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We All Love the Beautiful Girls
Who do the lucky become when their luck sours?
One frigid winter night, the happily prosperous Mia and Michael Slate discover that a close friend and business partner has cheated them out of their life savings. On the same night, their son, Finn, passes out in the snow at a party -- a mistake with shattering consequences.
Everyone finds their own ways of coping with the ensuing losses. For Finn, it's Jess, a former babysitter who sneaks into his bed at night, even as she refuses to leave her boyfriend. Mia and Michael find themselves forgoing tenderness for rougher sex and seeking solace outside their marriage: Mia in a flirtation with a former colleague, whose empty condo becomes a blank canvas for a new life, and Michael at an abandoned baseball diamond, with a rusty pitching machine and a street kid eager to catch balls in Finn's old glove. As they creep closer to the edge -- of betrayal, infidelity, and revenge -- the story moves into more savage terrain.
With honesty, compassion, and a tough emotional precision, award-winning author Joanne Proulx explores the itch of the flesh, sexual aggression, the reach of love and anger, and the question of who ultimately suffers when the privileged stumble.
One frigid winter night, the happily prosperous Mia and Michael Slate discover that a close friend and business partner has cheated them out of their life savings. On the same night, their son, Finn, passes out in the snow at a party -- a mistake with shattering consequences.
Everyone finds their own ways of coping with the ensuing losses. For Finn, it's Jess, a former babysitter who sneaks into his bed at night, even as she refuses to leave her boyfriend. Mia and Michael find themselves forgoing tenderness for rougher sex and seeking solace outside their marriage: Mia in a flirtation with a former colleague, whose empty condo becomes a blank canvas for a new life, and Michael at an abandoned baseball diamond, with a rusty pitching machine and a street kid eager to catch balls in Finn's old glove. As they creep closer to the edge -- of betrayal, infidelity, and revenge -- the story moves into more savage terrain.
With honesty, compassion, and a tough emotional precision, award-winning author Joanne Proulx explores the itch of the flesh, sexual aggression, the reach of love and anger, and the question of who ultimately suffers when the privileged stumble.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
September 19, 2018
We all Love the Beautiful Girls by Joanne Proulx is a 2018 Grand Central publication.
This is an incredibly absorbing tale, set in Canada, which weaves around Mia and Michael, an affluent couple with a teenage son, named Finn.
In a very short span of time, this couple, who feel so very blessed and sure of their worthiness of such bliss, will see their world come crashing down around them. As their heartbroken son, Finn, lays out in the elements, barely surviving his ordeal, lucky that he only lost a hand to frostbite, Michael learns his best friend and business partner, Peter, has been embezzling funds and robbed him of his partnership in their company, leaving him flailing in the wind.
Finn will relate his teenage saga in a first- person narrative, which brings the angst, drama, and pecking order of the teenage fiefdoms into sharp focus. Finn is in love with his former babysitter, who also has a relationship with Eric, Finn’s best friend Eli’s older brother. This is not the only love triangle, as ironically enough, Peter’s daughter, Frankie, is in love with Finn, While Eli is in love with Frankie. Whew! Got all that? It was a little hard to keep up with it all. It also reminded me of that old song, “Love Stinks”.
After Finn suffers the loss of his hand, Mia is left holding the bag in the care and nursing department, while her husband strikes up an odd relationship with a baseball obsessed street kid. As Mia grows weary of Michael’s absences, she begins playing a dangerous game, flirting with a full -fledged affair.
All the while Mia and Michael are so busy feeling sorry for themselves and acting out in peculiar, immature ways, pointing fingers and rationalizing their behavior, they fail their son in every way imaginable. It seemed like everything was about them. These parents were totally clueless about what was going on with Finn, leaving him to muddle through without their full emotional support.
Nope, not too many likeable characters in this one. I really couldn’t summon up much empathy for the adults in this novel at all. But, I did feel that powerful mixture of teenage confusion and pain. Most of us lived through some version of this and then saw our own children through it. It’s a period most of us would never chose to live through again, and if we were being honest, we all still carry the scars from those years, as those experiences shaped us more than perhaps any other, even the formative years. Yet, we make it through, bloodied and bruised, maybe a little less naïve, a little battle fatigued, more prepared for the full -fledged assault adulthood will present. Finn’s situation, of course, makes his journey out much more of a challenge, and while teenagers are often the cruelest of creatures, this was the part of the story that made me feel something.
But, the writing is interesting, with a switch between first -and third person narratives, and the author’s obvious homage to Canada was mesmerizing. Proulx allowed her home country to become a centerpiece of the story, almost playing as large of a role as the characters.
The story barrels along towards what looks like an inevitable train wreck, and all the reader can do is hope there won’t be too many casualties. The story is, however, realistic and messy, like real life, when things suddenly to hell in a handbasket. It’s turbulent, dark, moody, and yes, a little depressing.
The conclusion is not all that pat or cheerful and did not end like one may have hoped. Yet, there is some light at the end of the dark tunnel. Eventually a little character growth develops, a new appreciation for what really matters in this world, and the realization that we can never take anything for granted, that life can turn on a dime, and we should be aware every second of every day, especially with those closest to us- and that goes double for your children.
3.5 stars
This is an incredibly absorbing tale, set in Canada, which weaves around Mia and Michael, an affluent couple with a teenage son, named Finn.
In a very short span of time, this couple, who feel so very blessed and sure of their worthiness of such bliss, will see their world come crashing down around them. As their heartbroken son, Finn, lays out in the elements, barely surviving his ordeal, lucky that he only lost a hand to frostbite, Michael learns his best friend and business partner, Peter, has been embezzling funds and robbed him of his partnership in their company, leaving him flailing in the wind.
Finn will relate his teenage saga in a first- person narrative, which brings the angst, drama, and pecking order of the teenage fiefdoms into sharp focus. Finn is in love with his former babysitter, who also has a relationship with Eric, Finn’s best friend Eli’s older brother. This is not the only love triangle, as ironically enough, Peter’s daughter, Frankie, is in love with Finn, While Eli is in love with Frankie. Whew! Got all that? It was a little hard to keep up with it all. It also reminded me of that old song, “Love Stinks”.
After Finn suffers the loss of his hand, Mia is left holding the bag in the care and nursing department, while her husband strikes up an odd relationship with a baseball obsessed street kid. As Mia grows weary of Michael’s absences, she begins playing a dangerous game, flirting with a full -fledged affair.
