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Surprisingly great book

Reviewed: 01-21-23

Excellent narration, writing, pace, character development. All around a very good book. I listen to a book a week and rarely write reviews but felt this one warranted one.

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I kept waiting for it to get interesting...

Reviewed: 05-05-21

I listen to a book a week. When I run out of credits I troll the "free with your subscription" area and generally find something worthy. I rarely write reviews, as with most people I do either if something is really good, or really bad. This fell into the latter category.

It's so so bad I won't waste your time to get into it other than say it's like an audio version of a poorly written Hallmark Original movie. It's about as deep as a puddle and about as interesting. If it were a 3 hour book I could have gotten through it and thought, "that was a cute premise, a bit light on plot but cute with occasional funny and relatable parts" but 9+ hours...nope.

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3 people found this helpful

Somewhat worthy

Reviewed: 11-02-20

I agree with a lot of the reviews that say it was hard to follow, too many names, too much detailed history, too much of everything except for anything really compelling, unless perhaps you are a Whydham. This book is like that one aunt you have that has compiled your family tree into books in hopes that you will appreciate her efforts. The sisters were somewhat interesting with their early liberal ideas but not 15 hours interesting.

It needs about 4 hours of editing, in fact if you do listen to it I would suggest skipping over the middle 4 hours. I tried to return it but couldn't so slogged through to the end. I enjoyed the first few and last few hours, and only moderately so. Wouldn't recommend for a credit.

The Vanderbilt book, Fortune's Children is a good example of a well written and interesting book. I would rec that over this.

The narration by the author was good though!

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6 people found this helpful

A worthy read

Reviewed: 10-23-20

I was hesitant as an 18 hour book on one family, even the Vanderbilt's seemed a little excessive but I listened to the reviews and they were right. This is a really well written and beautifully detailed story of the Vanderbilt's. From the beginning to the end. I was never bored, and totally engaged throughout. Hats off to Mr. Vanderbilt for taking an honest and objective view on his family, the good, the bad and the outlandish.

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Not very good

Reviewed: 08-20-20

I have read a few of Hilderbrand's other works and her stories are usually fun and light and written well enough to keep my interest, but this was just bad. All around.

I'm not sure how this can be considered as some reviewers have stated a "love story" when the male is in a relationship then married to that same woman the entire time, and the female pines for him for 25 years. Maybe a tragic love story, if you're into that then this is the book for you.I found Mallory to be really quite pathetic. I kept hoping that something would develop, either with her gaining a backbone or him finally leaving his wife.

Then, to make matters worse, enter the left leaning politics towards the end, poorly disguised as an "Independent" politician. Come on. Sigh. Not good. Not even a little.

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Really good!

Reviewed: 07-29-19

While it's a clear divergence of Gilbert's other books she reminds the reader that she really is a talented writer and this showcases her diversity. She has you feeling very invested in the main character early on and you follow her through her life, as well as the entire life of her father! It's quite a journey. And an educational one at that. Such an interesting and different book.

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One of the best

Reviewed: 07-29-19

I listen to a book a week and this is easily one of the best books I have listened to this year. A truly beautiful book in all respects. It takes a little while to get moving, but it's worth the wait. Wow. Love it.

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32 Hours that should have been 17

Reviewed: 07-29-19

Now don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful written book and by the end you really feel like you have been on a lifetime journey with this poor fella, but after 32 hours and 24 minutes you pretty much have. So. Many. Needless. Words. Great narration with believable accents. I was somehow hoping for a more significant or substantial ending, I was just left unsatisfied in some way I can't put my finger on.

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GREAT followup to You

Reviewed: 07-29-19

I was a little hesitant after reading a few negative reviews, and after listening to You (which is essentially identical to the show which of course we all obsessed over) but I LOVED Hidden Bodies. I think it is slightly better written. Joe's character is fully developed and really comes into his own. Sure, even serial killers self evolve! The new characters, new location and new lifestyle all work to make this one of the best sequels ever. Joe is the new Dexter. Caroline.... I hope there is a third coming soon!

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Why is this not a movie yet?

Reviewed: 03-21-19

I listen to a lot of Lisa Jewell (long commute) and like her work but this book, well, this is something special. Very “Girl on a train”. Well written with nice character development, good tempo, no lulls, happy (ish) ending, generally really good! Helen Duff might be the best narrator I’ve come across too. Has a way of bringing characters to life (male, female, accents) w/o them feeling awkward, forced or over the top.

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1 person found this helpful