Helpful Score: 5
If you have read any other books by Cathy Lamb you might find that she combined some of the greatest elements of all her earlier novels. Instead of feeling like she re-hashed her other novels, I see it as perfecting the best elements of her former works. You will find family secrets, and abuse and redemption just like in Henry's Sisters, Julias Chocolates, and Such a pretty face. A well done court scene, and a woman starting over in The Last Time I was me.
It moved me and made me cry. I actually found the Words of Wisdom from the main character who is a life coach, useful.
I gave it 4.5 stars.
It moved me and made me cry. I actually found the Words of Wisdom from the main character who is a life coach, useful.
I gave it 4.5 stars.
I can't finish this book, it's that bad. It started out strong, I thought. I liked the dialog, and I liked how she wrote. But as the book went on, her writing style became irritating and repetitive. She talks about the same things over and over and over and over and over. All of her characters talk the same way, nobody has their own personality. They are all over the top characters, and it's exhausting to read.
She goes into graphic detail when it comes to the girls being molested. If you are sensitive to this, you need to skip this book. I had to quit reading it because that alone was disturbing me. If I would have known there would be pets being killed and disturbing descriptions of little girls being molested and tortured, I wouldn't have bought this book. I know this type of stuff exists, but I don't want to read about it. I bought this book to read for pleasure, as I thought it would be a "coming of age" type book. It's not.
Madeline is a life coach that has no life or expertise on life situations. Her Grandma talks descriptively and uncomfortably about sex, constantly in front of them and they think it's cute. The Grandparents mystery drags on and on. The girls (now grown women) are messed up and should have gotten mental help to deal with what happened to them. Madeline is a life coach, but doesn't think about getting help for herself? I mean come on, really? These are just a few of the things that were never ending themes in the book. I have read half of the book, and that's all I am reading. I'm not wasting my time reading anymore.
It is Cathy's writing style that makes this book hard to read. If she developed her characters as individuals, this book would be better. If she didn't write about the same situation and feelings over and over and over, it would be better. I don't know why this book got such great reviews from other readers. So, there is your warning. A review is a person's opinion on a product or book, and that is mine.
She goes into graphic detail when it comes to the girls being molested. If you are sensitive to this, you need to skip this book. I had to quit reading it because that alone was disturbing me. If I would have known there would be pets being killed and disturbing descriptions of little girls being molested and tortured, I wouldn't have bought this book. I know this type of stuff exists, but I don't want to read about it. I bought this book to read for pleasure, as I thought it would be a "coming of age" type book. It's not.
Madeline is a life coach that has no life or expertise on life situations. Her Grandma talks descriptively and uncomfortably about sex, constantly in front of them and they think it's cute. The Grandparents mystery drags on and on. The girls (now grown women) are messed up and should have gotten mental help to deal with what happened to them. Madeline is a life coach, but doesn't think about getting help for herself? I mean come on, really? These are just a few of the things that were never ending themes in the book. I have read half of the book, and that's all I am reading. I'm not wasting my time reading anymore.
It is Cathy's writing style that makes this book hard to read. If she developed her characters as individuals, this book would be better. If she didn't write about the same situation and feelings over and over and over, it would be better. I don't know why this book got such great reviews from other readers. So, there is your warning. A review is a person's opinion on a product or book, and that is mine.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved Julia's Chocolates so have tried reading several of Cathy Lamb's other books. Henry's Sisters was another fabulous book. But this book was a difficult read, mostly due to Lamb's writing style. She repeats scenes, she doesn't really develop the characters as well in this book as she has in others. Main character Madeline O'Shea is a life coach, but is damaged goods....so she never thought to seek therapy to heal these childhood wounds? Isn't that what a life coach would recommend to a client? Lamb also goes into way too much detail in describing simple things like clothing; the amount of description reminds me of high-school creative writing class, too simplistic. Overall I was disappointed in this book and cannot recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
I really love this author! This was my second book of hers I have read, it's so hard to put down . It's at times hard to read only because of the abuse that 2 of the characters go through. It has a lot if twists and turns and very funny parts too, the grandmother is a hoot ! I really reccomend this book.