captainhayley's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vanessa_issa's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Amazon Crossing for the ARC via NetGalley!
"Imagine if your father knocked on your door, one day after his death, and if through a crazy twist of fate, you could suddenly spend a few more days with him? One week, and that’s all you get, to say everything left unsaid. You’re telling me you wouldn’t leap at that opportunity? As absurd as it seems?”
Julia and her father didn't get along so well for most of her life. He used to make her feel lonely, always being so controlling and distant. But then, he died on the day of her wedding and showed up on her door the next day. He was really dead, but somehow he found a way to be back for a few more days just to talk to her. At first, she got really freaked out and wasn't really into the idea of spending more time with him. But then, he convinced her that those days would be good for them. He needed a last chance to make her understand why things were the way they were in their family.
I believe most people would love to have second chances too. The book may seem a little cray cray at times, but it was a very nice read.
"Imagine if your father knocked on your door, one day after his death, and if through a crazy twist of fate, you could suddenly spend a few more days with him? One week, and that’s all you get, to say everything left unsaid. You’re telling me you wouldn’t leap at that opportunity? As absurd as it seems?”
Julia and her father didn't get along so well for most of her life. He used to make her feel lonely, always being so controlling and distant. But then, he died on the day of her wedding and showed up on her door the next day. He was really dead, but somehow he found a way to be back for a few more days just to talk to her. At first, she got really freaked out and wasn't really into the idea of spending more time with him. But then, he convinced her that those days would be good for them. He needed a last chance to make her understand why things were the way they were in their family.
I believe most people would love to have second chances too. The book may seem a little cray cray at times, but it was a very nice read.
jenbsbooks's review
3.0
I quite liked this (3.5 stars), but I admit to having some questions and confusions. This is when it would be nice to have a book club to discuss some things with others who have read the book too. I listened to this in audio format (although on Kindle Unlimited, so at times I was able to peek back a the actual text and refresh here and there, but still feel as though I may have missed some stuff as I'm generally listening while doing other things). So although I have some picky points below, I really did enjoy this read.
This story is one of relationships and second chances, not just romantic, but between a parent and child. Some spoilers below ...
The first portion of the book sets everything up. Julia is about to get married to Adam. She is estranged from her father, they aren't sure if he'll even show. He doesn't ... because he dies right before. So instead of getting married on the coming Saturday, they have his funeral. Now, I guess I'm a little too logical about this, but I wonder if, having an entire wedding planned, venue, catering, guests, would I have pulled the plug at the last second, postponing, so I could have a funeral, where four people attended? Couldn't the body have gotten there a day sooner, or have been held for a day (have the funeral after the wedding, would have interfered with the honeymoon but not altered up everything and everyone else). I mean, if Julia had been super close to her father it would have been one thing, but in this case? I guess that would have defeated the whole story then though ...
I also didn't realize how old Julia was though, I'm thinking 36ish? Now I know, that's not "old" ... but it's older than my usual characters are (I do read a lot of YA, with teen characters, or in their 20s). Even just a tad older than "Friends" or "Sex in the City" characters? Julia IS set up in a career as a successful graphic designer, but I guess I still imagined her younger, in her 20s, especially with the whole wedding setting. Her age isn't an issue at all, except for a bit in the book when a portrait pulls her into a memory. Ironically, right before this (right before! I didn't catch it or pay attention during my original read but when I went to look back to see how this "memory portion" looked in print) Julia announces "I'm an adult in my 30s" and then the memory starts with "Julia had turned 18 in 1989" ... now, I turned 18 in 1989. I am married with five kids, one who is married himself now. So, this just messed with my mind (throw in the fact that the book is several years old, so that adds another 10+ years for me that I wasn't really thinking about). Originally I'm thinking of Julia as a 20-something girl, about to get married, and then THIS says "she's the same age as YOU" ... that broke my brain a little. So much so that for a minute there I wondered if this whole "memory" was some paranormal time shift, but no, just a regular memory.
With the introduction of Thomas (and listening to the audio edition, pronounced "to-mas" for which I'm grateful, more foreign sounding than regular old Tom-as, as he was foreign) the story turns a little to tracking him down. Julia thought he was dead all these years, but no ... there was a letter. Her father had it, never read it (later this made me wonder too) and now Julia and her father try to find him. Here, it is a bit formulaic. Of course she finds him, and they are reunited. Not without hiccups, but in the end...
Then there is the final twist ... not really an unexpected twist though. More believable than the actual premise of the robot, looking exactly like her father, with all the memories and interactive abilities. So, it was really was him all along which means ... the whole thing was a ruse. So, he got the invitation to Julia's wedding and panicked, realizing that she should have been with Thomas all along. Now, not knowing what has happened with Thomas in almost 20 years (is he still alive now, is he married with children, would he have any interest in Julia now) dear Daddy decides to fake his death to prevent the wedding from taking place, pretends to be a robot to spend some time with his daughter after his "death", plants a picture of said suitor from 20 years ago for daughter to see and reminisce about (good thing she was still in love with her first love, not her finance), reveal the letter (not knowing what it said? I know Daddy put all the other letters in Julia's apartment at the end and he never denied reading them) and then successfully track down Thomas for the ultimate reunion, which then hits a snag with a miscommunication, and then Dad leaves forever without really having anything resolved. I know we readers are supposed to suspend disbelief for the whole "robot" thing ... not sure which is stretching it more, that idea or the "actual" stuff that went on.
Again ... while my review seems critical, I enjoyed the story quite a bit and it is one that will stick in my memory. The narrator was fine. There were some shifts in the storyline ... in the book they were marked with ****** which is a strong visual notification that the scene is changing. Although there was a slightly longer than normal pause between paragraphs in the audio, the shift was still always abrupt and confusing, I wondered if an even longer pause, or even some sort of sound (a trill or something, equivalent to the **** but audibly) would have helped me with those shifts within chapters.
