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Second Nature
New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard’s novels, with their riveting stories and unforgettable characters, have won the hearts of millions of readers. Now, from the author of The Deep End of the Ocean and No Time to Wave Goodbye, comes the fierce and moving tale of one woman’s fight for her identity and her life when fate holds out a second chance.
Sicily Coyne was just thirteen when her father was killed in a school fire that left her face disfigured. Twelve years later, a young surgeon, Eliza Cappadora, offers hope in the form of a revolutionary new surgery that may give Sicily back the grace and function she lost. Raised by a dynamic, tenacious aunt who taught her to lead a normal life, and engaged to a wonderful man who knew her long before the accident, Sicily rejects the offer: She knows who she is, and so do the people who love her. But when a secret surfaces that shatters Sicily’s carefully constructed world, she calls off the wedding and agrees to the radical procedure in order to begin a new life.
Her beauty restored virtually overnight, Sicily rushes toward life with open arms, seeking new experiences, adventures, and, most of all, love. But she soon discovers that her new face carries with it risks that no one could have imagined. Confronting a moral and medical crisis that quickly becomes a matter of life and death, Sicily is surrounded by experts and loving family, but the choice that will transform her future, for better or worse, is one she must make alone.
An intense and moving story of courage, consequence, and possibility, Second Nature showcases the acclaimed storyteller at her very best.
Sicily Coyne was just thirteen when her father was killed in a school fire that left her face disfigured. Twelve years later, a young surgeon, Eliza Cappadora, offers hope in the form of a revolutionary new surgery that may give Sicily back the grace and function she lost. Raised by a dynamic, tenacious aunt who taught her to lead a normal life, and engaged to a wonderful man who knew her long before the accident, Sicily rejects the offer: She knows who she is, and so do the people who love her. But when a secret surfaces that shatters Sicily’s carefully constructed world, she calls off the wedding and agrees to the radical procedure in order to begin a new life.
Her beauty restored virtually overnight, Sicily rushes toward life with open arms, seeking new experiences, adventures, and, most of all, love. But she soon discovers that her new face carries with it risks that no one could have imagined. Confronting a moral and medical crisis that quickly becomes a matter of life and death, Sicily is surrounded by experts and loving family, but the choice that will transform her future, for better or worse, is one she must make alone.
An intense and moving story of courage, consequence, and possibility, Second Nature showcases the acclaimed storyteller at her very best.
364 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2011
78 people are currently reading
933 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Mitchard
81 books1,243 followersJacquelyn Mitchard’s first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was named by USA Today as one of the ten most influential books of the past 25 years – second only to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (but second by a long shot, it must be said.)
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
September 30, 2011
The first half of this book I enjoyed. I did have trouble following the writing and as another reader so aptly commented that it was like reading a "foreign language" at times. The writing style made me stop and study the passages to figure out what the author was trying to say. I did "like" (as much as one can like a story of a tragedy), the first part where we meet Sicily, as she prepares for her face transplant. However, she truly becomes the most indecisive character that I have ever met in a book! How many times do you postpone a procedure!!!!!! The doctors were far more patient and gracious than I. Her "risk taking" to me, including her final career choice, was unbelievable and I just lost total respect for the character. Sicily became an obstinate BRAT! Her hit of marijuana was telling of her true character. By the second half, the only character that resonated with me would be the feelings of Emma's mom (the donor's mom, Mrs. Cassidy) as she confronts Silicly. The love story of Sicily and Vincent was contrived at its best and perhaps they deserve each other as Vincent is almost as indecisive. Truly one of the worst relationships that I have read in a book in quite a long time. The front cover states "Love Story". The only Love in this book is what Sicily has for herself. This book seemed disjointed, and left me very unsatisfied.
September 11, 2011
I liked the first third of the book, tolerated the middle third, and hated the last third of the book. The first third gave an accurate representation, I think, of the life of a person who has suffered devastating facial injury. Siciliy's character reminded me a lot of Lucy Grealey, whose autobiography of a face described many of the same things that Sicily thought and felt. Siciily's sarcasm and ability to get away with saying and doing almost anything was nearly identical to the way Grealey describes her personality. I was looking forward to how Sicily's story played out after her face transplant. I was torn about her relationship with Vincent. I found her reaction to their initial contact realistic, that she would become attached so quickly to him, what I didn't buy into was her plunge into despair after coming home. And as for the baby drama, which takes up most of the book? Meh. I get it, but it felt manufactured. And the end? Puh-lease. TV movie ending. That said, the writing is solid, there were some wonderful descriptions, the narrative flowed, and it was a reasonably entertaining read. Would be good for a book group since there is a lot of controversial "meat" there to gnaw on.
