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Commuters: A Novel
At seventy-eight, Winnie Easton has finally found love again with Jerry Trevis, a wealthy Chicago businessman who has moved to the small, upstate town of Hartfield, New York, to begin his life anew. But their decision to buy one of the town's biggest houses ignites anger and skepticism—as children and grandchildren take drastic actions to secure their own futures and endangered inheritances. With so much riding on Jerry's wealth, a decline in his physical health forces hard decisions on the family, renewing old loyalties while creating surprising alliances. A powerfully moving novel told from alternating perspectives, Commuters is an intensely human story of lives profoundly changed by the repercussions of one marriage, and by the complex intertwining of love, money, and family.
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
137 people are currently reading
831 people want to read
About the author
Emily Gray Tedrowe
3Ìýbooks229ÌýfollowersEmily Gray Tedrowe is the Chicago-based author of the novels The Talented Miss Farwell, Blue Stars, and Commuters. She earned a PhD in English literature from New York University, and a BA from Princeton University. She has received an Illinois Arts Council award as well as fellowships from the Ragdale Foundation, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Sewanee Writers Conference. A frequent book reviewer for USA Today and other publications, Tedrowe also writes essays, interviews, and short stories.
Find me on Instagram at egtedrowe, where I post pics of what I'm reading
Find me on Instagram at egtedrowe, where I post pics of what I'm reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
April 7, 2018
Wanting to read a local author, I bought this book, as a trip souvenir, last month in a great little bookstore on North Broadway in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. I was disappointed when I realized it wasn't set in Chicago at all (a couple of characters are from Chicago, but they don't return there in print), but that was my assumption (thinking there would be 'commutes' between Chicago and NY), so I can't blame the author.
I almost abandoned it several pages in, thinking it wasn't for me (especially after coming to GR for encouragement and seeing that a GR friend hadn't finished it), but I needed something 'easy,' something I could get lost in, something that wouldn't require me to think too much (unlike my previous read, 's ). It got better, or, more likely, my expectations changed. Despite a couple of sentences near the end that jarred me out of the story (one involving a tense change and another in an excerpt from an essay that was said to be published in The Atlantic), the writing is fine -- otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to finish it. Even in 'escapist' novels, I can't read bad writing.
In the beginning I would've given this 2 stars for being ok. That grew to 2.5 stars as I went on, but I did end up liking it for what it was: mostly good writing (there are some plot-lines that seemed unnecessary and then they were dropped, proving it to be so) with memorable characters (though I had a hard time believing some of the stuff that the 20-year old grandson could do -- I know he'd been through a lot before the reader met him, but, still, he was only 20); and a pretty good read.
Oh, and, yes, I liked how the word 'commuter' came to mean more than what I thought it meant.
I almost abandoned it several pages in, thinking it wasn't for me (especially after coming to GR for encouragement and seeing that a GR friend hadn't finished it), but I needed something 'easy,' something I could get lost in, something that wouldn't require me to think too much (unlike my previous read, 's ). It got better, or, more likely, my expectations changed. Despite a couple of sentences near the end that jarred me out of the story (one involving a tense change and another in an excerpt from an essay that was said to be published in The Atlantic), the writing is fine -- otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to finish it. Even in 'escapist' novels, I can't read bad writing.
In the beginning I would've given this 2 stars for being ok. That grew to 2.5 stars as I went on, but I did end up liking it for what it was: mostly good writing (there are some plot-lines that seemed unnecessary and then they were dropped, proving it to be so) with memorable characters (though I had a hard time believing some of the stuff that the 20-year old grandson could do -- I know he'd been through a lot before the reader met him, but, still, he was only 20); and a pretty good read.
Oh, and, yes, I liked how the word 'commuter' came to mean more than what I thought it meant.
April 3, 2011
I think I'm just too picky.
