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rachresilience's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, Grief, and Car accident
stiofanob's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
amelia555's review against another edition
3.0
This book has exhausted me. I think I'd like it more if it was shorter.
What other books this one reminds me of: Cala by Colin Walsh (several school friends reunite as a body of someone they knew is discovered, and we get a lot of flashbacks about how they got where they are now) and... Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, I guess? Kind of? I enjoyed both of these more than Three.
So we have 3 people who share this "more than friends, less than lovers" connection. We get to see them as kids for a long time, and then everything changes for them as they all turned 18 due to life events, and we get to plough through their adult lives as well. This book has: lots of melodrama, unhealthy romantic obsessions (more than one), serendipity when it's convenient to the plot, people failing to communicate, plots twists (not all of them were needed, I thought). On a more serious note, also psychological abuse and a strong queer theme.
I don't dislike this book by any means. I finished it, after all. And for the first, say, 30% of it I was very involved and interested. I enjoy stories about childhood friends reuniting and digging up their trauma. But it became apparent at one point we're here for a long time, not a good time, and characters stopped being interesting. Nina is here to be a victim, Etienne is here to be arrogant. Adrien is the most compelling one, and maybe I'd have liked the book more if it was just about the perspective of this character, but alas. Things happen to them more so than they make things happen. I like character'driven books, but here the characters started to bore me at some point.
I think this book is good at showcasing how we don't know what's really happening in the lives of people we care about the most. Each character is living with a big secret they don't share with the others (or don't share the depth to which they're bothered by this secret), even though they declared undying love for the others. Childhood friendships and adult friendships are different. Both can be difficult, but the adult one certainly takes more effort and, often, a strong willingness to forgive.
This is a good recurring theme. And the fact that the book is so long makes us know the characters better. But I think its length is also its downfall for me because the longer the book continues, the more unnecessary drama is thrown into the plot that's dramatic enough, and the more tiresome the reading process becomes. I didn't even really care about the ending because by that time I got tired and I realized everything would turn out exactly the way our heroes needed (I was right).
I'm not opposed to reading more books by the author, but this one I wouldn't recommend to a friend. What I'll say, though, is that it's probably a good book to take with you on vacation. It will last the whole vacation and you'll be engrossed in it while laying on the beach.
What other books this one reminds me of: Cala by Colin Walsh (several school friends reunite as a body of someone they knew is discovered, and we get a lot of flashbacks about how they got where they are now) and... Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, I guess? Kind of? I enjoyed both of these more than Three.
So we have 3 people who share this "more than friends, less than lovers" connection. We get to see them as kids for a long time, and then everything changes for them as they all turned 18 due to life events, and we get to plough through their adult lives as well. This book has: lots of melodrama, unhealthy romantic obsessions (more than one), serendipity when it's convenient to the plot, people failing to communicate, plots twists (not all of them were needed, I thought). On a more serious note, also psychological abuse and a strong queer theme.
I don't dislike this book by any means. I finished it, after all. And for the first, say, 30% of it I was very involved and interested. I enjoy stories about childhood friends reuniting and digging up their trauma. But it became apparent at one point we're here for a long time, not a good time, and characters stopped being interesting. Nina is here to be a victim, Etienne is here to be arrogant. Adrien is the most compelling one, and maybe I'd have liked the book more if it was just about the perspective of this character, but alas. Things happen to them more so than they make things happen. I like character'driven books, but here the characters started to bore me at some point.
I think this book is good at showcasing how we don't know what's really happening in the lives of people we care about the most. Each character is living with a big secret they don't share with the others (or don't share the depth to which they're bothered by this secret), even though they declared undying love for the others. Childhood friendships and adult friendships are different. Both can be difficult, but the adult one certainly takes more effort and, often, a strong willingness to forgive.
This is a good recurring theme. And the fact that the book is so long makes us know the characters better. But I think its length is also its downfall for me because the longer the book continues, the more unnecessary drama is thrown into the plot that's dramatic enough, and the more tiresome the reading process becomes. I didn't even really care about the ending because by that time I got tired and I realized everything would turn out exactly the way our heroes needed (I was right).
I'm not opposed to reading more books by the author, but this one I wouldn't recommend to a friend. What I'll say, though, is that it's probably a good book to take with you on vacation. It will last the whole vacation and you'll be engrossed in it while laying on the beach.
jumuniz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
honeybea13's review against another edition
4.0
A book about friendship throughout the years, did not expect that many plots throughout the story. Each of the three went through tremendous turmoil but ultimately were led back to each other.
julijul's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maisie_wilcox's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
byrsb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
caseybbz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0