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kirstenrose22's review against another edition
3.0
This has a great premise, but overall ends up being kind of meh. I mostly liked the teenage daughter Polly, but no one else, and the different plot threads didn't really come together for me.
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
4.0
Don't we all have a moment or moments in our childhoods that shaped us, nudged the trajectories of our lives just a little bit, changing the course of who we would become? For Caroline Jacobs, a meek mouse of a woman, these included losing her father, her best friend, and her sister. The wounds of adolescence molded her into a conflict-averse mother and a talented photographer afraid to risk rejection. And then one day, at a PTO meeting, an insult aimed at someone else snaps her virtual bonds.
The next day, when her teenage daughter, Polly, defends her and is threatened with suspension, Caroline impulsively busts her out and takes her on a road trip to Caroline's childhood home to confront the memories that haunt her. Along the way, she finally shares the stories shadowing her life and slowly begins to reconnect with her stubborn, strong, independent daughter.
Every story has different perspectives, though, and Caroline begins to see the shades of grey in differing realities, eventually learning to forgive herself as well as others for their all-too-human mistakes.
I loved this book! The only things holding me back from a 5-star rating are the contradictions and errors that might have been the result of it being an advance copy that I read courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. I'm hoping the final edits caught the timeline confusion regarding how old Caroline was when her father left, and so on. Details like that yanked me out of the story a few times, which was frustrating. Otherwise, though, it was a great story with well-developed, nuanced characters who evolved over the course of the novel.
For readers' advisors: character doorway is primary, story secondary. Some swearing. No sex or onscreen violence, other than someone accidentally falling through glass.
The next day, when her teenage daughter, Polly, defends her and is threatened with suspension, Caroline impulsively busts her out and takes her on a road trip to Caroline's childhood home to confront the memories that haunt her. Along the way, she finally shares the stories shadowing her life and slowly begins to reconnect with her stubborn, strong, independent daughter.
Every story has different perspectives, though, and Caroline begins to see the shades of grey in differing realities, eventually learning to forgive herself as well as others for their all-too-human mistakes.
I loved this book! The only things holding me back from a 5-star rating are the contradictions and errors that might have been the result of it being an advance copy that I read courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. I'm hoping the final edits caught the timeline confusion regarding how old Caroline was when her father left, and so on. Details like that yanked me out of the story a few times, which was frustrating. Otherwise, though, it was a great story with well-developed, nuanced characters who evolved over the course of the novel.
For readers' advisors: character doorway is primary, story secondary. Some swearing. No sex or onscreen violence, other than someone accidentally falling through glass.
lisakerd's review against another edition
3.0
I counted 7 typos and there are likely more, but aside from that agitation it was a charming little read for what it was. Read more like a short story without a lot of character foundation and backstory, but still a fun ride.
celjla212's review against another edition
2.0
Very quick read but very meh. The novel starts out with Caroline finally boiling over (albeit at an inappropriate time) and wanting to face the demons from her past. However, when she comes face to face with these things, she loses her nerve.
Caroline doesn't really grow, but she comes to appreciate her current life and maybe learn to stop living in the past. I wasn't happy with the way she left things with people in her life, but since she's a doormat for most of the book I should have expected it.
Caroline doesn't really grow, but she comes to appreciate her current life and maybe learn to stop living in the past. I wasn't happy with the way she left things with people in her life, but since she's a doormat for most of the book I should have expected it.
ginabyeg's review against another edition
3.0
If you're looking for something with depth and a captivating plot twist, this isn't it. It's a quirky, simple read--not unenjoyable, by any means. But it comes off as a bit unrealistic, and I felt it was all tidied up too simply.
eliathereader's review against another edition
3.0
Her ne kadar caroline jacobs sinirlerimi bozmuş ve kitabın başları gereğinden durgun olsa da devamı çok güzeldi. Sonu belki biraz daha çarpıcı olabilirdi ama beğendim.
krisloveskihei's review against another edition
4.0
I devoured this book - it was real, it was contemporary. This is the story of a woman and her relationships with her teenage daughter, her childhood best friend, her mother, and her past - and it was written by a man. I think he did a fantastic job capturing these complex female relationships. If you're a fan of Jonathan Tropper, you'll enjoy the book, although it doesn't have the same level of hilarity. I download a lot from NetGalley, and so far this is the best thing I've read from there.
labarrec's review against another edition
3.0
There is no way the conflict eating the MC up inside was…that. And that it was resolved that easily.
twstdtink's review against another edition
3.0
Many of us fantasize about going back and telling off the school bully of our youth. But, other than a little social media stalking, most of us don’t actually do it. What starts off as an out-of-character outburst at a PTA meeting for Caroline, quickly turns into a road trip to her hometown to confront the frenemy of her childhood. With her headstrong teenage daughter as the copilot, what could go wrong? Everything.
carolpk's review against another edition
4.0
My sincere thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-galley to be published September 8, 2015.
Matthew Dicks has a way with picking interesting subjects and presenting them in unusual ways so I was hoping for the usual off the grid read. The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs didn’t disappoint. Dicks takes us back to all the horrors of high school, especially if you were on the outside looking in.
Caroline, a quiet, meek soul blows up with a capital F at a PTO meeting. When her daughter, Polly comes to her defense by physically assaulting the PTO President’s daughter, suspension is threatened. Caroline breaks her daughter out of the principal’s office and with only the clothes on their backs sets off on a road trip back home to face the woman, once her best friend, who dumped her without a backward glance. What ensues is heartfelt, often funny and thought provoking, allowing Caroline a creative, if late, comeback and a stronger relationship with her daughter.
Matthew Dicks day job as a teacher brings credibility to scenes of school politics and student life. Assuming he was also once a student, that experience clearly helped shape his novel.
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs (a perfect title) is a trip back in time that may dig up buried memories but may also offer a means to finally face them.
Matthew Dicks has a way with picking interesting subjects and presenting them in unusual ways so I was hoping for the usual off the grid read. The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs didn’t disappoint. Dicks takes us back to all the horrors of high school, especially if you were on the outside looking in.
Caroline, a quiet, meek soul blows up with a capital F at a PTO meeting. When her daughter, Polly comes to her defense by physically assaulting the PTO President’s daughter, suspension is threatened. Caroline breaks her daughter out of the principal’s office and with only the clothes on their backs sets off on a road trip back home to face the woman, once her best friend, who dumped her without a backward glance. What ensues is heartfelt, often funny and thought provoking, allowing Caroline a creative, if late, comeback and a stronger relationship with her daughter.
Matthew Dicks day job as a teacher brings credibility to scenes of school politics and student life. Assuming he was also once a student, that experience clearly helped shape his novel.
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs (a perfect title) is a trip back in time that may dig up buried memories but may also offer a means to finally face them.