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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Although there were a couple of times De Los Santos' writing has contained poorly-formed sentences, the story itself was engaging, entertaining, and indeed made me cry in parts. It was an easy, feel-good read. **This is the sequel to "Love Walked In"**
Though I could never really begin to like Piper (her bitching about people that wear the same dress size I do was not endearing, and basically we are supposed to like her because she has family issues and her best friend is dying), the book wasn't bad.
I disliked reading about Dev, because it's always awkward when a member of the opposite sex tries to create adolescence for a character, unless they do it really well. Somehow, Dev was likable but not real to me.
Also, I could not get the idea out of my head that Piper looked just like Bree from Desperate Housewives (who I DO like) even though she isn't supposed to. Hmm. I just realized I can't figure out what I DID like about the book. I guess it's a little forgettable and not really worth hunting down, unless you're really bored.
I disliked reading about Dev, because it's always awkward when a member of the opposite sex tries to create adolescence for a character, unless they do it really well. Somehow, Dev was likable but not real to me.
Also, I could not get the idea out of my head that Piper looked just like Bree from Desperate Housewives (who I DO like) even though she isn't supposed to. Hmm. I just realized I can't figure out what I DID like about the book. I guess it's a little forgettable and not really worth hunting down, unless you're really bored.
I have a few qualms with this book, but I must admit I was entertained most of the time. For some reason, this author does things that really get under my skin. Like this glowing aura of goodness and perfection that encircles Teo -- come on! So unrealistic (despite the plot twist at the end). And some of these characters appeared in Love Walked In. The author goes into all sorts of backstory, but never mentions that Cornelia fell in love with Teo when he was still dating her sister. Now that I write it, it sounds nit-picky. But it isn't! I just see some real flaws with the book. And yet, I kind of liked it. A little. Oh, this author frustrates me.
This book crammed in just about every woman issue possible. So even though it's a bit formulaic, it's also well written. I was engrossed and invested in the lives of the characters. My only complaint is that the characters all had the stupidest names: Piper, Lake, Dev, Teo, Cornelia etc.
I have to preface this review by saying that I am very dense. There is no other explanation for the fact that it took me almost 75 pages to realize this was the sequel to Love Walked In and not just the author's second novel. Sigh.
Similar in style to Jodi Picoult and Anne Tyler (without Picoult's cult following and only if Anne Tyler were prescribed Prozac and a shot of Oprah.) This is one of those books that I find to be perfectly imperfect. I have the desire to dissect it, but in the end, I can't place why.
I guess this is a book that imitates real life, if real life were encompassed in a snow globe.
Favorite Quotes:
"[T]here are few experiences more isolating in the world than picking up a joke that's fallen flat, brushing it off, and then choking the life out of it by explaining it to a roomful of stranger who will, never, not in a million years, get it."
"It happened the way Dev imagined all theories happened: first, there were pieces, scattered and separate; then someone figured out that the pieces were pieces; then someone put the pieces together."
"...we forgot to stay in love."
"...you're fairly fun. Fun's just not the point of you."
"That baby is crying for some pasta!" Vinny shouted in the background. "Don't be a stingy mama!"
""...to hold people...in his mind in their entirety, to resist every impulse to turn them into ideas, to keep them specific no matter what."
Similar in style to Jodi Picoult and Anne Tyler (without Picoult's cult following and only if Anne Tyler were prescribed Prozac and a shot of Oprah.) This is one of those books that I find to be perfectly imperfect. I have the desire to dissect it, but in the end, I can't place why.
I guess this is a book that imitates real life, if real life were encompassed in a snow globe.
Favorite Quotes:
"[T]here are few experiences more isolating in the world than picking up a joke that's fallen flat, brushing it off, and then choking the life out of it by explaining it to a roomful of stranger who will, never, not in a million years, get it."
"It happened the way Dev imagined all theories happened: first, there were pieces, scattered and separate; then someone figured out that the pieces were pieces; then someone put the pieces together."
"...we forgot to stay in love."
"...you're fairly fun. Fun's just not the point of you."
"That baby is crying for some pasta!" Vinny shouted in the background. "Don't be a stingy mama!"
""...to hold people...in his mind in their entirety, to resist every impulse to turn them into ideas, to keep them specific no matter what."
I loved this and can’t wait to read another book by Marisa de Los Santos
I think I liked this better than her first one. And I really liked that one. The language was worse in this one. I really enjoyed the characters.
Brain candy, with a semi-predictable twist and a satisfying bow-tied end. A great choice for some relief after reading classic lit.