rebbemcc's review
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. The author has a light touch with her writing which made the various familial issues seem real and relatable. I enjoyed the growth each of the characters experienced—big or small—and I feel like I know them, or know people just like them. The family felt real and comforting and full of possibilities.
cfillion's review against another edition
3.0
Liked the multiple POVs, quirky characters, and general theme of family, but found it to be slow and lacking a solid plot line
katreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this sweet, engaging family read. It contained some great, thought-provoking lessons. If I read this book in ten years, I think it will be totally different. I loved seeing the characters grow and change, particularly Cecelia and Porter, but Astrid too. I appreciated that it was somewhere in the middle, not exactly light but not exactly heavy.
ducklyduckling's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
mary235's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bookbaddie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
She builds beautiful and diverse characters that pull on the heart strings.
numbuh12's review against another edition
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
4.25
hunterlily's review against another edition
1.0
I really struggled in reading this book in a normal amount of time just because I did not think it was all that good. I think it was just overall a bit too much happening at once. When I was about 3/4 through the book I saw a review of it saying it just was all of these very new age issues all at once and I agree. While I think that single moms and trauma and LGBTQ+ issues and parenting and everything else brought up in this book is extremely important, it was just so much of everything that nothing really went super in-depth. I hated the ending of the book. There seemed to be no actual solution for any of the issues and everything just went over super happily and nothing was really done to fix the issues. I don't know it was just disappointing and too much at once. Also, the last chapter was so unnecessary. Everything that was done seemed to just be done as a way to reflect on parenting and how someone acts and how they need to be more true to themselves. I would not recommend this book to others and the only reason I actually finished it was because I bought it and did not want to waste my money.
eimmarg5's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75