Jessica
May actually be a 5 star. Need to let it settle a bit. Let's try the system:
Pleasure? 4 Purpose? 5 Plot? 4 Prose? 5 Personal? 4
Avg → ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The 6th P (persistence) is what is going to push this one over the edge, but obviously need some time to pass on that one.
Def would recommend this to the right audience. It has a lot of very very explicit lesbian sex in it. A lot. If that is not your jam, maybe pass on this book or be prepared to skim the middle third.
Not sure I found the ending very satisfying. It was exactly where you would expect it to go, but somehow it just did not quite fit the way I wanted it to.
I can 1,000,000% see this as an understated indie art-house film.
I found this a challenging read. Parts I felt talked down to me, parts I felt I did not understand the dynamics. It just felt uneven. But for a domestic novel, it was a story of very flawed people being very flawed. Ultimately, I think I was left feeling a little empty as it just didn't really feel like there was a lot of actual growth for the characters. I also found the Katrina to be underwritten and presents mostly as a vehicle for presenting the more pointed diatribes at the book's cis audience. Without a lot of generosity or grace, whenever Katrina stumbled, it was not really okay. And whenever Katrina asserted understanding based on her experiences as a different minority, it was dismissed. I think I found this book to be unwelcoming -- even to those who may be trying. And IMO, none of these people are ready to be parents.
Writing is over-wrought and pretentious and repetitive. Plot is SLOOOOOW until <spoiler>suddenly 1000 reveals from characters we don't know or understand with motivations that are non-sensical, or characters that we do (theoretically) know and understand but we just weren't told this massive major thing. A jail break that requires Ocean's Eleven style organization. Massive rip-offs from Forest Gump and Shawshank.</spoiler> Started thinking I should DNF around 30% the way through, and just absolutely hate-read the last 30%. Wasn't willing to not know the 'ending', but literally nothing in this book made sense or rang true. Just absolutely maudlin tripe until the end.
A really interesting trio. This is billed as non-fiction, but it feels more like the most highly researched historical fiction imaginable. I knew the story of each woman less and less aasnd the book progress but found myself more and more engaged with the stories. I would have loved a lengthier and more in-depth afterwards.
Reads like a beach read, but I have a feeling it will stick with me. IDK maybe because I am a Houston girl, or remember the Challenger so clearly, because I am married to a man who wanted to be an astronaut and loves flying planes. But the main characters felt fully realized. Definitely will be checking out more books by Reid.
