elaoise_benson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
helena1357's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ellarhadfield's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
joannefl97's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dophincat24's review
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
fateleanor's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
The story was ok but it a little too ‘twee’ for my liking
lelly's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Disappointed in this one, started off OK but didn't develop. Just pretty boring daily lives (and even more boring relationships), of middle class people I didn't like very much. Dull.
mazza57's review
2.0
I receivedan ARC of this book vianetgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read one other book by this author, although it was non-fiction there are some similarities in that writing and reading and literary quotes feature in both.
This is a nice book in the way thay nice can mean ordinary or uneventful. It has a cast of married couples all living in the same slightly upmarket suburban area outside London. They bond over children and the everyday lifestyle issues. As the title suggests the plot really has little influence on theit normality and everyone is still alive at the end.
For me it is too tame, arguments between husbands and wives about who does the lion's share of the work; suspiscions about affairs and affairs themselves; worries about children and whether theirs are fulfilling all expectations. The crux of the novel centres around an accident which doesnt occur until 75% through and is all but over and done with in the space of a few pages although it does make everyone reassess what they want.
A quote from the book seems to me to perfectly describe the book " I started writing about Sarah's dishwasher and Lucy's au pair and then I got a bit fond of them all. I didnt want to make bad things happen to them." I think this author spent so long describing the lives of her characters that she couldn't put any jeopardy into their lives.
It did not hold my attention and has taken 3 days to get through what is essentially chick lit. I decent enough distraction for on the beach but lacking depth and narrative drive. I find it difficult to rate these sort of books would probably not rate as high as 2 or as low as 1 star but will err on generosity on this occasion
This is a nice book in the way thay nice can mean ordinary or uneventful. It has a cast of married couples all living in the same slightly upmarket suburban area outside London. They bond over children and the everyday lifestyle issues. As the title suggests the plot really has little influence on theit normality and everyone is still alive at the end.
For me it is too tame, arguments between husbands and wives about who does the lion's share of the work; suspiscions about affairs and affairs themselves; worries about children and whether theirs are fulfilling all expectations. The crux of the novel centres around an accident which doesnt occur until 75% through and is all but over and done with in the space of a few pages although it does make everyone reassess what they want.
A quote from the book seems to me to perfectly describe the book " I started writing about Sarah's dishwasher and Lucy's au pair and then I got a bit fond of them all. I didnt want to make bad things happen to them." I think this author spent so long describing the lives of her characters that she couldn't put any jeopardy into their lives.
It did not hold my attention and has taken 3 days to get through what is essentially chick lit. I decent enough distraction for on the beach but lacking depth and narrative drive. I find it difficult to rate these sort of books would probably not rate as high as 2 or as low as 1 star but will err on generosity on this occasion