October 1, 2011
This book had a fascinating premise, but the author didn't quite pull it off. For one thing, the writing itself was uneven. Statements would be made out of nowhere and then dropped. Time would pass with no real story happening. But mostly I was disappointed by the main character's response to her dilemma. It just didn't ring true. I got exasperated with her behavior as well as the behavior of her "love interest." (I put that in quotes because it's never quite clear whether he is in fact her love interest.)
It wasn't a terrible book, but I can't say that I'm glad I read it. I could have been reading a better, more worthy book instead of this one.
It wasn't a terrible book, but I can't say that I'm glad I read it. I could have been reading a better, more worthy book instead of this one.
May 9, 2020
A great premise totally ruined. Having lost her face is a devastating fire, burn victim Sicily discovers a truth that leads to the breaking off of her engagement and finds an option for a new life by way of a face transplant. And then this character becomes so annoying, flighty, indecisive, and behaves in ways that are not only inconsistent but illogical. I considered not bothering to continue reading several times. Was this supposed to be the authors way of showing the reader how traumatic getting a new face might be? Sicily's aunt and doctors had more patience with her than I did. The beginning of the book was good though the writing veered all over the place at times. The middle was annoying and the ending was almost unreadable. I hate pulling Library books off a shelf - better to read a review or get a referral
November 19, 2011
I was hoping for a Jodi Piccoult-guilty pleasure reading type experience in which I would at least learn a great deal on a topic well-researched by the author -- in this case, fire and face transplants. While that part was interesting for a small portion of the book, the rest of it could be summed up in one word: OVERWROUGHT. Stayed with it for about 2/3 and then ended up skimming the last third -- ultimately realizing I DIDN'T CARE.
October 27, 2019
I like novels that help me see life through other people's eyes, even if they are experiencing difficulties of the sort I would probably (and hopefully) never suffer from. This is one such novel, and even though its heroine was dealing with the loss of her face in a fire and her decision to go through a face transplant, difficulties are difficulties, and I could relate. She was a bit annoying sometimes, but this only made her more human-like. The rest of the characters were very relatable as well. The writing could've been tighter and would have benefited from better editing since it was much too wordy and repetitive at times, but all in all, I enjoyed reading this book and was engaged the whole way.
September 13, 2011
I have official stopped this book. For this author to use the tragedy of the Our Lady of Angel Fire-to loosely base her tale of woe on is bad enough, but TO NOT GIVE ANY RECOGNITION TO THOSE LIVES LOST-Just disrespectful. She states she based this book loosely on Chicago-the one of her memories. Well, facts would have helped here. She echos the horror of the late 1950's fire-worse in Chicago history-for lost of children's lives. She even refers to the the fire being in December, and the news covers the anniversary every year. Also, goes on about the group memorial of her kids, there is a beautiful memorial for the lost angels in Chicago.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/lo...
At the end she thanks many people that helped her with the book, FROM MADISON WC!!! Come on, I know you live there-but Chicago is where your book is based-so talk to Chicago-ans. Then she still, at the end of the book, still ignores the Lady of Angels fire and victims. I was born after the fire, and live in Northwest IN-I even know the story. How dare you try to sell your book, based of those poor lost souls, and NEVER ONCE acknowledge them.
I lost my grandfather in a house fire, and my father, with my uncle-recovered his body-before the fire department arrived. This was New year's Day, 1963-34 days before my first birthday. You remember these loses, and the author dishonors so many but ignoring where she stole her story from--the lost lives of so many young angels. Sure the transplant the face angle is newsie-BUT she based the start of the story-the premise on the Our lady of Angels fire.
This book was a GR free book giveaway.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/lo...
