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sophiecollingham's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
zoer03's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely astounding. It’s breadth and depth to the characters are just beautifully poignant and tragic with a little touch of hope at the end.
For me the best character and one I love is the girl Clara and Liam, both of them are uniquely strange and yet utterly lovable lol, one of them who’s mother doesn’t care for or even understand and might not actually love and the other is just an eight year old having to deal with the consequences and aftermath of her older sister’s disappearance with near to tragic results. This utterly heartbreaking and yet hopeful and just perfectly balanced.
For me the best character and one I love is the girl Clara and Liam, both of them are uniquely strange and yet utterly lovable lol, one of them who’s mother doesn’t care for or even understand and might not actually love and the other is just an eight year old having to deal with the consequences and aftermath of her older sister’s disappearance with near to tragic results. This utterly heartbreaking and yet hopeful and just perfectly balanced.
emmagray13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
stacey_k's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
johanna_kap's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
ellakholden's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
maryc79's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED this book. Ms Lawson can tell a story and I could not stop reading this one. Her themes of love, family, and being left behind were interwoven into a great story with wonderful characters.
elharris's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
annereadsalot's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
piapaya's review against another edition
2.0
The Booker? Really? I ended up skimming the last 80 pages because it was getting tiresome. All the tropes. Nothing worse than when a book is so predictable. And the way women are portrayed here is… I don’t know quite the right word, but the book is disdainful of motherhood but also critical of women who choose not to be mothers. So what is Mary Lawson saying, exactly? All the women is this book are either: baby-crazy delusional lunatics, cold and uncaring, selfish and shallow, or— if they’re lucky enough not to be one of those things, they’re damaged goods who have bad taste in men. If they were at least written well… but there’s something about the writing that feels strangely amateur-ish.
An exercise in how a plot that should actually be riveting can turn out so anemic.
An exercise in how a plot that should actually be riveting can turn out so anemic.