Scan barcode
jmj697mn's review against another edition
3.0
I really didn't like either one of the main characters that much, but I did enjoy the story. Will probably pick up something else by her at some point. I did like Keisha & Michael a lot & those story lines.
melissakuzma's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was good, but there was some dialogue and certain situations that seemed too unrealistic. It was good, but not great.
moirastone's review against another edition
2.0
Another purely subjective two-star book. Not badly written, just dull and predictable. I fully accept that it says everything about me that I couldn't summon empathy or interest in these average people and their difficulties. Guess I need more sturm und drang, or less bland revelations that yes, maybe you are depressed, or wow, I guess marriage is difficult. Hurrumph.
Beautiful cover art, though.
(EDIT: Re-reading this review, I'm wondering what kind of black mood I was in yesterday. Oy. "Average people?" I'm embarrassed for myself.)
Beautiful cover art, though.
(EDIT: Re-reading this review, I'm wondering what kind of black mood I was in yesterday. Oy. "Average people?" I'm embarrassed for myself.)
melissakuzma's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was good, but there was some dialogue and certain situations that seemed too unrealistic. It was good, but not great.
mementomorel's review against another edition
1.0
I wish I could give it zero stars. I couldn't finish it. The author is confusing and boring about the whole story line. Never have I skipped so many parts of a book because I just didn't care. I got to page 87, and I still couldn't feel connected to any of the characters. Why does she go from using Maggie to Magnolia? Who is Maggie?
I am not an author my self, but an aspiring one. There are suggestions about writing, and if you go against those you better do it well. I think I couldn't connect to anyone because she started the book in the middle of the action. The sub-plot seemed nothing short of a ploy to fill the book with words.
I have Narcolepsy. Yes, it's such a small part of the story, but if you are going to use a disability with a character, get it right. Talk to someone with the disability rather than perpetuate the stereotype. When incidents such as laughing or a fight happen it's not falling asleep, it's called Cataplexy. A loss of muscle control. We don't fall asleep. Thank you for using Deuce Bigalo as your source, thats some awesome research there.
If I bought this book, I would return it and ask for my money back. Luckily I borrowed it from the library.
I am not an author my self, but an aspiring one. There are suggestions about writing, and if you go against those you better do it well. I think I couldn't connect to anyone because she started the book in the middle of the action. The sub-plot seemed nothing short of a ploy to fill the book with words.
I have Narcolepsy. Yes, it's such a small part of the story, but if you are going to use a disability with a character, get it right. Talk to someone with the disability rather than perpetuate the stereotype. When incidents such as laughing or a fight happen it's not falling asleep, it's called Cataplexy. A loss of muscle control. We don't fall asleep. Thank you for using Deuce Bigalo as your source, thats some awesome research there.
If I bought this book, I would return it and ask for my money back. Luckily I borrowed it from the library.
lisagray68's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like I just got a lecture on healthy eating AND depression (and using medication for depression) all in one big fell sweep; but I thought I was just trying to read a book for entertainment on an airplane!! Don't get me wrong, healthy eating and depression are both issues that are actually close to my heart -- but this book is a little too preachy on both topics for my taste. I actually like it when books can weave education and information into fiction in ways that help people understand complicated topics better. But this book didn't do the trick for me.
dollycas's review
4.0
Eve Adams has worked part-time and taken care of her children while supporting her husband the sculptor. He has had some success in the past but now seems to be in a creative slump. Eve has taken her knowledge of food and written a book and counsels people how to eat healthy and lose weight. Her business is growing, the book goes into a second printing. Her husband, Eric. takes her out to celebrate. She thought the evening went fine until her husband leaves to take home the sitter and disappears.
She has no idea where he went or what is going on but the sitter is missing too. She needs to take care of the kids, the house and the bills and wait to her from her husband. Is he gone forever?