All the while Mia and Michael are so busy feeling sorry for themselves and acting out in peculiar, immature ways, pointing fingers and rationalizing their behavior, they fail their son in every way imaginable. It seemed like everything was about them. These parents were totally clueless about what was going on with Finn, leaving him to muddle through without their full emotional support.
Nope, not too many likeable characters in this one. I really couldn’t summon up much empathy for the adults in this novel at all. But, I did feel that powerful mixture of teenage confusion and pain. Most of us lived through some version of this and then saw our own children through it. It’s a period most of us would never chose to live through again, and if we were being honest, we all still carry the scars from those years, as those experiences shaped us more than perhaps any other, even the formative years. Yet, we make it through, bloodied and bruised, maybe a little less naïve, a little battle fatigued, more prepared for the full -fledged assault adulthood will present. Finn’s situation, of course, makes his journey out much more of a challenge, and while teenagers are often the cruelest of creatures, this was the part of the story that made me feel something.
But, the writing is interesting, with a switch between first -and third person narratives, and the author’s obvious homage to Canada was mesmerizing. Proulx allowed her home country to become a centerpiece of the story, almost playing as large of a role as the characters.
The story barrels along towards what looks like an inevitable train wreck, and all the reader can do is hope there won’t be too many casualties. The story is, however, realistic and messy, like real life, when things suddenly to hell in a handbasket. It’s turbulent, dark, moody, and yes, a little depressing.
The conclusion is not all that pat or cheerful and did not end like one may have hoped. Yet, there is some light at the end of the dark tunnel. Eventually a little character growth develops, a new appreciation for what really matters in this world, and the realization that we can never take anything for granted, that life can turn on a dime, and we should be aware every second of every day, especially with those closest to us- and that goes double for your children.
3.5 stars
August 28, 2018
4 sordid, family secrets stars to We All Love the Beautiful Girls! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
We All Love the Beautiful Girls is an elegantly-told story of the darker side of family.
Mia and Michael Slate are married and appear to have it all: an accomplished teenage son, Finn, and a happy married life heads and shoulders above their friends. They are that couple everyone envies. But as the stunning facade of their family starts to chip and peel, they are left in shambles as their finances are in jeopardy, and Finn is involved in a serious accident.
Michael retaliates for something that has happened to him and his family, and in doing so, sets in motion a chain of events that will upturn their entire community.
I was struck by how realistic and authentic the characters and emotions felt. The storytelling is rich without being overdone as the author explores the effects of the tragedy on each family member individually and the unit as a whole.
We Love All the Beautiful Girls has a slow start firmly setting in place all the key players. It requires patience at first, but the pay-off is grand. As the tension builds, Proulx presents the Slates as if they could be any fallible family; the losses, utter betrayal and upheaval, as well as discontent and discord, in sharp contrast to all the love at its heart.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary physical copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
****GIVEAWAY: Make sure to check out my instagram page where I’m giving away two copies from the publisher! US & Canada! http://www.instagram.com/TarHeelReader
We All Love the Beautiful Girls is an elegantly-told story of the darker side of family.
Mia and Michael Slate are married and appear to have it all: an accomplished teenage son, Finn, and a happy married life heads and shoulders above their friends. They are that couple everyone envies. But as the stunning facade of their family starts to chip and peel, they are left in shambles as their finances are in jeopardy, and Finn is involved in a serious accident.
Michael retaliates for something that has happened to him and his family, and in doing so, sets in motion a chain of events that will upturn their entire community.
I was struck by how realistic and authentic the characters and emotions felt. The storytelling is rich without being overdone as the author explores the effects of the tragedy on each family member individually and the unit as a whole.
We Love All the Beautiful Girls has a slow start firmly setting in place all the key players. It requires patience at first, but the pay-off is grand. As the tension builds, Proulx presents the Slates as if they could be any fallible family; the losses, utter betrayal and upheaval, as well as discontent and discord, in sharp contrast to all the love at its heart.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary physical copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
****GIVEAWAY: Make sure to check out my instagram page where I’m giving away two copies from the publisher! US & Canada! http://www.instagram.com/TarHeelReader
August 30, 2017
Many thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Mia and Michael have a great life- a wonderful son, a beautiful home and a happy marriage. On the night they find out Michaels’ business partner (and his best friend) has been cheating them out of millions, their son, Finn, is injured after a night of drinking and partying. Both Mia and Michael struggle with putting their family back together in different ways. Michael finds a comraderie at the local baseball diamond where he bonds with a disheveled youth while Mia finds comfort in the “innocent” flirtations she has with an ex-colleague. All the while Finn is trying to deal with his injury and the struggles that only teenage romances can bring.
“We All Love the Beautiful Girls” is the second novel by Canadian author, Joanne Proulx. A beautifully written tale of love and family, and the challenges that affect even the most beautiful of people. Mia and Michael are complex and honest characters, trying to rebuild themselves and their marriage after tragedy strikes, and Finn is both charming and irresponsible, as only teenagers can be.
The characters are well-defined and the plot is creative and real. There is enough drama to keep a reader engaged, and one will run the gamut of emotions as the Slade family tries to make sense of their new world.
“Beautiful Girls” is a touching and emotional family story of how the choices we make turn our lives into what we are, and how even the smallest of mistakes can uproot families, friendships and entire lives. I particularly loved the Canadian content, and appreciate Proulx’s “shout outs” to the country she calls home. This is a Canadian author to watch, and the book is definitely worth the hype.
Mia and Michael have a great life- a wonderful son, a beautiful home and a happy marriage. On the night they find out Michaels’ business partner (and his best friend) has been cheating them out of millions, their son, Finn, is injured after a night of drinking and partying. Both Mia and Michael struggle with putting their family back together in different ways. Michael finds a comraderie at the local baseball diamond where he bonds with a disheveled youth while Mia finds comfort in the “innocent” flirtations she has with an ex-colleague. All the while Finn is trying to deal with his injury and the struggles that only teenage romances can bring.
“We All Love the Beautiful Girls” is the second novel by Canadian author, Joanne Proulx. A beautifully written tale of love and family, and the challenges that affect even the most beautiful of people. Mia and Michael are complex and honest characters, trying to rebuild themselves and their marriage after tragedy strikes, and Finn is both charming and irresponsible, as only teenagers can be.
