Reviews

The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard

kinderny's review

3.0

A fairy tale of sorts- not reality based, but somewhat engaging. The story is kind of pedestrian- advice columnist struggles with her marriage and troubled teen children, is ultimately abandoned and is diagnosed with MS. Ultimately, she finds happiness with rich doctor and learns to take one day at a time. The saving grace is the characters. The teenage son with learning disabilities is a great character as is the schmuck of an ex-husband and the gay best friend. The humor of the advice columns was a plus. Would have liked a little more humor throughout. Decent read for women that are too old for "chick lit"- but don't want something intellectual. She's no Jennifer Crusie though.

roosmarleen's review against another edition

3.0

This is a book I can legitimitely say I would never ever have picked up to read if my mum had not gifted it to me. Recommending books to her is something I love to do and she'd given me some recommendations of her own. But never before did she actually BUY me the book in question, though. This made me read the Breakdown Lane before anything else I want to read this summer.

I am very glad I read this novel, since I identified with so many of its main characters (Julie, Gabe & Caroline) - for personal reasons. Even though my family is not Julie's, there are recognisable similarities within the struggles of each family member. Let's just say some revelations in their development taught me a lot or at least confirmed a lot.

Negative sidenote: I did think it had a rather naïve and romanticised ending, which made me disappointed and pathetically hopeful in equal measure.