I liked what this book was trying to do; trying being the operative word. Decent writing plus an interesting situation -- two people marry late in life and the ensuing family politics, with various family members and temperaments and complex situations -- should equal a good book. There were times when it almost did. Almost.
Winifred, the 78-year-old bride, is clearly meant to be a kicky old lady with no patience for social convention. She will insist on a traditional wedding with all the trimmings, her age and people's disapproval notwithstanding; she will cut down the sycamore in front of her house to make room for a swimming pool for her new husband, and to hell with the neighbors and the radical environmentalists who want to stop her (all of them, with their increasingly desperate tactics for which I had to suspend some disbelief)! She even gains the trust and admiration of her new step-grandson, a tough guy fresh from rehab, because she's spunky and cool and knows how to talk to him. It's not an unbelievable scenario; cool old people do exist. It was Winnie who never quite seemed real to me. For a richly drawn aging woman, see ; it was clear to me what Emily wanted Winnie to be, but it wasn't clear to me that Winnie actually was that.
Emily's heart was in the right place as she tried to craft a complex relationship between Winnie and her daughter Rachel, who was struggling with problems of her own -- a newly disabled husband and money troubles. But Rachel, too, didn't quite realize her potential as a multi-dimensional character and neither did her relationships, not with Winnie or her husband or anyone else. Other situations also carried unrealized potential for conflict -- Winnie's wealthy new husband's daughter, convinced that Winnie and her family were gold-diggers, made only token appearances; her son Avery's girlfriend and business difficulties also failed to drive the story the way they might have.
The book was readable enough, and worthy of three stars. You could definitely do worse if you're stuck on an airplane or a desert island. But if you have access to a wider book selection, you can probably do better.
I liked what this book was trying to do; trying being the operative word. Decent writing plus an interesting situation -- two people marry late in life and the ensuing family politics, with various family members and temperaments and complex situations -- should equal a good book. There were times when it almost did. Almost.
Winifred, the 78-year-old bride, is clearly meant to be a kicky old lady with no patience for social convention. She will insist on a traditional wedding with all the trimmings, her age and people's disapproval notwithstanding; she will cut down the sycamore in front of her house to make room for a swimming pool for her new husband, and to hell with the neighbors and the radical environmentalists who want to stop her (all of them, with their increasingly desperate tactics for which I had to suspend some disbelief)! She even gains the trust and admiration of her new step-grandson, a tough guy fresh from rehab, because she's spunky and cool and knows how to talk to him. It's not an unbelievable scenario; cool old people do exist. It was Winnie who never quite seemed real to me. For a richly drawn aging woman, see ; it was clear to me what Emily wanted Winnie to be, but it wasn't clear to me that Winnie actually was that.
Emily's heart was in the right place as she tried to craft a complex relationship between Winnie and her daughter Rachel, who was struggling with problems of her own -- a newly disabled husband and money troubles. But Rachel, too, didn't quite realize her potential as a multi-dimensional character and neither did her relationships, not with Winnie or her husband or anyone else. Other situations also carried unrealized potential for conflict -- Winnie's wealthy new husband's daughter, convinced that Winnie and her family were gold-diggers, made only token appearances; her son Avery's girlfriend and business difficulties also failed to drive the story the way they might have.
The book was readable enough, and worthy of three stars. You could definitely do worse if you're stuck on an airplane or a desert island. But if you have access to a wider book selection, you can probably do better.
July 17, 2010
My mother's father died when I was 7 or 8. I remember going to Mississippi with my folks for the funeral and all the family being there and I especially remember my grandmother sending us all home shortly after the funeral. She said she needed to learn to live alone and the quicker she got started the easier it would be. In later years when people would ask her if she'd ever remarry she'd always say that she was very happy as it was and didn't need some old man to take care of. She continued teaching reading at the local elementary school until she retired and took all kinds of trips all over the US and the world. It was very cool to watch her remake her life and expand her horizons.
