alannaoftrebond's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
the_red_one's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
horsie9000's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
cinderellasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
There is a lot more to the story than just a love triangle between a doctor, his teenage patient, and his wife. It’s almost a reflection of a man who was once someone with all the energy and complexities that make us who we are and what we choose to do, and how all of that can change but what we retain as the most important, with love (in this case two lovers) being one of them and the most crucial, is what we always carry with us.
gemma7's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't put this book down.
At first I fell for Ed's charm, a handsome, intelligent doctor. How easy it would be for 16 year old patient Penelope to do the same. She doesn't see what Laura sees. The coming home late every night, the prostitutes, the lack of time and attention he puts into his marriage & wife.
The book takes a turn I wasn't expecting. These characters I had grown to dislike I now pitied. Yet I couldn't stop reading. I was invested in their story.
And damn, ending the book like that. I had to read the last chapter twice to make sure what I was reading was true.
This book won't leave my thoughts for a while.
At first I fell for Ed's charm, a handsome, intelligent doctor. How easy it would be for 16 year old patient Penelope to do the same. She doesn't see what Laura sees. The coming home late every night, the prostitutes, the lack of time and attention he puts into his marriage & wife.
The book takes a turn I wasn't expecting. These characters I had grown to dislike I now pitied. Yet I couldn't stop reading. I was invested in their story.
And damn, ending the book like that. I had to read the last chapter twice to make sure what I was reading was true.
This book won't leave my thoughts for a while.
minizzip's review against another edition
4.0
This book...hurt. I was confused, and heartbroken, and angry the whole time, and yet I loved the characters. I also loved reading about Helena, MT because it was so easy to place characters in a town I know so well.
chaoticmissadventures's review against another edition
3.0
This is a tragic story. I am not sure if I am supposed to like any of these characters but I don't. I can feel some sympathy for each of them in the end, but through out I just kept wondering why I was reading and what I was getting out of the story.
Reeves has a really intense fascination with drinking that I don't understand. If you are trying not to drink, this is probably not the best book for you. Everyone is drinking copious amounts of alcohol for no particular reason, it was so central to the story, I thought for sure there was foreshadowing that never played it's way through.
The story is well told, and gives a lot to think about, might be good for a book club read. But for a dark winter read it was just a bit much.
Reeves has a really intense fascination with drinking that I don't understand. If you are trying not to drink, this is probably not the best book for you. Everyone is drinking copious amounts of alcohol for no particular reason, it was so central to the story, I thought for sure there was foreshadowing that never played it's way through.
The story is well told, and gives a lot to think about, might be good for a book club read. But for a dark winter read it was just a bit much.
arkells's review
2.0
A white man savior complex + stereotypes passed off as characters + a poorly executed plot = one big disappointment of a novel