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salgalruns's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first Joshilyn Jackson book, and to say I am completely hooked is a huge understatement. I absolutely loved this storyline. Rough around the edges, but filled with such raw emotion that I was sucked in from the beginning and left holding onto it at the end, not wanting to finish.
The story takes place in the south through a family dynamic that you can't help but love - a grandmother, her daughter (born to her at 15), and her grandaughter (born when her daughter was 15). There is a HUGE family secret that weaves its way through the story involving a very mysterious backyard find and the implications of it.
Characters are, without a doubt, superb. Jackson not only nails the three main women of the story with such accuracy (getting the "momisms" as well as the teenage angst) that it made me feel that I was in the room with them all. Along the way were some amazing secondary characters who also were expressed with such clarity that it became almost visual (Roger, Patti, and Lawrence....along with Claire, of course).
I highly highly highly recommend this. It is, most of all, a book of love that knows no boundaries. I'm off to check out the others by Jackson!!!
The story takes place in the south through a family dynamic that you can't help but love - a grandmother, her daughter (born to her at 15), and her grandaughter (born when her daughter was 15). There is a HUGE family secret that weaves its way through the story involving a very mysterious backyard find and the implications of it.
Characters are, without a doubt, superb. Jackson not only nails the three main women of the story with such accuracy (getting the "momisms" as well as the teenage angst) that it made me feel that I was in the room with them all. Along the way were some amazing secondary characters who also were expressed with such clarity that it became almost visual (Roger, Patti, and Lawrence....along with Claire, of course).
I highly highly highly recommend this. It is, most of all, a book of love that knows no boundaries. I'm off to check out the others by Jackson!!!
tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
4.0
This is told from three points of view and I was amazed how, within a chapter, maybe two of reading each character's voice, I no longer had to read the chapter heading. It's intriguing, threw me for a few loops and the characters are endearing. It is quite sweary which would make me hesitate an all out recommendation, but I really enjoyed it.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook performed by the author.
4.5****
Excerpt from the book jacket: When a long-hidden grave is unearthed in the backyard, headstrong young Mosey Slocumb is determined to investigate. What she learns could cost her family everything… Every fifteen years, trouble comes after the three Slocumb women: a child on the cusp of womanhood searching for her true family; a woman whose fight to protect her daughter will toss her headlong into a second chance at first love; and a lost soul rediscovering her voice.
My reaction:
Wow. I was mesmerized from beginning to end. Jackson writes the kind of Southern fiction I absolutely love – full of bigger-than-life characters facing “un-possible” plot twists, and sprinkled with colorful dialogue and idioms. She also writes strong female characters and all three Slocumb women show strength, albeit in different ways. Big, as matriarch, has the advantage of maturity and experience; she fights hard to maintain a stable family environment for her daughter and granddaughter. Liza shows the kind of strength and determination required to survive and recover from a debilitating stroke. Mosey has the strength of character that comes from knowing that she is loved and treasured. All three make their share of mistakes, but all face their future with a determination to succeed and the knowledge that they will always have each other to count on.
The chapters move back and forth between these three women and their various points of view. In this way the reader is privy to more information than any one of the women has, but that doesn’t mean I knew the solution to the mystery much sooner than the characters did. The only reason I don’t give the book five stars is that I was disappointed in how Liza and Big behaved around certain men. Liza, in particular, didn’t seem to have learned much from having had a child at age 15, except perhaps refining her ploys for not getting caught. But this was really a small part of the book.
Jackson read the audio version of the book herself. She is a talented voice-over artist and was easily able to give each woman enough individuality that I had no trouble telling them apart. She has good pacing and a style of reading that is just perfect for her novels.
4.5****
Excerpt from the book jacket: When a long-hidden grave is unearthed in the backyard, headstrong young Mosey Slocumb is determined to investigate. What she learns could cost her family everything… Every fifteen years, trouble comes after the three Slocumb women: a child on the cusp of womanhood searching for her true family; a woman whose fight to protect her daughter will toss her headlong into a second chance at first love; and a lost soul rediscovering her voice.
My reaction:
Wow. I was mesmerized from beginning to end. Jackson writes the kind of Southern fiction I absolutely love – full of bigger-than-life characters facing “un-possible” plot twists, and sprinkled with colorful dialogue and idioms. She also writes strong female characters and all three Slocumb women show strength, albeit in different ways. Big, as matriarch, has the advantage of maturity and experience; she fights hard to maintain a stable family environment for her daughter and granddaughter. Liza shows the kind of strength and determination required to survive and recover from a debilitating stroke. Mosey has the strength of character that comes from knowing that she is loved and treasured. All three make their share of mistakes, but all face their future with a determination to succeed and the knowledge that they will always have each other to count on.
The chapters move back and forth between these three women and their various points of view. In this way the reader is privy to more information than any one of the women has, but that doesn’t mean I knew the solution to the mystery much sooner than the characters did. The only reason I don’t give the book five stars is that I was disappointed in how Liza and Big behaved around certain men. Liza, in particular, didn’t seem to have learned much from having had a child at age 15, except perhaps refining her ploys for not getting caught. But this was really a small part of the book.
Jackson read the audio version of the book herself. She is a talented voice-over artist and was easily able to give each woman enough individuality that I had no trouble telling them apart. She has good pacing and a style of reading that is just perfect for her novels.
brittanyyoung's review against another edition
4.0
I was not expecting this story at all! I decided to listen to this one as it was one of the oldest books on my TBR shelf and I was not disappointed. Joshilyn was an excellent narrator and I really enjoyed most of the characters. I was a little shocked there wasn't more of an investigation regarding the bones under the willow, but overall I enjoyed the story!
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Jackson is an author I have only recently discovered. Her books are both dramatic and light-hearted, but in the end they are satisfying. This one, about three generations of women whose lives are shaken by the discovery of a buried fetus in their backyard goes by quickly. I read it in one sitting!
alisonhori's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book...engaging characters and story. Fun read.
colleengeedrumm's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book well enough. The three characters were great and story line interesting, although it started off slow. Some events I wish she would've elaborated a bit more on, but overall thought it was well done. If I could do 3.5 stars I would.
ir_sharp2's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it enough that it kept me hooked so I think I'll give it a 4. Good, intriguing story. Not sure I'd read more by her as I've always thought she was entirely too girly. I do own a copy of Between, Georgia though. I'll probably get around to it one day.
annemarie246's review
5.0
Wonderful book, loved the characters and the dialogue is the best. Audiobook was so good!