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bkwrm127's review
3.0
A well drawn portrait of Houston society life in the 50s. Cece is obsessed with her childhood friend, Joan, a glamorous, wild child who disappeared. Why is she so obsessed? What drove Joan to the behaviors that caused her to disappear? Some of the questions are answered, but a lot remained for me. This would make an interesting book discussion.
melissarochelle's review
4.0
We know at the beginning that the beautiful Houston socialite Joan Fortier is going to go missing again. It drives the story forward, this upcoming mystery. Telling us the story is Joan's best friend from infancy, also named Joan, but she's stripped of her name when the two start school and is now Cece. Cece goes back and forth between her childhood with Joan and 1957 when they are 25 and Cece is married with a young child. Cece almost comes across as a tad obsessed with Joan, but she also recognizes this and tries to reign it in. Joan is the type of person that can easily take over a person's life. Their friendship is even a point of contention with Cece's husband Ray.
I'm talking about these characters like they're real. I could easily sit around gossiping about these wealthy, glamorous Houston women for hours.
Anyway...Joan has gone missing before, when they were seniors in high school. The bulk of the book is Cece trying to explain their complicated relationship and her trying to unravel the complexities of Joan.
I was completely wrapped up in their world and want to go to Houston just to drive around River Oaks. I'm a little sad the Shamrock isn't still around.
Wonderful book.
I'm talking about these characters like they're real. I could easily sit around gossiping about these wealthy, glamorous Houston women for hours.
Anyway...Joan has gone missing before, when they were seniors in high school. The bulk of the book is Cece trying to explain their complicated relationship and her trying to unravel the complexities of Joan.
I was completely wrapped up in their world and want to go to Houston just to drive around River Oaks. I'm a little sad the Shamrock isn't still around.
Wonderful book.
katsant1's review against another edition
2.0
It started off promising and then it dragged on forever. I found the 2 main characters highly irritating and mostly pathetic.
bwluvs2read's review against another edition
4.0
All of the drama and mystique of the era of Mad Men but removed from New York to Houston, Texas during the days of Big Oil and martinis for breakfast. Can the friendship between two women endure all they have lived in the past? Is their toxic relationship more dangerous than their intoxicating lifestyles?
tpanik's review against another edition
4.0
A strong sophomore work by Discalfani! The friendship of two Joans, set in the posh world of monied Texas in the 1950's, is full of Friendship, loyalty, scandal and secrets. The big reveal at the end well crafted, and put their entire friendship in context.
carolfog's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Really good. Couldn’t put it down.
kate_elizabeth's review against another edition
3.0
Eh. The entire plot of this book revolves around a not-terribly-interesting mystery in the life of Joan, a not-very-likable character. It's told from the point of view of her best friend Cece (whose actual name is also Joan but she goes by her middle name literally so that other-Joan can be the only one with that name), who does not have a personality to speak of beyond her obsessive fascination with Joan. There's some intrigue, I guess - the parts with Cece and her mother were the most compelling, and I liked the glimpses of well-to-do Texans in the 1950s - but ultimately the big reveal wasn't that big and I just didn't care that much about what happened to any of these people.
atticusmammy's review against another edition
2.0
Torn between 2 and 2 1/2 stars on this one. I spent the entire book being irritated at Cece for her unending and unhealthy obsession with Joan. What a weak, wishy-washy woman she is - ashamed of her son, indifferent to her husband, totally absorbed with Joan. I kept hoping Cece would wake up and grow a spine but she let Joan call the shots until the bitter end.
nicoletort's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, tripped to 4 because I powered through the bulk of it in a day before it was due back and found it very compelling.
tvisser's review against another edition
3.0
I am not sure how I felt about this book. There were times when I wanted to yell at CeCe and times when I felt sorry for her. I guess part of it is that I can't imagine the life she led - and some of the choices she made. I am glad that I finished it...