Reviews

Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan

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sillymaya's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

2.5

Uh… kinda pointless. Tries to talk about big topics like race & economic inequality but really just kind of scratches the surface & ends up doing so in an almost exploitative way. I kept thinking something big was gonna happen but it never really did. Nothing really ever happened at all.

devonsanders's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this book over a year ago. At the time I thought it was good, not great, and I’d soon forget about it. And yet, I still think about this book all the time. It was literally the reason i started writing these reviews.

Whether it be the unique yet somehow universally-experienced power dynamic displayed between the two main characters or just the skillful way Sullivan leaves readers viewing both with sympathy and disdain, this book truly never left my mind. My appreciation for this novel has increased the more time passes— so much so I’m itching to read it again.

amilabell's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

miriamberger's review

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3.0

I love this author but this book was not as good as her other books which I have loved. The characters and story fell flat for me and Elisabeth was so unlikeable. Started out great about the struggles for working women, wives, and then it just didn’t work. Barely a 3. More like 2.75. I was so looking forward to a new book by the author.

elliemcc11's review against another edition

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3.0

Thanks to Netgalley & publishers for a review copy.

Having read other books by the author, I was keen to read her next novel. Unfortunately, whilst I liked this book however I wasn't blown away by it.

The story centered around two females, both at different times in their life. Sam, a university/college student, and Elisabeth who had recently moved from Brooklyn to a small town university. Sam met Elisabeth when she went to work as a babysitter for Elisabeth's young son.

We follow their lives as they interconnect and become close friends, perhaps even crossing the boundary of employee/employer friendships. Sam has a relationship with an older ("creepy") man and Elisabeth offers advice - (I loved the fact he was British; some of the comments and descriptions made me smile - have to say I've not met a Clive who is in his early 30s but maybe I'm just not posh enough - ha ha!). Elisabeth had her son via IVF and has struggled with life in a new town, without the support network she's used to and is also experiencing her own family struggles. The story revolves around their intertwined worlds, however there is also an underlying story of corporate greed. I get that it gave a focus and explanation for certain behaviours but I'm just not sure it quite worked for me.

Overall I was engaged throughout the storyline, it was well written and the characters were well developed, however I found the ending a bit disappointing and a little sudden. Some matters were addressed in the epilogue but it left me with quite a few questions.

hannahcfarley's review against another edition

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3.0

I greatly enjoyed reading Friends and Strangers as it laid out the most ordinary of circumstances but revealed a much deeper inner-working of characters and events. There are several characters that relate to almost every kind of person I know, and I happen to be one of them. Having this relation to the main character kept me intrigued and drew me in deeper to the book. With all the other characters, I enjoyed reading about how each person has deeper struggles than what we see on the surface.
J. Courtney Sullivan does a great job of accurately writing about each character, not allowing any of them to be unrealistically "perfect" and unafflicted. She creates a realistic world that allows all kinds of people to relate to and see what others may be going through.
This book was entertaining and mature in a way that keeps the reader attentive.

jcarsrud's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed the story, but didn’t love any of the characters, so it took me for-ev-er to finish! Sam was pretty awesome and the father in law, but the rest were just so so.