lori_loves_reading's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first book I have read by this author and maybe that’s why I enjoyed it, no preconceived ideas about her style of writing. Yes, it was dark, but in a “Desperate Housewives” sort of way. Guess I’m glad I wasn’t born into money lol
aggressively_reads_books's review against another edition
1.0
Before I started reading this book I got a warning from a friend who said it was a disaster..
Yeah now I totally agree. The first 70ish pages were ok, but later it just went down hill.
This book isn't really in my normal genre but I wanted to read it anyway I just don't know if that was a mistake or not.
This book made me feel quite boring and annoyed because of the characters behavior, the writing could have made up for this so it would still be an ok book but it didn't.
Xx ReviewReviewNYC..
Yeah now I totally agree. The first 70ish pages were ok, but later it just went down hill.
This book isn't really in my normal genre but I wanted to read it anyway I just don't know if that was a mistake or not.
This book made me feel quite boring and annoyed because of the characters behavior, the writing could have made up for this so it would still be an ok book but it didn't.
Xx ReviewReviewNYC..
moriak's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this book on a whim, looking for some light reading and thinking it was a typical chick-lit novel. Instead, I got a story with various one-dimensional characters and implausible plots that it almost reads like a parody. The main family is so helpless, hopeless, and shallow that the psychopath is basically the only likable character, as he's the only one who shows any shred of intelligence. Actually, that's not true. The evil stepmother does as well. The character with whom we're supposed to sympathize, though, is so dense you almost have to side with her stepmother in their interactions.
karak's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't believe the suckage factor of this book. It was AWFUL.
kat_pines's review against another edition
3.0
I was so excited...an Anna Maxted book I missed! I got it at the library and it turns out I've read it before. So I guess it isn't very memorable.
lorynaman's review against another edition
3.0
I just want to say first off that I’m really sorry it took me so long to read/review this for my First Reads win. Master’s degree, marriage, buying a house…Anyways. (I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.)
Jack, Innocence, Claudia, and Emily Kent are rich. Filthy rich. The English family owns a chain of fancy hotels and because of this, they live a privileged life. Anything they could every want, they have. Despite this, the family is not happy.
Jack and Innocence do not have a good marriage. Claudia, Jack’s adopted daughter from his first marriage, is hated by Innocence and has her own array of problems from a horrific experience as a child. Emily, oh Emily. She’s a spoiled brat who has always gotten whatever she wants and in turn has no capacity for understanding compassion or any semblance of a decent human being. As you can see, it is easy to not like the Kent family. There is plenty to dislike and judge about them, and that is what a lot of this story boils down to.
Anna Maxted has written a story that has so many different plot lines going on it is sometimes hard to remember who is mad at who, who is an awful person or struggling to become better. I was actually surprised to see just how low a rating this book has on GoodReads. Granted, it’s not one of the best books I have read this year, but it wasn’t awful. I think that the main problem was Maxted tried to fit so much in, that it got a little convoluted and downright “roll your eyes” hard to believe. I know that novels have the option to take things above and beyond and allow the author to create situations that are hard to believe, but I think that was part of the problem with this story. It is hard to believe that these people could be that unlikeable. So unlikeable that you have a hard time reading about their lives, and their problems seem so pitiful compared to the fact that they are generally awful people a lot of the time. And then the Nathan plot line, it just felt a little forced.
For me, this is a good fluff read. Something to enjoy while on the beach or on vacation. I am interested to see what else Maxted has written, it seems that her fans were quite disappointed with this book because her others have been so solid. In the end, if you are looking for a fluff book to read, go for it.
Jack, Innocence, Claudia, and Emily Kent are rich. Filthy rich. The English family owns a chain of fancy hotels and because of this, they live a privileged life. Anything they could every want, they have. Despite this, the family is not happy.
Jack and Innocence do not have a good marriage. Claudia, Jack’s adopted daughter from his first marriage, is hated by Innocence and has her own array of problems from a horrific experience as a child. Emily, oh Emily. She’s a spoiled brat who has always gotten whatever she wants and in turn has no capacity for understanding compassion or any semblance of a decent human being. As you can see, it is easy to not like the Kent family. There is plenty to dislike and judge about them, and that is what a lot of this story boils down to.
Anna Maxted has written a story that has so many different plot lines going on it is sometimes hard to remember who is mad at who, who is an awful person or struggling to become better. I was actually surprised to see just how low a rating this book has on GoodReads. Granted, it’s not one of the best books I have read this year, but it wasn’t awful. I think that the main problem was Maxted tried to fit so much in, that it got a little convoluted and downright “roll your eyes” hard to believe. I know that novels have the option to take things above and beyond and allow the author to create situations that are hard to believe, but I think that was part of the problem with this story. It is hard to believe that these people could be that unlikeable. So unlikeable that you have a hard time reading about their lives, and their problems seem so pitiful compared to the fact that they are generally awful people a lot of the time. And then the Nathan plot line, it just felt a little forced.
For me, this is a good fluff read. Something to enjoy while on the beach or on vacation. I am interested to see what else Maxted has written, it seems that her fans were quite disappointed with this book because her others have been so solid. In the end, if you are looking for a fluff book to read, go for it.
reikifeet's review against another edition
2.0
The time-jumping and number of characters make it hard to read, and it's quite a long read as well, for a chick book.
Never got better.. good story but too much work, too many nights up past 3am trying to finish it.
Pick up Maxted's Behaving Like Adults instead.
Never got better.. good story but too much work, too many nights up past 3am trying to finish it.
Pick up Maxted's Behaving Like Adults instead.
ariereads's review against another edition
1.0
Ended up skimming through the end of the book, wanted to finish only because I hate to leave a book unfinished, not because of any merit in the book itself. Hated it.
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