Reviews

I am so happy I finally read this book. Though it took me a while to get into the story, I was hooked once I did. Elizabeth is such a determined and resilient character who I had to admire despite some of her flaws and (dare I say it) quite obnoxious traits *cough sodium chloride cough*. She's complex and that what I loved about her character.

I enjoyed getting to know our other characters, learning their backstories and discovering how their paths weaved together. I even loved Six Thirty the talking dog (weird but wonderful!). Supper at Six was also a real highlight for me, I loved the cooking show and the insight into overnight stardom.

Elizabeth's story is one of sadness, but also love, willpower and determination to change the status quo. Though fiction, Garmus painted a clear picture of just how difficult life was for women in the 1960s and challenged me to question our cultural and societal norms.

My main critique of this book as that some of the character's opinions and viewpoints did come across very two-dimensional at times. However, this is a book that will stay with me and reminded me to take a moment got myself each day. For a debut novel, this was so original - I'm intrigued to see what Bonnie Garmus does next!

chelseamh98's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

_cloudier's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I wholeheartedly loved this book. Its characters are wonderfully crafted: from Six Thirty clearly being the best doggo ever, to Elizabeth's unconscious wit, andMad's struggles with fitting in. Everyone in this book is imperfect and I loved following them navigating their collective journey of growth and connection.
I loved the short chapters and the lack of extravagant descriptions that usually make me yawn. I even got emotional at the very end, when "Supper at Six" finally got a deeper meaning. After getting injured last year, I even started rowing again thanks to this book! And how admirable is it that this is the author's debut novel and she was 65 when she released it?

Because of all of the above, I was sure I was going to give it a perfect 5 star rating. However, I have some tiny, tiny reservations. Something in the way the plot was developed and the chapters were distributed didn't fully convince me. While certain themes were explored thoroughly, others felt rushed, leaving me somewhat unsatisfied with the overall pacing and development.

Nevertheless, I would still warmly recommend this book, especially to readers who may not typically gravitate towards similar books (i.e., males). After this impressive debut, I am really looking forward to see what Bonnie Garmus will do next!

fairyna23's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

rosenlea's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

meri2024's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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