The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
sharon_reads's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank you to Candlewick Press and Walkerbooks for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.Â
This novel attempts to give insight to the attitudes towards unmarried mothers in the early 1900’s. After Margot’s fiancé leaves for the war, she discovered she is pregnant, and receives word no loved one wants to get - missing in action. As much as I want to praise this novel for tackling this topic, I think there multiple errors with attempt that was only surface level. We only get to see Margot’s point of view on this issue and her thoughts around the topic, and we don’t get to see the village or anyone else for that manner reflect their opinion on the matter.Â
Margot is childish and I honestly didn’t sympathize with her in the slightest. The entire 224 pages, we see her go back and fourth about her decision and wether she made the right decision. Now I know this would be an incredibly hard decision to deal with, but the writing style didn’t help me sympathize with Margot. It is talked about how she feels like she’s trapped between adulthood and childhood because of this, and she comes off more childish and annoying out of anything. She did make mature decisions, but as pointed out by her sister at one point, she doesn’t consider the fact that her second guessing this decision could impact and cause grief for other parties.Â
My biggest issue with this novel and why I didn’t enjoy nor really care for our main character was because the writing style was written like journal entries. Now it wasn’t actually, but the way in which it was written is like we are getting the story from a third party, retelling is this information without diving deeper into anything. It’s very surface level and we never go beyond that. Timelines get confusing when we believe we are reading about the present time, which doesn’t make, then there’s this small clue, that Margot is remembering something from the past. It’s not indicated and was very frustrating. This was also a tell over show type story. Like mentioned, we are being told this story. We aren’t living it which is it’s greatest downfall. I think the topics and themes would have hit harder if I could connect to our main character and really feel like I was living this life beside her.Â
Another aspect I didn’t really care for and honestly made Margot seem like a horrible mother was her perception of herself. This novel opens with us being introduced to Margot as someone whole cares a lot about her looks, being put together, and what other people think of her. As we progress through the novel, this ideal is what untimely guides her to making her decision. She doesn’t want everyone to think poorly of her, and she doesn’t want to loose friendships. But in doing so, she lost friendships anyway. The comparison to fancy her and poor her just wasn’t something I vibed with and it came off as this was the only thing she cared about and was trying to run away from.Â
I think this novel had an excellent idea of showing how the 1920’s weren’t something glamours and that their was a lot of hardship and sorrow. But, the execution killed this, and honestly didn’t make it as impactful as it could have been. Â
This novel attempts to give insight to the attitudes towards unmarried mothers in the early 1900’s. After Margot’s fiancé leaves for the war, she discovered she is pregnant, and receives word no loved one wants to get - missing in action. As much as I want to praise this novel for tackling this topic, I think there multiple errors with attempt that was only surface level. We only get to see Margot’s point of view on this issue and her thoughts around the topic, and we don’t get to see the village or anyone else for that manner reflect their opinion on the matter.Â
Margot is childish and I honestly didn’t sympathize with her in the slightest. The entire 224 pages, we see her go back and fourth about her decision and wether she made the right decision. Now I know this would be an incredibly hard decision to deal with, but the writing style didn’t help me sympathize with Margot. It is talked about how she feels like she’s trapped between adulthood and childhood because of this, and she comes off more childish and annoying out of anything. She did make mature decisions, but as pointed out by her sister at one point, she doesn’t consider the fact that her second guessing this decision could impact and cause grief for other parties.Â
My biggest issue with this novel and why I didn’t enjoy nor really care for our main character was because the writing style was written like journal entries. Now it wasn’t actually, but the way in which it was written is like we are getting the story from a third party, retelling is this information without diving deeper into anything. It’s very surface level and we never go beyond that. Timelines get confusing when we believe we are reading about the present time, which doesn’t make, then there’s this small clue, that Margot is remembering something from the past. It’s not indicated and was very frustrating. This was also a tell over show type story. Like mentioned, we are being told this story. We aren’t living it which is it’s greatest downfall. I think the topics and themes would have hit harder if I could connect to our main character and really feel like I was living this life beside her.Â
Another aspect I didn’t really care for and honestly made Margot seem like a horrible mother was her perception of herself. This novel opens with us being introduced to Margot as someone whole cares a lot about her looks, being put together, and what other people think of her. As we progress through the novel, this ideal is what untimely guides her to making her decision. She doesn’t want everyone to think poorly of her, and she doesn’t want to loose friendships. But in doing so, she lost friendships anyway. The comparison to fancy her and poor her just wasn’t something I vibed with and it came off as this was the only thing she cared about and was trying to run away from.Â
I think this novel had an excellent idea of showing how the 1920’s weren’t something glamours and that their was a lot of hardship and sorrow. But, the execution killed this, and honestly didn’t make it as impactful as it could have been. Â
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy and Child death
my_plant_library's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: War
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