When she was 70 she became reacquainted with a man she and my grandfather had known in college. In fact, they had double-dated with him and his wife who had died the year prior to them meeting again on a fall foliage tour. They fell head over heels in love and remarried and my grandmother started a whole new life. They had ten good years together before he passed away and it was so life-affirming to see them together, so happy and so in love.
Commuters is a multi-generational tale of what happens when two older people fall in love and marry. Both of their spouses are gone and they join forces to create a new life together. Told from the perspective of several family members, the novel explores all of the complexities of love late in life - the surprising resentments of grown children, the necessities of navigating inheritance and changing relationships, the simple pleasures of finding a new life partner. With strong clear voices this simply told and elegant novel was a real pleasure. I wish my grandmother was alive to read it - she would have approved.
When she was 70 she became reacquainted with a man she and my grandfather had known in college. In fact, they had double-dated with him and his wife who had died the year prior to them meeting again on a fall foliage tour. They fell head over heels in love and remarried and my grandmother started a whole new life. They had ten good years together before he passed away and it was so life-affirming to see them together, so happy and so in love.
Commuters is a multi-generational tale of what happens when two older people fall in love and marry. Both of their spouses are gone and they join forces to create a new life together. Told from the perspective of several family members, the novel explores all of the complexities of love late in life - the surprising resentments of grown children, the necessities of navigating inheritance and changing relationships, the simple pleasures of finding a new life partner. With strong clear voices this simply told and elegant novel was a real pleasure. I wish my grandmother was alive to read it - she would have approved.
February 20, 2011
This is more of a 3.5-er, bordering on 4 - but it rests on a shelf of books I enjoyed a lot but really can't recommend - this was an extensive, well written look at two families coming together when their elderly father/grandfather and mother/grandmother wed - and not all that much happens except the vicissitudes of life which I love but a lot of people might find boring. The characters are well sketched, the dialogue rings true and the conflicts - old and young, money and what it does to people, emotions, relationships - were dealt with really nicely. I am laying off the fourth star because it was a bit too easy to put down - that being said it's a worthwhile read if you're into character heavy, plot light.
December 12, 2010
I picked this up at the library the other night and finished it this morning.
This was an easy book to fall into and breeze through--exactly what I was looking for. The story and the characters were interesting enough to compel me to finish the book. (I particularly liked Rachel and Avery as characters) But along the way, I found myself editing/rewriting some of the sentences to make them more crisp, less redundant. Arrogantly, I kept on saying to myself, "I can write better than this." And I lost a little bit of interest at the very end.
But all in all, for a first novel? Good job, Emily Gray Tedrowe. We all know that pulling it all together is no easy task.
This was an easy book to fall into and breeze through--exactly what I was looking for. The story and the characters were interesting enough to compel me to finish the book. (I particularly liked Rachel and Avery as characters) But along the way, I found myself editing/rewriting some of the sentences to make them more crisp, less redundant. Arrogantly, I kept on saying to myself, "I can write better than this." And I lost a little bit of interest at the very end.
But all in all, for a first novel? Good job, Emily Gray Tedrowe. We all know that pulling it all together is no easy task.
November 30, 2022
Meh. I am not sure how or why this ended up on my to-read, but I was intrigued at first. An elderly couple is wildly in love, it opens with their grand wedding and then the politics of their mingling families. So much potential and hope for a juicy family drama.
And yet, it falls short. Tedrowe paints essentially one villian (Annette) and everyone else is over the top sympathetic. Rachel and Bob have had so much trouble that they are forgiven their slight transgressions (and the transgressions are slight; why don't they have any knock-down fights or one of them "accidentally" sleep with someone else?); their life felt both too dramatic (what with the head injury and all) and too boring (things are falling apart and they are just silently sad). Avery is portrayed as scary (ooh, a drug addict) but essentially he is trying hard and head over heels in love with a good person who turns out to love him back. Winnie and Jerry have a great love story and it ends 6 months in with a car crash of all things.
