Elizabeth’s review of Yesteryear > Likes and Comments

I'm reading this now so I will come back to your thoughts!

How unfortunate, Elizabeth! I think you articulated your issues with this one perfectly. Always disappointing when a novel misses the mark, or squanders a chance to make a clear statement. I hope your next read is more enjoyable! Excellent review ☺️

Excellent review 👏

This is an excellent review and wonderful analysis, Elizabeth. It isn't a book that is on my list to read, so I truly appreciated your thoughtful review of it. Thank you! ☺️

As it so happens, this book showed up as a donation to my LFL, so I felt inclined to read it. I was hating it so much, I DNF'ed it - after I skipped to the end - and hated it even more. Thank you again for your honest and fair review. I chose not to write a review of it - I just couldn't find words, Elizabeth. But you did beautifully! ☺️

Canadian Jen wrote: "I'm reading this now so I will come back to your thoughts!"

I look forward to yours!

Rowan wrote: "How unfortunate, Elizabeth! I think you articulated your issues with this one perfectly. Always disappointing when a novel misses the mark, or squanders a chance to make a clear statement. I hope y..."

Thank you Rowan. I appreciate your thoughts here. With books, we win some, we lose some! 😁

TL *Humaning the Best She Can* wrote: "Excellent review 👏"

Thanks TL! 🙏🏽

Karen wrote: "This is an excellent review and wonderful analysis, Elizabeth. It isn't a book that is on my list to read, so I truly appreciated your thoughtful review of it. Thank you! ☺️"

Karen, I appreciate you reading the review and your kind words.

Outstanding review Elizabeth!! Shame this one didn't hit any great heights for you - it seems to have mixed reviews, this one! 🤗🤗

Mark wrote: "Outstanding review Elizabeth!! Shame this one didn't hit any great heights for you - it seems to have mixed reviews, this one! 🤗🤗"

Thank you so much Mark! Yes, mixed. I’m curious to see more reviews as people I follow on here get around to it. 🦋

Thanks for this review. I have read a lot about this an was on the fence. Your honest and finely written analysis has convinced me this is not for me.

Linda wrote: "Thanks for this review. I have read a lot about this an was on the fence. Your honest and finely written analysis has convinced me this is not for me."

Thank you Linda; I am honored by your faith in my analysis! You might enjoy it as many seem to, but in my estimation there are better uses of reading time.

Wow Elizabeth! Were I ever able to review a book as fully and as well as you do, I’d be in Reader Heaven! This book served its purpose for me to get me out of a book attention deficit and most likely got subjective stars for that (however it really hasn’t now looking back in time.). I would say I think the quote you chose was the part of the book that was of greatest interest to me. The influencers are so busy selling what they want the world to see that their lives behind the camera seem rather shallow and not lived in. I know, like here is really crappy pair of jeans that photographs well and you should buy them but you will not really be able to live in them and you will wear sweatpants instead. These are very early morning thoughts so it could make no sense at all! I do think the author poked so much fun at so many demographics that she rather lost her way.

Belle wrote: "Wow Elizabeth! Were I ever able to review a book as fully and as well as you do, I’d be in Reader Heaven! This book served its purpose for me to get me out of a book attention deficit and most like..."

Thank you Belle for such an enthusiastic compliment! I appreciate your thoughts and agree. I love your last sentence...very good point. She has this viewpoint of everything being fodder, which winds up making no real viewpoint at all. Thanks for communicating with me here; half the fun of Goodreads!

Elizabeth, I think you missed a couple of points…

You mentioned that Natalie didn’t have a consistent POV but that is the whole point, she didn’t know what her POV was. She was constantly trying to find ways of communicating her message that would be appealing to her “audience”. It highlighted her inner struggle with what she was taught by her mother and her religion and her true self which is, as you pointed out, sounds like the angry women she hated aka ambitious, loud, opinionated. I don’t think that was the author’s personal voice coming through, I think it was an intentional use of contradicting narratives.

As for the holes of Swiss cheese… She couldn’t have her own press conference because that wouldn’t be what a nice Christian woman would do. Her husband would have to hold the press conference on her behalf, which he can’t do because he is an idiot. And who knows why Shannon slept with Caleb… I have certainly cringed at my choices when I was her age. Also, the book clearly writes that her mind was focused when Clementine came back for the children and that after they left, she felt like she was slowly becoming disoriented again.

Honestly, I’m glad the author landed on this version of Natalie because really, no one is JUST obedient, nice, pure, and good.

Harper wrote: "Elizabeth, I think you missed a couple of points…

You mentioned that Natalie didn’t have a consistent POV but that is the whole point, she didn’t know what her POV was. She was constantly trying ..."

I disagree on this book and the author’s success in creating a worthwhile story, as my many points illuminate in detail. To each their own.

