margardenlady's review
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Binchy delivers a tome with nearly no plot in which the lives of a dozen people are transformed. It’s almost magical. On Tara Road in Dublin, we find Ria and her heartthrob Danny setting up housekeeping. There was a long slow set up as we got to know all the characters but life started happening about halfway through. By the end, I honestly enjoyed the characters and appreciated their transformations, but 654 pp with only 9 chapters made for some slow reading.
bookwyrm_kate's review
2.0
I got bored and frustrated with this book when it didn't even get to the point/premise until more than halfway in. There were a lot of superficial things going on, but you don't really know any of the characters well enough to genuinely sympathize or care until the book is almost over.
kaylamarie's review against another edition
1.0
This has not aged well at all! It's like watching a bad 80's lifetime movie with every woman being shamed for some sexist reason.
mjlawson73's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
wattestab8's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
dreavg's review
3.0
I picked this book up and read it before Oprah put her Book Club seal on it. I enjoyed the book. For a summer, two women switch homes for the summer. Each has something they are trying to escape. Each tries to rebuild a life that was irreconcileable changed before the trip.
petabread5's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
keiko28's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
5.0
sc104906's review
1.0
This novel is very similar to the movie The Holiday.
I didn't finish it. It took me weeks to read the first 50 pages of ~700 pages. I could not get into this novel.
I didn't finish it. It took me weeks to read the first 50 pages of ~700 pages. I could not get into this novel.