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aoifes_books's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I did prefer this Sophie Kinsella book more than My not so Perfect Life, those being the only two I've read from her. The story follow Effie, a mid-late 20s woman coming to terms with her parents divorce. The opening chapter introduces the characters, and brings the divorce into the picture right away. Jump to 18 months later, her dad has a new girlfriend and is selling the house Effie grew up in and moving to Portugal with the new woman, Krista. Before they sell, the new couple is hosting a "house cooling" party - but Effie wasn't invited. Determined to get back her old stuff, but not wanting to be seen, she starts out on a crazy stunt to get in and get out before being seen.
Effie, Bean and Gus are three siblings raised by their dad and stepmother, Mimi. Mimi is the only mother Effie knows, with her bio-mam having left before she really had any memories of her. Effie is the youngest, and when the divorce is announced she takes it the hardest. She doesn't take to Krista, and is more vocal about being against the changes being made to her childhood home. Krista doesn't enjoy this and at some point throws a drink over Effie - though this doesn't happen in the book it's referenced a lot.
The relationship between the characters is the main focus of the story, with the breakdown of communication being forefront for everyone. There is elements of reality here, with older siblings thinking they're being a good sister by not letting their adult, younger sister know anything about the not-so-nice end of things. There is growth throughout the story, but because it all takes place really over 2 days, it all feels a little rushed (and predictable).
I did enjoy how Effie matured a little by the end of the book, coming to terms with all the changes and moving on. The romance between her and Joe was a bit all over the place but the rekindling of an old teenage romance did make it a little easier to handle.
Effie, Bean and Gus are three siblings raised by their dad and stepmother, Mimi. Mimi is the only mother Effie knows, with her bio-mam having left before she really had any memories of her. Effie is the youngest, and when the divorce is announced she takes it the hardest. She doesn't take to Krista, and is more vocal about being against the changes being made to her childhood home. Krista doesn't enjoy this and at some point throws a drink over Effie - though this doesn't happen in the book it's referenced a lot.
The relationship between the characters is the main focus of the story, with the breakdown of communication being forefront for everyone. There is elements of reality here, with older siblings thinking they're being a good sister by not letting their adult, younger sister know anything about the not-so-nice end of things. There is growth throughout the story, but because it all takes place really over 2 days, it all feels a little rushed (and predictable).
I did enjoy how Effie matured a little by the end of the book, coming to terms with all the changes and moving on. The romance between her and Joe was a bit all over the place but the rekindling of an old teenage romance did make it a little easier to handle.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
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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