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zutsie's review against another edition
3.0
You know, I really have a like/hate relationship with these books. They are by no means bad books, not at all, but I find them to be wildly inconsistent and that they never really deliver the goods. Ever. Now, let's move on.
The Summer Children naturally features all these terribly broken FBI agents once again. You don't dislike them, but you have to wonder how they are all cleared for duty, what with their various issues, because their issues are not necessarily ones they have successfully dealt with, as the fear is constantly with them. Anyway. We also, naturally, have Priya, Bliss, and Inara rejoin in here, and it is always nice to read about them.
This book focuses on Mercedes and all the crap she has been through, and I must say this book has been my least favourite read of the lot so far. I don't know why. I read it and I was interested, but I always feel that while Hutchison deals with dark topics, they don't have a true feeling of dread. It is also not helped along when you read about all this awful stuff going down, and these agents revert to children, all having huge sleepovers and falling apart at the seams.
I don't think these are books I will ever go back to reread, but if Hutchison does any more I will likely read them because they aren't difficult reads. Yes, they deal with some heavy issues, but as I said, it feels more like they are touched upon than actually explored really in depth. If you have read the books, you will know what I mean. I mean we explore nasty crimes and get in depth looks at different characters in each of the books, but it feels superficial when all is said and done. Okay, I am going to stop now. I don't really have anything other to say than it was okay.
The Summer Children naturally features all these terribly broken FBI agents once again. You don't dislike them, but you have to wonder how they are all cleared for duty, what with their various issues, because their issues are not necessarily ones they have successfully dealt with, as the fear is constantly with them. Anyway. We also, naturally, have Priya, Bliss, and Inara rejoin in here, and it is always nice to read about them.
This book focuses on Mercedes and all the crap she has been through, and I must say this book has been my least favourite read of the lot so far. I don't know why. I read it and I was interested, but I always feel that while Hutchison deals with dark topics, they don't have a true feeling of dread. It is also not helped along when you read about all this awful stuff going down, and these agents revert to children, all having huge sleepovers and falling apart at the seams.
I don't think these are books I will ever go back to reread, but if Hutchison does any more I will likely read them because they aren't difficult reads. Yes, they deal with some heavy issues, but as I said, it feels more like they are touched upon than actually explored really in depth. If you have read the books, you will know what I mean. I mean we explore nasty crimes and get in depth looks at different characters in each of the books, but it feels superficial when all is said and done. Okay, I am going to stop now. I don't really have anything other to say than it was okay.
ani_kol's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kaitlynn0912's review against another edition
dark
tense
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
laykinmb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
konvineo's review against another edition
4.0
There is something about the way Dot Hutchison writes that just captures my attention. I know I also mentioned this in my reviews of both The Butterfly Garden and The Roses of May, but Hutchison writes about trauma in a way that is respectful, yet honest. And I respect that so much! The books focus on horrific crimes, and I've seen authors and tv shows make a total mess of telling the stories about these crimes. In these books it's not glorified, or romanticised. We don't get these miracle stories of survivers who get home, and they live happily ever after. Recovery is messy, that's the way it is. Sometimes recovery is not possible, unfortunately! And Hutchison is honest about this. We get insight into the lives of the girls from the first book, and it's not smooth sailing.
On a less dark note, I also highly enjoyed the found family aspect of the book. Mercedes, Eddison, Vic and Sterling are absolutely precious. Throw in Priya, Inara and Victoria-Bliss and you're left with teeth rotting out of your skull, it's so disgunstingly cute!
The only "problem" that I have with the book, is the same as I had with the previous one. It's not as creepy a read as the first one, The Butterfly Garden. But it's not that big of a deal, I think. It's still a really great book, and luckily there's going to be another one! So I'm going to get my grubby little fingers one that as soon as possible!
On a less dark note, I also highly enjoyed the found family aspect of the book. Mercedes, Eddison, Vic and Sterling are absolutely precious. Throw in Priya, Inara and Victoria-Bliss and you're left with teeth rotting out of your skull, it's so disgunstingly cute!
The only "problem" that I have with the book, is the same as I had with the previous one. It's not as creepy a read as the first one, The Butterfly Garden. But it's not that big of a deal, I think. It's still a really great book, and luckily there's going to be another one! So I'm going to get my grubby little fingers one that as soon as possible!
nixieee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cs4_0reads's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0