murphysmustread 's review for:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

3.0

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In general, I thought "House Rules" was a decent read for those who are looking for a book with an engaging plot and relatable characters. As a huge fan of Jodi Picoult, I was super excited to pick up this book at my local Barnes & Noble. Up until this point, every Jodi Picoult book I've read usually comes with a huge twist or thought-provoking moment that leaves me wanting more. So I was extremely disappointed when the conclusion of "House Rules" fell flat. When the end was revealed, I realized I had predicted the outcome at least 100 pages ago! Also, I found Emma Hunt (Jacob's mom and one of the main characters) to be quite unrealistic. In the book, Emma goes out of her way to bend every rule and situation to revolve around Jacob (her son and main character with Asperger's). Based on my experience with the disability community (which is a tad bit more than your average joe's), parents attempt to challenge and push their children in order for them to be successful in the real world. But Emma doesn't do this at all! This made it hard for me to empathize with her struggles and even read from her perspective in the story. While I don't think this book would be at the top of my recommendation list, it's not entirely awful. Jodi Picoult was still able to create some suspense and edge which made me want to read more and I ultimately did finish the book. Word of the wise: if you want to find Jodi Picoult's best piece of work, don't pick up this book.