Shannon S.

I just don’t think Jodi Piccoult is for me.

Reviewed: 09-09-24

This is the second Jodi P book I’ve read and I have the same issues with this one that I had with the first (Mad Honey). Both books feel like they sare written by two different authors. One is a talented story teller and the other is a basic YA type author that tries desperately to squeeze every woke victimization stereotype into a story while totally ignoring any real depth in character development. Half of the book is interesting and well written - the other half is peppered with unnecessary political digs. We get it - you hate conservatives and think you hold all of the most virtuous beliefs. (Yawn). The troupe is old and played out and lacks the true complexity of human nature. The dig against JK Rowling was when I finally put the book down. The audacity of this woman to take a swipe at one of the most talented and successful female writers in generations is wild - considering the subject matter of the book. She’s whining about how women aren’t given the same opportunities as men as play writes and she goes after a woman who actually did use her initials to be taken seriously when first publishing her book. The IRONY and lack of self awareness is mind blowing. I’ll take JK’s side every time as she continues to be a voice that fights for women while Jodi gets to cash in on the doors JK opened for her in the literary space. Weird that she used a gay, black man as the character who would be taken more seriously as a play write than a woman while trying to showcase how oppressed women are. (While also making sure that we know how oppressed gay, black and trans people are as well.). It’s almost like she has a checklist of the oppression Olympics that she needed to cover. 🙄 it’s clear that this woman operates in an echo chamber. Sadly, this book was based on a great idea but the present day story made it unreadable. I would have rather stayed in the 1500’s.

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2 people found this helpful

Wonderful but agonizing story

Reviewed: 01-28-23

First - I’m stunned at the lack of sophistication in some of the reviews that talk about the “language” in this book. This sort of bigotry is a good example of one of the points this story makes early on. America is a country full of different cultures and races - “rednecks” “poor white trash” or “hillbillies” are one of the last acceptable groups to look down on and make fun of in our society. As Demon says “they can hear you”. I thought the way Barbara wrote Demon and the characters was so colorful and true to the culture. Their language, especially the slang is an important part of how they communicate and live. The judgement of it further exposes the bigotry toward those that live in these circumstances. Leaving out the vernacular in order to suit the opinions of people who have clearly never interacted with people like Demon - wouldn’t have done his character justice. I thought he was such a complex character written behind the facade of a simpleton - as are most poor white Appalachians. I loved this book. The words danced off the pages for me. When a book is really well written with colorful and descriptive language I can actually see colors on the page. This book did that for me. If you are looking for a book that will immerse you into a story that is about the journey and are perfectly ok with colorful language (which by the way includes some of the best idioms I’ve ever heard - that made me chuckle throughout the book) - this book is for you. In the same vein as Hillbilly Elegy - it exposes a part of America that deserves our compassion and understanding and not our judgement. As a side note - I watched the series “Dopesick” to further understand the Oxy epidemic in this part of the country that is part of this story.

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42 people found this helpful

Someone tell these publishers that narration can ruin a book.

Reviewed: 01-22-23

Honestly - I don’t know if this book is as awful as it seems or if the narrator ruined it. It sounded like a 13 year old girl may have written it. Did anyone tell the narrator that you don’t use the same inflection of a teenager when speaking for a grown man playing a body guard. This was beyond awful. I had to fast forward through most of it don’t waste your money.

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Beyond boring

Reviewed: 05-19-22

This story had no depth to it. The characters were as predictable as the storyline. I will never understand why authors make their protagonists so unlikeable. I have to wonder if Julia Whelan’s voice isn’t what made her so unlikeable. She doesn’t sound like a beautiful woman with ice blonde hair. I have really enjoyed Julia’s narration in things like Educated but she’s being over used. I listen to a lot of Audibles and using the same narrator for so many books makes the characters run together and doesn’t help the book stand out. The same thing happens with Andi Ardnt (spelling?). I can’t listen to another book by her! I can’t believe there aren’t more narrators out there to give more flavor to new releases. I loved Emily’s first book but these last two have been a disappointment.

