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A review by smalltownbookmom
The Good Son by Jacquelyn Mitchard
3.0
Can we ever really atone for the worst mistakes of our lives??
That is the question explored in this heartbreaking story about regrets, guilt and forgiveness as a family tries to recover and heal in the aftermath of a tragedy. Stefan was sent to prison for the drug-induced murder of his girlfriend of which he has no memory.
When he gets released there are lots of people up in arms in his small town. While his family is trying to be supportive, it is his mother, Thea that struggles potentially most of all and is getting harassed by mysterious phone calls from someone claiming to know more about what really happened that night.
Told from Thea’s perspective, I thought the premise was really good for this story. I empathized for Stefan and his mother deeply, but I felt it dragged waayyy too long! I appreciated the struggles and pain the family was going through but I wish it would have been faster paced. Getting to the end of the mystery was a slow torture but it did have a big shock ending I thought was well done if maybe a little predictable.
Recommended for fans of other stories about second chances and families dealing with tragedies like Reminders of him, A good neighborhood, or No hiding in Boise. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. This was well narrated by Vivienne Leheny, I probably wouldn't have finished if I didn't listen to the audiobook version of the book.
That is the question explored in this heartbreaking story about regrets, guilt and forgiveness as a family tries to recover and heal in the aftermath of a tragedy. Stefan was sent to prison for the drug-induced murder of his girlfriend of which he has no memory.
When he gets released there are lots of people up in arms in his small town. While his family is trying to be supportive, it is his mother, Thea that struggles potentially most of all and is getting harassed by mysterious phone calls from someone claiming to know more about what really happened that night.
Told from Thea’s perspective, I thought the premise was really good for this story. I empathized for Stefan and his mother deeply, but I felt it dragged waayyy too long! I appreciated the struggles and pain the family was going through but I wish it would have been faster paced. Getting to the end of the mystery was a slow torture but it did have a big shock ending I thought was well done if maybe a little predictable.
Recommended for fans of other stories about second chances and families dealing with tragedies like Reminders of him, A good neighborhood, or No hiding in Boise. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. This was well narrated by Vivienne Leheny, I probably wouldn't have finished if I didn't listen to the audiobook version of the book.