I really couldn't stomach it and made an early exit.

Sher wrote: "I really couldn't stomach it and made an early exit."

Interesting. What about it was so distasteful for you?

I usually don’t do Audiobooks for fiction (I prefer physical books or ebooks), but it was available at my library (this was before all the buzz, I’m sure there is a long waiting list now) so I checked it out. I probably invested an hour of time, but I really found the protagonist so aggravating and annoying (so great job, narrator!). I was getting angry just listening to the sound of her voice. Girl, I’m a pretty chill and relaxed person on the regular. I figured I’d quit early and read something that either is inspiring or makes me “good trouble” kinda mad. Yesteryear was making me “humans suck” kinda mad and there are just better ways to while away the time on this planet. Y’know?

Sher wrote: "I usually don’t do Audiobooks for fiction (I prefer physical books or ebooks), but it was available at my library (this was before all the buzz, I’m sure there is a long waiting list now) so I chec..."

Haha, yes! Use your time (& book time) wisely. I appreciate your eloquent reply! I wonder if the author narrated.

Oh no! Yesteryear seems to be such a polarizing read and therefore, despite a number of reviewers I respect disliking it, I find myself still interested to read and see my own reaction. It's next up on the list for me so am curious to start :) Thank you for that amazing review.

Julie wrote: "Oh no! Yesteryear seems to be such a polarizing read and therefore, despite a number of reviewers I respect disliking it, I find myself still interested to read and see my own reaction. It's next u..."

Thank you so much, Julie. I know, sometimes you need to read for yourself to be part of the conversation. :=)

Excellent honest review Elizabeth, this one did pique my interest, sorry this was not for you, the Trad Wife theme seems to be everywhere now. Thank you for your balanced review 💕💕💕

Jennifer (Jaye) (trying to catch up, challenging time) wrote: "Excellent honest review Elizabeth, this one did pique my interest, sorry this was not for you, the Trad Wife theme seems to be everywhere now. Thank you for your balanced review 💕💕💕"

Thank you so very much, Jaye! Yes, one of my guilty pleasures on television, Elsbeth, will have a repeat tonight of an episode about a tradwife influencer…first aired right after I finished this book. Some similar themes, fun to see. If you do read this, I’ll be wanting to see what you think!

Incredible review! 🫶🏼 It was such a wild, propulsive experience for me that I ended up a little higher, but I really appreciate your thoughtful analysis here. Your breakdown of the character consistency is spot on. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for the link to the article, I can't wait to read it!

Lauren, thank you SO much for your kind words! Definitely a book with a lot to think about.

Fantastic review, Elizabeth! I loved this book, but I can really understand your well-thought-out points! I’m fascinated that we all have such different reactions to the same book. I had a review copy and there was no author’s note. I would really like to read that!

Debbie wrote: "Fantastic review, Elizabeth! I loved this book, but I can really understand your well-thought-out points! I’m fascinated that we all have such different reactions to the same book. I had a review c..."

Thank you Debbie! Yes I enjoyed seeing your (& others) different and varied reactions, I’d say go to a bookstore or Target and read the authors notes if you have time, sometime. Author notes can add a lot.🤗

I agree. The novel felt like it was going in too many directions yet nowhere in particular. As you mentioned, it lacked a clear destination and I felt like an outsider. I’m glad you both felt the same way.
I’m really enjoying your detailed review. I can’t wait to read more of your writing.😇🌸

Elizabeth--you really gave a great description of why you didn't care for this book. It could have gone either way for me--it is partly being in the right mood (for me). But it would be dull if we all liked and disliked the same books!

I do think Anne Hathaway will do a good job of adapting this book.

shareen wrote: "I agree. The novel felt like it was going in too many directions yet nowhere in particular. As you mentioned, it lacked a clear destination and I felt like an outsider. I’m glad you both felt the s..."

Thank you kindly, Shareen! Your comment is so very nice. I thought your review of this disappointing book was really great.

switterbug (Betsey) wrote: "Elizabeth--you really gave a great description of why you didn't care for this book. It could have gone either way for me--it is partly being in the right mood (for me). But it would be dull if we ..."

Thank you. Your own review was astonishing! And true indeed; our differences of opinion as humans make life interesting.

Karen wrote: "This is an excellent review and wonderful analysis, Elizabeth. It isn't a book that is on my list to read, so I truly appreciated your thoughtful review of it. Thank you! ☺️

As it so happens, this..."

I just saw your update Karen! That seems so unlike you to hate and DNF…I feel justified, lol.

Outstanding and thorough review. I admire your persistence and tenacity to continue reading through the book.

Sharon wrote: "Outstanding and thorough review. I admire your persistence and tenacity to continue reading through the book."

Thank you Sharon, and I see we agreed on the two star rating,