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stellahadz's review
funny
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.0
This book is like a slightly more male-centric Desperate Housewives (which is definitely a compliment coming from a big fan of the show!) It explores the deep secrets of the people living on a quiet street in a seemingly placid Connecticut suburb. It takes a dark turn partway through, and although all of the characters make poor decisions, their stories are compelling enough to make me (mostly) root for them.
My only complaint about this book was that the multiple perspectives didn't quite work - they felt disjointed, and some characters, specifically Andrew and Emily, got significantly less airtime than others. Most of the characters' stories didn't have satisfying conclusions, which was a bummer because I especially wanted to find outwhat happened with Andrew's job situation . I still enjoyed the book, I just would have preferred a more cohesive ending.
My only complaint about this book was that the multiple perspectives didn't quite work - they felt disjointed, and some characters, specifically Andrew and Emily, got significantly less airtime than others. Most of the characters' stories didn't have satisfying conclusions, which was a bummer because I especially wanted to find out
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Bullying, Car accident, and Eating disorder
libwinnie's review against another edition
3.0
A not bad book. Well-written, character-driven. The same story from 4 different viewpoints. Just a bit shallow for my taste.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
E N T E R T A I N I N G !
Dan Pope, delivers a witty, psychological, and contemporary portrayal- HOUSEBREAKING, of modern American suburban relationships – two families and four lives, a journey of dysfunction, fidelity, desire, and loss.
A husband, Benjamin Mandelbaum is a cheater, and has done so, one time too many. Judy, his wife had given him one more chance and he blew it. However, this time it is more the incriminating evidence which convicted him before the jury was out.
Ben, mid-forties, distraught returns to his childhood home, (with his dog) to a suburb of Hartford, Connecticut, where his widower eighty- year- old father, Leonard resides. He is not thrilled with moving in with his dad and now feeling like a loser having to move into his old room; and even worse his dad has started dating. He misses his wife and his family.
Things begin to heat up and look a little more exciting, when surprisingly, a girl from his past turns out to be his neighbor and how interesting it is. Audrey, now a housewife and mother of a troubled teen daughter, married to a lawyer, who does not pay her too much attention. However, Ben is there to pick up the slack, as he happened to be attracted her way back when, and appears as it is still going strong (lots of excitement here, with hormones flying). Audrey is carrying a secret, and she appears to be receiving some release with Ben, while her husband evidently has a roving eye, as well and trying out the "other side", with a business associate.
The entire family is rebelling, as their teenage daughter, Emily is acting out after losing her brother, as well. She is hanging out with the wrong crowd, and now she is teaming up with the neighborhood thief by breaking into homes, including Bens.
As the pressure builds something has to give with the lives hiding behind the façade of a happy suburban neighborhood. When life gets in the way, Pope uses flawed characters, family drama, humor, obstacles, and tragedy to bring this group to their senses for an insightful and engaging account into complexities of marriage, family, love and loss. Wisteria Lane and Desperate Housewives, move over- you may have some competition.
JDC Must Read Books
E N T E R T A I N I N G !
Dan Pope, delivers a witty, psychological, and contemporary portrayal- HOUSEBREAKING, of modern American suburban relationships – two families and four lives, a journey of dysfunction, fidelity, desire, and loss.
A husband, Benjamin Mandelbaum is a cheater, and has done so, one time too many. Judy, his wife had given him one more chance and he blew it. However, this time it is more the incriminating evidence which convicted him before the jury was out.
Ben, mid-forties, distraught returns to his childhood home, (with his dog) to a suburb of Hartford, Connecticut, where his widower eighty- year- old father, Leonard resides. He is not thrilled with moving in with his dad and now feeling like a loser having to move into his old room; and even worse his dad has started dating. He misses his wife and his family.
Things begin to heat up and look a little more exciting, when surprisingly, a girl from his past turns out to be his neighbor and how interesting it is. Audrey, now a housewife and mother of a troubled teen daughter, married to a lawyer, who does not pay her too much attention. However, Ben is there to pick up the slack, as he happened to be attracted her way back when, and appears as it is still going strong (lots of excitement here, with hormones flying). Audrey is carrying a secret, and she appears to be receiving some release with Ben, while her husband evidently has a roving eye, as well and trying out the "other side", with a business associate.