This story is one of relationships and second chances, not just romantic, but between a parent and child. Some spoilers below ...
The first portion of the book sets everything up. Julia is about to get married to Adam. She is estranged from her father, they aren't sure if he'll even show. He doesn't ... because he dies right before. So instead of getting married on the coming Saturday, they have his funeral. Now, I guess I'm a little too logical about this, but I wonder if, having an entire wedding planned, venue, catering, guests, would I have pulled the plug at the last second, postponing, so I could have a funeral, where four people attended? Couldn't the body have gotten there a day sooner, or have been held for a day (have the funeral after the wedding, would have interfered with the honeymoon but not altered up everything and everyone else). I mean, if Julia had been super close to her father it would have been one thing, but in this case? I guess that would have defeated the whole story then though ...
I also didn't realize how old Julia was though, I'm thinking 36ish? Now I know, that's not "old" ... but it's older than my usual characters are (I do read a lot of YA, with teen characters, or in their 20s). Even just a tad older than "Friends" or "Sex in the City" characters? Julia IS set up in a career as a successful graphic designer, but I guess I still imagined her younger, in her 20s, especially with the whole wedding setting. Her age isn't an issue at all, except for a bit in the book when a portrait pulls her into a memory. Ironically, right before this (right before! I didn't catch it or pay attention during my original read but when I went to look back to see how this "memory portion" looked in print) Julia announces "I'm an adult in my 30s" and then the memory starts with "Julia had turned 18 in 1989" ... now, I turned 18 in 1989. I am married with five kids, one who is married himself now. So, this just messed with my mind (throw in the fact that the book is several years old, so that adds another 10+ years for me that I wasn't really thinking about). Originally I'm thinking of Julia as a 20-something girl, about to get married, and then THIS says "she's the same age as YOU" ... that broke my brain a little. So much so that for a minute there I wondered if this whole "memory" was some paranormal time shift, but no, just a regular memory.
With the introduction of Thomas (and listening to the audio edition, pronounced "to-mas" for which I'm grateful, more foreign sounding than regular old Tom-as, as he was foreign) the story turns a little to tracking him down. Julia thought he was dead all these years, but no ... there was a letter. Her father had it, never read it (later this made me wonder too) and now Julia and her father try to find him. Here, it is a bit formulaic. Of course she finds him, and they are reunited. Not without hiccups, but in the end...
Then there is the final twist ... not really an unexpected twist though. More believable than the actual premise of the robot, looking exactly like her father, with all the memories and interactive abilities. So, it was really was him all along which means ... the whole thing was a ruse. So, he got the invitation to Julia's wedding and panicked, realizing that she should have been with Thomas all along. Now, not knowing what has happened with Thomas in almost 20 years (is he still alive now, is he married with children, would he have any interest in Julia now) dear Daddy decides to fake his death to prevent the wedding from taking place, pretends to be a robot to spend some time with his daughter after his "death", plants a picture of said suitor from 20 years ago for daughter to see and reminisce about (good thing she was still in love with her first love, not her finance), reveal the letter (not knowing what it said? I know Daddy put all the other letters in Julia's apartment at the end and he never denied reading them) and then successfully track down Thomas for the ultimate reunion, which then hits a snag with a miscommunication, and then Dad leaves forever without really having anything resolved. I know we readers are supposed to suspend disbelief for the whole "robot" thing ... not sure which is stretching it more, that idea or the "actual" stuff that went on.
Again ... while my review seems critical, I enjoyed the story quite a bit and it is one that will stick in my memory. The narrator was fine. There were some shifts in the storyline ... in the book they were marked with ****** which is a strong visual notification that the scene is changing. Although there was a slightly longer than normal pause between paragraphs in the audio, the shift was still always abrupt and confusing, I wondered if an even longer pause, or even some sort of sound (a trill or something, equivalent to the **** but audibly) would have helped me with those shifts within chapters.
valeblanc's review against another edition
5.0
So many reviews commenting on the cliches and romanticisms of the book. But I have to say I loved every second of it. So much so that I stayed up till 3 am to listen to the last 3 hours. I cried so hard at so many of the conversations Julia had with her father, at her disappointments, her reunions. I only wish they had explained everything- though I suppose leaving something up to your imagination is a good thing.
ssquish's review against another edition
3.0
Fun beach read with some globe trotting and history thrown in.
dianak29's review against another edition
3.0
I was excited and looking forward to reading this book. I thought Julia was a bit annoying, and was hoping for more father/daughter conversation. There were a few great parts, but I felt a little disappointed. I guess I was expecting more.
kimmiej's review against another edition
1.0
Well I had to do... after over a year trying to finish this book I finally just put it up, and gave up on it... I read the back of the book when I first got it and thought "Wow this book sounds like a great discovery of self and family". And it may be... but there was a twist at the start that then hints to another twit that makes the first twist pointless and I just couldn't get over that. In fact it really upset me, and seemed way to unrealistic for me.. and I'm the girl who likes to read syfy books. I've seen the reviews and there are a lot of people who seem to like this book , but it just wasn't for me. I tired and it's a no for me.
sci_mom's review against another edition
3.0
I got this through a Goodreads Giveaway. It is mostly a nice, easy read that often wanders into perfectly, charming territory, but it isn't earth-shaking literature. I would have given it 4 stars, but I spent a lot of time being annoyed with Julia who came across as a spoiled rotten child who turned into a spoiled rotten adult. If everything wasn't exactly the way she wanted it, then someone got blamed and she made them pay with her bad moods and tantrums. I really did want to feel sorry for her and connect with her in some way, but it was impossible. All of the other characters make it a book worth reading, especially Stanley and Anthony.