The characters are well-defined and the plot is creative and real. There is enough drama to keep a reader engaged, and one will run the gamut of emotions as the Slade family tries to make sense of their new world.
“Beautiful Girls” is a touching and emotional family story of how the choices we make turn our lives into what we are, and how even the smallest of mistakes can uproot families, friendships and entire lives. I particularly loved the Canadian content, and appreciate Proulx’s “shout outs” to the country she calls home. This is a Canadian author to watch, and the book is definitely worth the hype.
June 27, 2018
A full review to follow but I could not put this one down. Joanne Proulx totally sucked me into the lives of this upper class Canadian family as they grapple with life after loss. Such a profoundly raw read that was interesting from beginning to end. Usually rich people annoy me when they become like us regular folk but somehow Proulx made me care for the slate family.
August 26, 2018
"Knowing everything strips back to beautiful. Knowing everyone melts down to love."
Michael and Mia begin to have marriage problems after their son, Finn, suffers a near-death experience. This is the story of the Slate family and their revelation of how love is measured between neighbors, friends, and family.
Joanne Proulx writes a beautifully poetic story about very ugly events in an affluent Canadian town. We are immediately thrust into the middle of the life of a family with very little introduction, and it's almost better that way. The characters seem to develop right before your eyes, even as you're learning whose portion of the story you're experiencing at the time.
Four beautiful stars for this elegiac account of a tortured family and their desperate grasp for normalcy.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
See my full review of this book and many others at That New Book Smell!
Michael and Mia begin to have marriage problems after their son, Finn, suffers a near-death experience. This is the story of the Slate family and their revelation of how love is measured between neighbors, friends, and family.
Joanne Proulx writes a beautifully poetic story about very ugly events in an affluent Canadian town. We are immediately thrust into the middle of the life of a family with very little introduction, and it's almost better that way. The characters seem to develop right before your eyes, even as you're learning whose portion of the story you're experiencing at the time.
Four beautiful stars for this elegiac account of a tortured family and their desperate grasp for normalcy.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
See my full review of this book and many others at That New Book Smell!
July 25, 2018
I didn't like any of the characters in this book. There was no one to root for and no one to care about. It is the story of two couples where the husbands have known each other since high school. They go into business together and do quite well. Michael, one of the three narrators in the story, stands back while his best friend, Peter, loots the company and makes tons of personal purchases out of company funds including an expensive boat. Michael does nothing. Then one day he discovers that Peter has literally stolen the company from him and he signed the paperwork. He supposedly never looked at any papers he signed. So already I found this story unbelievable.
Then one night, his young son Finn, gets stoned and drunk and ends up in a life and death situation. Part of the story is told through Finn's eyes of recovery. Finn and his friends lead a complicated dating life. They date each other sometimes two or three at the same time. I had a hard time keeping the relationships straight. They are 17-23 and lead quite active dating lives of the young, idle rich.
Mia, mother of Finn, is the one who handles the process of trying to get part of the company back or some compensation. Michael, of course, does nothing and rarely even shows up for legal hearings. Mia allows her husband to sexually abuse her which I didn't care for. She develops her own relationship outside of the marriage.
So there they are - rich people who have frittered their lives away by making terrible mistakes. They are not people I like, admire or want to spend time with. I truly do not understand the five star reviews. I had to shower after finishing the book because the people were so slimy. I recommend reading something else.
Then one night, his young son Finn, gets stoned and drunk and ends up in a life and death situation. Part of the story is told through Finn's eyes of recovery. Finn and his friends lead a complicated dating life. They date each other sometimes two or three at the same time. I had a hard time keeping the relationships straight. They are 17-23 and lead quite active dating lives of the young, idle rich.
Mia, mother of Finn, is the one who handles the process of trying to get part of the company back or some compensation. Michael, of course, does nothing and rarely even shows up for legal hearings. Mia allows her husband to sexually abuse her which I didn't care for. She develops her own relationship outside of the marriage.
So there they are - rich people who have frittered their lives away by making terrible mistakes. They are not people I like, admire or want to spend time with. I truly do not understand the five star reviews. I had to shower after finishing the book because the people were so slimy. I recommend reading something else.
August 6, 2017
- 2/5. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads giveaway.
"We All Love the Beautiful Girls" is told in 3 perspectives: first, we have Finn, a seventeen year old boy who is in love with his childhood babysitter, Jess, who happens to be dating Finn's best friend's older brother. One cold winter night, Finn lets his feelings get the better of him and leaves the party intoxicated and alone, only to pass out in the snow. Frost bitten, Finn's father, Michael, finds him before it is too late, although Finn loses his hand in the process.
Secondly, we have Michael's perspective. On the same night of Finn's accident, Michael is met by his company's lawyer, advising him that Michael's best friend and business partner has written him out of the business. This, in addition to his guilt over his parenting and Finn's accident, push Michael closer to the edge and to revenge.
Finally, we have Mia, Finn's mother and Michael's beautiful wife. Increasingly dissatisfied with her marriage and career, Mia is also at a crossroads, which is intensified by Finn's accident, Michael's unemployment and the loss of her friendships.
Although this should have been a darkly emotional plot, I never felt the emotions of any of the characters, and I didn't connect with any of the characters. Finn comes off as annoying, Mia comes across as selfish and Michael becomes the worst of them all. In addition, I felt that I wasn't able to connect with the writing style. Overall, this could have been an enticing portrayal of a family in dark times but ultimately fell flat for me.
"We All Love the Beautiful Girls" is told in 3 perspectives: first, we have Finn, a seventeen year old boy who is in love with his childhood babysitter, Jess, who happens to be dating Finn's best friend's older brother. One cold winter night, Finn lets his feelings get the better of him and leaves the party intoxicated and alone, only to pass out in the snow. Frost bitten, Finn's father, Michael, finds him before it is too late, although Finn loses his hand in the process.
Secondly, we have Michael's perspective. On the same night of Finn's accident, Michael is met by his company's lawyer, advising him that Michael's best friend and business partner has written him out of the business. This, in addition to his guilt over his parenting and Finn's accident, push Michael closer to the edge and to revenge.
Finally, we have Mia, Finn's mother and Michael's beautiful wife. Increasingly dissatisfied with her marriage and career, Mia is also at a crossroads, which is intensified by Finn's accident, Michael's unemployment and the loss of her friendships.
