milkklotz's review against another edition
4.0
An engaging story about the power of loss (relationships, career, self esteem) over life and how one views life.
And the healing that can be brought about by the finding, and the power of regaining a sense of self.
And the healing that can be brought about by the finding, and the power of regaining a sense of self.
phyrre's review against another edition
2.0
So, honesty is the best policy, right? So here's the honest truth: I wouldn't have read this if it weren't a book club book. I wouldn't have even picked it up, because it's just not a genre I read. This is chick lit, through and through, and not something I enjoy. That, obviously, colors my review.
The Bookshop at Water's End is an easy, quick read. There's nothing particularly deep about it, though I think it tries to be philosophical. I breezed through it, and for those who like chick lit, I can see this being a hit. It would even make a great beach read, if that's your genre.
What I did enjoy about this book was the underlying mystery. What happened to Lainey's mother after she left? What are the circumstances surrounding her disappearance? These were valid questions, and I kept reading because I wanted to know the answers.
What I did not like was ... everything else. Perhaps I should elaborate.
First off, the title is a bit ... misleading? I've seen other people mention this. I assumed, obviously, that the bookstore would play a pretty big role in this due to the title. It does not. The character who owns the bookshop, Mimi, ends up being pretty pivotal to the story, but the bookshop itself is a pretty minor thing. It serves as a meeting place a number of times, but even then, the actual bookshop itself isn't played up all that much. They could've met at a coffee place (or anywhere else) and the outcome of the book would've been the same. The bookshop is also not at "water's end," which makes me think of a bookshop on the beach or something. The town is called Watersend, so maybe it's referring to that, but ... ehhh, I don't know. It totally colored my expectations.
The characters started off feeling relatable, but at some point, they just become absolutely unbearable for me. The leads are all female, because of course they are, and their arcs are almost identical.
Bonny is obsessed with the idea that she may have just killed a man in the ER accidentally, which is a big thing, I agree, but ... I feel like it was taken to a melodramatic max. I mean, maybe I'm just not empathetic enough, but everything in her life stops and hinges around this one thing.
Piper, her daughter, has failed out of college and been dumped by her jerk of an ex-boyfriend, who she's pining over, and she low-key has a drinking problem. She also has absolutely no self-esteem, for reasons that are never discussed. She's 19, yet incredibly self-centered and mad at her mother for divorcing her father (who is clearly a jerk) and "ruining" their family because ... she's stupid and selfish? I don't know. Yet, we're constantly told how smart she really is, she's just making poor life decisions.
Lainey is obsessed with finding out what happened to her mother after she disappeared, to the detriment of her family and to the point where her husband is basically threatening to leave if she doesn't give it up. For reasons I don't understand. Even after reading the whole thing. Seriously. I don't get it. But this is the all-consuming thing in her life.
In the end, all the women have their proper arcs, but none of it feels earned. Everything is just kind of handed to them. Part of it is earned, and there were some really great character-building moments, but not enough of them for me to suddenly buy their transformation in, what, a month? A month and a half? The epiphanies feel rushed, and I couldn't fully buy into them.
Men in this book really got the short stick. There are two types: either the jerks that the main characters have to overcome and grow in spite of, or those who exist solely to love them. That's it. Their entire characters can be summed up with: they loved XYZ character. They're not really given personalities on their own.
The romances also made me gag just a little, because they were so cheesy. I am NOT a fan of most straight-up romance books, so romance fans, you'll probably love these! They just weren't for me. Lainey's relationship is steady, but they're so attached at the hip that he can't imagine spending one or two months away from her and the kids, and his world is just ending because they're leaving and why can't they just staaaaay? They've been married for over 20 years. They can't spend a month apart? =/ And Piper stumbles into love after, like, three weeks, and it's just lovely and perfect because ... conflict is boring? I don't know. I'm always suspicious of perfect relationships, because they're not realistic. As much as I was enamored with hubby when we started dating, I still would've stabbed him with a fork if he tried to eat the last slice of bacon. Nothing's all rainbows and sunshines, that's all I'm saying.
