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happyglowlucky's review
4.0
I liked this - the plots were interesting, the characters were also interesting and multi-dimensional, and the book kept me engaged and reading. My only one small issue with it is that there was an awful lot going on, in the various plots, and that made it a bit hard for me to follow it all, at times. But that is just me! You may not find it that way. A book about love, biography, memory, and how love works in us. Enjoyed it very much.
selket16's review
5.0
Sharon's marriage just fell apart when she learned of his mistress. Her cancer brings him home, if only to take care of her and their twin girls. Her story, and later that of Shay, the mistress, intersect with Sharon's fictionalized story of Nelly Ternan, Charles Dickens' own mistress.
This book is written so fluidly and eloquently, that it really does feel like Sharon is real and telling this story through her illness and throwing in her serial tale of Nelly in chunks in which it applies. I often had to check the cover and verify the author's name. I got vested in these characters.
This book is written so fluidly and eloquently, that it really does feel like Sharon is real and telling this story through her illness and throwing in her serial tale of Nelly in chunks in which it applies. I often had to check the cover and verify the author's name. I got vested in these characters.
karabk's review
4.0
From the rather ominous beginning where we read a mother left her story behind for her daughters, to the very last chapter with the revealing twist, Serial Monogamy captivated me.
Sharon’s story is a sad cliché- her middle aged professor husband has an affair with his student. To add to her devastation, she has cancer. Al comes across as a typical spoiled, inconsiderate, selfish cheater. He doesn’t deserve Sharon’s forgiveness or his family life. But it’s not about Al. It’s not a look into why someone is unfaithful. This novel delves into the mind of mistresses and a wife being cheated on.
I enjoyed the Nelly Ternan (Charles Dickens mistress) chapters as much as the modern day story of Sharon. Perhaps even a bit more. It was a good lesson to hear why Nelly gave up having a regular life and became a mistress instead. In the 21st century, we question why anyone would chose being a mistress, but it made sense in the Victorian era. Nelly’s story wasn’t a happy one, but I came away thinking wasn’t Shay’s equally as sad? Something to consider.
Kate Taylor’s pleasant, easy writing style made this a quick book to read. Serial Monogamy kept my interest throughout, and I would recommend it if you’re looking for not an ordinary read about relationships.
I happily received Serial Monogamy in a Goodreads giveaway.
Sharon’s story is a sad cliché- her middle aged professor husband has an affair with his student. To add to her devastation, she has cancer. Al comes across as a typical spoiled, inconsiderate, selfish cheater. He doesn’t deserve Sharon’s forgiveness or his family life. But it’s not about Al. It’s not a look into why someone is unfaithful. This novel delves into the mind of mistresses and a wife being cheated on.
I enjoyed the Nelly Ternan (Charles Dickens mistress) chapters as much as the modern day story of Sharon. Perhaps even a bit more. It was a good lesson to hear why Nelly gave up having a regular life and became a mistress instead. In the 21st century, we question why anyone would chose being a mistress, but it made sense in the Victorian era. Nelly’s story wasn’t a happy one, but I came away thinking wasn’t Shay’s equally as sad? Something to consider.
Kate Taylor’s pleasant, easy writing style made this a quick book to read. Serial Monogamy kept my interest throughout, and I would recommend it if you’re looking for not an ordinary read about relationships.
I happily received Serial Monogamy in a Goodreads giveaway.
strawberrymivvy's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed this book and it's twin/parallel stories.
In present day Canada, Sharon is dealing with her husband's infidelity and her own cancer diagnosis. She writes a serialised fictional telling of Charles Dickens' mistress and we are supposed to read it as providing a "deep understanding of a relationship and life".
Whilst it was enjoyable enough, and each story engaging in its own way, some of the chapters felt jarring and almost as if they'd been thrown in there to achieve a particular message, rather than for really adding anything to the narrative. I also found the last few chapters got a little confused
On the whole a decent enough read, but don't expect it to change your life
In present day Canada, Sharon is dealing with her husband's infidelity and her own cancer diagnosis. She writes a serialised fictional telling of Charles Dickens' mistress and we are supposed to read it as providing a "deep understanding of a relationship and life".
Whilst it was enjoyable enough, and each story engaging in its own way, some of the chapters felt jarring and almost as if they'd been thrown in there to achieve a particular message, rather than for really adding anything to the narrative. I also found the last few chapters got a little confused
On the whole a decent enough read, but don't expect it to change your life
shaguftap's review
4.0
Though you can't give half stars on Goodreads, I think this book is a three and a half stars to four stars. I thought the story was beautifully written, though some of the Victorian chapters were a bit slow. I liked how this story presented so many differing perspectives and gave a window into where different characters stand and their perspective on how they see the world. This book does not cast any villains, it is a story of empathy and sensitive, beautiful observations. It's very well written, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book set in Toronto. A book that is hard to put down once you start
fionak's review
3.0
There's a lot going on in this book, too much really. There are four narrative voices, which are all puportedly written by our protagonist, a writer named Sharon who is dying of cancer. The premise itself I quite liked but the execution left me less impressed; the pacing seems uneven and I never really got into the story emotionally. Sharon comes across as whiny, constantly obsessing about the grad student her husband has left her for and any tiny shred of sympathy was destroyed by the revelation The chapters about Nelly Terman and Charles Dickens are not nearly as factual as I would have liked, although I certainly enjoyed that plotline the most. Overall, not an unpleasant read but not really my thing, as I cannot bear characters who think their love can reform another human.
Thank you to Penguin Random House who were kind enough to award me this advance reading copy.
Spoiler
that Sharon was her husband's mistress before thier marriage. (You don't get to be surprised that your husband is cheating on you when you knew he was a cheater right from the beginning.)Thank you to Penguin Random House who were kind enough to award me this advance reading copy.
sunny_afternoon's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
marieb's review
4.0
What an interesting story concept mixing the present with the past and historical fiction to boot.
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