lola425's review against another edition
3.0
I love Wolitzer's writing, but this left me flat. Felt like it really fizzled at the end.
skepticalmoose's review against another edition
4.0
I read a lot of really terrible books immediately before reading this, so I'm not entirely sure if this is really a four star book or if it's just a reaction to the shit that came before.
abookolive's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This was a quick, summery read about the sudden death of a 30-year-old woman vacationing with friends at the house they rent each summer. Her overbearing mother takes her daughter's death extremely hard (as you would expect) and so she fills her daughter's spot in the summer house as everyone tries to cope with the loss and secrets are revealed.
Meg Wolitzer's writing muscle was clearly getting stronger in this 1999 release, her fifth novel. Some elements of the plot needed fleshing out and I remain unconvinced that Shawn needed to be a character, but fans of Wolitzer's later novels will likely find this one satisfying (as I did).
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Meg Wolitzer's writing muscle was clearly getting stronger in this 1999 release, her fifth novel. Some elements of the plot needed fleshing out and I remain unconvinced that Shawn needed to be a character, but fans of Wolitzer's later novels will likely find this one satisfying (as I did).
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
bookcrazylady45's review against another edition
3.0
Aftermath of the death of a central figure. Gripping and interesting look at real life? from outside my own experience.
btothebooks's review against another edition
2.0
Not sure I would read it again. An interesting read, but not something on my "have to recommend" list.
I didn't like how Maddy just seemed to forgive Peter for his cheating, both with Sara and Natalie. I can understand if Wolitzer had followed their stories into the fall and there she forgave Peter, but within days, it just doesn't seem enough for me.
I did like that she kept the story limited to the summer house and didn't follow their stories because it was a turning point for them and their lives wouldn't follow the same tight-knit path after that summer, you could tell.
I didn't like how Maddy just seemed to forgive Peter for his cheating, both with Sara and Natalie. I can understand if Wolitzer had followed their stories into the fall and there she forgave Peter, but within days, it just doesn't seem enough for me.
I did like that she kept the story limited to the summer house and didn't follow their stories because it was a turning point for them and their lives wouldn't follow the same tight-knit path after that summer, you could tell.
theresidentbookworm's review
2.0
Yet another ponderous adult novel. I'm starting to believe that the art of writing adult novels is dead. I've yet to read a truly good one from the last two decades. Same cliche "What am I going to do with my life? Where am I going?" questions asked.
The only thing that earned this book a second star was that fact that I saw a lot of my mom and me in Sara and her mother. My mom is my best friend, and in a way I am her best friend. If I died, my mom would be completely shattered. If she died, I might just stop bleeding. Like Sara, I love my mother but sometimes want to pull away from her because I'm a teenager and really stupid sometimes.
I don't recommend!
The only thing that earned this book a second star was that fact that I saw a lot of my mom and me in Sara and her mother. My mom is my best friend, and in a way I am her best friend. If I died, my mom would be completely shattered. If she died, I might just stop bleeding. Like Sara, I love my mother but sometimes want to pull away from her because I'm a teenager and really stupid sometimes.
I don't recommend!
More...