Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by janellet24
Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky
2.0
2.5 stars.
I really wanted to like this book, but I really struggled with it. FIrst of all, it took me much longer than usual to actually get into this book compared to other books by this author and of this genre. But what really bothered me was the relationship between Caroline and Jamie. At the beginning of the story, we are told over and over again how close they are. The phrase "best friends" is even mentioned. Then, when various events happen (Caroline learns that the executive director of their home improvement show wants Jamie to replace her as host and Jamie's dad, Caroline's ex husband, dies suddenly in a car accident) the dynamic of their relationship changed, and not for the better. I understood that Caroline was upset with Jamie for not disclosing the fact that they wanted to replace her as host. She as upset that Jamie was not open and honest with her. But when Jamie's dad and his wife die and she takes over as the sole parent of their 2 year old son and her half brother, it really bothered me that Caroline was not supportive. If they were as close as the author stated various times early on and throughout the novel, Caroline would have been there for Jamie in a heartbeat, knowing that she was suddenly a mom to a 2 year old and had just lost her dad. She kept saying that she was waiting for Jamie to call her, but I just feel like for as good of a mom as she was presented to be, she would have been there for Jamie without receiving a phone call from her.
I also felt like there was a lot of drama for one story. Sudden death, broken engagements, both mother and daughter falling in love with new people, issues with the family business... it all came across as somewhat disjointed and unbelievable to me.
I really wanted to like this book, but I really struggled with it. FIrst of all, it took me much longer than usual to actually get into this book compared to other books by this author and of this genre. But what really bothered me was the relationship between Caroline and Jamie. At the beginning of the story, we are told over and over again how close they are. The phrase "best friends" is even mentioned. Then, when various events happen (Caroline learns that the executive director of their home improvement show wants Jamie to replace her as host and Jamie's dad, Caroline's ex husband, dies suddenly in a car accident) the dynamic of their relationship changed, and not for the better. I understood that Caroline was upset with Jamie for not disclosing the fact that they wanted to replace her as host. She as upset that Jamie was not open and honest with her. But when Jamie's dad and his wife die and she takes over as the sole parent of their 2 year old son and her half brother, it really bothered me that Caroline was not supportive. If they were as close as the author stated various times early on and throughout the novel, Caroline would have been there for Jamie in a heartbeat, knowing that she was suddenly a mom to a 2 year old and had just lost her dad. She kept saying that she was waiting for Jamie to call her, but I just feel like for as good of a mom as she was presented to be, she would have been there for Jamie without receiving a phone call from her.
I also felt like there was a lot of drama for one story. Sudden death, broken engagements, both mother and daughter falling in love with new people, issues with the family business... it all came across as somewhat disjointed and unbelievable to me.