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mbkarapcik's review against another edition
2.0
Thea Demetriou thought the day would never come when she had to pick up her son Stefan from prison. He was convicted of killing his longtime girlfriend in cold blood, and, of course, the family harbors mixed feelings about his homecoming. Amid the protesters who frequently surround their home, Thea and her family try to somehow overcome the tragedy and lead her son toward his future.
Although I liked the premise of the book, I could not feel a ton of empathy for the son. Yes, he seems like a good kid until you find out what he did, and it's not like he was in a drunk driving accident--he violently murdered someone he loved. Excuses are made that he was under the influence of drugs. I found that hard to swallow plus, later in the book, it's stated that he allegedly had never been drunk before.
I felt empathy for the parents who struggle to live in their community as they had before with a loving family, fulfilling careers, and the coziness of a community of friends. Their lives are upended, especially Thea's in light of Stefan returning home.
But would you want to stay if your house is constantly surrounded by threatening protesters and news reporters trying to find out what they can about the family? And why didn't these people install a security system? They literally have a door that is not properly hung or has a busted lock.
Also, this part galled me most. I understand that the son is trying to get his life back, but how does he suddenly have this grand plan to run a charity and the motivation and wherewithal to get it off the ground running? And he starts this landscaping business without any prior knowledge about decorating the outside of people's homes.
In fact, he's a genius at landscape architecture even after being 17 and then locked up for murdering the beloved prom queen. This was so incredibly hard to believe, especially that people in the community didn't seem that uncomfortable about welcoming him aboard. I also found it hard to believe that an old high school friend brings him to a bunch of parties and get-togethers with his new crowd, and no one seems to be the least bit afraid of him, especially the women.
Once you get to the thriller part of the story, a few red herrings appear in the plot and then the ultimate twist comes at the very end of the book. Maybe a few hints are thrown in earlier, which did make it surprising, but it came off as confusing to me. Even incorporating this suspense made it seem like two different books colliding.
There are other discrepancies that I could point out, but all I can say is that I was disappointed. The writing flows and the descriptions of places and feelings help you easily imagine and relate to them, but it does not work with the sometimes disjointed story. It seemed like midway through the book, the author decided to change tacks and make it more into a thriller when I think it could have started out that way.
I'm not sure why this book couldn't have been better. Stronger editing or redirecting the plot perhaps? I've read a lot of the author's books, but I don't think this was a strong entry to her catalog.
Although I liked the premise of the book, I could not feel a ton of empathy for the son. Yes, he seems like a good kid until you find out what he did, and it's not like he was in a drunk driving accident--he violently murdered someone he loved. Excuses are made that he was under the influence of drugs. I found that hard to swallow plus, later in the book, it's stated that he allegedly had never been drunk before.
I felt empathy for the parents who struggle to live in their community as they had before with a loving family, fulfilling careers, and the coziness of a community of friends. Their lives are upended, especially Thea's in light of Stefan returning home.
But would you want to stay if your house is constantly surrounded by threatening protesters and news reporters trying to find out what they can about the family? And why didn't these people install a security system? They literally have a door that is not properly hung or has a busted lock.
Also, this part galled me most. I understand that the son is trying to get his life back, but how does he suddenly have this grand plan to run a charity and the motivation and wherewithal to get it off the ground running? And he starts this landscaping business without any prior knowledge about decorating the outside of people's homes.
In fact, he's a genius at landscape architecture even after being 17 and then locked up for murdering the beloved prom queen. This was so incredibly hard to believe, especially that people in the community didn't seem that uncomfortable about welcoming him aboard. I also found it hard to believe that an old high school friend brings him to a bunch of parties and get-togethers with his new crowd, and no one seems to be the least bit afraid of him, especially the women.
Once you get to the thriller part of the story, a few red herrings appear in the plot and then the ultimate twist comes at the very end of the book. Maybe a few hints are thrown in earlier, which did make it surprising, but it came off as confusing to me. Even incorporating this suspense made it seem like two different books colliding.
There are other discrepancies that I could point out, but all I can say is that I was disappointed. The writing flows and the descriptions of places and feelings help you easily imagine and relate to them, but it does not work with the sometimes disjointed story. It seemed like midway through the book, the author decided to change tacks and make it more into a thriller when I think it could have started out that way.
