novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2017; Dutton/Penguin Group
The Address is (so far) my least favourite of Fiona Davis's dual-timeline novels. I did still enjoy the book a lot, but the 1800s story wasn't a favourite. At times I did find that it dragged a bit so would lose my focus. Overall, if you like dual-timelines, well-researched novels or any of Davis's books you need to add this one to your list.
***I received a complimentary copy of this eBook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2017; Dutton/Penguin Group
The Address is (so far) my least favourite of Fiona Davis's dual-timeline novels. I did still enjoy the book a lot, but the 1800s story wasn't a favourite. At times I did find that it dragged a bit so would lose my focus. Overall, if you like dual-timelines, well-researched novels or any of Davis's books you need to add this one to your list.
***I received a complimentary copy of this eBook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
kstring's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable read. I liked the family history theme and the fact that the story was told from 2 perspectives. It made for a lot of foreshadowing. However, I hated the fact that everyone turned out to be a despicable people.
teneke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gracekolacny's review against another edition
3.0
It took far too long to finish this book. Not because it was a big book, but because it dragged!
rrickman33's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars rounded up on GoodReads
This story broke me in half ugh...
Sara Smythe has a run in with Theodore Camden at the hotel in London she works at as Head Housekeeper. He convinces her to come to NYC and work at his new apartment building The Dakota. Apartment buildings for families didn't exist really in this time so reading about this new period of time was fascinating. It's Gilded Age New York and old money is falling while new money is climbing. Suddenly Theodore is found murdered in The Dakota and who did it but of course Sara, the help, who spent a little time in an Insane Asylum.
100 years in the future we find Bailey Camden fresh out of rehap and looking for her purpose in life. She's staying at the Dakota and helping her cousin renovate the building when she finds three trunks in the basement. Theodore's, his wife Minnie's, and Sara's. Bailey dives into their family history and learns that some secrets never stay buried... while some do.
Sara was such a wonderful character to follow I just adored her spirit and perseverance. Her journey made me so angry because so many women probably lived her life 100 years ago. Women insane asylums were nooooot the answer, society!! What were y'all thinking? This book did nothing but make me want to smash the patriarchy haha oops.
Historical Fiction fans will love this book, Sara and her journey, and the dual timelines that come together in the end. I can't wait to read more from Fiona Davis now!
This story broke me in half ugh...
Sara Smythe has a run in with Theodore Camden at the hotel in London she works at as Head Housekeeper. He convinces her to come to NYC and work at his new apartment building The Dakota. Apartment buildings for families didn't exist really in this time so reading about this new period of time was fascinating. It's Gilded Age New York and old money is falling while new money is climbing. Suddenly Theodore is found murdered in The Dakota and who did it but of course Sara, the help, who spent a little time in an Insane Asylum.
100 years in the future we find Bailey Camden fresh out of rehap and looking for her purpose in life. She's staying at the Dakota and helping her cousin renovate the building when she finds three trunks in the basement. Theodore's, his wife Minnie's, and Sara's. Bailey dives into their family history and learns that some secrets never stay buried... while some do.
Sara was such a wonderful character to follow I just adored her spirit and perseverance. Her journey made me so angry because so many women probably lived her life 100 years ago. Women insane asylums were nooooot the answer, society!! What were y'all thinking? This book did nothing but make me want to smash the patriarchy haha oops.
Historical Fiction fans will love this book, Sara and her journey, and the dual timelines that come together in the end. I can't wait to read more from Fiona Davis now!
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
2.0
It seems the author has found her niche. Three novels with parallell storylines some decades apart, about women with twee names dithering about in historical New York buildings. Didn't like the first one (about the Barbizon), but since this was about the Dakota I couldn't resist. Well, turns out it's the same book with the same obnoxious characters. Both Darby (The Dollhouse) and Bailey are spoiled, ungrateful brats, and I don't mean that in a "ooh interestingly unlikeable" kind of way. Bailey is the sort of person who says "If you don't mind me saying so, you're being an asshole" which tells you everything you need to know about her. So yeah, I won't make the same mistake a third time.
msducky99's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed this book. It was a nice twist on historical fiction. The story was told in two time periods, the 1890s and the 1980s. I might lower it to 3.5 stars for the modern story as it felt a little too romance novelish but the time period was kind of fun. I did like the descriptions and history of the Dakota apartment house (a real place) and the time period in New York. The plot had some unique twists that I like too. An enjoyable read.