It was entertaining enough, but not super compelling; I did not find any of the characters complex and nothing profound was ever said. Such a waste of a good set up.
And yet, it falls short. Tedrowe paints essentially one villian (Annette) and everyone else is over the top sympathetic. Rachel and Bob have had so much trouble that they are forgiven their slight transgressions (and the transgressions are slight; why don't they have any knock-down fights or one of them "accidentally" sleep with someone else?); their life felt both too dramatic (what with the head injury and all) and too boring (things are falling apart and they are just silently sad). Avery is portrayed as scary (ooh, a drug addict) but essentially he is trying hard and head over heels in love with a good person who turns out to love him back. Winnie and Jerry have a great love story and it ends 6 months in with a car crash of all things.
It was entertaining enough, but not super compelling; I did not find any of the characters complex and nothing profound was ever said. Such a waste of a good set up.
February 12, 2019
Quick read...interesting views of decisions as we travel through life.
May 4, 2025
This was really great. You should read it. I just have this suggestion:
Make a chart
Two people are getting married (each for the second time) and I made family trees for both of their families. There are a lot of characters in this book and it was totally worth it to chart them out towards the beginning.
Having that all down in writing allowed me to just focus on the very real characters, dialogue, the evolution of the story, and the themes that run through this wonderful book.
Enjoy!
Make a chart
Two people are getting married (each for the second time) and I made family trees for both of their families. There are a lot of characters in this book and it was totally worth it to chart them out towards the beginning.
Having that all down in writing allowed me to just focus on the very real characters, dialogue, the evolution of the story, and the themes that run through this wonderful book.
Enjoy!
February 6, 2024
This is a book about family. The power of love. And the power of money. Money can't fix everything. And sometimes, money as a fix just makes the problem worse.
I was riveted from the first page, a rarity in novels. Written by Emily Gray Tedrowe, this is the story of Winnie Easton McClelland, a 78-year-old widow, who meets and falls in love with Jerry Trevis, a widower of about the same age. Theirs is a love story that elicits sweet smiles and just a few snickers behind their backs. Winnie, the mother of two grown children, is solidly middle-class, living in the small suburban town of Hartfield, Connecticut where she has lived all her life. Jerry is a fabulously wealthy entrepreneur from Chicago, who promoted his only child, Annette, to the top position at the company so he could retire and move to Hartfield to be with his new wife in the $2.5 million home that he has purchased for them.
What a sweet love story! Oh, but wait! Not so fast.
Blending families at this stage of life is difficult at best. Throw in wads of cash, Jerry's unmistakable signs of dementia, jealousy and mistrust, and things aren't so sweet anymore.
� Because Jerry suffers enormous back pain, Winnie wants to build a pool in their yard, but the only place it will fit is in the front. For that to work, a 200-year-old historic sycamore must be cut down, creating ire among the neighbors and protests in the town.
� Annette commands her son, Avery, a 20-year-old recovering drug addict who has moved to New York City, to visit his grandfather once a week, and this new relationship isn't what anyone expected.
� Rachel, Winnie's daughter, is married to Bob. They have two daughters, Lila and Melissa. Bob is recovering from a massive head injury and is on a leave of absence from his law firm. Money is tight. Very, very tight. They have rented their house and moved into an adjacent apartment. Rachel is exhausted balancing her family's many needs.
� Annette is bitter about her father's new marriage and mistrusts Winnie's motives, so she makes a legal move that astounds and deeply hurts everyone in the family.
Bonus: The deeper meaning of the novel's title is beautifully and almost poetically explained in the last chapter, and I think it transforms the book from fiction to literary fiction. Yes, it's that powerful because it made me appreciate even more each character's problems, growth, and redemption.
This novel, which is written in chapters that alternate from the points of view of Winnie, Rachel, and Avery, is not only a captivating, unputdownable read, but also a study on human nature and how we react in the best and worst of times. It's an imaginative story with vibrant characters and a smart storyline. I was spellbound!
