jolleybethany's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ironspinesally's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
darla78's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I absolutely hated the protagonist throughout the entire book. While, I admit, the middle of the book had some hook, the rest of the story was painfully slow (made worse by an unfortunate incapacity to feel empathy for a character who basically lays down to die for the majority of the book). The ending is a fizzle; not redeeming enough to make up for the struggle to get to it.
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
3.0
Not thrilled with this one because it was extremely depressing. So many bad things happened in this family. The mom melted, the dad got sick, the oldest son goes haywire, the younger son goes missing for 9 years, and a daughter shows up. It's wishy-washy at the end with the kid, and that was supposed to be the conclusion. I don't know.. it was just very stressful. I am glad the child was alive, but it all happened by sheer coincidence. That made me feel weird about it because they had police looking. The lady who took him was known by the family, but she became way too ill to take care of even herself. The child had become very attached to his "father" though and feels torn between the two families. The whole thing was tremendously stressful and sad.
alexblackreads's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, just kind of boring and forgettable. If it had been just entertainment, I would have been okay with that, but it felt like it was trying so hard to have more substance than it did. All the characters were pretty unlikable (annoying more so than interesting), and I wasn't invested in anything. I like a good slow build family drama, but this didn't do a whole lot for me.
I think I had a lot of similar issues with this that I often have with Jodi Picoult, so I think if you enjoy a lot of Jodi Picoult's works, you may like this. Otherwise I'd maybe recommend giving it a pass.
I think I had a lot of similar issues with this that I often have with Jodi Picoult, so I think if you enjoy a lot of Jodi Picoult's works, you may like this. Otherwise I'd maybe recommend giving it a pass.
superleeni's review against another edition
3.0
The story of the kidnapping of Ben Cappadora being kidnapped is gripping and moving, but at times there is too much introspection from his mother, Beth. I found the way the older brother reacted to his brother's kidnapping interesting, and I would have liked that to be explored some more.
*spoilers*
I found the ending to be a little too convenient, that Ben came to the door years later asking if they wanted their lawns mowed. I was glad that he was found alive, but I think that there could have been better ways to end the book.
*spoilers*
I found the ending to be a little too convenient, that Ben came to the door years later asking if they wanted their lawns mowed. I was glad that he was found alive, but I think that there could have been better ways to end the book.
kmtheriault78's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5