A review by kylalala
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Silly little book but if you asked me on a deeper level it was a surprising pick for me. I didn’t expect it to go the way that it did because in a way, the book is marketed as a “family vacation gone wrong type” but it goes deeper into a misunderstood agoraphobic mother/artist and her daughter who idolizes her. I enjoyed it a lot. I always enjoy books written in the pov of a child because you have to read between the lines to further understand what is actually happening since children perceive things differently. Complex family dynamics veiled by a child’s perspective and desire to have a perfectly happy family. 
I liked the more open-form ending too.
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