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lorrietruck's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
chryscurl's review against another edition
4.0
A really nice read, yet I felt like it lacked something. Even though there are some dark events, things still felt too tidy. Every problem has a resolution, and everyone seems to get on, there's none of insidious grit of every day. However it's perfect for a lazy summer afternoon, escaping the stresses of the real world. It was nicely written though and I look forward to more from this author.
cat_parker2906's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
zojuju's review against another edition
5.0
i did not expect to enjoy the literary prose that is white people’s drama but im pretty impressed that i had
rikimuk's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book it’s a honest reflection on life after loss and the changes of love and family over the years. I loved the dynamic of the street and all the different families in and out of each other’s lives. Some times things change but you just need to remember to make time for your loved ones and not get caught up in all the other rubbish of life and ultimately even in death you can remember the good times and the memories will one day make you smile again.
sue_loves_to_read's review against another edition
1.0
It is summer on Magnolia Road when Juliet moves into her late mother's house with her husband Liam and their young son, Charlie. Preoccupied by guilt, grief and the juggle of working motherhood, she can't imagine finding time to get to know the neighbouring families, let alone fitting in with them. But for Liam, a writer, the morning coffees and after-school gatherings soon reveal the secret struggles, fears and rivalries playing out behind closed doors - all of which are going straight into his new novel . . .
I have to admit that I found this book really dull. The characters were unlikeable, there were pages and pages about the interaction with the children, the mothers were all stressed and felt their partners didn't pull their weight but there was very little actual plot. I got so bored reading about their day to day meet ups, their children's tantrums/issues, the constant glugging of wine whilst they complained about their lives. The only saving grace was the author's skill as a writer but sadly this just wasn't enough.
I received a copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I have to admit that I found this book really dull. The characters were unlikeable, there were pages and pages about the interaction with the children, the mothers were all stressed and felt their partners didn't pull their weight but there was very little actual plot. I got so bored reading about their day to day meet ups, their children's tantrums/issues, the constant glugging of wine whilst they complained about their lives. The only saving grace was the author's skill as a writer but sadly this just wasn't enough.
I received a copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
rubychorley's review against another edition
1.0
what the …
this book was so dull i feel guilty to admit it. there was no
actual storyline! it was written in first person and the sentences were short, quick and generally bloody boring.
i was confused on who the main protagonist was meant to be (i assume juliet??) and if i was meant to care about her. she complains throughout the entire book about her crappy husband and her exhaustion with him. she gets jealous but you never really get an insight into what and why. however, after a dramatic accident with their son, their love is rekindled. the issue is, i didn’t care because i didn’t know what their love originally was in the first place.
and why don’t we ever hear about bas’ perspective about catching his new beau in bed with another man … i mean he gushes about her and how perfect she is in comparison to his stale attraction for lucy. And then nothing?
so is this meant to be a story about learning to love the mundanity of life? I don’t know but if it is, it didn’t provide that for whatsoever!
there were a lot of grammatical and spelling errors in my edition.
this book was so dull i feel guilty to admit it. there was no
actual storyline! it was written in first person and the sentences were short, quick and generally bloody boring.
i was confused on who the main protagonist was meant to be (i assume juliet??) and if i was meant to care about her. she complains throughout the entire book about her crappy husband and her exhaustion with him. she gets jealous but you never really get an insight into what and why. however, after a dramatic accident with their son, their love is rekindled. the issue is, i didn’t care because i didn’t know what their love originally was in the first place.
and why don’t we ever hear about bas’ perspective about catching his new beau in bed with another man … i mean he gushes about her and how perfect she is in comparison to his stale attraction for lucy. And then nothing?
so is this meant to be a story about learning to love the mundanity of life? I don’t know but if it is, it didn’t provide that for whatsoever!
there were a lot of grammatical and spelling errors in my edition.
wordsofclover's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Juliet and Liam aren't sure they will ever fit in when they move into her late mother's home with their young son Charlie. Magnolia Road is the picture perfect image of domesticity with big houses, and large cars and neighbors full of parenting and relationship advice. As Juliet begins to resent her own role in the house as breadwinner while her husband Liam hangs out with the other primary caregivers for content for his new novel, an accident puts everything into perspective.
I really enjoyed this - I thought it was a very good story that managed to capture that time in your 30s and 40s that is a bit manic, full of exhausting 9-5s, housework and parenting while also trying to upkeep a successful relationship and somehow not mess everything up. There is a slight element of Keeping Up The Joneses in it too as we see others covet what their neighbour has, or listen to everything the Queen Bee has to say.
I did keep expecting something really dark or twisty to happen and was surprised when it didn't and I realised this book wasn't a suspense or a thriller - it was just a slice of life, fiction book that still had me very much hooked on everyone's lives even though they were so normal. The characters surprised me as they all ended up being pretty decent people - again, just your average normal neighbours as you realise that while some people look like they have it altogether, they might be struggling themselves with other things and nothing is 100% happy for everyone all the time and everyone has their ups and downs be it with marriages, kids or work.
I listened to this on audiobook and found it really enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this - I thought it was a very good story that managed to capture that time in your 30s and 40s that is a bit manic, full of exhausting 9-5s, housework and parenting while also trying to upkeep a successful relationship and somehow not mess everything up. There is a slight element of Keeping Up The Joneses in it too as we see others covet what their neighbour has, or listen to everything the Queen Bee has to say.
I did keep expecting something really dark or twisty to happen and was surprised when it didn't and I realised this book wasn't a suspense or a thriller - it was just a slice of life, fiction book that still had me very much hooked on everyone's lives even though they were so normal. The characters surprised me as they all ended up being pretty decent people - again, just your average normal neighbours as you realise that while some people look like they have it altogether, they might be struggling themselves with other things and nothing is 100% happy for everyone all the time and everyone has their ups and downs be it with marriages, kids or work.
I listened to this on audiobook and found it really enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief