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horsley123's review against another edition
5.0
In these turbulent times a Sue Miller book is salve for the soul. Her gentle narration guides you through the ups and downs of a marriage, the tightrope of parenting and a navigation of grief. Like all of her books this is an immensely satisfying take which I wholeheartedly recommend.
staciek3's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This was one of those books that was about nothing and everything. It was a story about complicated relationships. But it was more nuanced than that, because it was like a study on each character and their relationships. I enjoyed it like you might enjoy a piece of art that celebrates the ordinary. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author which I really enjoyed.
deniselk's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love it. I was interested enough to finish the book, but I wasn't wowed.
natalie12345's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is difficult to rate. It was slow and meandering, and I thought it was well done, but perhaps just not my style. I appreciated how well it showed the different sides of each character and their relationships with each other. Even when I didn't agree with, or sometimes even like, the character I found something that challenged my perception. They all had their own flaws and redemptions, and I found myself changing my opinion multiple times throughout which I think is the sign of a well written narrative.
katerb12's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 rounded down - this was boring! Didn’t despise it but definitely dragged my feet to finish it.
mackenzie_sitstudio's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aestheticism's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really really loved this. It set a higher standard of maturity and quality for me that will now make it even harder to like other books, but it is worth it of course.
The only thing i really didn’t like was the repetitiveness of getting multiple characters’ POV for one event that happened. I still think Miller did it better than most other authors that do it, and sometimes it was really strong emotionally, but there was too much of it for sure.
The first time that I've read death in a book and not only felt sadness that made me cry, but an actual anxious panic in empathy for the grief of the dead person’s loved ones.
The only thing i really didn’t like was the repetitiveness of getting multiple characters’ POV for one event that happened. I still think Miller did it better than most other authors that do it, and sometimes it was really strong emotionally, but there was too much of it for sure.
The first time that I've read death in a book and not only felt sadness that made me cry, but an actual anxious panic in empathy for the grief of the dead person’s loved ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
dscfrazier's review against another edition
2.0
If you like books in which the main conflict that was discussed in the inside book jacket finally begins two-thirds of the way into the book, then this is the book for you. What intrigued me into wanting to read the book was that the main character was going to find out a "ruinous secret" after her husband's death that would send "her into darkness and force her to question" if she really knew him. I don't think the book lived up to that. In fact, after she, Annie, found out about the secret, much of the book was then split between her, the two adult children, and the first wife. I didn't really care about their lives as it had nothing to do with Annie dealing with the secret. They didn't even know the secret, nor were they wondering why she was acting differently in her grief. What was the point of focusing on them? But I guess that was needed since right after the husband, Graham, died, three chapters were spent on how those three characters got the news of his death and their reactions.
marnella's review against another edition
3.0
Audiobook - I finished this book which is more than I can say for the last Sue Miller book I read. She writes well and she has some really good thoughts/insights on ideas. This book even showed a love that was special but she fails to make me care or relate to the characters and lacks a forward moving plot.