Deborah Poppel > Recent Status Updates

Having second thoughts- the female main character is pretty ridiculous

It’s refreshing to read a well-written book after so much dreck lately!

More things that make me grind my teeth at this story:
- MC’s statement/assumption that her childfree-by-choice best friend “will make a great mother someday”!
- MC’s disdain for her mother, a successful & independent math professor, not choosing to be a more involved grandparent;
- calling her mother a “freakazoid” because she chooses to eat a healthy vegan, gluten free & sugar free diet

Things are not boding well for this Prime-reads freebie, but I need to finish to stay on track!
- Stupid dog name (ugh)
- Male romantic interest who keeps referring to how “beautiful” and “gorgeous” the FMC is (double-ugh)
- Completely clueless FMC (rolls eyes)
- Insufferable in-laws (specifically MIL)
- Magically perfect bestie
- Hints of magical realism that go nowhere

Reading in advance of gifting to daughter.

Snapshot- 3
Loaded- 3.5/4
Aloft- 2/2.5
Rain-

🙂

Don’t like this one. DNF

Reading this for book club. It’s very dry and boring. Not sure I’ll finish.

The writing is not bad, the story engaging enough, I can relate to the concept (longtime unsatisfying marriage, kid in college)- but I HATE the main character! And the ridiculous notions about veganism, single life, etc- ugh.

Oh dear…this is unusually disappointing thus far for a Fredrik Bachman book. I’m actually sorry I spent money on the Kindle version. Would’ve rather had a hard copy I could then give away.

Wish that books “based on” or “inspired by” true stories were up front about it. Otherwise it feels like plagiaristic lazy writing.

Not a bad read, but not much is happening. Has a “practical magic” vibe going. Can’t get past the ridiculous (and repetitive) name Ivy Ridge. Sounds more like an old folks’ home or affordable housing complex than a small town in Georgia. The love interest seems insufferable. Don’t know why romance has to be shoe-horned into every storyline.