bethgramon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
I cried, big surprise. The ending was beautiful and reflective and made me journal at 12am all about childhood and my future dreams to live in Scotland, particularly now the outer hebrides. A little slow to get going but this mirrors Nell's life and journey, and is still engaging. I have so much love and heartache for both Nell and Dougie...and Gordon...and Flora...and Wendy...and- you get the point, the characters are marvelously written.
clairby11xxx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bandanna3's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
crispygee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
3.75
ymary's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
om_nom_nomigon's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
hollyberrybooks's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
myjourneywithbooks's review against another edition
DNF
In 1969 Essex, a pregnant (initially unnamed) 16-year-old finds herself banished to one of the remotest parts of the UK to hide her condition and give birth. Fast forward to 2005 and our main characters Nell and Dougie are both going through difficult moments in their lives when their paths cross. Nell has just made a discovery about herself and her family that leaves her reeling, and is on a journey to dig up more of the past. Dougie is...well, I'm not really sure what the deal is with Dougie. His chapters were the most boring.
Out of the three PoV's in the book, the one set in the past and told through the eyes of the pregnant teenager was the most interesting. Dougie's, as I've mentioned, completely bored me and Nell's storyline fell somewhere in between, making me sit up with interest at times and making my eyes glaze over at other times. I did like reading about her complicated relationship with her mother and her memories of the past.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy this book but it just wasn't for me. The pace was too slow and though I was curious about finding out what eventually happened to the teenager from 1969, the journey to the end of the book seemed too tedious for me to continue on it. I made it to the halfway point before giving up on it.
In 1969 Essex, a pregnant (initially unnamed) 16-year-old finds herself banished to one of the remotest parts of the UK to hide her condition and give birth. Fast forward to 2005 and our main characters Nell and Dougie are both going through difficult moments in their lives when their paths cross. Nell has just made a discovery about herself and her family that leaves her reeling, and is on a journey to dig up more of the past. Dougie is...well, I'm not really sure what the deal is with Dougie. His chapters were the most boring.
Out of the three PoV's in the book, the one set in the past and told through the eyes of the pregnant teenager was the most interesting. Dougie's, as I've mentioned, completely bored me and Nell's storyline fell somewhere in between, making me sit up with interest at times and making my eyes glaze over at other times. I did like reading about her complicated relationship with her mother and her memories of the past.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy this book but it just wasn't for me. The pace was too slow and though I was curious about finding out what eventually happened to the teenager from 1969, the journey to the end of the book seemed too tedious for me to continue on it. I made it to the halfway point before giving up on it.