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A review by mari1532
A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I first heard about this book from Lilly's Library, Lilly Singh's book club. Her description of the book sounded interesting so I checked the audiobook out of my library.
Imagine that Ocean's 8 had half the people in on the heist and was set aboard the Titanic. Now add a friend turned rival who thinks he is an expert con artist, a noisy floor matron, and the interworkings of a found family and you have the basic ingredients of this book.
When I tell you that Jaigirdar's writing is fantastic in this book it does not even feel close to being an accurate description. The way that she was able to interweave the perspectives of the four central characters (Josefa, Emilie, Hinnah, and Violet) and made me love each and every one of them honestly didn't feel fair as they are not real people and I cannot in fact become a member of their friend group. Furthermore, the fact that this book was set on the Titanic and Jaigirdar included a countdown truly gave me the worst anxiety because you know what is coming in terms of the ship, but as the reader you have absolutely no idea what that will mean for the characters that she has spent the better part of the novel making you fall in love with.
The found family dynamics of the four women were also so beautiful. The way that they are thrown together by their respective circumstances, but learn to work together was beautiful to watch unfold. I particularly liked how the friendship dynamics were being tested and growing as a romance was blooming. It was so heartwarming.
My only note about this book is very minor and not having the answer to it does not make me love this book any less, but did Matron Wallace steal the hairclip or did she find it? And if she stole it why would she then point the finger for an item that she stole? If she found it why did she keep it? Did they not have a lost and found on the Titanic?
If you love books with strong female characters and chosen families I highly recommend this book. Also if you love a good heist plot line this one does not disappoint. Highly recommend. Absolutely one of my favourite books of the year!
Imagine that Ocean's 8 had half the people in on the heist and was set aboard the Titanic. Now add a friend turned rival who thinks he is an expert con artist, a noisy floor matron, and the interworkings of a found family and you have the basic ingredients of this book.
When I tell you that Jaigirdar's writing is fantastic in this book it does not even feel close to being an accurate description. The way that she was able to interweave the perspectives of the four central characters (Josefa, Emilie, Hinnah, and Violet) and made me love each and every one of them honestly didn't feel fair as they are not real people and I cannot in fact become a member of their friend group. Furthermore, the fact that this book was set on the Titanic and Jaigirdar included a countdown truly gave me the worst anxiety because you know what is coming in terms of the ship, but as the reader you have absolutely no idea what that will mean for the characters that she has spent the better part of the novel making you fall in love with.
The found family dynamics of the four women were also so beautiful. The way that they are thrown together by their respective circumstances, but learn to work together was beautiful to watch unfold. I particularly liked how the friendship dynamics were being tested and growing as a romance was blooming. It was so heartwarming.
If you love books with strong female characters and chosen families I highly recommend this book. Also if you love a good heist plot line this one does not disappoint. Highly recommend. Absolutely one of my favourite books of the year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Classism
This book is set on the Titanic and as a result death, specifically death by drowning is discussed.