I'm not sure why this book couldn't have been better. Stronger editing or redirecting the plot perhaps? I've read a lot of the author's books, but I don't think this was a strong entry to her catalog.
lampbee's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really liked it in hindsight but the process / experience of reading it got very frustrating as the book went on. I felt like I was waiting for more information the entire book. The story of the mother and her son is really well done I think , and the idea of guilt and responsibility and vindication + revenge etc were all fleshed out well, but the actual driving force, the “mystery” element was almost so annoying as to make you stop caring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement
The story behind Stephan’s work to get himself back to a functional and worthwhile member of society is interesting , and you do find yourself hoping thatpenguins_save_lives's review against another edition
3.0
Part thriller and part family drama, this latest entry from Jacquelyn Mitchard lacks the focus and emotional punch of her previous works. Narrated from the perspective of Thea, whose son Stephan has just been released from prison, we get a glimpse of what it would be like to rejoin a community that overwhelmingly believes him to be a monster. The first half of the novel focuses on Stephan's reentry and his desire to turn a terrible mistake from his past into an opportunity for redemption. The second half is more of a thriller, where it's clear someone has it out for Thea's family. While the novel can't quite decide if it's about redemption or outrunning the bad guy, it does explore what redemption looks like, and what can be forgiven. There's a lot to discuss here, even if the book won't long be remembered.
mmc6661's review against another edition
3.0
Mitchard is always good if you like a domestic thriller with deep characters.
She did not disappoint with The Good Son.
Thea's son Stefan was a good son. Until at 17, while under the influence of drugs, he killed his childhood girlfriend in a brutal beating. Now three years later he is being released from prison. How do you pick up the pieces after something so tragic? Can you continue life as normal? Thea's family has been so broken but she has to try, for Stefan's sake. Stefan who can't remember what happened that terrible night. How could her son have done such a horrible thing? We think we know our kids but do we? Deep down though we question everything as Thea does.
It seems that she's not the only one that questions the murder and that someone is not happy her son is free now.
A well woven suspense that keeps you guessing till the end and makes you think, what would I do or believe?
She did not disappoint with The Good Son.
Thea's son Stefan was a good son. Until at 17, while under the influence of drugs, he killed his childhood girlfriend in a brutal beating. Now three years later he is being released from prison. How do you pick up the pieces after something so tragic? Can you continue life as normal? Thea's family has been so broken but she has to try, for Stefan's sake. Stefan who can't remember what happened that terrible night. How could her son have done such a horrible thing? We think we know our kids but do we? Deep down though we question everything as Thea does.
It seems that she's not the only one that questions the murder and that someone is not happy her son is free now.
A well woven suspense that keeps you guessing till the end and makes you think, what would I do or believe?
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
Can we ever really atone for the worst mistakes of our lives??
That is the question explored in this heartbreaking story about regrets, guilt and forgiveness as a family tries to recover and heal in the aftermath of a tragedy. Stefan was sent to prison for the drug-induced murder of his girlfriend of which he has no memory.
When he gets released there are lots of people up in arms in his small town. While his family is trying to be supportive, it is his mother, Thea that struggles potentially most of all and is getting harassed by mysterious phone calls from someone claiming to know more about what really happened that night.
Told from Thea’s perspective, I thought the premise was really good for this story. I empathized for Stefan and his mother deeply, but I felt it dragged waayyy too long! I appreciated the struggles and pain the family was going through but I wish it would have been faster paced. Getting to the end of the mystery was a slow torture but it did have a big shock ending I thought was well done if maybe a little predictable.
Recommended for fans of other stories about second chances and families dealing with tragedies like Reminders of him, A good neighborhood, or No hiding in Boise. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. This was well narrated by Vivienne Leheny, I probably wouldn't have finished if I didn't listen to the audiobook version of the book.
That is the question explored in this heartbreaking story about regrets, guilt and forgiveness as a family tries to recover and heal in the aftermath of a tragedy. Stefan was sent to prison for the drug-induced murder of his girlfriend of which he has no memory.
When he gets released there are lots of people up in arms in his small town. While his family is trying to be supportive, it is his mother, Thea that struggles potentially most of all and is getting harassed by mysterious phone calls from someone claiming to know more about what really happened that night.
