A review by erikars
The Practice House by Laura McNeal

2.0

The characters struck me as shallow. That may have been intentional: the characters as ungrounded as the dirt in Kansas literally blowing away. It still resulted in me not feeling any particular sympathy for any of the characters and their plight.

Spoiler

One character this inconsistency showed strongly for was Ellie. Maybe it was just her way of showing disapproval for Aldine, but when they were in Kansas, Ellie was uptight and sanctimonious. In California, she was a completely different person. Not just happier, which is understandable, but almost unconnected from who she had been.The book used multiple viewpoints enough that this could have been handled by giving us just a hint of her perspective. Instead, we just see her change to a completely different person.
It's a pity, because Ellie's story of building a new life for her family despite hardships would have made for a better centerpiece than Aldine and Ansel's romance.

The plot was predictable and seemed to just plot along its course without the characters doing much to help it along.

Spoiler

Aldine was especially disappointing. She seemed like she would be a compelling character who took charge of her own life, but once she got to Kansas, she just drifted along.

The relationships are hollow.

Spoiler

As far as I can tell, Aldine falls for Ansel for little better reason than that he's an attractive and in her vicinity, the same reason Ansel and his son Clare both fall for her.

I didn't hate the book, but I was glad to be finished with it.