Scan barcode
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Wish I’d had a box of tissues near the end. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite writers. Her characters are well developed. In this case, I found nearly wanting both Birdie and Jack to have affairs, but for different reasons. I wanted to root Birdie on and cheer for her; while I wanted another reason to vilify Jack. Whether they had one or not will be up to you to discover in your own, but that’s what I mean about the character development.
Loved Anita. I think she deserves a spinoff story of her own, and maybe Birdie’s mother too. Her daughters were the weakest part of the story for me - more accessories to Jack’s conscience than anything else.
Not sure if I space ended the book the same way, but I’m fully satisfied nonetheless, though I still wish Jack would’ve suffered a little bit more.
Loved Anita. I think she deserves a spinoff story of her own, and maybe Birdie’s mother too. Her daughters were the weakest part of the story for me - more accessories to Jack’s conscience than anything else.
Not sure if I space ended the book the same way, but I’m fully satisfied nonetheless, though I still wish Jack would’ve suffered a little bit more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Outing, Abandonment, and Alcohol
gquartin's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
coak's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
mwagers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emilyacv's review against another edition
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
2.5
In fairness, I don’t think this book is for me. This is different from the other Kristin Hannah’s books I’ve read in that it isn’t historical fiction. My thoughts are: the men in this book SUCK. And it isn’t called out enough!!! And tell me why we follow Elizabeth’s journey of rediscovering her passion for painting, and then she doesn’t sell a single dang painting at her first gallery show, but her icky husband gets offered his dream job!?? Make it make sense!!! And she moves to NYC like he wanted her to all along when she wanted to stay in Oregon??? Wtf I just think we lost the plot. Would not recommend.
bookhoarder76's review against another edition
1.0
OK I LOVE KH books but my goodness I've read over 30% of this book and I'm bored out of my mind. I don't care about these characters or what they do or what happens to them. It's time to put it down and move on to another read! I was really undecided on reading this after seeing so many bad reviews I thought surely not a KH book! Pfft should have listened! Not wasting anymore of my time on this one....moving on!
lkm706's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
emilybutynski's review against another edition
3.0
I think I may have found myself in something of a slump of Kristin Hannah’s. I’ve enjoyed all of her books, but some so much more than others. This one was good, but nothing that blew me away. I liked it, but I don’t know if I’d pick it up again in a few years, like I might be inspired to do with some of her others.
Jack and Elizabeth (Birdie) Stone and been married for 24 years. They have two daughters, both in college. With the girls out of the house, the couple have been having a hard time finding their way. Jack used to be a famous football star, until he injured his knees, and then he was a famous sportscaster, until he ruined his big opportunity. For years he’s been fighting his way back to the top, searching for his big break. Meanwhile, Elizabeth has an empty nest. She gave up her passions when she married Jack and had his children, and now she has to find her way back to herself.
A tragic event has the effect of bringing Elizabeth to her senses, and she begins to challenge the role she’s fallen into. Instead, she shocks her family and begins to come into her own.
Stop here for spoilers ***
Elizabeth’s father dies, and Jack gets a job in New York, the big break he’s been waiting for. Elizabeth decides not to follow him to New York, where she doesn’t want to be, and stays in their house in Oregon, the house she wants to make a home after their multitude of moves over the last 20 years. Elizabeth finally begins to paint again, and forges a relationship with her not-so-evil stepmother. She meets women in the community who become her true friends, not just the women she knew from volunteer gigs. She learns about herself and her passions, and who she can be on her own. Ultimately she realizes that even though she can be on her own, she wants to be with Jack. She applies for art graduate school in New York and they get back together.
I love love; I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. But this just wasn’t my favorite story. The beginning took too long to get going, and skipped over so much. Then the rest of the story, while Elizabeth is painting, seemed so rushed. It seemed like she took Jack back so quickly. And he never told her he’d cheated on her while they were separated! Of course I wanted them to get back together, but that was important information that he kept from her. Overall, this book just felt like it wasn’t quite ready. It had a lot of good points, and I love that Elizabeth was able to grow into herself, and have her own opportunities, I just wanted more.
Jack and Elizabeth (Birdie) Stone and been married for 24 years. They have two daughters, both in college. With the girls out of the house, the couple have been having a hard time finding their way. Jack used to be a famous football star, until he injured his knees, and then he was a famous sportscaster, until he ruined his big opportunity. For years he’s been fighting his way back to the top, searching for his big break. Meanwhile, Elizabeth has an empty nest. She gave up her passions when she married Jack and had his children, and now she has to find her way back to herself.
A tragic event has the effect of bringing Elizabeth to her senses, and she begins to challenge the role she’s fallen into. Instead, she shocks her family and begins to come into her own.
Stop here for spoilers ***
Elizabeth’s father dies, and Jack gets a job in New York, the big break he’s been waiting for. Elizabeth decides not to follow him to New York, where she doesn’t want to be, and stays in their house in Oregon, the house she wants to make a home after their multitude of moves over the last 20 years. Elizabeth finally begins to paint again, and forges a relationship with her not-so-evil stepmother. She meets women in the community who become her true friends, not just the women she knew from volunteer gigs. She learns about herself and her passions, and who she can be on her own. Ultimately she realizes that even though she can be on her own, she wants to be with Jack. She applies for art graduate school in New York and they get back together.
I love love; I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. But this just wasn’t my favorite story. The beginning took too long to get going, and skipped over so much. Then the rest of the story, while Elizabeth is painting, seemed so rushed. It seemed like she took Jack back so quickly. And he never told her he’d cheated on her while they were separated! Of course I wanted them to get back together, but that was important information that he kept from her. Overall, this book just felt like it wasn’t quite ready. It had a lot of good points, and I love that Elizabeth was able to grow into herself, and have her own opportunities, I just wanted more.
booksbymonth's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Some may need tissues for this novel. It's definitely a unique take on middle age and almost like mid life crisis and empty nest. That's how I felt.