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afi_whatafireads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
"This family might be broken. It may be shattered. But it's MY broken, shattered family. And I want to be here, at the party, even if I'm invisible. This is the last hurrah, even if no one's cheering. I can't just walk away."
Personal Ratings: 3.75🌟
What . A . Ride .
This book had given me laughter, the warmth of a family and just the meaning of second chance in love. Unlike Kinsella's previous works (and I come from a good place, because she's one of my favourite authors growing up), this may not be one of her best works, nor it has that "Kinsella" feel to it as this story heavily focused more on the family's relationship. However, the dynamic balance of highlighting the issues at hand which is Adult Children of Divorce. The characters in this book may come of as annoying at first, but as we go on deeper into the root of the problem whatever she did actually made sense.
Short Summary
Effie is the youngest out of her three siblings. At 26, her parents had dropped the bomb on Christmas announcing their divorce. It became worst when her dad announced that he had a new girlfriend and Effie was convinced that she was a gold digger. A year later, her relationship still estranged with her dad, the house that she lived in all her childhood was to be sold and her dad's girlfriend arranged a big goodbye party, inviting every one, except, well, her. Effie wouldn't have gone to the party if not for her Russian Dolls that had meant the world to her that was still left at the house. As she crashed her own family' party and being discreet about it, secrets were out and she found out that there were more things that her family had hidden from her to protect her and not to mention her ex-almost-now-famous-Dr-fiancee who came as well. A story of family, love, second chances and mending what has been broken.
Personal Thoughts
I would say the first half of the book felt pretty iffy for me. I say this from a good place as I have been of Kinsella for such a long time and have read almost all of her books. The start of the book was not too good for me but I felt like, this book will make such a good romentic comedic movie that was aired out in the early 2000s. Its that kind of movie you can watch during the holidays and just be contempt about it. The first half started with Effie (as an adult) learning about her father and stepmother (who is like her own mother)'s divorce during Christmas. Honestly, I felt like Effie felt like a bit of a brat at first, as she went estranged with her dad, didn't talk to her older siblings and just refuses to do stuff.
The storyline picked up when she started to plot to crash her father's new girlfriend's party at her house to take something of hers (but does not want to be seen). And at THIS MOMENT that I KNEW, YES this is THE Sophie Kinsella's works that I know. Its funny, its witty and its filled with characters that just really GROWS on you. Throughout the book, I had fell in love with Effie despite not loving her at first. And the ROMANCE WAS JUST AFHHHHHH i wanted more :') The romance was a second chance love (that was not explained as much but it was enough, but leaves you wanting more), and Kinsella brings out two topics that I felt not a lot of chick-lits talk about, Adult Children of Divorce and going through depression.
I like how the Adult Children of Divorces was portrayed in here and it focuses more on the family aspects, on how the siblings fell apart, how the eldest sister had her unraveling, how her brother was there but not really there and how Effie as the youngest was hurt the most as her siblings kept a lot of things to protect her. Kinsella has a way to make situations like this felt so reallistic and I like how she brings out this topic. Children of divorced parents will always have a scar, whether or not they're young or older. Even in the real world, parents assumed that adult children will understand more when they divorce one another (which most of the time they do understand), but the emotional toll is still there. I liked that Kinsella took this subject and made it something that is just so personal and hits close to home.
Kinsella also talked about depression and the weights it can change on someone. Having a mid-life crisis, and just literally, was something that you can't tell everyone was something that effects you but in a way Kinsella has a way of interpreting this and make it relatable to adults that are reading this.
I would say my ratings is on the fence from 3.75 - 3.85 stars. A heartwarming read, was SUPER FUNNY at points and took my heart and just shows a broken family that is patched up again. Such a good read for anyone looking for something light! Recommended hehe.
Thank you to Times Reads for generously providing me a review copy of the book.
Disclaimers: All my reviews are my thoughts of the book and according to my personal preferences. Even though I had received a review copy, it does not affect my review and honest thoughts for the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
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