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Belong to Me
Belong to Me
Author: Marisa de los Santos
Everyone has secrets. Some we keep to protect ourselves, others we keep to protect those we love. — A devoted city dweller, Cornelia Brown surprised no one more than herself when she was gripped by the sudden, inescapable desire to leave urban life behind and head for an idyllic suburb. Though she knows she and her beloved husband, Teo, have made...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780061838415
ISBN-10: 0061838411
Publication Date: 3/2009
Pages: 398
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 41

4.1 stars, based on 41 ratings
Publisher: HarperCollins
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Belong to Me on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I was excited to read "Belong to Me" because I read "Love Walked In" (also by Marisa de los Santos) last year. I was even more excited once I realized that "Belong to Me" was the continuation of "Love Walked In". I instantly bought into all the characters because I had already established a connection with them, so I was instantly involved in the book.

"Belong to Me" also interweaves the stories of other characters other that weave throughout the story of the main character. So it's fun to see how all the stories are going to tie together in the end. Everyone has secrets. Some we keep to protect ourselves, others we keep to protect those we love.

The narration style of "Belong to Me" is a bit different from most novels. I'm not quite too sure how I feel about it. It has a 1st person narrative, but it also has a 3rd person narrative (that seems to be the narration of the main character whose chapters are in 1st person). Anyway, I'd love to hear all of your thoughts on "Belong to Me".
duplica123 avatar reviewed Belong to Me on + 150 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A sequel to a book I really enjoyed - Love Walked In. This was a good read, but I didn't like this story quite as much. Mostly it's because of all the things I loved about her first book.

Everything fit together far to easily. Characters had easy to spot weaknesses and not so hidden personalities. The plot twist that, in real life, would have really twisted the characters worlds was dealt with in a few dozen pages. Like a fairy tale it could have ended with "and they all lived happily ever after. The end."

Which is what I loved about "Love Walked In." But somehow, reading a second book with the same characters it lost the feeling of "anything's possible" that the first book had and really just felt impossible and very contrived.

If you loved L.W.I. definitely do read this sequel. Just know you're in for more of the same.
reviewed Belong to Me on
Helpful Score: 3
I adored this book. It's even better if you've read De Los Santos's "Love Walked In," but it's not a required precursor. The alternating narrative allows readers to get to know each of the characters in greater depth. I can't wait to read more of her novels.
reviewed Belong to Me on
Helpful Score: 2
This was an excellent read. Not too heavy and the story was very intriguing although a bit contrived.
reviewed Belong to Me on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent story of a family of friends and their experiences. Well written. Just love this author - highly recommended!
Read All 42 Book Reviews of "Belong to Me"

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luckylady avatar reviewed Belong to Me on + 22 more book reviews
aWesome book. Great character development. I read this one first, although it was a sequel to her first one, Love Walks In.
larinzia avatar reviewed Belong to Me on + 21 more book reviews
From People Magazine (May 12, 2008)
Following her 2005 debut, 'Love Walked In', de los Santos catches up with hopeless romantic Cornelia Brown, freshly married and starting a new life in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Readers may recognize the author's woven narrative style: Cornelia's chapters alternate with those of Dev, a 13-year-old academic prodigy searching for his birth father, and new neighbor Piper, a standoffish social queen coping with the cancer of her best friend Elizabeth. At times, obstacles and solutions seem too tidy, but de los Santo makes up for the predictability with prose that shines in moments of tenderness, particularly when depicting the poignancy of death and the anguish of those left behind. In Elizabeth's final days, her husband "lay down next to her and whispered the story of the births of both children.... They gave her permission to go."
reviewed Belong to Me on + 43 more book reviews
While I loved, loved, loved the whimsicality and relationships of "Love Walked In", I found Marisa De Los Santos' 2nd effort to be real in a way that was burdensome and depressing, while marveling over her gift of character development. While there are moments of levity and the story and overall themes are nearly flawless from a literary perspective, this isn't a book for the faint of heart, especially those of us who have experienced losses similar to those detailed in the novel.
PamelaH avatar reviewed Belong to Me on + 90 more book reviews
A story about a woman who moves out of the city with her husband, and into suburbia where she makes a new life for herself. Surprisingly to her, she makes new friends, and shares their ups & downs, triumphs & failures. She finds friendship where she thought she never would, and finds out a secret that borders on betrayal. A complex story, very moving. I really liked this book.
reviewed Belong to Me on + 40 more book reviews
Even though it took a few chapters to really get "into" this book I ended up really liking it! Such a great story.
mjowest avatar reviewed Belong to Me on + 236 more book reviews
a Quirky easy to like book! I was a bit confused at times, Devon's mind thinking can be hard to follow! but I LOVED Cornelia, and would love to have her in my life as a neighbor and friend. I have to admit, I had it figured out early on, don't know how! I didn't know it was a second in the series, so now I"ll have to look for the first one.
cocos-mom avatar reviewed Belong to Me on + 67 more book reviews
Great book! Marisa de Los Santos makes words flow together as she writes. The story was both endearing & surprising. The only thing that disappointed me was that some of the characters from the first book (Love Walked In) were barely mentioned in this one. I can't wait until de Los Santos writes another book!
reviewed Belong to Me on
it was a good book.
reviewed Belong to Me on + 3 more book reviews
Loved this book -- complex, relatable characters and a wonderfully rich, engaging story. Great author -- I already ordered her other book!
reviewed Belong to Me on
Excellent story. I love the style that Santos uses. Her characterization is amazing. When you finish the book, you might find yourself missing the characters you met within its pages.


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