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Wanted to like this book

Reviewed: 11-17-21

I wanted to like this book but the author is so completely unlikeable. She takes little to no responsibility for her choices and then blames the government for not doing enough to bail her out. Her lack of self awareness makes her seem immature and self absorbed. She gets a “windfall” and spends it recklessly instead of planning for future issues. She gets scholarships and grants and chooses a degree that will do nothing to insure financial security. Her victim mentality will be her downfall over and over no matter what level of success she achieves. Her grocery list even annoyed me. Protein bars? I don’t even buy those things. They are ridiculously expensive. Poor thing can’t afford wine? Alcohol is the last thing she needs in her life. She clearly sees herself as entitled to all of the things she “wants” without realizing that most of us that struggled didn’t even consider them as a possibility. Nor did we feel sorry for ourselves when we couldn’t have them.

I too found myself divorced with 2 children and nowhere to live with a part time job. I never once looked to others to save me. I can relate to the terror and the feelings of frustration during that time in my life - but I knew my choices are what got me there and the only way to improve my life was to change my patterns.

Hopefully she has had time to reflect and change her patterns so this isn’t a temporary moment of success but a new path.

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The second narrator sounds like a robot

Reviewed: 10-25-21

The primary narrator is good - or good enough. She sounds like a 65 year old woman so she really doesn’t fit the main character. The second narrator is AWFUL!!!! Why do people keep casting this woman?!? She has the absolute worst tendency to slip into a robot voice. Every once in a while she sounds normal and then she goes right back into the robot voice. It is absolutely awful! I’m so surprised the director allows it.

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Great story - TERRIBLE narration and editing.

Reviewed: 08-06-21

Do they even listen to these things before they release them? The story is actually really good - I just wish I would have read it and not listened to it. The narrator has the most dull - monotone voice. It was so difficult to listen to. Not only that but the editing was horrendous. Right in the middle of a sentence they splice in a word that is a completely different tone and volume. There is no way a professional did this. Do yourself a favor on this one and READ this…. Don’t buy this Audible.

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1 person found this helpful

Before you write about rich wives - research them

Reviewed: 07-21-21

The story framework was there. It had potential to be great - sort of like a Big Little Lies….or it tried to be. The author list me completely when she equates the famous red bottom shoes with Louis Vuitton and not Louboutin. I mean COME ON!!! I listened to it twice just to make sure I heard it right. If you are going to write about rich Trophy Wives - you should know the difference between Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin.

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12 people found this helpful

One of the best I’ve read in a while

Reviewed: 07-20-21

I go through about 150 books a year. They tend to run together - but this one really stood out. The complexity of emotions and depth of the story was really engaging. I always find stories that center around children to be very difficult. This was was not any easier but the side story really helped stay connected. I didn’t LOVE the narrator - she was much easier to listen to as certain characters but the protagonist was narrated in such a low - deep register and tone that she sounded like a 70 year old chain smoker named Marge and not a chic middle aged woman. I really hate it when the voice doesn’t match the character - but she was a good enough voice actor that she made up for it sometimes. Highly recommend.

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Tough one to rate - enjoyment level - 3 stars. Story - 4 stars

Reviewed: 06-01-21

Man. This was a tough one to rate. I wanted desperately to give it 3 stars because it was hard to get through. I felt annoyed 95% of the time however, strangely entertained. The protagonist is beyond unlikeable. She is manipulative and lacks self awareness in a way most villains do. I think the book would have been better if the author gave her more vulnerability along the way. That being said - I couldn’t stop reading just to find out what happens hoping she picked up some humility along the way.

I often wonder if the people who cast these books actually read them before they choose the narrator. The narrator sounds like a 60 year old smoker. - not a NY socialite. She was supposed to found attractive - but instead sounded like a weathered old woman. I think it made the book so much less enjoyable because I couldn’t reconcile the character with the voice.

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