taraaleitz's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.25/5⭐️ for me…
A little disappointed. I really wanted to love this book because This Time Tomorrow was soooo good, but this one fell a little flat for me. I liked that there were many characters to focus in on, but the whole book was ultimately based around poor communication between characters and/or poor choices. I loved how different each of the characters lives were and that there was diversity in the ages of the characters—making it a little interesting, but it didn’t feel like there was truly any real plot. Halfway through the book, I re-read the synopsis and I felt as though I already knew everything the synopsis talked about.
There was no true “climax” and this wasn’t a book where I was eagerly anticipating the next thing. A slower read for me.
A little disappointed. I really wanted to love this book because This Time Tomorrow was soooo good, but this one fell a little flat for me. I liked that there were many characters to focus in on, but the whole book was ultimately based around poor communication between characters and/or poor choices. I loved how different each of the characters lives were and that there was diversity in the ages of the characters—making it a little interesting, but it didn’t feel like there was truly any real plot. Halfway through the book, I re-read the synopsis and I felt as though I already knew everything the synopsis talked about.
There was no true “climax” and this wasn’t a book where I was eagerly anticipating the next thing. A slower read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
Minor: Abortion and Sexual content
beatriks's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I liked this book, it is very well written (a lot of sentences and paragraphes that I highlighted), with lots of wise words. There are quite a bunch of characters that appear around the protagonist, Astrid, and for me, that change of perspective worked well. How everything fell into place and turned out.
I would recommend not stretching out the reading of this book for too long, otherwise you might forget what happened.
My favorite characters were Porter and Cecelia.
I would recommend not stretching out the reading of this book for too long, otherwise you might forget what happened.
My favorite characters were Porter and Cecelia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Transphobia
Minor: Abortion, Infertility, and Gaslighting
thenageler's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Miscarriage, Death, Outing, Bullying, Drug use, and Infertility
annorabrady's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was recommended this book as one that you'd like if you like Schitt's Creek. While it doesn't have the humor of a sitcom, it does have realistic family relationships and each member is fleshed out into their own person, as in Schitt's Creek. They also have catalysts that push them out of their comfort zone and into a place where their relationship with family and friends become healthier and more fulfilling.
There are mentions of miscarriages and abortions, as well as plots about people being outed against their will (handled well but they still exist) so precede with caution if those are triggering to you.
My biggest problem with the story was Porter's storyline.
There are mentions of miscarriages and abortions, as well as plots about people being outed against their will (handled well but they still exist) so precede with caution if those are triggering to you.
My biggest problem with the story was Porter's storyline.
Spoiler
I just feel that someone who is capable of making the life-changing decisions of going through the process of becoming pregnant through a fertility clinic so she can raise a baby alone is also someone who should be able to stop being someone else's "other woman." Especially since she was more than capable of understanding and siding with her best friend who found herself on the other side of that situation with her husband. And then to talk to her best friend about it, expecting her best friend would have any reaction except absolute anger at the betrayal?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Rape, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Outing, Miscarriage, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Dementia and Abortion
faraway_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, Car accident, Pregnancy, Transphobia, and Infertility
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Drug use
saskiahill's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, Car accident, Bullying, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, and Miscarriage
Minor: Deadnaming, Outing, Transphobia, and Blood
mdeck24's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion and Bullying
adoseofcozy's review
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This wasn't supposed to be my first completed book of 2023, but I had to finish it before a book club meeting. So, I sadly had to sit The Priory of the Orange Tree aside so I could focus on this one. I'm sad to say that my first read of 2023 was rather disappointing.
While it does present some great topics, this one just wasn't for me. It was okay, overall, but I had some issues with it. The writing was okay, the story was okay, the characters were okay...everything was just okay. I felt like maybe the issue was that the author was just trying to do too much. I didn't feel like I really knew any of the characters, or connected with any of them. The first bit of the book I was trying to keep all of the characters straight because the book jumps around from one character to another. Also, all of the "adults" were incredibly immature. The most mature character was a 13-year-old girl.
If you like domestic dramas that let you observe the chaos of a dysfunctional family then try this one out, if it sounds interesting. I will say that I probably wouldn't have been able to get through this if I didn't have the audiobook, because I would have wanted to put the book down and not pick it up anymore.
I read this for a book club and the majority though it was just okay or didn't enjoy it at all. I feel like I will forget this story and these characters in a couple of months, if that. Nothing was super memorable for me. It's an entirely character-driven story that will be entirely forgettable for me, unfortunately.
While it does present some great topics, this one just wasn't for me. It was okay, overall, but I had some issues with it. The writing was okay, the story was okay, the characters were okay...everything was just okay. I felt like maybe the issue was that the author was just trying to do too much. I didn't feel like I really knew any of the characters, or connected with any of them. The first bit of the book I was trying to keep all of the characters straight because the book jumps around from one character to another. Also, all of the "adults" were incredibly immature. The most mature character was a 13-year-old girl.
If you like domestic dramas that let you observe the chaos of a dysfunctional family then try this one out, if it sounds interesting. I will say that I probably wouldn't have been able to get through this if I didn't have the audiobook, because I would have wanted to put the book down and not pick it up anymore.
I read this for a book club and the majority though it was just okay or didn't enjoy it at all. I feel like I will forget this story and these characters in a couple of months, if that. Nothing was super memorable for me. It's an entirely character-driven story that will be entirely forgettable for me, unfortunately.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Infidelity, Bullying, Car accident, Abortion, Infertility, and Toxic relationship
samantha5's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Another fabulous emotional Straub book. Great for those who enjoy slow-paced reads about our relationships to other people, and the familial connections that shape us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Abortion, Deadnaming, Miscarriage, and Transphobia
Two deaths are fairly central to the plot of the book. Transphobic comments made towards a character