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blaineduncan's review against another edition
4.0
This one seems to start clunky and end clunky, with some pretty unlikeable characters in between. But it all seemed to fit. It earned the fourth star from me because of the final act and a few predictable, understandable, a little forced, but still emotional revelations from the narrator.
alisonhori's review against another edition
3.0
This one is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. Parts of it were really touching and parts very funny but overall, it kind of missed for me. I found the middle really dragged and while it was a pretty fast read, I didn't pick it up for quite a stretch in the middle. None of the characters really struck a cord for me at all which I think was the main problem for me though certainly many of the issues they were grappling with did. I think if a few more of the issues has been ones I related to, I would have liked this book better than I did. Still the quirkiness of the characters and the strength of the familial connections even with a disfunctional family were appealing.
jlaz's review against another edition
4.0
*Received from NetGalley*
Reunion: A Novel spans the four days after the death of the father of the main character (Kate). This story revolves around Kate and her family, including several step-mothers and step-siblings, as they deal with the loss of their father.
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I originally thought based on the summary. The complex characters and multiple story lines make this book intriguing. Even though you could deem Kate as being unlikable, as the reader you feel for this character. This book would have gotten five stars, but the ending was lacking in my opinion. It left several loose ends (possibly a sequel?). If there is no sequel planned this book would have benefited from an epilogue.
All in all, a good book that I would recommend.
Reunion: A Novel spans the four days after the death of the father of the main character (Kate). This story revolves around Kate and her family, including several step-mothers and step-siblings, as they deal with the loss of their father.
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I originally thought based on the summary. The complex characters and multiple story lines make this book intriguing. Even though you could deem Kate as being unlikable, as the reader you feel for this character. This book would have gotten five stars, but the ending was lacking in my opinion. It left several loose ends (possibly a sequel?). If there is no sequel planned this book would have benefited from an epilogue.
All in all, a good book that I would recommend.
bookwormy614's review against another edition
5.0
I've only ever given stars on here after reading a book. I never write reviews. Mostly because I'm terrible at pouring out my views and opinions in writing but here goes ...
I don't know what else to say other than I loved this book. I rarely LOVE a book. My opinions range from "like" to "it was okay." But I loved this one. Probably because it rang so true to my own life (minus death of a parent by suicide). But the sibling relationships and the emotions surrounding the death of a parent, MAN! I could identify with it! It's different for every family but THIS was MY family.
The characters are well written and rich in personality. Even all of the many step children. I felt like I'd known each of them at some point in my life. And perhaps I have in some way or other. And this sounds cliche, but Kate and I are one in the same. From the lack of money management, stagnant career, pressure for kids from the spouse, right down to overthinking a situation. Kate is my adult literary spirit character. (I'm weird like that).
Anywho, in summary, death, siblings, infidelity, extended family, growing up, regret, wishing for what was, these things are what Reunion is all about.
I don't know what else to say other than I loved this book. I rarely LOVE a book. My opinions range from "like" to "it was okay." But I loved this one. Probably because it rang so true to my own life (minus death of a parent by suicide). But the sibling relationships and the emotions surrounding the death of a parent, MAN! I could identify with it! It's different for every family but THIS was MY family.
The characters are well written and rich in personality. Even all of the many step children. I felt like I'd known each of them at some point in my life. And perhaps I have in some way or other. And this sounds cliche, but Kate and I are one in the same. From the lack of money management, stagnant career, pressure for kids from the spouse, right down to overthinking a situation. Kate is my adult literary spirit character. (I'm weird like that).
Anywho, in summary, death, siblings, infidelity, extended family, growing up, regret, wishing for what was, these things are what Reunion is all about.
doritobabe's review against another edition
4.0
Much like "This is where I leave you" although much less funny. This book is very sad and I struggled reading it because of that, which never happens.
I'm glad I finished it, I'm happy with the ending,the characters, the prose. 3.5/5 though, not entirely 4 stars but close!
I'm glad I finished it, I'm happy with the ending,the characters, the prose. 3.5/5 though, not entirely 4 stars but close!
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. The main character, Kate, is having marriage problems and finds out that her estranged father died. Kate is a mess and a lot of the time it was hard for me to sympathize or to relate to her. That didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. Sometimes it's refreshing to read fiction where you're not backing the decisions and rationale of the main character.
alissacath's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to rate some parts of this book higher but overall, I had to settle on 3. A family is reunited by the death of the patriarch. An unconventional family with 1 dead wife, 3 ex wives, 1 estranged wife, and a multitude of children. Told from the point of view of a daughter from the first marriage, it reminds you what it's like to be in a same room with your siblings as an adult. How everything and nothing has changed from when you were kids.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
Hannah Pittard’s REUNION is an emotional and moving novel; with brutal honesty and insights into family dysfunction—with all the grief and pain, mixed with humor and wit.
Kate is a struggling screenwriter and pretty much out of work for the summer. She happens to be at the airport, when receiving a call from her brother that their father has committed suicide and she needs to come home to Atlanta for the funeral. This news has left her pretty much emotionless and numb.
