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danniquinoa 's review for:
Sweet Lake
by Christine Nolfi
Sweet Lake is the first in a new series by Christine Nolfi. Sweet Lake tells the story of Linnie, her small Ohio town, and the inn she is left to manage after her brother mysteriously leaves and her parents retire to Florida.
Perhaps the most fulfilling aspect of Sweet Lake is Linnie’s journey to self-discovery. At the beginning of the novel she seems to believe she has it all figured out, but as we dive deeper into the plot, it is apparent that she isn’t as pulled together as she would like to be. As she confronts her family issues and deals with her town’s expectations, Linnie also finds time to fall in love. There wasn’t anything groundbreaking about Linnie and Daniel’s relationship, but its growth from friendship to more was endearing to read.
The disconnect Linnie experiences with her family is uncomfortably authentic. Sibling dynamics are difficult to navigate, with Linnie and Freddie being no exception. As Linnie comes to understand her brother and his true motives, she realizes that although he harmed her in the past, she may have also been at fault.
Throughout the novel we are introduced to a revolving door of characters who, at many times, are difficult to keep track of. Among the most difficult to distinguish from each other are the members of Sweet Lake’s group of middle age+ women, the Sirens. The Sirens take away much of the story’s charm with a number of outlandish subplots. The one exception to this was Frances, the Siren who adds warmth and wisdom to the group. Frances helps Linnie process her long repressed feelings about her family and the legacy they may or may not have left her. She offers Linnie advice that I suspect many readers needed to hear as well. “Do you ever put yourself first? I don’t mean horning in on another’s good fortune or marching over the people you love for material gain. We’re speaking of spirit. On the ethereal plane, do you put yourself first?”
At times, the language and dialogue seem forced and inauthentic. For the most part, there is nothing wrong with the writing, but at several points the natural flow of a sentence is interrupted by a poorly chosen word. This is most obvious when outdated slang is used, such as using “java” instead of “coffee.” Nofli’s writing shines the most when it is effortless.
Despite my small criticisms, Sweet Lake was a very sweet read. Although overcrowded with characters and subplots, this book tells a heartwarming story of love, friendship, forgiveness, and family. I look forward to reading future installments of this series.
3 out of 5 stars. I was kindly provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I hope you enjoy.
Perhaps the most fulfilling aspect of Sweet Lake is Linnie’s journey to self-discovery. At the beginning of the novel she seems to believe she has it all figured out, but as we dive deeper into the plot, it is apparent that she isn’t as pulled together as she would like to be. As she confronts her family issues and deals with her town’s expectations, Linnie also finds time to fall in love. There wasn’t anything groundbreaking about Linnie and Daniel’s relationship, but its growth from friendship to more was endearing to read.
The disconnect Linnie experiences with her family is uncomfortably authentic. Sibling dynamics are difficult to navigate, with Linnie and Freddie being no exception. As Linnie comes to understand her brother and his true motives, she realizes that although he harmed her in the past, she may have also been at fault.
Throughout the novel we are introduced to a revolving door of characters who, at many times, are difficult to keep track of. Among the most difficult to distinguish from each other are the members of Sweet Lake’s group of middle age+ women, the Sirens. The Sirens take away much of the story’s charm with a number of outlandish subplots. The one exception to this was Frances, the Siren who adds warmth and wisdom to the group. Frances helps Linnie process her long repressed feelings about her family and the legacy they may or may not have left her. She offers Linnie advice that I suspect many readers needed to hear as well. “Do you ever put yourself first? I don’t mean horning in on another’s good fortune or marching over the people you love for material gain. We’re speaking of spirit. On the ethereal plane, do you put yourself first?”
At times, the language and dialogue seem forced and inauthentic. For the most part, there is nothing wrong with the writing, but at several points the natural flow of a sentence is interrupted by a poorly chosen word. This is most obvious when outdated slang is used, such as using “java” instead of “coffee.” Nofli’s writing shines the most when it is effortless.
Despite my small criticisms, Sweet Lake was a very sweet read. Although overcrowded with characters and subplots, this book tells a heartwarming story of love, friendship, forgiveness, and family. I look forward to reading future installments of this series.
3 out of 5 stars. I was kindly provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I hope you enjoy.