At the end she thanks many people that helped her with the book, FROM MADISON WC!!! Come on, I know you live there-but Chicago is where your book is based-so talk to Chicago-ans. Then she still, at the end of the book, still ignores the Lady of Angels fire and victims. I was born after the fire, and live in Northwest IN-I even know the story. How dare you try to sell your book, based of those poor lost souls, and NEVER ONCE acknowledge them.
I lost my grandfather in a house fire, and my father, with my uncle-recovered his body-before the fire department arrived. This was New year's Day, 1963-34 days before my first birthday. You remember these loses, and the author dishonors so many but ignoring where she stole her story from--the lost lives of so many young angels. Sure the transplant the face angle is newsie-BUT she based the start of the story-the premise on the Our lady of Angels fire.
This book was a GR free book giveaway.
January 23, 2012
I *loved* The Deep End of the Ocean, but this one just didn't work for me.
First, I don't consider it a love story. The first part was almost an anti-love story, and the end ... well, I'll hold that thought for the moment.
Second, though the details about Sicily's face transplant were fascinating, it was also rather gruesome and felt voyeuristic. I could have used a few more breaks from the stomach-turning details in the middle.
Third, the inclusion of the Coppadoras in this story felt like character recycling. I saw no reason to include them, and it detracted from the story rather than adding to it, at least for me.
Fourth, the ending ... well, this is where the spoiler starts.
This is the second book of Mitchard's that has disappointed me. I don't think I'll be trying a third one, much as I loved Deep End.
First, I don't consider it a love story. The first part was almost an anti-love story, and the end ... well, I'll hold that thought for the moment.
Second, though the details about Sicily's face transplant were fascinating, it was also rather gruesome and felt voyeuristic. I could have used a few more breaks from the stomach-turning details in the middle.
Third, the inclusion of the Coppadoras in this story felt like character recycling. I saw no reason to include them, and it detracted from the story rather than adding to it, at least for me.
Fourth, the ending ... well, this is where the spoiler starts.
This is the second book of Mitchard's that has disappointed me. I don't think I'll be trying a third one, much as I loved Deep End.
September 11, 2011
This was an awesome book. I couldn't put it down. I have read other books by this author and they were just as good. This book was well thought out. The love story aspect also coincided with her coming to terms with her facial reconstruction after the fire that disfigured her and killed her father which turns out to have been arson. This is a must read.
Check out my in depth review at
www.libraryhounds.com
Check out my in depth review at
www.libraryhounds.com
September 21, 2011
The story was very interesting but I was very distracted by the disjointed writing and many of the details not adding up. I felt, at times, like I was reading a foreign language. Also, I really didn't identify with any of the characters, I don't feel that they were very fleshed out. Ultimately, this didn't add anything to my life in any way. Sorry.
September 17, 2022
Fascinating
This is one of those books you hate to set down, although I felt it necessary to take a step back and reflect from time to time. I certainly won’t forget this story!
This is one of those books you hate to set down, although I felt it necessary to take a step back and reflect from time to time. I certainly won’t forget this story!
September 5, 2011
I really enjoyed the plot of this book.. at least in the first half despite the fact it took ages for the heroine to actually get the face transplant.. like almost halfway. I was all set to give this a three till I hit around 70 percent.
What I liked: The face transplant, Sicily dealing with her new face and before that, dealing with the betrayal of her fiance. That's a lot to cope with. The surgery itself, the psychological aspects, and Cause apparently, you can't have both cause of the drugs required to keep the new face...
But while all that was interesting, the writing style was not. The narrator goes on and on at times about stuff I didn't care about and didn't feel was relevant to the story. Each character's entire life story practically is revealed. Very unnecessary. And gradually, as the book progresses, Sicily herself becomes unlikable. You are risking that everyday as it is and about 50 people are worried sick about you, but you add to it by smoking pot?
And that was it for me. I lost all respect for the chick and my not liking her anymore ruined the story.
What I liked: The face transplant, Sicily dealing with her new face and before that, dealing with the betrayal of her fiance. That's a lot to cope with. The surgery itself, the psychological aspects, and Cause apparently, you can't have both cause of the drugs required to keep the new face...
But while all that was interesting, the writing style was not. The narrator goes on and on at times about stuff I didn't care about and didn't feel was relevant to the story. Each character's entire life story practically is revealed. Very unnecessary. And gradually, as the book progresses, Sicily herself becomes unlikable. You are risking that everyday as it is and about 50 people are worried sick about you, but you add to it by smoking pot?
