The Vacation
Book
It was supposed to be the perfect getaway: Kate and her three best friends, spending a week with...
A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects
Book
In this beautiful paperback edition featuring French flaps, hugely popular lifestyle blogger,...
French Kisses and a London Affair
Book
A London Affair Kate leaves the countryside for a job in a posh London deli and is soon surrounded...
Frederick the Great
Kate Williams and Nancy Mitford
Book
This title is presented with an Introduction by Kate Williams. Frederick II of Prussia attempted to...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Small Admissions in Books
Feb 13, 2018
I am torn somewhat on my thoughts for this book. It starts off quite witty and drew me in immediately. It's told from a multitude of perspectives, including Kate's friends (Chloe and Vicki), her sister (Angela) and Kate, and Kate's new boss, Henry. It's also interspersed with tales of several children trying to get into private school, along with the perspectives of their parents. There's definitely some nuance and depth there, but sometimes it's A LOT. A lot of characters, a lot of jumping of back and forth. I won't lie: Kate's friends certainly annoyed me at times. The side show with them can be humorous, but often just irritating. I found myself wanting more Kate.
The problem with all the jumping around is that I didn't really get to know the characters as much as I wanted, which was a shame, because they were fascinating. Kate, Chloe, Angela, Henry -- they were intriguing and, when featured, seemed real, even if Angela was driving us crazy meddling into Kate's life, as was Chloe with her never-ending guilt over her supposed role in Kate's breakdown. Poeppel has done an excellent job of creating real, flawed characters, and I just wish they all received a little more face-time. The snippets from the kids (and parents) applying for school are great, too, but it's hard not to see them sometimes as a detraction from our main characters, especially a side plot with two fervent (and delusional) parents.
Still, don't think I didn't enjoy the book, because I did. There are some wise and wonderful moments and some instances where I found myself laughing out loud. Kate is endearing, and you cannot help but rooting for her character. This book is redeemed by her and her journey. She is an inspiration. Because of her and my various feelings for this novel, my final rating falls at 3.75 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss (thank you) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 12/27/2016.
Whose Line is it Anyway
Book
This title is presented on 2CDs. It features Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Lenny Henry, Griff Rhys Jones...