Helpful Score: 4
This is definitely not Patti Callahan Henry's best effort. Not by a long shot. I found it to be a too easy read, a beach book that does not demand too much attention. There's nothing really engaging about the story nor the characters. Ms. Henry's Lowcountry descriptions are one of the best things about her writing and her books. That was missing here. I was bored, and annoyed that I had paid full price for the book. Not a story that needed to be told, and not one that I will remember nor recommend to others.
Helpful Score: 1
I wanted to like this book way more than I actually did. It was an easy, enjoyable read, but I was frustrated with the lack of character development. The Mama in the story was not fleshed out at all but yet was supposed to be one of the central figures in the sister's lives. Everything that happened to one of the sisters was reacted to like "oh well, I'll move on" and you never really felt the emotions of heartbreak or unfulfilled dreams. Even when the sister's started to rectify the wrongs they made in their lives, I did not feel any real joy for them or proud that they could overcome their challengers. I don't know, I'm surprised the average rating is 4 stars - I gave it a 3.