I was riveted from the first page, a rarity in novels. Written by Emily Gray Tedrowe, this is the story of Winnie Easton McClelland, a 78-year-old widow, who meets and falls in love with Jerry Trevis, a widower of about the same age. Theirs is a love story that elicits sweet smiles and just a few snickers behind their backs. Winnie, the mother of two grown children, is solidly middle-class, living in the small suburban town of Hartfield, Connecticut where she has lived all her life. Jerry is a fabulously wealthy entrepreneur from Chicago, who promoted his only child, Annette, to the top position at the company so he could retire and move to Hartfield to be with his new wife in the $2.5 million home that he has purchased for them.
What a sweet love story! Oh, but wait! Not so fast.
Blending families at this stage of life is difficult at best. Throw in wads of cash, Jerry's unmistakable signs of dementia, jealousy and mistrust, and things aren't so sweet anymore.
� Because Jerry suffers enormous back pain, Winnie wants to build a pool in their yard, but the only place it will fit is in the front. For that to work, a 200-year-old historic sycamore must be cut down, creating ire among the neighbors and protests in the town.
� Annette commands her son, Avery, a 20-year-old recovering drug addict who has moved to New York City, to visit his grandfather once a week, and this new relationship isn't what anyone expected.
� Rachel, Winnie's daughter, is married to Bob. They have two daughters, Lila and Melissa. Bob is recovering from a massive head injury and is on a leave of absence from his law firm. Money is tight. Very, very tight. They have rented their house and moved into an adjacent apartment. Rachel is exhausted balancing her family's many needs.
� Annette is bitter about her father's new marriage and mistrusts Winnie's motives, so she makes a legal move that astounds and deeply hurts everyone in the family.
Bonus: The deeper meaning of the novel's title is beautifully and almost poetically explained in the last chapter, and I think it transforms the book from fiction to literary fiction. Yes, it's that powerful because it made me appreciate even more each character's problems, growth, and redemption.
This novel, which is written in chapters that alternate from the points of view of Winnie, Rachel, and Avery, is not only a captivating, unputdownable read, but also a study on human nature and how we react in the best and worst of times. It's an imaginative story with vibrant characters and a smart storyline. I was spellbound!
March 3, 2011
Some spoilers here! Liked the chef Avery and Winnie the matriarch. Those characters grew the most and
I was rooting for them more than any of the other characters.
Could picture the grand house, tree and pool. Rachel annoyed me to no end.
Not sure a car accident can exacerbate Alzheimer's disease though Jerry may
have had a seizure due to his condition. That would be an Alzheimer's plateau - breaker.
What ever happened with the recording Rachel was making while she
tried to talk with Jerry? The last we knew-the recorder was still running inside Rachel's
purse.
I was rooting for them more than any of the other characters.
Could picture the grand house, tree and pool. Rachel annoyed me to no end.
Not sure a car accident can exacerbate Alzheimer's disease though Jerry may
have had a seizure due to his condition. That would be an Alzheimer's plateau - breaker.
What ever happened with the recording Rachel was making while she
tried to talk with Jerry? The last we knew-the recorder was still running inside Rachel's
purse.
October 18, 2011
This book was pretty abyssmal. I started reading it a few days ago, made it to page 200 and couldn't take it. The characters were extremely boring and flat. The plot is about a woman who marries a man very late in life, and the repurcussions. The story is told from varying viewpoints, including the woman who got married, her daughter, and the woman's husband's grandson. My issue was that none of these characters were interesting, fun, or likeable. I hope to read something better after this!!!
December 31, 2011
I was roaring right along, enjoying the story of 2 seventy somethings who marry and bring family baggage of all kinds into their lives in a bedroom community north of NYC. EAch chapter is told from the point of view of either the grandmother/bride, daughter, or grandson. The grandfather/groom's money leads you to believe that everything will get straightened out if they just hit it with enough money. But no. As one character descends into dementia, another recovers a life lost...but it just wasn't a very satisfying ending for me. You can have my copy if you want it.
