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A review by wordsofclover
Everyone is Still Alive by Cathy Rentzenbrink
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Juliet and Liam aren't sure they will ever fit in when they move into her late mother's home with their young son Charlie. Magnolia Road is the picture perfect image of domesticity with big houses, and large cars and neighbors full of parenting and relationship advice. As Juliet begins to resent her own role in the house as breadwinner while her husband Liam hangs out with the other primary caregivers for content for his new novel, an accident puts everything into perspective.
I really enjoyed this - I thought it was a very good story that managed to capture that time in your 30s and 40s that is a bit manic, full of exhausting 9-5s, housework and parenting while also trying to upkeep a successful relationship and somehow not mess everything up. There is a slight element of Keeping Up The Joneses in it too as we see others covet what their neighbour has, or listen to everything the Queen Bee has to say.
I did keep expecting something really dark or twisty to happen and was surprised when it didn't and I realised this book wasn't a suspense or a thriller - it was just a slice of life, fiction book that still had me very much hooked on everyone's lives even though they were so normal. The characters surprised me as they all ended up being pretty decent people - again, just your average normal neighbours as you realise that while some people look like they have it altogether, they might be struggling themselves with other things and nothing is 100% happy for everyone all the time and everyone has their ups and downs be it with marriages, kids or work.
I listened to this on audiobook and found it really enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this - I thought it was a very good story that managed to capture that time in your 30s and 40s that is a bit manic, full of exhausting 9-5s, housework and parenting while also trying to upkeep a successful relationship and somehow not mess everything up. There is a slight element of Keeping Up The Joneses in it too as we see others covet what their neighbour has, or listen to everything the Queen Bee has to say.
I did keep expecting something really dark or twisty to happen and was surprised when it didn't and I realised this book wasn't a suspense or a thriller - it was just a slice of life, fiction book that still had me very much hooked on everyone's lives even though they were so normal. The characters surprised me as they all ended up being pretty decent people - again, just your average normal neighbours as you realise that while some people look like they have it altogether, they might be struggling themselves with other things and nothing is 100% happy for everyone all the time and everyone has their ups and downs be it with marriages, kids or work.
I listened to this on audiobook and found it really enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief