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finley0315's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
Film noir meets coming of age in this taut, atmospheric YA set in post-War New York and Palm Beach.
fbradley's review against another edition
3.0
The cover and the award made me really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, it let me down quite a bit. For a young adult book, the author seems to not understand young adults very well. It is condescending, and while it did have shining moments, it certainly does not stick with me the way other YA novels have. Perhaps my greatest issue with the book is Evie. How stupid does the author think teens are? I mean seriously? Not to mention her 'love story' leaves the impression that teenagers cannot really fall in love only infatuation. While infatuation does happen, I'm not saying it doesn't, teens are capable of real genuine love and the perspective this author offers certainly limits their experiences. On this note it really bothered me. This book shows how imperative it is that authors of YA literature really understand the teen experience before writing from a teen perspective.
libraryladys's review against another edition
2.0
I feel as if I should have liked this book more than I did. I could see the scenes in my head and maybe I would enjoy it as a movie because it is a period piece....Anyway, this is 15-yr-old Evie's coming of age story. She sees chinks in her mother and stepfather's marriage, she experiences unrequited love, she must defend her parents against murder charges....you know, typical teen story. The author mixes in antisemitism and Evie redeems herself (or her stepfather's choices??) through this plot line.
mini_v3rse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.25
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
4.0
Yes, this is a young adult book. But it won a National Book Award, and deserved it. Very suspenseful and a GREAT story. I recommend it even if you are an adult!
lannthacker's review against another edition
2.0
A sensual WWII coming of age romance with some mystery elements. Evie is a late-bloomer whose stepfather, Joe, wisks her and her mother off the Florida for a seemingly endless vacation. There Evie discovers love and some dark truths about how Joe made his money during the war. After Florida, nothing will ever be the same. Secondary doorway: setting.
m3owmeow's review against another edition
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.0
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Solid writing and intrigue present notions of moral ambiguity as Evie, the narrator negotiates the grown up world and its many shades of gray in the post WWII era
isahart7's review against another edition
4.0
The characters were fleshed out in beautiful detail, and the plot moved along nicely, even as thing started taking a downward spiral for Evie. Her naivete is what made this novel so good and allowed the plot to move how it did. The cherry on top of this book was all the references to the Golden Age of Hollywood which I adored.