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christinamapes's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the story, characters and themes, but it was either too long for what it was or didn't go deep enough for me.
courtneyindc's review against another edition
5.0
ooh, I loved this book! This cover really does not do it justice. It makes this book seem much fluffier than it is. I nearly cried at the end.
Ruth grew up in a tiny town in Indiana and escaped to attend Yale, making her one of the most successful people from her small town. But to get out, she had to hide a BIG secret, which is what brings her back to her town the Christmas after Barack Obama is elected.
This book is an unforgiving look at race and class, and how it feels to go home again. It digs in deep to parenting, and what makes a mother, and how generations parent. It delves into how missing generations impact parenting. All of this is done through really lovely storytelling.
I may be making this sound too serious. It's a great book. I was surprised to find this is a first book by this author.
Ruth grew up in a tiny town in Indiana and escaped to attend Yale, making her one of the most successful people from her small town. But to get out, she had to hide a BIG secret, which is what brings her back to her town the Christmas after Barack Obama is elected.
This book is an unforgiving look at race and class, and how it feels to go home again. It digs in deep to parenting, and what makes a mother, and how generations parent. It delves into how missing generations impact parenting. All of this is done through really lovely storytelling.
I may be making this sound too serious. It's a great book. I was surprised to find this is a first book by this author.
jennixann's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
1.5
katielovesbooks134's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this advanced reader’s ecopy. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but I found the first 2/3 of it a bit slow. I found myself getting distracted or not interested enough to pick up the novel. The last 1/3 was much faster paced and I was invested in the characters by then. I greatly appreciate and admire the author’s writing of race and class in America, with the back drop of Obama’s election.
whoaomgb's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of the book was really good but once you started to get towards the end the story line was a bit confusing and rushed. Overall, I can’t complain, the book had a cute story behind it and it kept me interested for the most part.
domblooks's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted more from this book! I can’t help but feel like something was missing. I couldn’t really feel the characters emotion as much as I wanted to! 2.5/5
madaubosh's review against another edition
4.0
Ruth has achieved the dream. Everything that seemed so impossible growing up in a small town that no one ever managers to escape from. She got out, she went to her dream school and now she's an engineer with an amazing husband to boot. But when her husband starts dreaming of more, of a family, it becomes clear the foundation of this life is anything but sturdy. Ruth is forced to face her past, the traumas she buried and everything she left behind to make her dreams come true.
This book was so touching. It touched on race, social class and the nuance of a family in such an authentic way. I couldn't put this book down. Nancy Johnson wrote in such a way that it was easy to slip into the lives of her characters, to feel their hurts and the weight of their burdens. I picked this book up on a whim and I'm so glad I did. Definitely worth a read.
This book was so touching. It touched on race, social class and the nuance of a family in such an authentic way. I couldn't put this book down. Nancy Johnson wrote in such a way that it was easy to slip into the lives of her characters, to feel their hurts and the weight of their burdens. I picked this book up on a whim and I'm so glad I did. Definitely worth a read.