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jol69's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing. Eliza was quite naive and wore rose coloured glasses concerning her mother. Jeannie clearly had problems but was particularly unlikable. I didn't feel the bond between Olivia, Maxie and Eliza that was supposedly so strong. And what was the point of Celeste - that element of the storyline went nowhere. Perhaps I'd have enjoyed the book more if I'd read it not listened to it. The version I had was one of the worst narrations I've ever heard.
jaby89's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
lousnewchapter's review against another edition
4.0
Despite having a tricky childhood Eliza Miller has always felt loved and secure especially by her two godmothers Olivia and Maxie. But then a tragic event changed everything. 13 years later with an invitation to come to Edinburgh from her Godmothers Eliza leapt at the chance. Finally ready to ask her godmothers so many questions about her life such as who her father is... It will be the trip of a lifetime.
This is such a heartwarming story about love, loss, grief and family. The book started off a little slow but I didn't mind that at all because the characters were all so beautifully written and likeable that you carry on reading just for them. Their lives were all riddled with secrets, family tensions and even guilt but what I loved was the growth of each of them, especially Eliza, and how different they were by the end. I'd definitely reccomend this book and I'd be interested in reading more of Mcinerny's work too.
This is such a heartwarming story about love, loss, grief and family. The book started off a little slow but I didn't mind that at all because the characters were all so beautifully written and likeable that you carry on reading just for them. Their lives were all riddled with secrets, family tensions and even guilt but what I loved was the growth of each of them, especially Eliza, and how different they were by the end. I'd definitely reccomend this book and I'd be interested in reading more of Mcinerny's work too.
courtneyblack's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I thought this book was a really good example of mundanity turning into adventure. It follows a really simple, every-day character but as she unravels her past and starts a new life, she becomes interesting, loveable and a true protagonist. At points I was slightly deterred by her simplicity, but she grew on me and I felt like the sense of mystery really helped to keep me interested. One other thing which threw me off, was how many settings we had to follow, from melbourne to regional victoria, then england ireland and scotland, even new york in some parts. It did feel a bit jumpy, between setting and time period, but the writing style helped to keep me on track. The subtle romance was lovely, and the intimacy found between the protagonist and her godmothers really displayed what true love looks like. Unfortunately some of the characters decisions were not justified enough for me and I did questions their motivations and why certain secrets would be kept. Overall a decent read, 3.5 stars.
jordysaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
It’s always a treat to sit down with a Monica McInerney novel, as a great story is guaranteed. Of course, The Godmothers is no exception. Take a lonely young woman out of her comfort zone and add in two godmothers who want nothing but the best for her, and add a mystery and some romance to make the pages fly by. It’s delightful and heart-warming.
Eliza is a young woman who lives by routine. She’s devoted to her job (even though her boss treats her terribly) and is focused on living as quiet a life as possible. Then everything goes haywire, and Eliza finds herself without a job and without a place to live. Enter her two godmothers, Olivia and Maxie. They’ve been focused on giving Eliza the best times possible while growing up and now they want to help her break out of her rut. But it’s not as simple as that. Eliza has some things to work through after the death of her mother, a wildly emotional alcoholic, and she also wants to know who her father is. Once in Edinburgh, Eliza meets new people and grows as a person. But when she gets close to finding out who her father is, others will want her to go back to Australia. Can Eliza, her godmothers and her new friends help her find the truth?
There is always something familiar about a Monica McInerney novel. I’m not talking about plot, more a sense of comfort while reading. You know that you will be entertained, you know there will be heartbreak but you also know that there will be redemption. McInerney envelopes the reader in the setting and the plot. You can’t help but feel that you are beside Eliza as she tends to a grumpy old lady or attends her godmother’s wedding. Eliza is a character easy to resonate with, as are her godmothers Maxie and Olivia. They simply want each other to be happy. As for Eliza’s mother Jeannie, relating to her was much more difficult. Her character is seen only through the eyes of Eliza and the godmothers, but she appears to rarely tell the truth and only find solace in the bottle. She needed help, but was reluctant to seek it out. I much preferred the parts of the novel that focused on the present than the past.
Secrets are one of the major themes of the novel, with there being a few more secrets than initially expected. I enjoyed the additional secrets held by Olivia, even though they were weightier than some of the others. Some are secrets of the past, like Lawrence (the hotel manager) and his past. Some are sad realisations of the present, such as Sullivan’s realisation that his father and stepmother aren’t really keen on having him in their lives. (Sullivan is one of the delights of the novel, a precocious child who knows far too much for his age). These secrets are intertwined with friendships and the realisation that friends can be family too.
A charming story, The Godmothers won’t let you down.
Thank you to Penguin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Eliza is a young woman who lives by routine. She’s devoted to her job (even though her boss treats her terribly) and is focused on living as quiet a life as possible. Then everything goes haywire, and Eliza finds herself without a job and without a place to live. Enter her two godmothers, Olivia and Maxie. They’ve been focused on giving Eliza the best times possible while growing up and now they want to help her break out of her rut. But it’s not as simple as that. Eliza has some things to work through after the death of her mother, a wildly emotional alcoholic, and she also wants to know who her father is. Once in Edinburgh, Eliza meets new people and grows as a person. But when she gets close to finding out who her father is, others will want her to go back to Australia. Can Eliza, her godmothers and her new friends help her find the truth?
There is always something familiar about a Monica McInerney novel. I’m not talking about plot, more a sense of comfort while reading. You know that you will be entertained, you know there will be heartbreak but you also know that there will be redemption. McInerney envelopes the reader in the setting and the plot. You can’t help but feel that you are beside Eliza as she tends to a grumpy old lady or attends her godmother’s wedding. Eliza is a character easy to resonate with, as are her godmothers Maxie and Olivia. They simply want each other to be happy. As for Eliza’s mother Jeannie, relating to her was much more difficult. Her character is seen only through the eyes of Eliza and the godmothers, but she appears to rarely tell the truth and only find solace in the bottle. She needed help, but was reluctant to seek it out. I much preferred the parts of the novel that focused on the present than the past.
Secrets are one of the major themes of the novel, with there being a few more secrets than initially expected. I enjoyed the additional secrets held by Olivia, even though they were weightier than some of the others. Some are secrets of the past, like Lawrence (the hotel manager) and his past. Some are sad realisations of the present, such as Sullivan’s realisation that his father and stepmother aren’t really keen on having him in their lives. (Sullivan is one of the delights of the novel, a precocious child who knows far too much for his age). These secrets are intertwined with friendships and the realisation that friends can be family too.
A charming story, The Godmothers won’t let you down.
Thank you to Penguin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
sbritz's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
Cute. Friendship, secrets, life, relationships and the many complications. Add an adorable child in the mix and you've got a winning recipe.
NB: Excellent audiobook.
NB: Excellent audiobook.