Although this should have been a darkly emotional plot, I never felt the emotions of any of the characters, and I didn't connect with any of the characters. Finn comes off as annoying, Mia comes across as selfish and Michael becomes the worst of them all. In addition, I felt that I wasn't able to connect with the writing style. Overall, this could have been an enticing portrayal of a family in dark times but ultimately fell flat for me.
August 29, 2017
We All Love the Beautiful Girls, by Joanne Proulx, is a very different story from what I normally read and what I am attracted to. However, the synopsis intrigued me and, given the fact that she is a Canadian author, I added it to the top of my TBR pile. I am so glad I did. From Proulx’s strong prose to the different narrative voices that are portrayed, I found myself hanging on to every word.
The novel opens and builds slowly with the introduction of several different characters that all have a point of view within the story. Mia (the family matriarch) Michael (her husband who has just been cheated by his business partner) and Finn (their teenaged son, who is in love with a girl he cannot have). After an evening with a terrible accident and some personal revelations, they find their relationships tested and their boundaries pushed as each character deals with the loss in a different way.
One of the main things that drew me into the story, pretty much immediately, was how real, dark and raw Proulx’s story telling is. There is no sugar coating or dramatic flourish within these pages. There is heartache, there is loss and there is the undeniable feeling that this could potentially happen to anyone. As their family unit unravels, I felt emotionally compelled to continue reading. I have read other reviews that state this story is too slow, I, however, felt the complete opposite. I felt like I settled into this story easily and was completely entranced throughout. I couldn’t put it down.
One of my favourite features of the book was the setting. Obviously, any book that takes place in Canada, I find myself incredibly biased towards. I love being able to read a story and understand the setting. At the first mention of Silver City (a movie theatre chain in Canada), I was hooked.
Overall, this book reminded me a little bit of Beartown by Fredrik Backman. It starts with a tragedy and then the reader gets to see how each character is personally affected. They had a very similar vibe.
Readers of contemporary drama will find this one completely compelling.
The novel opens and builds slowly with the introduction of several different characters that all have a point of view within the story. Mia (the family matriarch) Michael (her husband who has just been cheated by his business partner) and Finn (their teenaged son, who is in love with a girl he cannot have). After an evening with a terrible accident and some personal revelations, they find their relationships tested and their boundaries pushed as each character deals with the loss in a different way.
One of the main things that drew me into the story, pretty much immediately, was how real, dark and raw Proulx’s story telling is. There is no sugar coating or dramatic flourish within these pages. There is heartache, there is loss and there is the undeniable feeling that this could potentially happen to anyone. As their family unit unravels, I felt emotionally compelled to continue reading. I have read other reviews that state this story is too slow, I, however, felt the complete opposite. I felt like I settled into this story easily and was completely entranced throughout. I couldn’t put it down.
One of my favourite features of the book was the setting. Obviously, any book that takes place in Canada, I find myself incredibly biased towards. I love being able to read a story and understand the setting. At the first mention of Silver City (a movie theatre chain in Canada), I was hooked.
Overall, this book reminded me a little bit of Beartown by Fredrik Backman. It starts with a tragedy and then the reader gets to see how each character is personally affected. They had a very similar vibe.
Readers of contemporary drama will find this one completely compelling.
September 11, 2017
Note: Received a copy of this book from NetGalley
It might be a strange thing to say, but I just didn't feel good reading this book. It was like I had this low-key anxiety through the whole thing. I'm generally a fan of novels that are dark/depressing, or have unlikeable characters, but there was something about this one that just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
The characters were all fairly well-rounded and I liked getting different people's viewpoints (although the switch to first person for Finn was an odd choice I'm not sure about), and I also liked the Canadian content/references. I wouldn't say the author has a way with words, some of it felt clunky, but it wasn't terrible. Again, it just left me feeling... blah.
It might be a strange thing to say, but I just didn't feel good reading this book. It was like I had this low-key anxiety through the whole thing. I'm generally a fan of novels that are dark/depressing, or have unlikeable characters, but there was something about this one that just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
The characters were all fairly well-rounded and I liked getting different people's viewpoints (although the switch to first person for Finn was an odd choice I'm not sure about), and I also liked the Canadian content/references. I wouldn't say the author has a way with words, some of it felt clunky, but it wasn't terrible. Again, it just left me feeling... blah.
February 25, 2024
4.5 stars
This book explores the ripple effects of tragedy as one seemingly small mistake spreads through the lives of those close to Finn.
Proulx writes with economy of words, giving the reader a visceral experience while remaining very readable. I was hooked immediately, and was excited to stay with these characters.
I love how she wrote Finn as someone deserving of sympathy without being someone we pity. I love how just when I was starting to think ‘is that it?’ the next layer was revealed and everything came together. I love the subtle examination of the roles of men and women, and the complexities of human relationships. I loved the ending.
It’s rare to find a book that is quick and engaging, but still deep, and this one is just that. Read it when you are in a slump.
This book explores the ripple effects of tragedy as one seemingly small mistake spreads through the lives of those close to Finn.
Proulx writes with economy of words, giving the reader a visceral experience while remaining very readable. I was hooked immediately, and was excited to stay with these characters.
I love how she wrote Finn as someone deserving of sympathy without being someone we pity. I love how just when I was starting to think ‘is that it?’ the next layer was revealed and everything came together. I love the subtle examination of the roles of men and women, and the complexities of human relationships. I loved the ending.
It’s rare to find a book that is quick and engaging, but still deep, and this one is just that. Read it when you are in a slump.
December 31, 2018
DNF
Long, meandering tale about privileged white folks doing privileged white things. I could not have cared less about Michael and truly did not need paragraph upon paragraph dedicated to him just walking to the baseball field. A lot of tell not show all about the beautiful landscapes of Canada, but if I wanted that I would have read a travel guide.
Mia and Finn could have both had compelling stories individually but this book is attempting to do way too much at one time. Author should have picked one plot line and stuck to that, it was next to impossible to care about any of the characters because of how the book is structured.
Long, meandering tale about privileged white folks doing privileged white things. I could not have cared less about Michael and truly did not need paragraph upon paragraph dedicated to him just walking to the baseball field. A lot of tell not show all about the beautiful landscapes of Canada, but if I wanted that I would have read a travel guide.
Mia and Finn could have both had compelling stories individually but this book is attempting to do way too much at one time. Author should have picked one plot line and stuck to that, it was next to impossible to care about any of the characters because of how the book is structured.
