ewickline's review
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
campbelltoner's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
webberinr's review
hopeful
relaxing
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death and Drug use
sunnys_library's review
3.5
This was a great debut! This is piece of life, family reunited after years of not seeing each other, and a book about grief and guilt.
Some reviews say that this book was boring. I found this quite good, it talks about heavy subjects, family dynamics and grief and guilt. Yes, some of the characters were kind of dumb but I couldn't put the book down! I didn't find it boring, I found it warming. The three siblings coming back together after a lot of trauma.
The end is a happy ending and it felt like a great cozy read. Noncrazy twists or dramatic ending, which was great. Predicatble but happy and cozy.
Why did Jake go missing?? Like... why not contact your siblings let them know you need some time to process everything. If he wasn't mad about the past why hide away? From his collegues too. Didn't seem too logical.
Some reviews say that this book was boring. I found this quite good, it talks about heavy subjects, family dynamics and grief and guilt. Yes, some of the characters were kind of dumb but I couldn't put the book down! I didn't find it boring, I found it warming. The three siblings coming back together after a lot of trauma.
The end is a happy ending and it felt like a great cozy read. Noncrazy twists or dramatic ending, which was great. Predicatble but happy and cozy.
Spoiler
Why did Jake go missing?? Like... why not contact your siblings let them know you need some time to process everything. If he wasn't mad about the past why hide away? From his collegues too. Didn't seem too logical.
cloudyqueer's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I marked the book solely as funny because it's hilariously bad and boring. I will make a note to not seek out any of this author's other works because I can't imagine putting myself through this again.
The main character is like a wet paper bag. She has no real personality and is written as such. She doesn't think critically, lacks capacity to think about others, and is just a drag. I take it back, she has a bit of personality - she's incredibly horny about one man that it makes her entirely stupid. Perhaps she was smarter before the book starts. I have my doubts
The big reveal that the reason the police arrested her siblings is because they bought heroin and a friend of theirs (upon hearing the police were coming) decided to shoot up a full needle before being declared dead on the scene. It's not only completely unrealistic, but absolutely hilarious to think about. Also, apparently her older sister gets mean when she gets high on weed (you know, the drug known for mellowing people out and making them hungry), which is also hilarious to think about and just shows the author's inexperience with drugs. Next time I go to the dispensary, I'll say, "Hello, I would like one mean weed, please."
The voice actress that read for the audiobook has exactly 3 male voices - a kid, a guy with an accent, and all other men. It's disappointing and makes it hard totrack which man is speaking.
The antagonists are caricatures of actual people. The inattentive finance boyfriend that completely ignores every word she says (and keeps hilariously texting her that they're not on a break), and a controlling, abusive man that doesn't have any redeemable qualities and doesn't try to hide his abuse.
The main character is like a wet paper bag. She has no real personality and is written as such. She doesn't think critically, lacks capacity to think about others, and is just a drag. I take it back, she has a bit of personality - she's incredibly horny about one man that it makes her entirely stupid. Perhaps she was smarter before the book starts. I have my doubts
The big reveal that the reason the police arrested her siblings is because they bought heroin and a friend of theirs (upon hearing the police were coming) decided to shoot up a full needle before being declared dead on the scene. It's not only completely unrealistic, but absolutely hilarious to think about. Also, apparently her older sister gets mean when she gets high on weed (you know, the drug known for mellowing people out and making them hungry), which is also hilarious to think about and just shows the author's inexperience with drugs. Next time I go to the dispensary, I'll say, "Hello, I would like one mean weed, please."
The voice actress that read for the audiobook has exactly 3 male voices - a kid, a guy with an accent, and all other men. It's disappointing and makes it hard totrack which man is speaking.
The antagonists are caricatures of actual people. The inattentive finance boyfriend that completely ignores every word she says (and keeps hilariously texting her that they're not on a break), and a controlling, abusive man that doesn't have any redeemable qualities and doesn't try to hide his abuse.
menderbender's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
rachelmay1's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the book. It wasn’t a crazy amazing read, but I enjoyed it overall. I really liked some of the lessons of the book regarding family. I won’t say more to not give it away, but I think for anyone who has family drama (isn’t that everyone?) where someone, has been hurt by someone else…there’s a lesson in this book.
The characters are all flawed and I didn’t love any of them, which was why it was 3 stars to me. They were all eh. Which had its own purpose and was important in the lessons, but still, made it harder for me to read.
Still glad I read it.
The characters are all flawed and I didn’t love any of them, which was why it was 3 stars to me. They were all eh. Which had its own purpose and was important in the lessons, but still, made it harder for me to read.
Still glad I read it.
macneill___rae's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book as part of the Big Library Read project where people all over the world read the same book at the same time. This library read ran from July 13th to July 27th. Was super neat to be part of this.
I found this book to be a nice, easy read. There were some heavy subjects at times. However, I didn't find the story itself to be crazy heavy. The story wasn't crazy unique or memorable, in my opinion, but I did very much enjoy it.
I'd give it a 3.5 or 4. Not a bad debut.
I found this book to be a nice, easy read. There were some heavy subjects at times. However, I didn't find the story itself to be crazy heavy. The story wasn't crazy unique or memorable, in my opinion, but I did very much enjoy it.
I'd give it a 3.5 or 4. Not a bad debut.