The resolution of the big mystery also left a lot to be desired for me, personally, and it left a really bitter taste in my mouth. I actually was considering giving this three stars, but by the end, I coudn't do more than two. It was so unsatisfactory to me, and I was so mad at the way Lainey's father was villainized (because remember, guys are either 100% lovesick puppies or 100% jerks, there is no in-between). I was totally on his side. I wanted to throw the book ... but it wasn't my book, so I was even left unsatisfied as far as that goes.
In the end, this was definitely not a book for me. If you're into chick lit and girl power, you might enjoy this, though.
The Bookshop at Water's End is an easy, quick read. There's nothing particularly deep about it, though I think it tries to be philosophical. I breezed through it, and for those who like chick lit, I can see this being a hit. It would even make a great beach read, if that's your genre.
What I did enjoy about this book was the underlying mystery. What happened to Lainey's mother after she left? What are the circumstances surrounding her disappearance? These were valid questions, and I kept reading because I wanted to know the answers.
What I did not like was ... everything else. Perhaps I should elaborate.
First off, the title is a bit ... misleading? I've seen other people mention this. I assumed, obviously, that the bookstore would play a pretty big role in this due to the title. It does not. The character who owns the bookshop, Mimi, ends up being pretty pivotal to the story, but the bookshop itself is a pretty minor thing. It serves as a meeting place a number of times, but even then, the actual bookshop itself isn't played up all that much. They could've met at a coffee place (or anywhere else) and the outcome of the book would've been the same. The bookshop is also not at "water's end," which makes me think of a bookshop on the beach or something. The town is called Watersend, so maybe it's referring to that, but ... ehhh, I don't know. It totally colored my expectations.
The characters started off feeling relatable, but at some point, they just become absolutely unbearable for me. The leads are all female, because of course they are, and their arcs are almost identical.
Bonny is obsessed with the idea that she may have just killed a man in the ER accidentally, which is a big thing, I agree, but ... I feel like it was taken to a melodramatic max. I mean, maybe I'm just not empathetic enough, but everything in her life stops and hinges around this one thing.
Piper, her daughter, has failed out of college and been dumped by her jerk of an ex-boyfriend, who she's pining over, and she low-key has a drinking problem. She also has absolutely no self-esteem, for reasons that are never discussed. She's 19, yet incredibly self-centered and mad at her mother for divorcing her father (who is clearly a jerk) and "ruining" their family because ... she's stupid and selfish? I don't know. Yet, we're constantly told how smart she really is, she's just making poor life decisions.
Lainey is obsessed with finding out what happened to her mother after she disappeared, to the detriment of her family and to the point where her husband is basically threatening to leave if she doesn't give it up. For reasons I don't understand. Even after reading the whole thing. Seriously. I don't get it. But this is the all-consuming thing in her life.
In the end, all the women have their proper arcs, but none of it feels earned. Everything is just kind of handed to them. Part of it is earned, and there were some really great character-building moments, but not enough of them for me to suddenly buy their transformation in, what, a month? A month and a half? The epiphanies feel rushed, and I couldn't fully buy into them.
Men in this book really got the short stick. There are two types: either the jerks that the main characters have to overcome and grow in spite of, or those who exist solely to love them. That's it. Their entire characters can be summed up with: they loved XYZ character. They're not really given personalities on their own.
The romances also made me gag just a little, because they were so cheesy. I am NOT a fan of most straight-up romance books, so romance fans, you'll probably love these! They just weren't for me. Lainey's relationship is steady, but they're so attached at the hip that he can't imagine spending one or two months away from her and the kids, and his world is just ending because they're leaving and why can't they just staaaaay? They've been married for over 20 years. They can't spend a month apart? =/ And Piper stumbles into love after, like, three weeks, and it's just lovely and perfect because ... conflict is boring? I don't know. I'm always suspicious of perfect relationships, because they're not realistic. As much as I was enamored with hubby when we started dating, I still would've stabbed him with a fork if he tried to eat the last slice of bacon. Nothing's all rainbows and sunshines, that's all I'm saying.
The resolution of the big mystery also left a lot to be desired for me, personally, and it left a really bitter taste in my mouth. I actually was considering giving this three stars, but by the end, I coudn't do more than two. It was so unsatisfactory to me, and I was so mad at the way Lainey's father was villainized (because remember, guys are either 100% lovesick puppies or 100% jerks, there is no in-between). I was totally on his side. I wanted to throw the book ... but it wasn't my book, so I was even left unsatisfied as far as that goes.