The entire family is rebelling, as their teenage daughter, Emily is acting out after losing her brother, as well. She is hanging out with the wrong crowd, and now she is teaming up with the neighborhood thief by breaking into homes, including Bens.
As the pressure builds something has to give with the lives hiding behind the façade of a happy suburban neighborhood. When life gets in the way, Pope uses flawed characters, family drama, humor, obstacles, and tragedy to bring this group to their senses for an insightful and engaging account into complexities of marriage, family, love and loss. Wisteria Lane and Desperate Housewives, move over- you may have some competition.
JDC Must Read Books
janneyf's review against another edition
4.0
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in a Goodreads Giveaway. That said, this book is really good. The characters are so well-drawn and real that I got caught up in their lives immediately, and I got irritated when something interfered with my reading time. Dan Pope is such a good writer: even though characters sometimes behave quite badly, he provides significant reasons for the madness that are explored in depth, and he moves skillfully between his characters' past and present lives. In addition, the conflicts that characters experience are gripping and meaningful enough to keep one's interest throughout the novel. The resolution, when it comes, is satisfying, although to tell the truth, I could have gone on reading even longer about several of these people to find out what happened after the dust settled. Overall, a masterful work by Mr. Pope.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
3.7 stars. I don't know how to feel about this. The writing style and the plot keept me engaged and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough even if it wasn't a thrilling read. However I didn't enjoy the characters and their actions, I keept shaking my head and rolling my eyes at them and I think that if I would have liked them more I would have giving this book more stars. It's not always needed to like the characters but I feel like I wanted to like at least something about them
gilmoreguide's review against another edition
2.0
Benjamin is forty-four and finds himself kicked out of his house and life by his wife for cheating on her yet again. With nowhere to go he moves in with his father only to discover that his high school crush Audrey just moved in down the street with her husband and their teenage daughter. Because nothing is ever as it seems Benjamin’s not-so-subtle efforts to reconnect pay off. This is just one aspect of the many phases of relationships found in Housebreaking by author Dan Pope. In six parts Pope carefully splices together the lives of Benjamin, Audrey, their spouses and families, beginning in the summer of 2007 and ending with Thanksgiving of that year when not everyone is thankful.
The rest of this review can be read at The Gilmore Guide to Books: http://wp.me/p2B7gG-12Z
The rest of this review can be read at The Gilmore Guide to Books: http://wp.me/p2B7gG-12Z
toesinthesand's review against another edition
3.0
I felt like too much time was taken by Benjamin's point of view, I was two thirds through the book before I remembered that we were supposed to be worrying about the climax of the story. And a few characters were left with no resolution or with a too quick one.
lisalit's review against another edition
4.0
C’est ce genre de livre où tu te retrouves témoin de la vie ordinaire des personnages. Rien d’extraordinaire ne se passe, mais le style de l’auteur, l’ambiance qui y règne te tiennent en haleine autant voire plus encore qu’un bon thriller.
En tant que lecteur tu te sens un peu comme voyeur de la vie de ces deux familles et c’est psychologiquement plaisant d’avoir une telle compréhension d’autres êtres humains. C’est un livre qui t’apprend sur la vie, la vieillesse, les relations humaines, l’adolescence. C’est vraiment complet et c’est vraiment cool à lire. Je commence à me rendre compte que j’aime beaucoup ce genre de livre où rien d’incroyable ne se passe mais avoir accès à l’introspection des personnages par le style de l’auteur te fait apprendre tellement de choses sur les gens en général. C’est comme rencontrer quelqu’un qui te raconte sa vie, sauf que tu rencontre un livre.
En tant que lecteur tu te sens un peu comme voyeur de la vie de ces deux familles et c’est psychologiquement plaisant d’avoir une telle compréhension d’autres êtres humains. C’est un livre qui t’apprend sur la vie, la vieillesse, les relations humaines, l’adolescence. C’est vraiment complet et c’est vraiment cool à lire. Je commence à me rendre compte que j’aime beaucoup ce genre de livre où rien d’incroyable ne se passe mais avoir accès à l’introspection des personnages par le style de l’auteur te fait apprendre tellement de choses sur les gens en général. C’est comme rencontrer quelqu’un qui te raconte sa vie, sauf que tu rencontre un livre.
marabender's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0