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sophiepooper's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Beautifully written
cakeandbooks1970's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
keepreadingbooks's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.75
Lively is such an expert in psychological studies. As someone who is highly susceptible to subtle details that signal mood changes and things being said between the lines, I adore reading about characters who are the same way. In this one, mother and grandmother Pauline gradually comes to understand what is happening in her daughter Teresa’s marriage to her older husband Maurice through exactly such subtle details of their various interactions with both each other and an editor couple who comes to visit several times during a particularly hot summer. That, as much as the increasingly oppressive weather hurtling towards a late-summer climax, creates a palpable tension which, to me, is as good as any action-filled plot. I raced through this one and was happy to finally read more fiction by Lively.
Personally, though, I would have preferred a less sensationalist ending. It seemed like a bit of a genre shift and an easy ‘out’. Considering the time it was published, however, I’m inclined to let it off the hook and let my wish for a strong feminist taking-charge-of-my-own-life ending lie.
martareader's review
5.0
mind blowing.
full review to come in my channel
review https://youtu.be/sIfi1ez3bLI
full review to come in my channel
review https://youtu.be/sIfi1ez3bLI
didi_07's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
thursday_nxt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
macbeckyton's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
pllylzbth's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death
Minor: Mental illness and Suicide