milenasbooknook's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Immediately after finishing this book, I could tell that it would be one that would stick with me for a while. It was almost a five-star-read for me (I can’t say why it wasn’t, or else I’d spoil the book). It was entertaining and thought-provoking, and I’m sad that it’s over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Sexual content
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Mia and Pearl live a nomadic life, directed by Mia's artistic temperament. Carrying only what they can fit in a VW Rabbit, they arrive in the idyllic Shaker Heights. Meanwhile, Elena Richardson and her family embody everything the town represents, so when they see a chance to help people less fortunate than themselves, they take it. But as their lives become intertwined, the two families start to discover things about each other that could end up setting their entire world alight...
This is definitely a step outside my usual genre. Technically, the book is very well written and very easy to read; the author's use of contrast, imagery and description really give the story depth and a bit of a dark edge, and I can appreciate why it seems a popular choice and why it's been made into a TV series. However, the story itself seems to me to reflect the setting; meticulously planned, a pleasant place to be, but where not too much interesting or exciting happens. The expectation is set quite high at the outset, but the payoff never really materialises.
From a non-US perspective, this feels like the epitome of white middle class America, and I just don't get it. Sure, a nice big house with a garden in a good neighbourhood is totally understandable, but I just can't get my head around the fact that people actually aspire to live in places like Shaker Heights. So immediately I struggled to get into the story because I cannot relate to the community at large at all.
In terms of characterisation, I think Mrs Richardson in particular is very reflective of that same white middle class privilege that perhaps blinds us to our own prejudices. She is so keen to show that she's accepting, charitable, open-minded... but only when you fit into her world without a problem. Disturb the status quo and immediately you're not welcome. There's nothing overtly wrong with what she thinks day to day, but her world view is skewed by the community in which she's been raised. When you compare her to Mia, Bebe and even her own daughters (especially Izzy), she actually comes across as quite a two dimensional, Stepford Wives style character, whom again I could not get invested in.
Motherhood is a huge theme throughout the book, in all its forms. Each mother is judged in some way; from letting fear turn a relationship sour, to whether money is as important as love when you're raising a child. To me, it seems that every mother is doing their best with what they have, save again for Mrs Richardson, who recognises that there's a problem but does nothing to try and change it. I will be honest, there were moments where I wanted to stop reading as, while I have no particular triggers, the subject matter is quite emotive and I did find certain scenes hard to get through.
I was expecting a lot of different things to what was actually delivered, so in that respect Incan say this book was, if not full of shock twists and turns, then certainly not as predictable as you might think. In particular, I was waiting for quite the denouement, as the events did seem to be building towards something big. But the ending left me very disappointed; it just gently tails off. Until the last few pages, I was going to give this a 4 star rating despite it not being my cup of tea. The only thing I can see is that the author has left it wide open for a sequel, which could work as there are plenty of plot lines that could be extended easily and the rounded off to a proper conclusion. I suspect that even if the author does write one, the producers of the TV version will be happy to run with it!
Interesting and not something I regret reading, but just a little too far outside my comfort zone to be properly enjoyable.
This is definitely a step outside my usual genre. Technically, the book is very well written and very easy to read; the author's use of contrast, imagery and description really give the story depth and a bit of a dark edge, and I can appreciate why it seems a popular choice and why it's been made into a TV series. However, the story itself seems to me to reflect the setting; meticulously planned, a pleasant place to be, but where not too much interesting or exciting happens. The expectation is set quite high at the outset, but the payoff never really materialises.
From a non-US perspective, this feels like the epitome of white middle class America, and I just don't get it. Sure, a nice big house with a garden in a good neighbourhood is totally understandable, but I just can't get my head around the fact that people actually aspire to live in places like Shaker Heights. So immediately I struggled to get into the story because I cannot relate to the community at large at all.
In terms of characterisation, I think Mrs Richardson in particular is very reflective of that same white middle class privilege that perhaps blinds us to our own prejudices. She is so keen to show that she's accepting, charitable, open-minded... but only when you fit into her world without a problem. Disturb the status quo and immediately you're not welcome. There's nothing overtly wrong with what she thinks day to day, but her world view is skewed by the community in which she's been raised. When you compare her to Mia, Bebe and even her own daughters (especially Izzy), she actually comes across as quite a two dimensional, Stepford Wives style character, whom again I could not get invested in.
Motherhood is a huge theme throughout the book, in all its forms. Each mother is judged in some way; from letting fear turn a relationship sour, to whether money is as important as love when you're raising a child. To me, it seems that every mother is doing their best with what they have, save again for Mrs Richardson, who recognises that there's a problem but does nothing to try and change it. I will be honest, there were moments where I wanted to stop reading as, while I have no particular triggers, the subject matter is quite emotive and I did find certain scenes hard to get through.
I was expecting a lot of different things to what was actually delivered, so in that respect Incan say this book was, if not full of shock twists and turns, then certainly not as predictable as you might think. In particular, I was waiting for quite the denouement, as the events did seem to be building towards something big. But the ending left me very disappointed; it just gently tails off. Until the last few pages, I was going to give this a 4 star rating despite it not being my cup of tea. The only thing I can see is that the author has left it wide open for a sequel, which could work as there are plenty of plot lines that could be extended easily and the rounded off to a proper conclusion. I suspect that even if the author does write one, the producers of the TV version will be happy to run with it!
Interesting and not something I regret reading, but just a little too far outside my comfort zone to be properly enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Abortion, Abandonment, and Infertility
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, and Death
blumoonie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This story explores the meaning of family, love and home. How rules are made to be broken, how if you love someone too much it will turn to simmering hatred. this book left me feeling gutted and vulnerably wide-open, like a fire had ripped through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Racism, Infertility, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Grief
Moderate: Child death
my_a's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Infertility, and Classism
Moderate: Abortion, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Grief, Death, and Cancer
alisonfaith426's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Infertility, Kidnapping, Abortion, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, and Cursing
captainnat's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Abortion, and Sexual content
Moderate: Terminal illness, Stalking, and Kidnapping
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, and Grief
saturnsierra's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Infertility
katharina90's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Well written, entertaining and reflective. The pace is on the slower side but feels right for this story.
Great commentary on the suburbian hellscape and its rampant classism and racism.
Great commentary on the suburbian hellscape and its rampant classism and racism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, Abortion, Classism, Infertility, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content
gardens_and_dragons's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a great start to my year of reading. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the mother and daughter, at the center of the novel, and how they get entangled in the white middle-class neighborhood in Ohio.
The plot twist at the end that ends up, tearing the two families apart is really shocking to me. Even though I don’t necessarily agree with how the mother made her decision, I sympathize with her character for having to go through what she did to be a single mother and love her daughter, with her whole heart.
The side story of the drama surrounding the Chinese infant who was away by her birth mother, and then is now being fought for again because she is at a different point in life - utterly heartbreaking. It’s such a complicated situation, but ultimately the plays of power and race schism that go down in the court case are tragic.
The plot twist at the end that ends up, tearing the two families apart is really shocking to me. Even though I don’t necessarily agree with how the mother made her decision, I sympathize with her character for having to go through what she did to be a single mother and love her daughter, with her whole heart.
The side story of the drama surrounding the Chinese infant who was away by her birth mother, and then is now being fought for again because she is at a different point in life - utterly heartbreaking. It’s such a complicated situation, but ultimately the plays of power and race schism that go down in the court case are tragic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infertility, Sexual content, and Classism
dtodd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A gripping read that explores some interesting dilemmas with well crafted characters and relationships. I felt like the ending was a little anti-climactic, but it was nevertheless satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Infertility