amndadms's review against another edition
3.0
3.5.
This book took a slow start for me but roughly halfway through I was enveloped in such a vulnerable, heartbreaking story. It was written so well that, at moments, I felt as though I was intruding on Esther’s life. Such a beautiful story. It ended a bit quickly. I deeply dislike when there are storylines that go unfinished. I do not want to imagine what happens. I want to be told. If Rachel’s story had a cleaner ending, this would’ve been an easy 4 stars for me.
This book took a slow start for me but roughly halfway through I was enveloped in such a vulnerable, heartbreaking story. It was written so well that, at moments, I felt as though I was intruding on Esther’s life. Such a beautiful story. It ended a bit quickly. I deeply dislike when there are storylines that go unfinished. I do not want to imagine what happens. I want to be told. If Rachel’s story had a cleaner ending, this would’ve been an easy 4 stars for me.
seematterce's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very good heartwarming story. There were a few sad parts, but overall it was a good read!
It is told from the perspective of 3 different women. A young woman in the 1950s, a woman taking care of her grandmother, and a woman who came to a small island for research.
The woman in the 50s (Esther) was sent to a mental rest facility, and the woman doing research found letters addressed to Esther and is trying learn the story to get them back to her.
It is told from the perspective of 3 different women. A young woman in the 1950s, a woman taking care of her grandmother, and a woman who came to a small island for research.
The woman in the 50s (Esther) was sent to a mental rest facility, and the woman doing research found letters addressed to Esther and is trying learn the story to get them back to her.
claredesausmarez's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rowanrelph's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
naomi2012's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joanneisreading's review against another edition
3.0
This is a 3.5 star read... it was a special book that touched on important health issues (PPD, PTSD) and how they were treated post WWII. It was a different time, and the story covered heart ache and love beautifully. My star rating isn’t higher only because I personally didn’t find myself attached to any of the present day characters/story, except for Leah.
unablelemon's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse, War, and Mental illness
penny_reads_books's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
desiree_boom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
rachbreads's review against another edition
3.0
“You suffered an enormous loss, labored under a burden of blame that was not yours to carry, but in spite of all that you made a triumph of your life. You have lived with boldness, with courage. I wish we could all say the same about ourselves.”
I picked up this book because I was promised something like City of Girls. It didn't quite achieve that status for me, but it was an enjoyable read.
The strongest part of this novel for me were the sections set in 1951. Esther's story is both tragic, astounding, and beautifully romantic. It's almost unimaginable to think of a man involuntarily committing his wife to an insane asylum, but we know that these things did happen. This story helped to contextualize that in a very real way, and I thought it was handled quite well. I was intrigued in Esther's story from beginning to end.
The weakness in this book came from discrepancies between this section and the two sections set in present day. Eve & her grandmother's story was honestly quite boring, and I enjoyed Rachel's story but found it lacking in a few details and it especially had a deeply unsatisfying ending that left me with a bad taste in my mouth. We did not get the resolution I felt we deserved for her story.
NB: Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Out now!
I picked up this book because I was promised something like City of Girls. It didn't quite achieve that status for me, but it was an enjoyable read.
The strongest part of this novel for me were the sections set in 1951. Esther's story is both tragic, astounding, and beautifully romantic. It's almost unimaginable to think of a man involuntarily committing his wife to an insane asylum, but we know that these things did happen. This story helped to contextualize that in a very real way, and I thought it was handled quite well. I was intrigued in Esther's story from beginning to end.
The weakness in this book came from discrepancies between this section and the two sections set in present day. Eve & her grandmother's story was honestly quite boring, and I enjoyed Rachel's story but found it lacking in a few details and it especially had a deeply unsatisfying ending that left me with a bad taste in my mouth. We did not get the resolution I felt we deserved for her story.
NB: Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Out now!