phantomgecko's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to shake everyone in this book for their bad decisions.
Just a heartbreaking situation even though the solution was apparent.
I cried a fair bit at the end.
Just a heartbreaking situation even though the solution was apparent.
I cried a fair bit at the end.
Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, Confinement, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and War
danajoy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Infertility, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, War, Medical trauma, and Suicide
sydney2020's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Minor: War and Child death
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I think the book had a great set up, and the characters were compelling at first with complicated feelings, motives, and pasts...until second half/last third. A book disappoints me most when the ending is super rushed and doesn't make any sense with where the characters are. The ending was incredibly anticlimactic after an initially fascinating build up.
Spoilers:
After having to give up Lucy, there was no reason to keep Tom and Isabel together. There was irreparable harm done. And if they were married 30 more years, then it would've been nice to see them heal and grow together instead of literally ending it with: "And then Isabel died before Lucy got the chance to see her again, but that's life."
And why didn't we then get to see Hannah grow and heal? Why didn't we get to see Lucy learn to love her birth mother?</spoilers>
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you're content with only 80% of a story.
Spoilers:
And why didn't we then get to see Hannah grow and heal? Why didn't we get to see Lucy learn to love her birth mother?</spoilers>
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you're content with only 80% of a story.
Graphic: War
Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
matildai's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
#mireadingchallenge A Best Seller
I actually stated into an update that it's a book made into a movie (which it is), but I had it noted in my master list as a best seller (I have a different book lined up as the movie book).
Tom a ww1 veteran takes an isolating job as a lighthouse keeper on Janus Island.
On a visit back to the main shore he meets and falls in love with Isobel.
Taking on another term of lighthouse duties they live on Janus Island.
After 2 miscarriages and a stillborn Isobel is in the depths of what we now know as PND.
One day a dinghy washes up onshore. Inside a dead man and a baby.
This book is full of emotions. As you watch the two words and two families collide over a child.
It's about love, forgiveness and will make you question rights and wrongs.
Ps.
I bought this book before I saw the movie, but alas I watched the movie before reading the book. I watched the movie ages ago so there were details I couldn't remember. I rate the book higher than the movie but I also think I need to rewatch it.
I actually stated into an update that it's a book made into a movie (which it is), but I had it noted in my master list as a best seller (I have a different book lined up as the movie book).
Tom a ww1 veteran takes an isolating job as a lighthouse keeper on Janus Island.
On a visit back to the main shore he meets and falls in love with Isobel.
Taking on another term of lighthouse duties they live on Janus Island.
After 2 miscarriages and a stillborn Isobel is in the depths of what we now know as PND.
One day a dinghy washes up onshore. Inside a dead man and a baby.
This book is full of emotions. As you watch the two words and two families collide over a child.
It's about love, forgiveness and will make you question rights and wrongs.
Ps.
I bought this book before I saw the movie, but alas I watched the movie before reading the book. I watched the movie ages ago so there were details I couldn't remember. I rate the book higher than the movie but I also think I need to rewatch it.
Moderate: Child death and Mental illness
Minor: Miscarriage
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