Scan barcode
mrsdanger's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
cspen's review against another edition
2.0
This was an interesting journey for me on this book. Ok honestly, reading this book annoyed me 75% of the time I was reading it. I really liked the characters, especially Cody, Pete and Patsy, but some of them I did not enjoy. Kim's children were rude and disrespectful and it helps that it is revealed why early on in the book but I did not enjoy them as characters until the book was almost over. I enjoyed reading the references to Steve and Brenda's marital troubles that were the focus of the first book since I didn't read the first book. I also liked that at least one couple were firmly on the right track and able to help the other couples. I dislike the in-law story line in most media because it's predictable and seeing the disrespectful behavior between the two family members is really irksome to me. This book was no exception. Miranda really crossed the line, I think, whenever she referenced that Luke and Lydia were not really her grandkids. That is not acceptable behavior. The way Kim and Derek communicated with each other also highly annoyed me. She didn't realize that her way of communicating needed an adjustment when it came to her husband and her frustration at his response was annoying because she couldn't see that her approach was the problem. I did like the slight twist near the end of the book concerning the nature of Derek's relationship with his mom. That added an extra layer to the plot. With all that being said, I really liked the conclusion of the book. I understand it was based on a non-fiction book about communication so I can see why it is written the way it is. I really enjoyed seeing everyone take the time to "fish" with their significant others and start communicating effectively. It was beautiful to read. I also enjoyed seeing the little hints about the plot for the next book. I liked the characters involved in the next novel so I might read it. 2 and a half stars
More...