bookshand's review
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It’s a story about divorce alright, but it goes from sad to sadder in such a bizarre way.
jillgriff74's review
3.0
Sort of like halfway through, the writers of Breaking Bad took over an episode of Dharma and Greg.
cheryl1213's review
4.0
Switching between characters, this novel tells the story of a marriage ending and shows one partner unravelling as the other begins to move forward. In early chapters, I related a bit to some of the descriptions of Evvie from Ben's viewpoint but she quickly began to deteriorate and a troubling underside to her became clear. She has trouble accepting Ben's departure and her sanity begins to crumble over time. Ben is concerned but is trying to walk the line between being supportive and giving her false hopes or falling back into old habits himself.
I wasn't quite sure how I'd feel about this novel as I progressed. There's a key story element that I won't reveal but that I just didn't enjoy at all. Despite that, I am giving this novel (provided to me by Harper) a solid four stars for the deep psychological study of a woman shaken to the core. The author shows that the roots of Evvie's disturbance went deep (vs. having her just crack one moment) and I think both partners are well explored. I'd very much like to remove the one storyline that felt like too much of an add-in (I can see how the author got caught by the concept, just think it'd be a better novel without it) but it is a worthwhile read as it stands. Good for folks who like compelling character-driven studies of personality and psychology.
I wasn't quite sure how I'd feel about this novel as I progressed. There's a key story element that I won't reveal but that I just didn't enjoy at all. Despite that, I am giving this novel (provided to me by Harper) a solid four stars for the deep psychological study of a woman shaken to the core. The author shows that the roots of Evvie's disturbance went deep (vs. having her just crack one moment) and I think both partners are well explored. I'd very much like to remove the one storyline that felt like too much of an add-in (I can see how the author got caught by the concept, just think it'd be a better novel without it) but it is a worthwhile read as it stands. Good for folks who like compelling character-driven studies of personality and psychology.
bethreadsandnaps's review
3.0
This is a unique book about the dissolution of a marriage. Unlike other books or even real life that has an obvious villain to blame, this book doesn't have that. One of the people in the marriage has changed, and the other hasn't. Despite Ben falling out of love for Evvie, you can tell he still cares for her and will always have a soft spot in his heart for her.
The Evvie character has a lot of problems, stemming from childhood and a few personality quirks thrown in. While not written overly sympathetic, the reader hopes that she gets the help that she needs.
This is a character book, not a plot book. If you're looking for a rousing, or even sensical, plot you would need to look elsewhere.
The Evvie character has a lot of problems, stemming from childhood and a few personality quirks thrown in. While not written overly sympathetic, the reader hopes that she gets the help that she needs.
This is a character book, not a plot book. If you're looking for a rousing, or even sensical, plot you would need to look elsewhere.
drey72's review
3.0
First You Try Everything is sad and disquieting, and you cannot help but be drawn into Evvie’s chaos as she tries to make sense of what’s happening to her marriage. You feel her confusion, her helplessness, her fear.
Things come to a head when Evvie takes drastic action to make Ben realize he still loves her. She cannot imagine that he doesn’t – especially when he tells her there isn’t someone else and it’s just him. What wife wouldn’t assume that he’s just going through a mid-life crisis? And you want to smack Ben upside the head for not being honest with her. Sometimes, sparing the truth only brings more hurt than what you meant to avoid.
I didn’t love this story – maybe because the subject matter is a difficult one, and it’s always hard for me to like difficult topics when it’s not wrapped in humor. I call it a personal failing, and you should give this a whirl and make up your own mind about it. Check out the other tour stops to see what others think – the links are on TLC Book Tours.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
Things come to a head when Evvie takes drastic action to make Ben realize he still loves her. She cannot imagine that he doesn’t – especially when he tells her there isn’t someone else and it’s just him. What wife wouldn’t assume that he’s just going through a mid-life crisis? And you want to smack Ben upside the head for not being honest with her. Sometimes, sparing the truth only brings more hurt than what you meant to avoid.
I didn’t love this story – maybe because the subject matter is a difficult one, and it’s always hard for me to like difficult topics when it’s not wrapped in humor. I call it a personal failing, and you should give this a whirl and make up your own mind about it. Check out the other tour stops to see what others think – the links are on TLC Book Tours.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
cmbwell's review
3.0
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
The book was well-written and interesting, but nothing like what I expected based on the description and other reviews. To me, the woman is unhinged from the beginning and terribly naïve, although nobody in the book comes across as fully sane. It's not so much a story of a marriage falling apart as it is a story of two broken people, one more broken than the other.
The book was well-written and interesting, but nothing like what I expected based on the description and other reviews. To me, the woman is unhinged from the beginning and terribly naïve, although nobody in the book comes across as fully sane. It's not so much a story of a marriage falling apart as it is a story of two broken people, one more broken than the other.
skyroxy's review
2.0
I had hope for this book, however the ending was so disappointing. I thought Be would come to his senses and see what a beautiful, soulful woman he had left behind. It seemed that through out the book he was starting to regret his decision to leave Evvie, but nope, in the end he stays with bland Lauren. Evvie might have gotten the best part of the deal with the sweet and soulful convenince store guy.
jcwlib's review
2.0
http://bibliophibian.blogspot.com/2012/04/cbr4-14-first-you-try-everything-by.html
brookerhi's review
3.0
An odd little book. As the reader, you spend most of the time in the heads of the characters and the way they look at their relationships. The character of Evvie was one of the most unique & puzzling that I have come across in recent times. This book left me scratching my head by the time I had finished, as it had taken me from here to there & back again multiple times, never giving me a full grasp on what was going on & where it was going.