In the end, this was definitely not a book for me. If you're into chick lit and girl power, you might enjoy this, though.
fudge's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
booklover1974's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 stars
Last year I read My Favorite Daughter by this author and I really enjoyed it. That's why I want to read some of her backlist.
The title on this book suggests that the bookshop is the center of everything which I found not true. The bookshop is more of a supporting actor and I was left with a certain amount of disappointment. When I see a book title with the word "Book" in it, I always want to read it. I know, not completely healthy
Last year I read My Favorite Daughter by this author and I really enjoyed it. That's why I want to read some of her backlist.
The title on this book suggests that the bookshop is the center of everything which I found not true. The bookshop is more of a supporting actor and I was left with a certain amount of disappointment. When I see a book title with the word "Book" in it, I always want to read it. I know, not completely healthy
karak's review against another edition
3.0
One of those books where you KNOW a twist is going to happen, but it's not quite as obvious as in other novels. Enjoyable. A good summer read, not a serious literature type book.
saschadarlington's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars
For as long as I can remember, I have devoured novels set on the Atlantic coast, especially those from the mid-Atlantic and southwards. Patti Callahan Henry is one of the authors that I binged on a few years back, drawn in by her beautiful rhythmic writing, her vision and prowess to put forth truths in difficult situations, and her characters’ ability to discover themselves amidst this beautiful landscape.
So I was very happy to pick up another of her novels and it fit so well landscape-wise with where I am on vacation at the moment. The story is engrossing merging mystery and drama and tears.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2017/08/17/review-of-the-bookshop-at-waters-end/
For as long as I can remember, I have devoured novels set on the Atlantic coast, especially those from the mid-Atlantic and southwards. Patti Callahan Henry is one of the authors that I binged on a few years back, drawn in by her beautiful rhythmic writing, her vision and prowess to put forth truths in difficult situations, and her characters’ ability to discover themselves amidst this beautiful landscape.
So I was very happy to pick up another of her novels and it fit so well landscape-wise with where I am on vacation at the moment. The story is engrossing merging mystery and drama and tears.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2017/08/17/review-of-the-bookshop-at-waters-end/
beckyreads2's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It gives the perspectives of several characters: Bonny, Lainey, Piper, and Mimi. It goes from present time and flashes back to the 1970s. It was interesting and hard to put down. I read it as part of a book club, and I was surprised that it wasn't Christian fiction (the other books we've read were).
You will enjoy this book if you like a little bit of mystery, chick lit, family stories, and stories set at the beach. There was even a dash of teen fiction in this story.
This was the first book I read by Patti Callahan Henry, but it won't be the last. It was very entertaining!
You will enjoy this book if you like a little bit of mystery, chick lit, family stories, and stories set at the beach. There was even a dash of teen fiction in this story.
This was the first book I read by Patti Callahan Henry, but it won't be the last. It was very entertaining!
managedbybooks's review against another edition
2.0
*Book received through Penguin Publishing's First To Read Program*
This was a nice, quick read, perfect for a day in the shade. It was hard to put down as I got tangled in the stories of Bonnie, Piper, and the others. It was a very good book and I would definitely recommend it to others.
This was a nice, quick read, perfect for a day in the shade. It was hard to put down as I got tangled in the stories of Bonnie, Piper, and the others. It was a very good book and I would definitely recommend it to others.
mountie9's review against another edition
4.0
Cute storyline and interesting characters. I did feel that the organization of the various points of views a tad off. Almost like their were too many POV narrators. Having a hard time explaining this but feel a bit more editing would have helped bring this to a 5 star for me. Also I was expecting the bookshop to be focused more as the title would make you think. I feel like it was just to sucker little book nerds like me to buy it as we are suckers for books with bookshop or library in the title. And I feel it was a little false advertising. Yes I know that is a rather silly reason to take off .5 of a star off the review. But I felt like I was being conned in a way. Still a good read - perfect for the beach.
raciethereader's review against another edition
3.0
Sweet summer chick lit involving family secrets and redemption