Reviews

Every woman in this book is just unable to resist good looking men and too stupid to notice anything beyond their looks. Every relationship has a 10 year age gap, including between a 15 year old boy and his 25 year old nanny. The book was long and could have been shorter as it repeated itself several times and gave the same events from different character's viewpoints. We had every detail of character's sex life detailed, but notably not the gay couple. The character of Ramon is irredeemable and never does anything to try and make up for abandoning his children and he just gets forgiven. The story implies that he was in the right because Helena's love was suffocating but doesn't seem to take into account that Helena was young and living across the world from her family being a single mother. It seems to imply everyone should just bend to Ramon's whims and that's how you love properly. The character of Sam is creepy. The book is also casually fatphobic several times. However, I did like the representation of the abusive relationship and it did make me want to go to Chile and to Cornwall.

Content Warnings

saarahn's review against another edition

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5.0

When I received this book, from my sister, it was in quite a state. Though, luckily, the pages were intact. Perhaps, because of the sentimentality behind this one novel, as well as within its pages, it took me so long to read it.

I must say I definitely enjoyed it, I'm actually wishing I was a part of the eccentric Appleby family and a close friend of Nuno's. I don't believe I have read a book quite like this one before, I definitely liked the way that the reader could gain a comprehensive picture, could know exactly what was going on from the eyes of each character.

I would appreciate an opportunity to read more of Santa Montefiore's work. This, I must admit, was undoubtedly my favourite read of 2015.

remisity's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

folded_between_pages_of_books's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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