrible and unbearable lmao. Not a single one had a redeeming quality and when the book ended I felt like "wait really? no growth? no accountability?"
Might I even say ... a big nothing burger at the end of the day?
I want to first start by stating that I was interested in this book by the synopsis given on the inside cover. It first explains how Gabe's husband Ethan wants to run as a Republican and in the second paragraph about how Ethan's sister (Kate) is a lesbian who reconnects with a past fling (Nicole). Now from this, I took it to mean that the main point of this story would focus on Gabe and Ethan or at least an a decent part of the story would; boy was I wrong!
The writing is flat and repetitive (take a shot every time she mentions Nicole's "thick upper lip" and you'll get alcohol poisoning 25% in). For a book that is supposed to take place in present day (considering Jan. 6 is mentioned) this feels so completely dated in the way it refuses to touch on anything. Having a book in which politics and identities are a huge part you'd think that Harris would choose to dive into these topics, however, she decides to consistently brush past them. Any time any of the characters were gearing up to have actual conversations about the way that Ethan's Republican views were impacting their lives or really any politics, they would immediately follow with "I don't want to get into it." OKAY WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET INTO IT THOUGH?! You can't have a book about these things and then refuse to talk about issues involving race, LGBTQIA+, immigration, ect. This book so shallow, so performative and yet by doing that it does create a great message about the way some people deal with politics in their life; by ignoring anything remotely complicated.
I felt this book wanted to actually be about Kate and Nicole's relationship and then tacked on Gabe and Ethan's troubled marriage as extra fluff. If anything this book would go up in rating had it chosen to solely focus the story on the Nicole and Kate. That being said, I kept dreading their chapters because I truly only cared about Gabe and Ethan's story, as it was a far more interesting. And yet all the characters were horrible and unbearable lmao. Not a single one had a redeeming quality and when the book ended I felt like "wait really? no growth? no accountability?"
Might I even say ... a big nothing burger at the end of the day?