You see, her family is not a traditional one. In fact, her father has been married five times. (her mom is deceased and the original family consists of Kate, Elliott, and Nell). However, there are so many ex-wives of all ages, from young to old, and half siblings she has not met; and her father did not know the meaning of the word “faithful”.
Kate does not even want to attend the funeral in Atlanta, as how can she pretend to have loved her father. She is very close to her sister and speaks to her brother when she can. Needless to say, Kate is not a happy camper. She is jaded, untrustworthy, sarcastic, cynical, and does not have a lot going on in her own life at the moment.
Her salary level is very low and with the months she is not working, she will have to find part time work or waiting tables. She is miserable in her marriage, had an affair, has blown through all her money she has made in her career, in debt with school loans, and credit cards, and the last place she wants to be is here with a bunch of pretentious southerners. Her husband has bailed her out of her credit card debt previously, but she can no longer count on him. How will she survive? However, her family does not know her issues, nor does she know what they are going through.
What makes REUNION work is the humor mixed with tragedy, and the dynamics of siblings, as sometimes things are not as they seem. There are always expectations with families, and in reality families do not really know one another.
Kate can only think of jealousy, being the youngest of the (original family), what she missed, what she did not receive, and what everyone else received. Then of course the other families. As Kate, Elliot, and Nell each deal with their own issues, and their unresolved feelings about their father, they also must deal with Sasha and Mindy, as well as their own childhood rivalries.
As Kate learns more about her family and actually takes a step back to listen, she realizes how self-centered she has been as, as everyone views things differently. How could she view her father in one light and her little sister thinks of him as wonderful? All of them have secrets they are hiding and only when they come clean can the healing begin.
I was reminded of the novel I Love You More by Jennifer Murphy (except there were three wives planning a murder). I listened to the audiobook and Julia Whelan’s voice mirrored Kate’s personality for a heartwarming family reunion.
Even though Kate was frustrating at times, the dark humor worked, as was glued to my iPod to learn the fate of this chaotic family. Having spent my entire adult life in Atlanta, enjoyed the comical references. This was my first book by Pittard, and look forward to reading more!
Kate is a struggling screenwriter and pretty much out of work for the summer. She happens to be at the airport, when receiving a call from her brother that their father has committed suicide and she needs to come home to Atlanta for the funeral. This news has left her pretty much emotionless and numb.
You see, her family is not a traditional one. In fact, her father has been married five times. (her mom is deceased and the original family consists of Kate, Elliott, and Nell). However, there are so many ex-wives of all ages, from young to old, and half siblings she has not met; and her father did not know the meaning of the word “faithful”.
Kate does not even want to attend the funeral in Atlanta, as how can she pretend to have loved her father. She is very close to her sister and speaks to her brother when she can. Needless to say, Kate is not a happy camper. She is jaded, untrustworthy, sarcastic, cynical, and does not have a lot going on in her own life at the moment.
Her salary level is very low and with the months she is not working, she will have to find part time work or waiting tables. She is miserable in her marriage, had an affair, has blown through all her money she has made in her career, in debt with school loans, and credit cards, and the last place she wants to be is here with a bunch of pretentious southerners. Her husband has bailed her out of her credit card debt previously, but she can no longer count on him. How will she survive? However, her family does not know her issues, nor does she know what they are going through.
What makes REUNION work is the humor mixed with tragedy, and the dynamics of siblings, as sometimes things are not as they seem. There are always expectations with families, and in reality families do not really know one another.
Kate can only think of jealousy, being the youngest of the (original family), what she missed, what she did not receive, and what everyone else received. Then of course the other families. As Kate, Elliot, and Nell each deal with their own issues, and their unresolved feelings about their father, they also must deal with Sasha and Mindy, as well as their own childhood rivalries.
As Kate learns more about her family and actually takes a step back to listen, she realizes how self-centered she has been as, as everyone views things differently. How could she view her father in one light and her little sister thinks of him as wonderful? All of them have secrets they are hiding and only when they come clean can the healing begin.
I was reminded of the novel I Love You More by Jennifer Murphy (except there were three wives planning a murder). I listened to the audiobook and Julia Whelan’s voice mirrored Kate’s personality for a heartwarming family reunion.
Even though Kate was frustrating at times, the dark humor worked, as was glued to my iPod to learn the fate of this chaotic family. Having spent my entire adult life in Atlanta, enjoyed the comical references. This was my first book by Pittard, and look forward to reading more!
jbarr5's review against another edition
4.0
Reunion
Her brother Elliott has tried to contact her but being on a plane she's not able to get the call. The message left has stated her father has killed himself.
Kate's going through a divorce and she was on her way to her fathers, she's just not going to make it in time.
CO; Elliott is married with 3 girls, the oldest. CA:Mel is next and highly successful finance person and divorced for 10 years.
She is a screenwriter and her soon to be ex is a therapist. The three siblings meet in Atlanta and go about making decisions for their fathers burial and go through his 5 marriage hoarding...
Drama occurs when her agent gives her the idea of writing of her father's life for money, the wives show up with all the kids. total madness ensues.
Things for each of them does not go back to normal afterwards...wow a lot of surprises!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).