Scan barcode
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
This is a re-read. I love Colwin - her books are absolutely in my comfort zone. And her writing is gorgeous without being mannered (although her world is extremely mannered to almost a Wes Anderson level). This has never been my favorite of her books (I think that Happy All the Time is my favorite) and the story of a happily married, highly accomplished woman carrying on an affair has always struck me as problematic. Interesting that a lot of the GR reviews suggest that the book feels dated because this time around I was aware of a modern resonance that I hadn't felt earlier. The idea that the job of a modern woman is to be a complete homemaker, mother, wife, successful careerist, and fully self actualized felt like something very current indeed. Along with the impossibility of that task.
mastrisofha's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
unusualspring's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
medwards1771's review against another edition
4.0
Reminiscent of 80s family dynamics I've seen in pop culture: Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally, Fatal Attraction. Several chapters were harrowing to get through because of how much I related to Polly's anguish about making everything perfect so everyone will love her. I appreciated that it ended with Polly not choosing between Henry and Lincoln.
lnb's review against another edition
5.0
a perfect book!!!! this is exactly the kind of book i love to read
traciemasek's review against another edition
5.0
How much I liked this kind of sneaked up me. I picked this up from the library knowing nothing about it other than it had a very strong recommendation from a friend that I don't even have super similar reading taste as. I blew through in a few days, a record considering I was starting to wonder if I'd forgotten how to read during quarantine.
I was immediately sucked into the 1980s Manhattan world of Polly and her garbage rich asshole family--it had almost a fantasy aspect to it but I can't tell if that's just because the 80s seem so distant and rich idiots seem so much like Not Real People. I love the descriptions of the characters so, so much and this made me want to read every single thing Laurie Colwin ever wrote.
I was immediately sucked into the 1980s Manhattan world of Polly and her garbage rich asshole family--it had almost a fantasy aspect to it but I can't tell if that's just because the 80s seem so distant and rich idiots seem so much like Not Real People. I love the descriptions of the characters so, so much and this made me want to read every single thing Laurie Colwin ever wrote.
minty's review against another edition
3.0
I love books about depressed women; this was not wry or funny in the way of most of these kinds of books, but still enjoyable, in so much as spending time with a very rich woman who is deeply unhappy is.
sungyena's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
guitavla's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0