June 20, 2011
About 200 pages in and think I might just give up. Used to feel guilty for not finishing books, but I'm at the stage in my life where I want to read to be transformed. So far, this is not transforming me. Characters are just kind of an ehh right now.
It was another library pickup and on another recent jaunt, I saw they had The Lucky Ones, non-fiction about the Chinese in CA during the time period my great-grandfather came over. Between the two, I am going to read that one.
It was another library pickup and on another recent jaunt, I saw they had The Lucky Ones, non-fiction about the Chinese in CA during the time period my great-grandfather came over. Between the two, I am going to read that one.
July 29, 2010
I purchased this one on a recent trip to San Francisco and finished it on the plane ride home. The story is told from the point of view of three characters and rotates through them as the plot develops. I enjoyed the author's portrayal of family life during complicated and stressful life events. It's a fun and quick read.
September 20, 2010
A unique story that illuminates the changes that happen in one's life through various generations. I enjoyed the characters that were chosen to tell the story through. It gets three stars for the storyline and its uniqueness. However, it was not a book that I needed to devour.
August 25, 2010
I did not like the plot or characters of this book. In fact, I'm trying to figure out how the blurb on the back could have even been written about these stupid characters. Ack.
November 13, 2023
i think about this book a ridiculous amount half a year after i read and didn’t even care for it much !! the characters have stuck with me to an unexplainable extent ..
March 26, 2021
I liked this book, although I feel like there are some things that are just not believable. I don't quite understand why Annette becomes so emotionally distraught over her father's marriage to Winnie. Since Winnie says she signed a "prenup" and Annette's mother has been gone for 20 years, it seems overblown to completely fall apart over this marriage and even the house. The whole thing about the pool doesn't completely make sense either. At one point Winnie justifies her pool construction because they have to drive nearly an hour to get to an indoor pool when the pool in their neighborhood is closed for the winter but her pool is also outside so it still won't help in the winter. Also, the airport scene was confusing. A big part of Rachel's story is about her asking for big loans from Jerry to pay off their debts so how could all of her cards be maxed out again in just a few months when she is traveling? I also wondered how Avery got to be a gourmet chef ready to open a restaurant in New York after helping out in the kitchen at his rehab center and making falafel at "Pita Pie".
This book is well written and I did enjoy the story, but I think that the details are a little shakey.
This book is well written and I did enjoy the story, but I think that the details are a little shakey.
October 7, 2020
Overall I enjoyed this book. The chapters alternated between three characters from different generations and therefore three perspectives. These different voices are handled well - as a writer I know it can be difficult to instill distinct and separate voices in characters. In another review someone said all of the characters are unlikable, and thinking back, I admit that most of them didn't really grab me. Everyone seemed a bit self-centered and whiny at times, but then again, perhaps that is realistic nowadays. And having said that, I did notice some growth in these characters, which helped ensure that I cared enough at least to keep reading. There were a few plot developments that I thought were a bit pat, (as I mentioned, I am an author, so I grumble when fictional writers get published so easily) but mostly the story kept me intrigued and even surprised me here and there.
This is not a book I will read multiple timers, but it was worth my investment of time and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary life stories told simply and well.
This is not a book I will read multiple timers, but it was worth my investment of time and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary life stories told simply and well.
June 26, 2020
I was tearful as I finished reading this book, which is very unusual for me. Maybe because I am about the same age as Winnie and have a daughter about the same age as Rachel, I was able to easily relate to the characters. However, my life experiences are very different from those of the people in this story, so I believe it was the ability of Tedrowe to create believable and likeable characters that made this book enjoyable for me. I could really believe and understand how each character felt about the difficult and changing circumstances of their lives. I did not guess what was going to happen next but was not surprised at the way the story unfolded because at each step I would think "Yes, that is how I would think or feel or act.".