Dollycas's Thoughts
The characters in this story were very interesting. For the most part real and each with their own set of flaws. The one thing that bothered me about this book was passivity of the wife. I understand staying strong for your kids, being scared for the future, and not wanting people to know your husband left you but I felt she needed to put more effort into what was really going on, especially after the husband contacted their daughter. She took on the whole load herself including their quickly emptying checkbook.
I wanted to hate Eric for just running away but he was definitely suffering from a major case of depression. I felt terrible for the kids and Eve had her hands full with a teenager trying to make the most of her father's absence by putting herself into some dangerous situations and a son just trying to understand why his dad left.
This is a story of family dynamics, trying to balance everything, work, kids, family, marriage and life in general. The ending was just too easy for me. This was a major upheaval in this marriage and the reactions of all the characters just seemed off.
The characters may not have acted in the way I wanted but this was still a good story of a very complicated life circumstances. I think that is what the author was going for, unexpected reactions by the characters. Otherwise this book would be like thousands of others. Written this way it creates conflict for the reader which got us involved in the story. You are actually upset with the way things are playing out and the pages keep turning.
Yes, I am a bit conflicted. This is not a story that I am going to scream and shout that you must read but it still a worthy read. It may be a good group read because I think it would prompt healthy discussion. Sometimes we need a story like this to shake up our views a bit.
She has no idea where he went or what is going on but the sitter is missing too. She needs to take care of the kids, the house and the bills and wait to her from her husband. Is he gone forever?
Dollycas's Thoughts
The characters in this story were very interesting. For the most part real and each with their own set of flaws. The one thing that bothered me about this book was passivity of the wife. I understand staying strong for your kids, being scared for the future, and not wanting people to know your husband left you but I felt she needed to put more effort into what was really going on, especially after the husband contacted their daughter. She took on the whole load herself including their quickly emptying checkbook.
I wanted to hate Eric for just running away but he was definitely suffering from a major case of depression. I felt terrible for the kids and Eve had her hands full with a teenager trying to make the most of her father's absence by putting herself into some dangerous situations and a son just trying to understand why his dad left.
This is a story of family dynamics, trying to balance everything, work, kids, family, marriage and life in general. The ending was just too easy for me. This was a major upheaval in this marriage and the reactions of all the characters just seemed off.
The characters may not have acted in the way I wanted but this was still a good story of a very complicated life circumstances. I think that is what the author was going for, unexpected reactions by the characters. Otherwise this book would be like thousands of others. Written this way it creates conflict for the reader which got us involved in the story. You are actually upset with the way things are playing out and the pages keep turning.
Yes, I am a bit conflicted. This is not a story that I am going to scream and shout that you must read but it still a worthy read. It may be a good group read because I think it would prompt healthy discussion. Sometimes we need a story like this to shake up our views a bit.
simsarah79's review
4.0
Hmmm what would I do if my husband just went to drop off the babysitter after a routine night out to dinner and just never came back? Our protagonist, Eve kind of went with it. She didn't panic. She didn't try to get a hold of him and she was completely calm with their two kids about it. "Daddy must need a break," she says. Turns out Eric did need a break. He took the babysitter across the country so she could be with her mother and his own happened to live near by so what the hell?
Eve is coping with it as sanely as possible. She thinks her husband had an affair with the girl and has chosen to leave his family so when he does try to call eventually she ignores him. He texts with his 14 year old daughter, Magnolia so at least Eve knows he's okay.
Eric is not okay though. Eric is a sculptor and hasn't been producing in a long time and the pressure of providing for his family and not being able to do so has gotten to him and so the only thing reasonable to him is to just get away from it all.
Eve has a job as a nutritional advisor to people who want to eat right without "dieting". She has clients and after selling a statue Eric made for $10,000 she's able to keep things afloat for the time Eric stayed away (about 6 weeks).
The book was well written and a quick read. I like Hanauer's style and her pacing. She alternated between Eve's and Eric's viewpoints so we could see what each of the main character's were thinking. The way she wrote it the situation seemed plausible. The ending was just okay as I thought it was kind of abrupt but was content for the two evenings I stayed up late reading this modern marriage tale.