October 17, 2018
It was a pretty strong beginning. And just like that, we get into the details where it begins to all fall apart.
I would have to say this wasn't an easy read for me. I agree with one reviewer that "the tone so dark that I had a difficult time reading on". I couldn't stomach much further; ended up skimming through the rest of the book if only to find out what happens to Finn.
Such a profoundly raw read from such a powerful writer. Vivid and disturbing with alternating POVs eliciting strong contemporary themes.
I would have to say this wasn't an easy read for me. I agree with one reviewer that "the tone so dark that I had a difficult time reading on". I couldn't stomach much further; ended up skimming through the rest of the book if only to find out what happens to Finn.
Such a profoundly raw read from such a powerful writer. Vivid and disturbing with alternating POVs eliciting strong contemporary themes.
January 26, 2021
This book was tedious at best. The characters are all self-involved, horrible people. There was no actual plot or point to this entire story and I really wish I hadn’t bother to read it at all.
I’d recommend some consistent punctuation in any future novels that the author may write. The haphazard quotation marks we’re truly infuriating.
Two very generous stars from a reader who normally gives too many in the first place.
I’d recommend some consistent punctuation in any future novels that the author may write. The haphazard quotation marks we’re truly infuriating.
Two very generous stars from a reader who normally gives too many in the first place.
June 11, 2018
Review to come.
July 14, 2018
Mia and Michael Slate have a pretty wonderful life: solid marriage, good kid, nice house, and wealth.
That life crumbles over the course of one night. First, they find out Michael’s business partner (and best friend) Peter has swindled them out of millions of dollars and removed Michael as a partner in the company. Later, when their 17 year old son Finn doesn’t show up at curfew, Michael goes in search of him only to find him passed out drunk in the snow, barely alive.
The heartbroken Finn must come to terms with the permanent effects of that fateful night, both mentally and physically, and heal from the secret affair he has been having with the girl next door (who is older …and his former babysitter).
Mia and Michael try to stay strong for their son but are emotionally drained from his accident and the betrayal of their best friend. The couple begin to drift apart, leading to flirtations with infidelity, thoughts of revenge against Peter, and rage over the helplessness they feel about their son’s accident and mental state.
Michael is losing control: his best friend has betrayed him, leaving his family with nothing; his son is recovering well from traumatic injuries but is practically a stranger; he fears his wife may be cheating on him. It all builds until one night he decides to break the windows on his former business partner's house; a relatively tame act of revenge that allows him to release some anger and frustration.
The events that follow have devastating consequences not only for Michael and his family, but the entire town, when an innocent person unintentionally becomes collateral damage.
There are so many layers of human emotion within this novel; the way we work through trauma, betrayal, passion, revenge and what drives us when we feel helpless and out of control.
The drama surrounding the Slate family pulled me in and then the intense relationships between characters kept me enthralled.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
For more full reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
That life crumbles over the course of one night. First, they find out Michael’s business partner (and best friend) Peter has swindled them out of millions of dollars and removed Michael as a partner in the company. Later, when their 17 year old son Finn doesn’t show up at curfew, Michael goes in search of him only to find him passed out drunk in the snow, barely alive.
The heartbroken Finn must come to terms with the permanent effects of that fateful night, both mentally and physically, and heal from the secret affair he has been having with the girl next door (who is older …and his former babysitter).
Mia and Michael try to stay strong for their son but are emotionally drained from his accident and the betrayal of their best friend. The couple begin to drift apart, leading to flirtations with infidelity, thoughts of revenge against Peter, and rage over the helplessness they feel about their son’s accident and mental state.
Michael is losing control: his best friend has betrayed him, leaving his family with nothing; his son is recovering well from traumatic injuries but is practically a stranger; he fears his wife may be cheating on him. It all builds until one night he decides to break the windows on his former business partner's house; a relatively tame act of revenge that allows him to release some anger and frustration.
The events that follow have devastating consequences not only for Michael and his family, but the entire town, when an innocent person unintentionally becomes collateral damage.
There are so many layers of human emotion within this novel; the way we work through trauma, betrayal, passion, revenge and what drives us when we feel helpless and out of control.
The drama surrounding the Slate family pulled me in and then the intense relationships between characters kept me enthralled.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
For more full reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
August 28, 2018
Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy.
Joanne Proulx writes lovely sentences, but I still had a hard time caring about any of the characters in her novel. I don't think they were necessarily intended to be likeable, but after the very compelling introductory chapters, I never felt connected to them. It seemed that the author wanted to make several points about feminism, class, and male entitlement, but none of them felt as fleshed out as I wanted them to be. I did really love the last chapter, though, so I wish that I'd felt as much interest for the middle 3/4 of the book.
Joanne Proulx writes lovely sentences, but I still had a hard time caring about any of the characters in her novel. I don't think they were necessarily intended to be likeable, but after the very compelling introductory chapters, I never felt connected to them. It seemed that the author wanted to make several points about feminism, class, and male entitlement, but none of them felt as fleshed out as I wanted them to be. I did really love the last chapter, though, so I wish that I'd felt as much interest for the middle 3/4 of the book.
August 26, 2018
DNF.
Too much tell>show and unrealistic dialogue.
Also a weird amount of marijuana demonization?
Spent a lot of time wishing that dumb kid would have died in the snow so the story could have ended there.
Highly do not recommend the audiobook narrated by Josh Hurley. He does that cringey thing in which he feminizes his voice for the female characters and sounds like a bad news reporter for the rest.
Too much tell>show and unrealistic dialogue.
Also a weird amount of marijuana demonization?
Spent a lot of time wishing that dumb kid would have died in the snow so the story could have ended there.
Highly do not recommend the audiobook narrated by Josh Hurley. He does that cringey thing in which he feminizes his voice for the female characters and sounds like a bad news reporter for the rest.
September 1, 2017
I had an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this novel, and it’s so good that it hurts—heartbreaking and full of hope all at the same time. You can check out a longer discussion of the novel (along with review excerpts) on my blog: https://dentonlovingblog.wordpress.co...
Proulx says this novel was written in part because she saw a terrifying rise in violence against women all over the world. “It was always there but the conversation seemed to be moving more to the centre,” she told Peter Robb in an interview. And although this novel is not overtly political, it’s definitely a novel of our current political ad social atmosphere, where anyone who has power will use it regardless of the consequences. Despite that truth, We All Love the Beautiful Girls is a pleasure to read. Buy it today.
