bookedonbooks2020's review
4.0
Cul-de-sac by Joy Fielding was such a good read, I finished it in one morning. Going back and forth between 5 different families who live in the Cul-de-sac, I couldn't wait to find out where each families' story would go. As someone who is curious about my neighbors, this was a great read for peeking inside the lives of the people who live in a neighborhood and proves that the grass isn't always greener on the other side and every family has their own secrets and flaws.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
thelucyjones's review
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Rape, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
sandycruzlab's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tamaralgage1's review
5.0
WOW … By the time I got to the end of this book, I could not put it down. For those of you that know me, NO I DID NOT READ THE END. So I had to stay up well past midnight to see who would kill who in this highly dysfunctional neighbor/family dynamic.
For 5 years of my life, I lived on a Cul-de-sac and somehow I feel cheated. Or perhaps I am the teenager that is so self-absorbed that I didn't even notice what was going on with the rest of the neighbors. But I believe that just about every social issue is covered by at least one of the families. Now, roll them all into a ball (or Cul de Sac) and least see what happens.
Just a heads up … there are a lot of characters and storylines. I keep notes of the character names, who was married to who, children, the helicopter mother in law, the struggling PTSD character(s), … Don't worry about who owns guns. They all do. I rated this book a 5* because it was very entertaining and I learned more than I ever wanted to about life.
For 5 years of my life, I lived on a Cul-de-sac and somehow I feel cheated. Or perhaps I am the teenager that is so self-absorbed that I didn't even notice what was going on with the rest of the neighbors. But I believe that just about every social issue is covered by at least one of the families. Now, roll them all into a ball (or Cul de Sac) and least see what happens.
Just a heads up … there are a lot of characters and storylines. I keep notes of the character names, who was married to who, children, the helicopter mother in law, the struggling PTSD character(s), … Don't worry about who owns guns. They all do. I rated this book a 5* because it was very entertaining and I learned more than I ever wanted to about life.
calmcelebration9888's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book cover to cover. I was concerned that there were too many characters to keep track of but by the end of the book I was interested in each character’s fate. This book read to me very much like Desperate Housewives. A bunch of families on a street, each with their own secrets. An abusive husband, a husband lying to his wife, a traumatized wife, a vet with PTSD and a young couple with a meddling mother in law. This book is extremely well written and exciting without being the standard thriller.
crystalbrutlag's review
It's been a few months since I read this book and this is a prime example of why I should write reviews faster. Here are my thoughts when I see this book on my list for 2o22:
1. Oh yeah! I read that.
2. I thought it was going to be YA for some reason but it wasn't.
3. I enjoyed it!
4. What's it about? Neighbors and someone's murdered?
5. I don't really remember...
6. I'm pretty sure it's a Liane Moriarty type of book so maybe fans of her will like it.
1. Oh yeah! I read that.
2. I thought it was going to be YA for some reason but it wasn't.
3. I enjoyed it!
4. What's it about? Neighbors and someone's murdered?
5. I don't really remember...
6. I'm pretty sure it's a Liane Moriarty type of book so maybe fans of her will like it.
badger5815's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
zaisgraph's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hot damn this is very good. There is one mystery here, who dies? Then again, it is not a mystery mystery more like an explanation on how it got to that point... I just kept guessing which house it will be. Boy oh boy this novel was entertaining. I really felt like a fly on the wall and the pace was very fast. Additionally, I just love that this was written by a senior citizen.
Honestly feel that this would've been better if the POV was first-person. Other than that, I'm glad to have picked this one up!
Honestly feel that this would've been better if the POV was first-person. Other than that, I'm glad to have picked this one up!
teresadennis's review
2.0
Succinctly, all the men are flawed and all the women have problems-mostly caused by the men.