September 28, 2017
"After losing her husband of many years, seventy-eight-year-old Winnie Easton has found love again with Jerry Trevis, a wealthy, elderly Chicago businessman; their decision, however, to buy one of the biggest houses in the small, upstate town of Hartfield, New York, ignites anger and skepticism in their families."
Quite a struggle for me! There were times when the story would pick up and I'd think Finally, we've got some momentum! However, it didn't happen; little to no momentum. I don't like to abandon books so I limped through this one.
Quite a struggle for me! There were times when the story would pick up and I'd think Finally, we've got some momentum! However, it didn't happen; little to no momentum. I don't like to abandon books so I limped through this one.
August 13, 2018
I couldn't say I would recommend this book but I did read it to the end and somewhat enjoyed it.
Writing was good but it was very character driven and the author ran out of time to tie up all the loose ends. Found Winnie the 78-year-old granny a little bit unrealistic. Big splashy white wedding at 78!!
Very tacky. By the time she rubbed the stardust from her eyes, the husband was dying. There was no real ending. Left hanging with assumptions on all fronts as to how all the characters ended up. Could have been so much more because the storyline was plausible but it just wasn't.
Writing was good but it was very character driven and the author ran out of time to tie up all the loose ends. Found Winnie the 78-year-old granny a little bit unrealistic. Big splashy white wedding at 78!!
Very tacky. By the time she rubbed the stardust from her eyes, the husband was dying. There was no real ending. Left hanging with assumptions on all fronts as to how all the characters ended up. Could have been so much more because the storyline was plausible but it just wasn't.
March 4, 2019
Some parts were a little slow for me, but I loved how we got to see perspectives from three different generations. The integrated family aspect at such a late stage in life was an interesting concept to read, and I loved how we saw the same situations from different eyes and interpretations. Really makes you appreciate and understand the motives of people who all just want to be loved and live a meaningful life.
April 2, 2022
Not Much Happened
Wanted to like this book, but I didn’t care for any of the characters. Kept reading, hoping that something would make the book worth the read, but that was not to be. Lots of characters, many unnecessary. Not sure why the woman who was on the floor after the wedding and needing an ambulance was included, nor the bridal shower of unknown woman and her mother. Missed the point of why scenes were needed.
Wanted to like this book, but I didn’t care for any of the characters. Kept reading, hoping that something would make the book worth the read, but that was not to be. Lots of characters, many unnecessary. Not sure why the woman who was on the floor after the wedding and needing an ambulance was included, nor the bridal shower of unknown woman and her mother. Missed the point of why scenes were needed.
October 26, 2018
Not quite a literary novel, I think (based on how few passages I highlighted), but not fluffy like a beach read. The characters' dilemmas felt real, and I was eager to stay with them to see what happened next, while rooting for almost everyone. If you're an actual commuter (e.g. daily train or metro), this could be a very nice way to pass a week's travels, but I wouldn't save it for vacation.
November 11, 2024
I approached this book without expectations, I did not know the author and hadn’t read any of the reviews. I liked it. A lot. I found the three main character approach fascinating and the characters well developed, realistic and human, with their flaws exposed. I’m not saying I found any of them particularly likeable, but then, not all humans are likeable.
July 20, 2020
Beautifully written, thoughtful stories of 3 people: a woman who finds love late in life, her daughter whose husband has suffered a head injury, and her new step grandson struggling to renter life after rehab.
September 26, 2020
Although the plot line is believable, one of the main participants is never heard from, which leaves a huge hole in the story. And the ending happens because the author was tired. The characters were too far off the track to have empathy with.
January 25, 2023
I had a hard time staying interested. The ending didn’t feel like an ending at all. This book was kind of depressing especially for an older woman to read. It is an “is that all I have to look forward to?� type of story.
June 13, 2017
3.5 stars
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