Proulx says this novel was written in part because she saw a terrifying rise in violence against women all over the world. “It was always there but the conversation seemed to be moving more to the centre,” she told Peter Robb in an interview. And although this novel is not overtly political, it’s definitely a novel of our current political ad social atmosphere, where anyone who has power will use it regardless of the consequences. Despite that truth, We All Love the Beautiful Girls is a pleasure to read. Buy it today.
May 3, 2018
I knew this book wouldn’t be AMAZING when i started it, but I thought I needed some real life plot and internalized thinking after reading some random summer fling book but yea it didn’t really meet my semi-low expectations.
It didn’t captivate me, I read the whole thing because my leg is broke and I didn’t have any new books in yet. It is missing the inspiration or that little bit of magic that real life books have. I don’t feel like I’ve taken anything away from this book besides a kind of bleak outlook on life. Unsatisfied.
It didn’t captivate me, I read the whole thing because my leg is broke and I didn’t have any new books in yet. It is missing the inspiration or that little bit of magic that real life books have. I don’t feel like I’ve taken anything away from this book besides a kind of bleak outlook on life. Unsatisfied.
November 15, 2018
The characters in Joanne Proulx’s second novel We All Love the Beautiful Girls are so perfectly imperfect that you can’t help but fall in love with them.
At the centre of this finely crafted family drama is the Slate family, Mia and Michael, and their seventeen-year-old son, Finn. Then there’s Jess, Finn’s former babysitter who now sneaks into his bedroom at night to…you know. Frankie is the daughter of Michael’s business partner, Peter. Peter’s wife, Helen, is Mia’s best friend. Frankie and Finn have grown up together.
Mia and Michael’s perfect life starts to unravel when they get a visit from Stanley, the company accountant (I’m not sure that’s his actual his title, but it doesn’t really matter; he’s only the messenger). He’s discovered that Peter has restructured the company and written Michael out. Michael has, it turns out, been pretty lax about the financials of the company because he and Peter have “known each other since high school.”
On the same night that Michael finds himself screwed out of his own company, Finn finds out that Jess won’t be leaving her boyfriend, Eric, for him. She can’t even though Finn is “So gorgeous and so nice.” Finn is just a kid. (She’s 23.) Eric’s a total douche and happens to be the older brother of Finn’s best friend, Eli. Finn’s at a party at their house, drunk, and after an encounter with Jess he makes a couple of bad choices. First, he hooks up with Frankie. Second, he passes out in the backyard. It’s January. In Canada.
These two incidents are game-changers for the Slate family and their repercussions propel Proulx’s story along like a thriller. I literally could not put this book down. I finished it well past my bed-time. On a school night.
The novel flips between characters. We watch Finn’s heart break. We watch Mia and Michael’s marriage topple. We watch friends become enemies. Proulx toggles between these perspectives masterfully, the blame and the shame carefully shared. And if there is redemption or peace to be had, it’s hard won.
No one makes it through life unscathed, but perhaps the key to surviving is understanding. As Finn tells his mother: “I’m not the same as I was….I’m different now….But it’s good, you know? I’m good. Like I understand things I didn’t understand before.”
The boy becomes a man. The parents – well, I guess they do what all parents do. The best they can.
I LOVED this book.
At the centre of this finely crafted family drama is the Slate family, Mia and Michael, and their seventeen-year-old son, Finn. Then there’s Jess, Finn’s former babysitter who now sneaks into his bedroom at night to…you know. Frankie is the daughter of Michael’s business partner, Peter. Peter’s wife, Helen, is Mia’s best friend. Frankie and Finn have grown up together.
Mia and Michael’s perfect life starts to unravel when they get a visit from Stanley, the company accountant (I’m not sure that’s his actual his title, but it doesn’t really matter; he’s only the messenger). He’s discovered that Peter has restructured the company and written Michael out. Michael has, it turns out, been pretty lax about the financials of the company because he and Peter have “known each other since high school.”
On the same night that Michael finds himself screwed out of his own company, Finn finds out that Jess won’t be leaving her boyfriend, Eric, for him. She can’t even though Finn is “So gorgeous and so nice.” Finn is just a kid. (She’s 23.) Eric’s a total douche and happens to be the older brother of Finn’s best friend, Eli. Finn’s at a party at their house, drunk, and after an encounter with Jess he makes a couple of bad choices. First, he hooks up with Frankie. Second, he passes out in the backyard. It’s January. In Canada.
These two incidents are game-changers for the Slate family and their repercussions propel Proulx’s story along like a thriller. I literally could not put this book down. I finished it well past my bed-time. On a school night.
The novel flips between characters. We watch Finn’s heart break. We watch Mia and Michael’s marriage topple. We watch friends become enemies. Proulx toggles between these perspectives masterfully, the blame and the shame carefully shared. And if there is redemption or peace to be had, it’s hard won.
No one makes it through life unscathed, but perhaps the key to surviving is understanding. As Finn tells his mother: “I’m not the same as I was….I’m different now….But it’s good, you know? I’m good. Like I understand things I didn’t understand before.”
The boy becomes a man. The parents – well, I guess they do what all parents do. The best they can.
I LOVED this book.
April 9, 2019
We All Love The Beautiful Girls is a novel that you love not because of what it is. But in spite of what it isn't.
Because what we have in the case of Mia and Michael Slate. And to a thankfully lesser degree, in the case of their son, Finn.
Is a prime example of when monetary privilege coupled with this supposed security of social affluence; allows one to wrongfully assumed that tragedy can no longer befall them.
Leaving them the epitome of what might be characterized as a rudderless boat. When those proverbial chickens do come home to roost.
Leading man, Michael Slate, is the walking poster boy for privilege induced stupidity.
Not only does he hire his best friend Peter who he himself characterizes as person who would sell his own mother from money to run the business side of his company.
He then goes on to exclude his wife who has a business background in corporate banking; from any decision-making capabilities within said business.
To further add insult to injury. He then goes on to sign his half in the business a way to said money grubbing partner. Unintentionally!
When he signs documents placed on his desk without reading them.
Oh dear reader. Don't go shaking your head at me yet it's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.
Our Michael has a lot more irresponsibility up his sleeve. A lot more.
