Reviews

The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz

rrickman33's review

Go to review page

4.0

The story and the writing were 5 stars but I had to take a star off for Harrison’s chapters they were terrible. I skimmed every single one, I really didn’t care about his two year college journey murdering chickens

ipekreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

If you like family dramas this one was a really great one at that! A dad that has a past he needs to repent, a mom that only ever wanted the perfect family, IVF triplets that couldn't be more different than each other all drifting apart and a latecomer baby from a frozen embryo that is basically born just as everything is falling apart!

While it was long, I ended up really enjoying it. The narration by Julia Whelan was excellent, it really flew by! Most of the characters weren't easy to like and it's by no means a fast-paced book. The character studies were still interesting. And some of the questions it raised were great thinking points, perhaps because IVF is a topic so near to my heart.

Thank you netgalley and macmillan audio for the advanced listening copy of this one!

baraya's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

fanchera's review

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

megbellinger's review

Go to review page

challenging reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

vninny's review

Go to review page

emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

edhyndman's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nrzimm's review

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

momankara's review

Go to review page

4.0

I found the characters in this book really interesting (except for Harrison, who I would have considered too cartoonish to be real prior to the last presidential administration). It was just so painful to watch them navigate their own paths without any emotional support (but plenty of financial support). Emotional truth simply was not valued in their world in the same way that outward accompliments were, and they were all lost as a result. The parents weren't well drawn, and ended up being somewhat stereotypical, the narcissist and the martyr. And the children didn't know how to operate in the middle. The ending was a little too pat, and Phoebe kind of an unrealistically remarkable saviour. The Eli storyline had a good payoff. You always knew there was something there, but I did not guess that. I enjoyed the book.

katie01lynn's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75