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readersaurusrobin 's review for:
The Jetsetters
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Three stars because this was a quick, smooth read. But honestly, a disappointment.
Charlotte Perkins is a seventy-year old widow who feels her three adult children have grown distant. When she enters a writing contest whose prize is a free mediterranean cruise, she sees her chance at bringing them all together. Daughter Lee is a failed actress who is haunted by her role in family secret-keeping. Daughter Regan gave up her art to chase a version of domesticity that leaves her empty. Son Cord hides his true self from the family, risking his future with his love and worsening his battle with alcoholism. Each thinks the others' lives are better than their own. Each has fears that keep them from being honest with one another and, therefore, leaves them unable to help or be helped by one another.
I think the problem with this book is that Ward cannot decide whether to emphasize the family issues, the romance novel angle, or the humor. As a result, each aspect is rendered only shallowly and without satisfaction. Seven-eighths of the way through, all of the problems are present, undiscussed, unresolved, and then boom - Epilogue, one big happy family. How did they get there?
Charlotte has never known true romance, having married young to the wrong man - It just boggles the mind that she went on zero good dates between her thirties and her seventies, especially when so much page space is given to how well put-together, educated, and gorgeous she is. Even more troublesome is that she never once takes an inkling of responsibility for the family conditions she created for her children. Secrets, lies, a refusal to acknowledge feelings - but readers are supposed to swoon when she finally gets her groove on. By the time that happens, I just had stopped caring about her completely. It's too bad, because she was so interesting in the beginning, especially when shown in the context of her lovely friendship with Minnie.
Charlotte Perkins is a seventy-year old widow who feels her three adult children have grown distant. When she enters a writing contest whose prize is a free mediterranean cruise, she sees her chance at bringing them all together. Daughter Lee is a failed actress who is haunted by her role in family secret-keeping. Daughter Regan gave up her art to chase a version of domesticity that leaves her empty. Son Cord hides his true self from the family, risking his future with his love and worsening his battle with alcoholism. Each thinks the others' lives are better than their own. Each has fears that keep them from being honest with one another and, therefore, leaves them unable to help or be helped by one another.
I think the problem with this book is that Ward cannot decide whether to emphasize the family issues, the romance novel angle, or the humor. As a result, each aspect is rendered only shallowly and without satisfaction. Seven-eighths of the way through, all of the problems are present, undiscussed, unresolved, and then boom - Epilogue, one big happy family. How did they get there?
Charlotte has never known true romance, having married young to the wrong man - It just boggles the mind that she went on zero good dates between her thirties and her seventies, especially when so much page space is given to how well put-together, educated, and gorgeous she is. Even more troublesome is that she never once takes an inkling of responsibility for the family conditions she created for her children. Secrets, lies, a refusal to acknowledge feelings - but readers are supposed to swoon when she finally gets her groove on. By the time that happens, I just had stopped caring about her completely. It's too bad, because she was so interesting in the beginning, especially when shown in the context of her lovely friendship with Minnie.