Sophie

this book is so special to me <3

An excellent snapshot of this period in Irish history. Was really interesting to reflect back on the Repeal movement and the art and writings that propelled it forward.

I can’t remember the last time I read a book this fast. Whenever I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about when I could next read it. I already know I’m gonna be processing it for a few days! What an insane debut from Caro Claire Burke. I did think the overarching message was spelled out a bit too much (i.e. a cabin named ‘the manosphere’) and I would have liked if the satire was deeper and if the reader had been allowed to come to those conclusions with less hand holding. I also feel a bit silly for not realising the plot twist! I remember briefly thinking that the olden days characters didn’t speak how I’d have imagined, and there were some things they referenced (pancakes and syrup?) that didn’t add up but I thought maybe I just wasn’t giving the 1800s enough credit! Then as I was reading the scenes with older Clementine, I remembered a few things such as how Natalie and Caleb had chosen the name Mary when she was pregnant but I never connected the dots, or how Natalie said the two neighbour boys had familiar eyes. Most glaringly, Caleb was just Old Caleb. Overall fantastic read. Can’t wait to debrief at bookclubbbb <3

Was a little bit slow in the first section, but I devoured it after that. Didn't care much for the romance elements, and I feel that song/poetry bits detracted from the experience of the book and took me out of the story a bit

this book definitely reeled me in, but it wrapped up too quickly and the story feels unfinished. i found it to be a frightening read