December 8, 2024
I got the ARC from NetGalley and found it to be an easy enough read if not a bit messy. Character view points were a bit confusing since Alice chapters had Penelope's thoughts in them and that was kind of off-putting. I liked that it had ties to Canada and Scotland because my grandmother was a Scottish immigrant to Canada but didn't like the Canadian stereotypes contained here and there. No reason to reference the sensitive issue of Québec politics and I think that's what did it for me. I quit at 90% because I didn't care about the book anymore. And I'm not really sure I cared at all to begin with. I felt let down that the book was supposed to be about friendship and motherhood when it just seemed like a New Adult romance and that felt like a super betrayal 😔 So not at all what I was led to believe this was when I requested the ARC.

A witty account of the bonds between females be it mothers and daughters and friends very insightful and fun with it. Characters are well developed and strong. Loved the Edinburgh uni setting and I found the "family" mystery was well paced and held your interest. Really good book doesn't read like a debut as it's soooo good!!!