Because it seems that when he's not getting his company taken away. He's ignoring his wife's request that he be the one that be on the lookout for their son Finn.
Who has misses curfew.
Where you ask is Michael when his son is at a party, getting drunk, getting high, and passing out in the snow?
He is asleep.
Until it's too late. Finn has Miss his curfew. He's not getting an answer from finding cell none of his friends have seen him. And he is nowhere to be found. Until he is. In the snow, unconscious, and with severe frostbite to his right hand.
You would think that this injury to his beautiful, brilliant, All American Sun. Would give Michael the wake-up call that he would need.
But no.
It just gives him another reason to bury his head in the sand.
He never confronts his business partner. He doesn't like being with his son. He and his wife Mia have some sort of weird sexual dominance thing going on. He totally ignores her otherwise. And he has this weird relationship with a strange kid at a baseball diamond who he gets high with on a regular basis and has a weird skinny-dipping episode with.
And for the sake of brevity, we won't even discuss what's going on in the lives of his son Finn and his wife Mia.
In short this is a book that one reads because it's good. But it's good because it highlights, explains, and characterizes human flaws, human weaknesses, prejudices, and just plain stupidity.
In a way that brings them out of the abstract, and makes them all too real. In much the same way that a trainwreck does.
For in this case. The lives of the Slate family only serve as a metaphor for that all too real train wreck.
And though we as readers may bulk at the principal of what evil disturbs us. As evil applies to the Human Condition. When presented with it. We cannot look away.
Because what we have in the case of Mia and Michael Slate. And to a thankfully lesser degree, in the case of their son, Finn.
Is a prime example of when monetary privilege coupled with this supposed security of social affluence; allows one to wrongfully assumed that tragedy can no longer befall them.
Leaving them the epitome of what might be characterized as a rudderless boat. When those proverbial chickens do come home to roost.
Leading man, Michael Slate, is the walking poster boy for privilege induced stupidity.
Not only does he hire his best friend Peter who he himself characterizes as person who would sell his own mother from money to run the business side of his company.
He then goes on to exclude his wife who has a business background in corporate banking; from any decision-making capabilities within said business.
To further add insult to injury. He then goes on to sign his half in the business a way to said money grubbing partner. Unintentionally!
When he signs documents placed on his desk without reading them.
Oh dear reader. Don't go shaking your head at me yet it's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.
Our Michael has a lot more irresponsibility up his sleeve. A lot more.
Because it seems that when he's not getting his company taken away. He's ignoring his wife's request that he be the one that be on the lookout for their son Finn.
Who has misses curfew.
Where you ask is Michael when his son is at a party, getting drunk, getting high, and passing out in the snow?
He is asleep.
Until it's too late. Finn has Miss his curfew. He's not getting an answer from finding cell none of his friends have seen him. And he is nowhere to be found. Until he is. In the snow, unconscious, and with severe frostbite to his right hand.
You would think that this injury to his beautiful, brilliant, All American Sun. Would give Michael the wake-up call that he would need.
But no.
It just gives him another reason to bury his head in the sand.
He never confronts his business partner. He doesn't like being with his son. He and his wife Mia have some sort of weird sexual dominance thing going on. He totally ignores her otherwise. And he has this weird relationship with a strange kid at a baseball diamond who he gets high with on a regular basis and has a weird skinny-dipping episode with.
And for the sake of brevity, we won't even discuss what's going on in the lives of his son Finn and his wife Mia.
In short this is a book that one reads because it's good. But it's good because it highlights, explains, and characterizes human flaws, human weaknesses, prejudices, and just plain stupidity.
In a way that brings them out of the abstract, and makes them all too real. In much the same way that a trainwreck does.
For in this case. The lives of the Slate family only serve as a metaphor for that all too real train wreck.
And though we as readers may bulk at the principal of what evil disturbs us. As evil applies to the Human Condition. When presented with it. We cannot look away.
June 9, 2019
Gritty and unnerving.
May 12, 2024
Told over the course of one year, We All Love the Beautiful Girls by Joanne Proulx is an incredibly raw and dark story about families and how a single tragedy and betrayal can cause a ripple effect of bad behaviour, crumbling relationships, and irreversible damage.
With its lack of punctuation, the writing is jarring at times, and took some getting used to, but I’m learning that more often than not, I really enjoy this type of writing style. It’s extremely intimate, and I felt like I was imposing on these characters most inner thoughts and emotions. While this was uncomfortable at times, it was also so honest (and sometimes sad), and that’s ultimately what made me so invested in this cautionary tale.
Perhaps it was the setting of an upper class Canadian neighbourhood, or rich kids (and their parents) behaving badly, or maybe even just the examination of the role of anger (and even denial), and how easily it can infiltrate one’s life, that made me love this book. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but weeks later I still think about this book.
I know this book won’t be for everyone, but I highly recommend picking it up if you like these types of dark family dramas.
With its lack of punctuation, the writing is jarring at times, and took some getting used to, but I’m learning that more often than not, I really enjoy this type of writing style. It’s extremely intimate, and I felt like I was imposing on these characters most inner thoughts and emotions. While this was uncomfortable at times, it was also so honest (and sometimes sad), and that’s ultimately what made me so invested in this cautionary tale.
Perhaps it was the setting of an upper class Canadian neighbourhood, or rich kids (and their parents) behaving badly, or maybe even just the examination of the role of anger (and even denial), and how easily it can infiltrate one’s life, that made me love this book. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but weeks later I still think about this book.
I know this book won’t be for everyone, but I highly recommend picking it up if you like these types of dark family dramas.
Read
September 21, 2018Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC of We All Love the Beautiful Girls by Joanne Proulx. I apologize for my delayed review.
The premise peaked my interest but from the early pages my attention was tested. The characters were so loathsome and the tone so dark that I had a difficult time reading on. It’s a story of rich people problems which I generally like but this time I did not care for anyone. I spent more time cringing then enjoying that I ultimately bailed at the 40% mark.
The premise peaked my interest but from the early pages my attention was tested. The characters were so loathsome and the tone so dark that I had a difficult time reading on. It’s a story of rich people problems which I generally like but this time I did not care for anyone. I spent more time cringing then enjoying that I ultimately bailed at the 40% mark.
August 18, 2018
I ended up liking this book a lot more than I thought I would when I started it. It starts sort of gimmicky and cliched but finds its way once the plot lines are laid. Two twists caught me by surprise and I ended up relating to the characters a lot. I also liked the author’s style of moving between characters’ perspectives and the use of voice.