And that was it for me. I lost all respect for the chick and my not liking her anymore ruined the story.
February 20, 2012
I am a Jacquelyn Mitchard fan. I've read most of her books, and this one did not disappoint. It's a continuation of the saga of the Cappadora family Mitchard made famous in her novel, "The Deep End of the Ocean." This books follows Sicily Coyne, who is burned in a church fire when she is 13 years old. Half a life-time later she is given a second chance when she is offered a face transplant surgery. Sicily's life intertwines with the Cappadoras when she asks Beth to document her transformation with her beautiful photography. What happens next changes Sicily's, and the Cappadora's family, lives forever.
Beautiful. Powerful. Mitchard is a master with words. Like most of her novels, I wanted to read, read, read and never come up for air. This novel is engaging and makes the reader appreciate having a normal face that so many of us take for granted. The ending, again like most Mitchard books, left me wanting more. Mitchard knows how to write about life in such a real, but poignant way.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope that Mitchard writes more about Sicily Coyne and the Cappadora family.
Beautiful. Powerful. Mitchard is a master with words. Like most of her novels, I wanted to read, read, read and never come up for air. This novel is engaging and makes the reader appreciate having a normal face that so many of us take for granted. The ending, again like most Mitchard books, left me wanting more. Mitchard knows how to write about life in such a real, but poignant way.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope that Mitchard writes more about Sicily Coyne and the Cappadora family.
August 28, 2012
While it was good to enter the world of the Cappadoras again, I have to say that this novel didn't captivate me the way "The Deep End of The Ocean" did. Sicily Coyne, horribly disfigured at age thirteen in a fire that killed her father, is a difficult character to like at times. She exasperates those around her with her vaccillations and her defense mechanisms, therefore frustrating the reader as well. The story of her full-face transplant and the before/ after dichotomy would have been more than enough for a thought-provoking and moving read. But the big twist that Mitchard throws in felt, to me, a contrived device to add more drama to a story that already had plenty. The author enjoys enveloping her characters in gut-wrenching, unthinkable, and near-impossible circumstances, but the amount of hardship, coincidence, and catastrophe in this book strains the credulity of even the most forgiving reader.
October 3, 2011
First of all, I love it when an author pulls their characters into a new book, and Jacquelyn Mitchard takes the families in The Deep End of the Ocean and puts them here, as the "secondary" characters. This is also set slightly into the future which was done very well, and didn't feel fake. I was reminded of the way Jodi Picoult writes in that I really had to examine my feelings on the topics in here (don't want to spoil it). I did get irritated at one point with the main character flip-flopping her decisions, I thought it went a little over-the-top, but the whole scenario is so farfetched that I forgive her. Also, the end annoyed me, but I can't say why. This is not the best review I've ever written...
February 6, 2012
Hated it, so much that I did something I rarely can bring myself to do: abandoned the book. The main character comes off as selfish and unappealing; the garbled history is confusing (author sets the book in an unspecified future, but this doesn't come off as an intelligent choice, more that she was too lazy to pick a time frame); when she needs something new & transformative to happen to the main character, she picks my least favorite deus ex machina (really, authors, if you're going to write about young women, could you have a little more imagination as to our choices and struggles?); I could go on and on and on...but instead I closed the book and gave my time to something better.
October 22, 2011
Fire...death...no face...face transplant...don't get pregnant...pregnant...on and on and on. Way too much life altering twists...come on...really! Should have fleshed out (PUN INTENDED)the face transplant portion of the book. I thought the author didn't do that part of the story any justice...well I guess no parts were given any justice...it was like they happened and than lets move onto the next twist. Could have been a good book...very disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2017
I haven't read a Jacquelyn Mitchard for years but I was very happy to get this in my Library Books. It did not disappoint at all!!
A wonderful writer in first person & observer narrative, this book takes the reader on a kaleidoscope of emotions. It is about self perception, perception of others, ethics, morals & the 'whys' of life.
Protagonist, Sicily, is likeable & very easy to relate to & her story is massive & tiny at the same time. I highly recommend this book.
A wonderful writer in first person & observer narrative, this book takes the reader on a kaleidoscope of emotions. It is about self perception, perception of others, ethics, morals & the 'whys' of life.
