I thought this was a lovely book infused with trauma informed care. I feel like both sisters make choices in their adult lives that are understandable if not always completely responsible. It takes a close look at forgiveness and the complicating factors that do or do not lead to it. Apparently it was originally billed as a mystery or a suspense novel and it definitely is not that - it's a book about families, love, and childhoods lost. It's also a bit of a travel ad for southern California and Auckland, New Zealand.
Half a star deducted for pretty pedestrian writing. The hat examples below will show you what I mean.
4.5/5 stars
Hat mentions (why hats?why hats?):
...I wonder if I need to grab my hat. (page 35)
...I leave the white cotton hat on the front seat...(page 35)
...I bring a broad-brimmed hat. (page 89)
...directing her three kids to put their hats back on, to stop tossing a ball among them, to sit down and stop leaning over the rail. (page 118-119)
She's wearing a simple blue sundress and no hat even in this awful land of skin cancers, plus jandals like mine on her feet. (page 221)
She has a hat in her hand, and she uses it to wave to me. (page 246)
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Do you think someone could write a book about the place you live and make it sound romantic? I'm not sure someone could pull that off about my town!
I've heard good things about this book!
ReplyDeleteYes, I definitely think my town puts off very romantic vibes!!
Oh, yes! I think a cute little town in Nova Scotia would be a lovely setting for a book!
DeleteI've not heard of this book, but will look for it. It sounds like a story that might make for good summer reading.
ReplyDeleteYes! It's not light reading, but it goes by fast. Perfect for the summer.
DeleteIt has an intriguing plot but sounds like it's different than expected. Too bad it didn't go more into mystery and suspense! Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteIt was different than I expected, but I still really enjoyed it.
DeleteI liked this book a lot, too. The writing was a bit elementary, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the plot and the characters!
ReplyDeleteThe writing was sneaky! I was invested and I don't know how she did it with her writing style.
DeleteThis sounds like it would be great for one of my reading groups where they like to keep things fast-paced and light.
ReplyDeleteCould an author make East Lansing sound romantic? I guess!
Oh, this would be a PERFECT book for book club. Just light enough, but still some meat to have a discussion about it.
DeleteI really dislike when they mis-file books like this as thrillers - I would like it fine if I wasn't expecting an actual mystery, you know?
ReplyDeleteI live in the capital of Canada, and I don't really think of it as romantic - government intrigue would work (in fiction - in real life the government is pretty tedious and disappointing).
YES!! A government thriller with espionage is exactly what a capital city calls for.
DeleteI read this and rated this 4 stars years ago but don't remember it at all. What a great place to be - so much to read that I cannot remember (or... my memory sucks, lol, we'll go with the former).
ReplyDeleteI only read a couple of weeks ago and my memory of it is fading, too. I just don't think it's that memorable.
DeleteSo glad you liked this book. I was really surprised by it too and dived in not knowing what is coming up. Those are usually the best books. Yeah.
ReplyDeleteI guess there are many books about Berlin around so I guess the answer is yes.
I love going into a book without knowing a lot about it and loving it! Thanks for the rec.
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