December 17, 2017
when things go happily right, how do you cope? easy, right? more or less. does money buy happiness? what happens when things go horribly wrong? and then snowball. beautifully written and told, in 'honest' and not always likeable voices, a family falls apart and then struggles to put the pieces back, but some pieces never come back. painful to read at times, emotionally jarring - ultimately a 'good' book. i like 'real' - this was real, sadly.
September 7, 2018
I should have known. I just should have known. I was really into this book, a solid 4 starts as we watch a family struggling with such a drunken accident. And then with 40 pages left, a fucking rape. For no reason other than this book isn't dark enough and the family needs more guilt and of course you just can't have a dark f dramatic story without sexually assaulting a female. Why can't authors how a brain and be more creative instead of dragging out the same shit over and over.
March 20, 2018
This took a very surprising, 'what on earth why is this book so frigging good', turn.
Deliciously heartbreaking and unbelievably honest. It definitely surpassed all expectations.
Deliciously heartbreaking and unbelievably honest. It definitely surpassed all expectations.
February 16, 2019
It was .... fine? Just extremely boring and derailed my book goals for this month.
April 20, 2019
Well. I feel cheated - both during the time it took to read the book, which, admittedly was less than a day, but especially after finishing it. Let me try and explain why. As a reviewer, I try never to read reviews until after I wrote mine, and maybe not even then. In the case of
We All Love the Beautiful Girls,
I didn't read a single review. What I did read was the effusive quotes on the back cover of the hardcover book. There were seven quotes. Effusive. Made me wonder why I let the ARC of this book sit on my shelves for several months. Oh, I read a lot. Every day However, there is only so much time.
Well, I picked up the book - along with a reviewer friend - for review this weekend. I was really excited after reading the quotes from other authors and a couple of publications. To say the last, the quotes and the hype in no way measured up to my take on the book.
Let me start with a summary and then I will write up my actual review thoughts.
It is a very, very bad time for Mia and Michael Slate. While they are reeling from the lost of Michael's company and their life savings, they discover that after their seventeen-year-old son went to a party, while high, he fell and passed out in the snow. This was a devastating event that toppled the already crumbling lives of their family. Sadly, more than the Slate family were affected by what happened to their son Finn.
Michael and Mia led a fairly charmed life. They both had exceptional jobs, had been married 19 years and had a relatively happy family. Things changed overnight. They lost everything, nearly lost Finn due to his trauma, and their family fell apart. Michael lost his company when his best friend Peter cheated him out of everything due to embezzlement. What Finn lost during that snowstorm was very tragic. He lost his hand, but truly, he lost himself. To complicate matters, Peter's daughter Frankie, at 23, is in love with Finn, but there is a young man Eli in love with her. Then Michael's wife Mia lost it all when she wondered about the stability of her marriage.
The overwhelming sense of drama after losing their livelihood quickly took second place and Finn's loss of his hand left Mia trying to keep things together, while Michael completely lost his way. Michael spent about 98% of the time during this book feeling sorry for himself. Yes, Mia did as well, but for different reasons. While Michael spent his time away from Mia and Finn, Mia used this time to play around with a fantasy. Giving in to said fantasy would no doubt completely erode any chance the family had of recovering.
When I read a book, admittedly I like to latch on to at least one character, preferably several. In this book, I was not afforded the opportunity. There is Michael, Mia, Finn and Frankie. NONE of them were likable. They were all broken and I could only hope through the pages of this book that at least one of them would be redeemed. Had that been the case, then my rating would have climbed up just a bit.
So, think. Imagine. You are on a train barreling downhill with no breaks. On the wrong track! Yep, that is what this book was. As I rapidly approached the epilogue I was so very hopeful that something, even one thing, would turn around. It never did.
Despite my overwhelming negative feelings towards this read, I will say that Joanne Proulx is a good storyteller, her writing was cohesive and I was initially drawn to the characters, especially Finn. What he dealt with I couldn't imagine my own children suffering through.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Well, I picked up the book - along with a reviewer friend - for review this weekend. I was really excited after reading the quotes from other authors and a couple of publications. To say the last, the quotes and the hype in no way measured up to my take on the book.
Let me start with a summary and then I will write up my actual review thoughts.
It is a very, very bad time for Mia and Michael Slate. While they are reeling from the lost of Michael's company and their life savings, they discover that after their seventeen-year-old son went to a party, while high, he fell and passed out in the snow. This was a devastating event that toppled the already crumbling lives of their family. Sadly, more than the Slate family were affected by what happened to their son Finn.
Michael and Mia led a fairly charmed life. They both had exceptional jobs, had been married 19 years and had a relatively happy family. Things changed overnight. They lost everything, nearly lost Finn due to his trauma, and their family fell apart. Michael lost his company when his best friend Peter cheated him out of everything due to embezzlement. What Finn lost during that snowstorm was very tragic. He lost his hand, but truly, he lost himself. To complicate matters, Peter's daughter Frankie, at 23, is in love with Finn, but there is a young man Eli in love with her. Then Michael's wife Mia lost it all when she wondered about the stability of her marriage.
The overwhelming sense of drama after losing their livelihood quickly took second place and Finn's loss of his hand left Mia trying to keep things together, while Michael completely lost his way. Michael spent about 98% of the time during this book feeling sorry for himself. Yes, Mia did as well, but for different reasons. While Michael spent his time away from Mia and Finn, Mia used this time to play around with a fantasy. Giving in to said fantasy would no doubt completely erode any chance the family had of recovering.
When I read a book, admittedly I like to latch on to at least one character, preferably several. In this book, I was not afforded the opportunity. There is Michael, Mia, Finn and Frankie. NONE of them were likable. They were all broken and I could only hope through the pages of this book that at least one of them would be redeemed. Had that been the case, then my rating would have climbed up just a bit.
So, think. Imagine. You are on a train barreling downhill with no breaks. On the wrong track! Yep, that is what this book was. As I rapidly approached the epilogue I was so very hopeful that something, even one thing, would turn around. It never did.
Despite my overwhelming negative feelings towards this read, I will say that Joanne Proulx is a good storyteller, her writing was cohesive and I was initially drawn to the characters, especially Finn. What he dealt with I couldn't imagine my own children suffering through.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
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