Protagonist, Sicily, is likeable & very easy to relate to & her story is massive & tiny at the same time. I highly recommend this book.
June 9, 2016
The book had a lot of possibility to be better than it is. The premise of a young woman with a face transplant years after a tragic fire had the opportunity to pursue many different angles with depth and emotion. It started that direction but then veered off into her now having an unplanned pregnancy and a more predictable path. Readable but disappointing that it could have been better!
March 24, 2012
As with most reviews--the first one-third was promising. The second third was a slog; and the last third? Well, I didn't even waste my time on it.
The pre-transplant showed so much promise, but after the transplant the book turned into a plain old, poorly written, formulaic romance novel.
The pre-transplant showed so much promise, but after the transplant the book turned into a plain old, poorly written, formulaic romance novel.
April 22, 2021
I had a very hard time reading this. So much unnecessary detail. I would find myself skipping paragraphs. I wasn’t a fan of the ending either.
August 28, 2011
the "love" story was completely unrealistic and ridiculous.
September 20, 2011
Did not like this one at all. Sappy, predictable and unrealistic - it read like a Lifetime movie.
February 7, 2020
I was able to get into the story quickly. It has lots of things to keep the reader interested. Was a little turned off by how well everything had to go for Sicily. She has a successful transplant, looks gorgeous, has amazing sex, ex-boyfriend/fiance disappears and her life is fantastic with his absence, has a baby with no health problems, manages baby, work, and school so well she graduates with honors. Would have liked to see the struggle and failures since I face that more in my life than all the good stuff. Just the green eyed monster making an appearance, I guess.
Sicily gets her face burned really bad in a fire. Her vinyl purse melts to her face. She had the purse by her face to help block the smoke. Her dad is a firefighter who dies saving other kids in the same fire Sicily is in. Mom dies in car accident 9 months later. Forward 12 years. Sicily has chance to get a new face. She goes through with the transplant, flies to California, meets a guy and has sex for lie 4-5 days, returns to Chicago to find out (wow) she is pregnant. With the resent transplant being pregnant could kill her, her medication could have harmful affects on the child. Sicily pushes through.
Of course everything works out and she does super well in life. Has money, good job, free daycare, goes to college and graduates with honors (of course).
Sicily gets her face burned really bad in a fire. Her vinyl purse melts to her face. She had the purse by her face to help block the smoke. Her dad is a firefighter who dies saving other kids in the same fire Sicily is in. Mom dies in car accident 9 months later. Forward 12 years. Sicily has chance to get a new face. She goes through with the transplant, flies to California, meets a guy and has sex for lie 4-5 days, returns to Chicago to find out (wow) she is pregnant. With the resent transplant being pregnant could kill her, her medication could have harmful affects on the child. Sicily pushes through.
Of course everything works out and she does super well in life. Has money, good job, free daycare, goes to college and graduates with honors (of course).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2024
“…a crisis without margins is intolerable to the human temperament-people expect you to get better, and I wasn’t going to…”
Cicily to her Dr-“How do you think of God?”
Dr-“As a good parent I should guess who cannot save us from all harm, but can comfort us.”
I really do like this view of God-
I really like this author AND the narrator so I thought for sure this would be a Win…
But alas, the narration was great but the story was interesting in the beginning and moved almost too fast…then when love interest Vincent, was introduced-things got wacky-
You never knew enough about Vincent as a person to care about him and their “relationship” was really strange/non-existent??? I just didn’t get it.
Both Cicily and Vincent couldn’t make their minds up about anything!!
It got old real fast.
People interacting with Cicily used her name way too much.
There was no consistency in how Cicily referred to her Aunt Marie-Auntie-Marie-Mom…weird.
There were too many characters that seemed like they should be important but they had maybe 2 brief appearances in the whole book.
I thought her fiancé and childhood friends would have had a bigger roll in the story.
Cicily was written as a much older character but she was inly 25 and was still living with her mom/Aunt…the writing seemed to want you to believe she was so wise-
Cicily flip flopped like crazy!!
The last 1/3 of the book just dragged on and on and I powered thru just to see how things turned out-but the end left me with a baffled “huh??”
Well, I am really disappointed in this one.
On to the next.
May be time for a memoir.
