katdid's review against another edition
3.0
This was a bit disappointing after The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, but to be fair almost anything would be. I wasn’t really invested in either storyline, except to say that I did quite like Elina and would have liked to know more about her. I dunno; I just felt that Lexie’s story — while O’Farrell really nailed the idioms of speech, I thought, and was great at setting a scene — was kind of one-dimensional in a way, by which I think I mean almost… boring?
Spoiler
I was kind of disturbed, in reading, how Ted was kind of obsessed with holding onto her and seemed to treat impregnating her as a way of binding her to him, but after you find out that Lexie was his mum and he’s repressed all memory of her and her death it makes sense from a psychology perspective I suppose.highwaycrossingfrog's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jletra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical content
readlikeanerd's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It's fairly easy to read and holds some really fascinating characters. I was especially intrigued by the split time zones, and liked the way it moulded into one at certain times. This book could almost be classed under the 'Mystery' genre, the way it slowly begins to unfold its secrets to the reader. At times it could make you gasp aloud, mutter the occasional curse, and cause you to feel the sting of tears threatening to overtake you. Overall, I was left feeling satisfied with the story of Lexie, and that Ted and Elina's lives, though slightly tarnished, would continue as I hoped.
afterhours's review against another edition
4.0
enjoyed a lot, recommended read :)
2 stories about two different women living in two different times, read alongside each other, linked together at the end of the novel as the connections are revealed bit by bit, great character development
love Maggie O'Farrell style of writing
2 stories about two different women living in two different times, read alongside each other, linked together at the end of the novel as the connections are revealed bit by bit, great character development
love Maggie O'Farrell style of writing
ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful, wonderful story. I was absolutely captivated from start to finish. All the characters really lived in my mind as I read, and I adored Lexie. The two strands of story are woven together so cleverly, and everything about this book worked for me. An award winning book that actually deserves the award.
reeseinnyc's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
loisjelo2's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moving mediation on motherhood, the love a mother has for her child, and the struggle to be an artist when also a mother
myfrogmonster's review against another edition
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? No
3.0
The audiobook was well done. The narrator did a great job of bringing the different characters to life. As a big fan of this author I can say I liked it but I found it at times slow and tedious. I will chalk this one up as a story I was just not that into. I would guess others would love this as it has the usual beautiful style and voice that Maggie O'Farrell does so very well.