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eviesellers's review against another edition
4.0
this was a really good, extremely interesting novel! the dual perspectives built suspense and created lots of interesting parallels between the two main characters. the plot was fantastic, with the twist near the end unexpected but well-done.
there were 2 main areas i was confused about:
- at the end of the book, alice is drinking tea; this is immediately following the chapters where alice discovers that nellie drank an abortive tea to induce the abortion of her abusive husband's baby. was alice drinking this same kind of tea? especially following the argument with nate in the previous chapter, it would make some sense. this point was left ambiguous, likely intentionally, and i can't tell if i liked that or not.
- the book also seemed to hint at nellie being a ghost haunting the house but never confirmed it. would have loved to have this idea explored further!
there were 2 main areas i was confused about:
- at the end of the book, alice is drinking tea; this is immediately following the chapters where alice discovers that nellie drank an abortive tea to induce the abortion of her abusive husband's baby. was alice drinking this same kind of tea? especially following the argument with nate in the previous chapter, it would make some sense. this point was left ambiguous, likely intentionally, and i can't tell if i liked that or not.
- the book also seemed to hint at nellie being a ghost haunting the house but never confirmed it. would have loved to have this idea explored further!
beejumpe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
dacey__'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
debz57a52's review against another edition
4.5
I think books with parallel stories in the same place, but across different times is a really interesting conceit, and I've found engagement in the few books like that that I've read. This might be my favorite, though.
Alice gave up her busy life in the busy city and her busy job to settle into a sweet old home in the suburbs with her husband, who had just gotten a work transfer. Honestly, I did the same thing a few years ago, so I understood the way Alice felt a little unmoored. I, too, had never been much of a homemaker, but really tried to throw myself into it. I, too, was challenged by the expectations of society to provide, and unsure of what to do with my life when I wasn't meeting the needs of my husband and children and house. And eventually, I was bored of doing that and found a job similar to my old one, but maybe a little more sane.
Alice had no such luck, but she did have a stash of things in the basement from the former inhabitants, including Nellie, and she had a neighbor who was willing and able to be her friend and confidant when Alice needed someone.
Nellie's notes in her cookbook and her letters to her mother seemed innocuous, but as the story progresses, Alice notices slight hints here and there that maybe Nellie's life was not the idyllic stereotype of a 1950's housewife, and things turn a little dark. At the same time, Alice discovers that her life is not what she thought and she draws strength from Nellie's struggles. I appreciated Alice's more modern parallel to Nellie's experience - I think it was necessary to breakup the saccharine and dated expectations from back then. In the end, it felt a little like "Lamb to the Slaughter," in both timelines, and I didn't mind that in the least.
Alice gave up her busy life in the busy city and her busy job to settle into a sweet old home in the suburbs with her husband, who had just gotten a work transfer. Honestly, I did the same thing a few years ago, so I understood the way Alice felt a little unmoored. I, too, had never been much of a homemaker, but really tried to throw myself into it. I, too, was challenged by the expectations of society to provide, and unsure of what to do with my life when I wasn't meeting the needs of my husband and children and house. And eventually, I was bored of doing that and found a job similar to my old one, but maybe a little more sane.
Alice had no such luck, but she did have a stash of things in the basement from the former inhabitants, including Nellie, and she had a neighbor who was willing and able to be her friend and confidant when Alice needed someone.
Nellie's notes in her cookbook and her letters to her mother seemed innocuous, but as the story progresses, Alice notices slight hints here and there that maybe Nellie's life was not the idyllic stereotype of a 1950's housewife, and things turn a little dark. At the same time, Alice discovers that her life is not what she thought and she draws strength from Nellie's struggles. I appreciated Alice's more modern parallel to Nellie's experience - I think it was necessary to breakup the saccharine and dated expectations from back then.
vodzak's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
An entertaining read, but nothing more than that.
bookandbullet's review against another edition
I hate the main character and it is boring.
readerlas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
liakeller's review against another edition
3.0
I am a sucker for books with recipes in them. Told with 2 time lines that didn’t bother me as it helped the story unfold. Fun tidbits from 1950s with marriage advice - crazy stuff.
samdez's review against another edition
3.0
A solid 3.
I was invested in the 1950s plot line (Nellie) and entirely disinterested in the present day plot (Alice).
I found Alice extremely unlikeable, out of touch, and grasping at straws in an attempt to connect with Nellie’s circumstances when in reality their circumstances could not be more different.
Alice lies, oh does she lie, and for no reason at all. One of the most frustrating parts is that not all of her lies are even revealed and she faces no real consequences for her actions.
Bold claim: Nate was not wrong.
At first, I thought he was a real doe-doe head but by the end, I thought “Nate is the voice of reason! Leave! Please!”.
I was invested in the 1950s plot line (Nellie) and entirely disinterested in the present day plot (Alice).
I found Alice extremely unlikeable, out of touch, and grasping at straws in an attempt to connect with Nellie’s circumstances when in reality their circumstances could not be more different.
Alice lies, oh does she lie, and for no reason at all. One of the most frustrating parts is that not all of her lies are even revealed and she faces no real consequences for her actions.
Bold claim: Nate was not wrong.
At first, I thought he was a real doe-doe head but by the end, I thought “Nate is the voice of reason! Leave! Please!”.