Cicily to her Dr-“How do you think of God?”
Dr-“As a good parent I should guess who cannot save us from all harm, but can comfort us.”
I really do like this view of God-
I really like this author AND the narrator so I thought for sure this would be a Win…
But alas, the narration was great but the story was interesting in the beginning and moved almost too fast…then when love interest Vincent, was introduced-things got wacky-
You never knew enough about Vincent as a person to care about him and their “relationship” was really strange/non-existent??? I just didn’t get it.
Both Cicily and Vincent couldn’t make their minds up about anything!!
It got old real fast.
People interacting with Cicily used her name way too much.
There was no consistency in how Cicily referred to her Aunt Marie-Auntie-Marie-Mom…weird.
There were too many characters that seemed like they should be important but they had maybe 2 brief appearances in the whole book.
I thought her fiancé and childhood friends would have had a bigger roll in the story.
Cicily was written as a much older character but she was inly 25 and was still living with her mom/Aunt…the writing seemed to want you to believe she was so wise-
Cicily flip flopped like crazy!!
The last 1/3 of the book just dragged on and on and I powered thru just to see how things turned out-but the end left me with a baffled “huh??”
Well, I am really disappointed in this one.
On to the next.
May be time for a memoir.
June 4, 2022
From the start, I didn't think the story line was plausible, but I stuck with this book and finished it, hoping that the story would develop. I did like how the author knit the characters from her previous novel (The Deep End of the Ocean, which I absolutely loved) into this story, but this second book just didn't stand up to the first. And if not for the familiar characters, I would have thought this book came first. The style was so different. The characters (including Beth, who I loved as the main character of TDEOTO ) were not well developed and seemed shallow and unlikeable. And the writing was confusing...metaphors that had me going back to reread because they just didn't fit or make sense and jokes that just didn't work. The author got great reviews for this book, but it didn't work for me!
July 4, 2024
Sicilly is in a terrible fire as a child, one where she witnesses her firefighter dad perish as a hero. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Sicilly's mom almost immediately passes away and she then faces a lifetime with a face melted beyond all recognition, raised by her mother's sister who instills in her fierce courage and independence. She grows to be a strong young woman, despite all of her tragedy, with a unique career and a fiancé she believes loves her with all his heart.
Then she discovers a long held secret that completely changes the trajectory of her life and she faces the life threatening choice of undergoing a complete face transplant. It is this decision that brings out the courage and resilience the reader knows all along that this character has always possessed.
Then she discovers a long held secret that completely changes the trajectory of her life and she faces the life threatening choice of undergoing a complete face transplant. It is this decision that brings out the courage and resilience the reader knows all along that this character has always possessed.
October 23, 2018
Sicily Coyne was disfigured at age 13 in a fire that killed her father and was raised by Aunt Marie who taught her to live "normally." Sicily becomes a medical illustrator and plans to be married, until she learns that her fiance has kept secrets from her. In order to deal with her devastation after learning of this deceit, she decides to have life-altering, radical surgery to return her looks. As Sicily says, "The biggest tragedy about tragedy is...it's tedious. People can't stand to feel obliged for a long time. If you ever have a lingering illness, try not to linger too long. You'll wear out your welcome."
May 2, 2024
The premise was intriguing. I had no idea the characters were going to be from the Deep End of the Ocean (I liked that book), and the sequel of that book, No Time to Wave Goodbye (I was bored by that book), so I really felt I had had enough of these characters...but...I read this book. It seems unbelievable a face transplant can look that beautiful..maybe they can...they are miraculous, but I didn't know they could be this gorgeous. But, I still continued with the poignant book, but became bored...I skimmed it quickly to get to the end. So I could finish it. My still favorite book of hers is the Breakdown Lane.
June 8, 2022
Very disappointing book. If it weren't for the Cappadoras being in it, I would have sworn it was a different writer. The writing was stilted, almost like the author swallowed a dictionary. The characters were shallow and not at all likable. This was especially true of the completely self-centered main character Sicily. By the end, I really didn't care what happened to her. And speaking of the Cappadoras - enough already. Can this author not come up with anyone else to write about?
I loved Cage of Stars and The Deep End of the Ocean. It's been downhill for me since then.
I loved Cage of Stars and The Deep End of the Ocean. It's been downhill for me since then.
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