Told from Thea’s perspective, I thought the premise was really good for this story. I empathized for Stefan and his mother deeply, but I felt it dragged waayyy too long! I appreciated the struggles and pain the family was going through but I wish it would have been faster paced. Getting to the end of the mystery was a slow torture but it did have a big shock ending I thought was well done if maybe a little predictable.
Recommended for fans of other stories about second chances and families dealing with tragedies like Reminders of him, A good neighborhood, or No hiding in Boise. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. This was well narrated by Vivienne Leheny, I probably wouldn't have finished if I didn't listen to the audiobook version of the book.
bpelle0207's review against another edition
1.0
DNF - my New Years resolution was to stop finishing books I was not enjoying and this is one of them.
The writing feels so clunky and unrealistic and just bizarre. It seems to be the book that will take until the very end to reveal something completely unworthy of having trudged through the book. I feel cringey for saying negative things after having not finished it but there you have it.
The writing feels so clunky and unrealistic and just bizarre. It seems to be the book that will take until the very end to reveal something completely unworthy of having trudged through the book. I feel cringey for saying negative things after having not finished it but there you have it.
brassbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I’ve come to the conclusion 2022 is the year I read books with such unlikable characters I’m surprised I haven’t thrown a book at a wall yet.
I managed to finish this quickly not because I enjoyed it so much, but because I just wanted to be done with it.
I feel like this had some potential… but ugh. Nope.
I managed to finish this quickly not because I enjoyed it so much, but because I just wanted to be done with it.
I feel like this had some potential… but ugh. Nope.
francinesisterreads's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
I found the premise of the book interesting, but felt the author didn't do the story justice. The writing felt disjointed and repetitive. At times I couldn't tell if the protagonist was taking about the present, the near past, or the past. It felt at times like the manuscript wasn't properly edited.
The mystery/thriller part of the story felt overdone, and drawn out, and I figured out the "twist" before it happened. The main characters garnered very little sympathy from me, and all of Stefan's accomplishments, especially while in prison felt very inauthentic. His dad Jep, seemed very detached from it all, and Thea struck me as very naïve in her expectations of what life would be like for her son after he left prison.
I also found that all of the support he did receive on leaving prison, and the things he was able to accomplish unbelievable, but I'm chalking that up to his privilege.
Not one I will be recommending.
I found the premise of the book interesting, but felt the author didn't do the story justice. The writing felt disjointed and repetitive. At times I couldn't tell if the protagonist was taking about the present, the near past, or the past. It felt at times like the manuscript wasn't properly edited.
The mystery/thriller part of the story felt overdone, and drawn out, and I figured out the "twist" before it happened. The main characters garnered very little sympathy from me, and all of Stefan's accomplishments, especially while in prison felt very inauthentic. His dad Jep, seemed very detached from it all, and Thea struck me as very naïve in her expectations of what life would be like for her son after he left prison.
I also found that all of the support he did receive on leaving prison, and the things he was able to accomplish unbelievable, but I'm chalking that up to his privilege.
Not one I will be recommending.
macrosinthemitten's review against another edition
3.0
Thea and Jep’s son Stefan had just been released from prison after being convicted of manslaughter. How the family begins to heal and move forward is the premise of this book. Stefan’s girlfriend Belinda died one night and while Stefan doesn’t remember what happened, enough evidence linked him to the crime. Thea begins to get texts and calls from a mysterious girl, claiming to know the truth but being afraid. As a series of harassing experiences pile up against Thea and Stefan, Thea begins to grow desperate to find out the truth.
The premise of this book sounded so good but it was so long and drawn out. I couldn’t believe that a mother who was convinced her son hadn’t committed the crime had waited so long to investigate it. Stefan worked hard but it seemed like all of his successes just fell into his lap. The last 60 or so pages got interesting and there was a strange twist at the end. Definitely not my favorite. 3/5 stars.
The premise of this book sounded so good but it was so long and drawn out. I couldn’t believe that a mother who was convinced her son hadn’t committed the crime had waited so long to investigate it. Stefan worked hard but it seemed like all of his successes just fell into his lap. The last 60 or so pages got interesting and there was a strange twist at the end. Definitely not my favorite. 3/5 stars.