A review by bunceyyy
Cape May by Chip Cheek
3.0
Many thanks to Netgalley and Orion for an advance e-copy of this book.
Both the book’s blurb and other reviewers have done a good job of summarising the plot of this novel, so I won’t go over it again!
I did enjoy ‘Cape May’ - I got through it quite quickly (which, for me, is a good sign) and found myself wanting to make time to read it, and/or looking forward to my commute, as that’s my best opportunity to read. I thought Cheek did a good job at building an atmosphere, and introducing interesting and engaging characters. I can see why people think they’re unlikeable, but personally don’t think this is necessarily a negative point. However, I feel that the character development was lacking, and they’d often do/say things that felt jarring and mismatched to how they had previously been presented. The description makes it seem like you’ll get to know each of the five main characters, and - as someone else has mentioned - I was especially keen to get into Effie’s head. At first Cheek does switch perspectives quite frequently, but as you get into the novel, the action focuses almost solely on Henry - who really doesn’t have any redeeming features, and is therefore rather uninteresting. Whilst I didn’t find it slow, there is a very long build up; the main crux of the plot doesn’t happen until a good two thirds of the way through, and then it is all wrapped up rather quickly (almost hastily). This is especially true of the last chapter, which basically summarises the rest of Effie and Henry’s lives. It feels like the author thinks he owes you an ending, when it may have been more powerful (albeit frustrating; again, not necessarily a bad thing) to have ended it without this very specific conclusion. I also think that as the author went to the effort of tying up Effie and Henry’s stories, he may as well have told us what happens to the other three characters too, but they just disappear, never to be heard from again - which seems unlikely.
I would recommend this as a quick, fun, and light read - perhaps a good holiday choice. I am keen to see where Cheek’s career goes, and will be sure to pick up his next novel.
Both the book’s blurb and other reviewers have done a good job of summarising the plot of this novel, so I won’t go over it again!
I did enjoy ‘Cape May’ - I got through it quite quickly (which, for me, is a good sign) and found myself wanting to make time to read it, and/or looking forward to my commute, as that’s my best opportunity to read. I thought Cheek did a good job at building an atmosphere, and introducing interesting and engaging characters. I can see why people think they’re unlikeable, but personally don’t think this is necessarily a negative point. However, I feel that the character development was lacking, and they’d often do/say things that felt jarring and mismatched to how they had previously been presented. The description makes it seem like you’ll get to know each of the five main characters, and - as someone else has mentioned - I was especially keen to get into Effie’s head. At first Cheek does switch perspectives quite frequently, but as you get into the novel, the action focuses almost solely on Henry - who really doesn’t have any redeeming features, and is therefore rather uninteresting. Whilst I didn’t find it slow, there is a very long build up; the main crux of the plot doesn’t happen until a good two thirds of the way through, and then it is all wrapped up rather quickly (almost hastily). This is especially true of the last chapter, which basically summarises the rest of Effie and Henry’s lives. It feels like the author thinks he owes you an ending, when it may have been more powerful (albeit frustrating; again, not necessarily a bad thing) to have ended it without this very specific conclusion. I also think that as the author went to the effort of tying up Effie and Henry’s stories, he may as well have told us what happens to the other three characters too, but they just disappear, never to be heard from again - which seems unlikely.
I would recommend this as a quick, fun, and light read - perhaps a good holiday choice. I am keen to see where Cheek’s career goes, and will be sure to pick up his next novel.