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purplepierogi's review against another edition
3.0
wow! finished book club read spectacularly early, and I won’t spoil my fellow members w my review just yet
marinaemoore's review against another edition
4.0
This book explores the relationship between Elisabeth, a new-mom and writer, and her babysitter Sam, a college student and budding artist. As the two become closer and then drift further apart, they both realize things about themselves and their relationships with others. This book explores a variety of themes, from family dynamics to wealth inequality.
I came really close to DNF-ing this book. The first 75-100 pages were absolutely brutal. The book picked up quite a bit around the 100 page mark and became much more interesting and relatable.
This book is heavily character-driven, and I caution anyone contemplating reading this one to make sure that you love character-driven novels before picking this one up.
I came really close to DNF-ing this book. The first 75-100 pages were absolutely brutal. The book picked up quite a bit around the 100 page mark and became much more interesting and relatable.
This book is heavily character-driven, and I caution anyone contemplating reading this one to make sure that you love character-driven novels before picking this one up.
kdtoverbooked's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Not a book for people who need likable characters. Not a book for people who need a lot of action in their book. A book for people who want to spend a year walking through a couple characters shoes in New York in 2015. The epilogue in 2025 didn’t feel too far off.
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe someday we should all go back and re-read things from 2020 and see if we feel differently, but, for now....I just cannot get into this at ALL. It feels like the kind of book I should enjoy and should be able to keep picking up even though I'm distracted, but I just find myself unable to get invested in what happens to any of these characters.
yell4danielle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
shari24's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mbkarapcik's review against another edition
5.0
You first meet Elisabeth, a successful writer and transplant from Brooklyn, as a new mom who is reading through a Brooklyn moms Facebook page. She recently moved to her husband's hometown where they live in suburbia near a private women's college, a very new transition for a cosmopolitan woman. She's lonely, doesn't know how to assimilate into the neighborhood, and needs a sitter for her son in order to work on her next book, whatever it turns out to be. Then she hires Sam, a college student, who becomes her newest and closest friend. The book profiles their friendship, so much like many women's friendships with its ups, downs, confessions, and laughs.
I loved this book. So much thought and consideration was taken with the plot, the characters, and the direction. I related to both characters who reflected two separate times in my life and relished every word. It was a book I anticipated going back to again and was sad when it was over although there was no conceivable or believable way of continuing.
I related to Sam for the earnestness that I felt as a college student and also her goals, which in college appear one way but rarely pan out in your imagined fashion when "real life" begins. College life, relationships with fellow college students, the quest to "change the world," and even the college setting seemed so familiar and accurate. Her boyfriend not as much but that's neither here nor there.
I also related to Elisabeth, not just because I write for a living, but because as a new mother, I felt the same loneliness and awkward adjustment to life as a mom in an unfamiliar neighborhood. I didn't feel comfortable there but wanted to be with my child. I wondered if I would ever find my place, which eventually I did, partly because I became very involved in a mothers' group. And career concerns took up my spare time even though I did not technically go back to work until my kids were in school full-time.
The book also examines the varying relationships including those with family, friends, mates, and others. Every character appeared well thought-out, and you absolutely knew who they were. You may even know them intimately because they are your siblings or parents or boyfriend/husband or neighbor.
Even the town environment was well-structured and so familiar to me. I likened it to my own hometown--something about it was very close except for the nearby college although Seton Hall was only a bike ride away.
I loved each of Sullivan's books, and I kept wondering how autobiographical this book was. Apparently, many elements, especially of the college-aged character, were borrowed from her own college years. I'm sure some of her times as a mom and writer seeped into the pages, too.
I loved this book. So much thought and consideration was taken with the plot, the characters, and the direction. I related to both characters who reflected two separate times in my life and relished every word. It was a book I anticipated going back to again and was sad when it was over although there was no conceivable or believable way of continuing.
I related to Sam for the earnestness that I felt as a college student and also her goals, which in college appear one way but rarely pan out in your imagined fashion when "real life" begins. College life, relationships with fellow college students, the quest to "change the world," and even the college setting seemed so familiar and accurate. Her boyfriend not as much but that's neither here nor there.
I also related to Elisabeth, not just because I write for a living, but because as a new mother, I felt the same loneliness and awkward adjustment to life as a mom in an unfamiliar neighborhood. I didn't feel comfortable there but wanted to be with my child. I wondered if I would ever find my place, which eventually I did, partly because I became very involved in a mothers' group. And career concerns took up my spare time even though I did not technically go back to work until my kids were in school full-time.
The book also examines the varying relationships including those with family, friends, mates, and others. Every character appeared well thought-out, and you absolutely knew who they were. You may even know them intimately because they are your siblings or parents or boyfriend/husband or neighbor.
Even the town environment was well-structured and so familiar to me. I likened it to my own hometown--something about it was very close except for the nearby college although Seton Hall was only a bike ride away.
I loved each of Sullivan's books, and I kept wondering how autobiographical this book was. Apparently, many elements, especially of the college-aged character, were borrowed from her own college years. I'm sure some of her times as a mom and writer seeped into the pages, too.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
Courtney Sullivan moves away from her stories about unruly--and entertaining--Boston Irish families to take a different look at women's friendships. "Friends and Strangers" is about Elisabeth and Sam, two very different women who are brought together in a college town. Elisabeth's from New York, a published writer who is supposed to be working on a new novel while caring for a new baby. They've moved to town to be near inlaws and so her husband can work on an invention. Sam is a student at the women's college, from that large Boston Irish family, who is hired by Elisabeth as a nanny.
As usual, Sullivan weaves important family and social issues into the story in a seamless way. The woman is a master at creating relatable, believable family dramas, affecting books that are hard to put down. I was a huge fan of "Saints for All Occasions" and found this novel similarly addictive. "Friends and Strangers" is a large and wonderful book about so many things, all of which resonate with living in the world today.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting access to this enjoyable novel.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
As usual, Sullivan weaves important family and social issues into the story in a seamless way. The woman is a master at creating relatable, believable family dramas, affecting books that are hard to put down. I was a huge fan of "Saints for All Occasions" and found this novel similarly addictive. "Friends and Strangers" is a large and wonderful book about so many things, all of which resonate with living in the world today.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting access to this enjoyable novel.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
ashtynolive's review against another edition
4.0
Okay so this is a super relatable book if you've ever had an age gap friendship and/or intense financial burdens while attending college. It's a great novel with some family drama, dating issues, and whatever else bored rich people deal with in modern-day New York.
My main beef with this book is within one specific pattern in the writing that I could not overlook. "Andrew said", "Elizabeth said", "Sam said", "She said", "They said".... There are other words for dialogue aside from, "said". It was actually painful. The rest of the reading experience was delightful.
Question if anyone has read this:
Do we sense any weird (possibly sensual) tension between the mom and her nanny a la that movie Afternoon Delight (2013)?...
My main beef with this book is within one specific pattern in the writing that I could not overlook. "Andrew said", "Elizabeth said", "Sam said", "She said", "They said".... There are other words for dialogue aside from, "said". It was actually painful. The rest of the reading experience was delightful.
Question if anyone has read this:
Do we sense any weird (possibly sensual) tension between the mom and her nanny a la that movie Afternoon Delight (2013)?...
ktchaddy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
3.5