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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
On the surface, this is an easy, mildly entertaining read. I felt emotions... sometimes a snicker, sometimes anger, sometimes frustration, sometimes empathy. The flow was alright, easy to follow. The characters were distinct and on a basic level complete.
Something was missing though; a depth to the characters. We get to know them enough to be able to make it a story, but I didn't feel like they really held space: I wasn't thinking about them like real people when I walked away from the book.
(I say this as a straight, cis-woman) It seems implausible that someone like Ethan could exist, further to that I can't imagine a world where someone like Gabe (the best developed character) could reconcile the differences between him and Ethan enough to stay happy and together. But this did make me ask myself what I would do in a comparable situation with my partner.
And it felt contradictory for someone portrayed to be intelligent, experienced and reputable like Kate to make a fire-able mistake like she did. I don't feel that the participation in infidelity automatically transfers to similar behaviour in her career.
I did not enjoy the infidelity, I don't like when the gravity of such an act is utilized without a complete picture of the harm it causes. This wasn't a huge detractor, but strikes me as gratuitous. Nicole is VERY believable in all her selfish traits. I agree with another reviewer who said Nicole's reasons to stay in her marriage were weak. And I kinda wish Kate in the end would have just sent her away for good.
Something was missing though; a depth to the characters. We get to know them enough to be able to make it a story, but I didn't feel like they really held space: I wasn't thinking about them like real people when I walked away from the book.
(I say this as a straight, cis-woman) It seems implausible that someone like Ethan could exist, further to that I can't imagine a world where someone like Gabe (the best developed character) could reconcile the differences between him and Ethan enough to stay happy and together. But this did make me ask myself what I would do in a comparable situation with my partner.
And it felt contradictory for someone portrayed to be intelligent, experienced and reputable like Kate to make a fire-able mistake like she did. I don't feel that the participation in infidelity automatically transfers to similar behaviour in her career.
I did not enjoy the infidelity, I don't like when the gravity of such an act is utilized without a complete picture of the harm it causes. This wasn't a huge detractor, but strikes me as gratuitous. Nicole is VERY believable in all her selfish traits. I agree with another reviewer who said Nicole's reasons to stay in her marriage were weak. And I kinda wish Kate in the end would have just sent her away for good.
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-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
An examination of politics, relationships, and how time changes both.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Eh. Honest depiction of relationships. Sad though.
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
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
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
As someone who studied politics and loves romance dramas, I was really intrigued by this book. And it was utterly disapointing, borderline angering, and just a waste of time. There was no political commentary in here that was no lackluster and empy as hell. There is no conclusion to the central conflict of couples with different/opposing political beliefs (Gabe and Ethan, Nicole and Austin). Every argument between Ethan and Gabe where they actually got into the policy they disagreed on and strategical immoral campaign moves never actually lead to any compromise or further understanding of each other. And so Gabe had no character development because he started the story supporting his husband's campaign even when though he fundamnetally disagreed with everything he believed and was campaigning on and he ended the story the same way. And ifthe story's resolution supposed to be that Ethan didn't win and so the family's problems all went away, that's just lazy and boring writing. And when it came to Nicole, he husband was oppenly ignorant about her identity as a queer woman but why the fuck would we be suprised by that when there was no reason for us to care about him when the whole book set him up as a neglectful and misogynistic husband. But ultimatley, there was not a single character (besides the children in the mix) for readers to see a redeamable charcetr to root for. It's just a bunch of republicans, a couple of affair partners, and a spineless man who refused to ackowldge his husbands hateful ass views until it was years too late.
If I were to guess, the author is coming from a perspective in between Ethan's and Gabe's, a place of immense perspective and little to challenge them and that's why they could write a book where they attempt to make conservatives the helpless victims of bad situations and politics only problems for within marriages.
If I were to guess, the author is coming from a perspective in between Ethan's and Gabe's, a place of immense perspective and little to challenge them and that's why they could write a book where they attempt to make conservatives the helpless victims of bad situations and politics only problems for within marriages.