A review by lilibetbombshell
This Golden State, by Marit Weisenberg
3.0
The potential for this book was large. Huge, in my opinion. I had looked forward to reading it, and was fully invested at the very start.
But there’s the rub: I was fully invested ONLY at the start.
After a rather suspenseful and exciting first quarter of the book, the book just slogged for me. It moved slowly and I found myself struggling to keep reading.
The last 20% of the book had me rallying a little, but by that point I wasn’t sure I even cared all that much about the fate of our main character and her family. Ultimately, I just felt ambivalent about it all in the end.
The book has a hazy, summer feel to it, and that fits. Like this family has one halcyon summer in California that’s going to turn their world upside down. Had it leaned into the suspense a little more, or at least picked up the pacing a bit throughout the middle section of the book, I feel it could’ve been so much better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for early access to this title in exchange for a fair and honest review. Due to the 3 star rating, this review will not be posted to me social media accounts.
But there’s the rub: I was fully invested ONLY at the start.
After a rather suspenseful and exciting first quarter of the book, the book just slogged for me. It moved slowly and I found myself struggling to keep reading.
The last 20% of the book had me rallying a little, but by that point I wasn’t sure I even cared all that much about the fate of our main character and her family. Ultimately, I just felt ambivalent about it all in the end.
The book has a hazy, summer feel to it, and that fits. Like this family has one halcyon summer in California that’s going to turn their world upside down. Had it leaned into the suspense a little more, or at least picked up the pacing a bit throughout the middle section of the book, I feel it could’ve been so much better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for early access to this title in exchange for a fair and honest review. Due to the 3 star rating, this review will not be posted to me social media accounts.