I’m glad to hear your thoughts on Come and Get It. I listened to it on audiobook (and thoroughly enjoyed it!) and never found that there were too many characters, that it was too slow, or any of the other criticisms I’ve read/heard. I actually prefer it to Such a Fun Age. There was clearly a lot of thought and care that went into it. As you say, I can’t wait to see what Kiley Reid does next.
Good to hear your thoughts on Come and Get it! I liked it too but it did feel a bit quieter than the other one and not as plotty. But also thought it had great character studies and writing.! Siân
I recently read Deep Water and enjoyed it. Not my fave Highsmith but still a good read. The Talented Mr Ripley is excellent, and I still need to read Carol.
Come and Get It was a miss for me 😭😭 I dnf 34% through. I remember it being no plot and all outfit descriptions. I also didn’t read Kiley’s debut and I typically enjoy ambling, slice of life books. I agree w you that this was definitely the novel she wanted to write, unfortunately just not the one I wanted to read 😢
Oooh, I'm super interested in both House of Broken Bricks and Night Swimmers. I have totally missed all the discourse about Come and Get It but into a the idea that she's switching things up a bit!
So glad to hear someone else speaking positively about Come and Get It. I loved it and thought it was clever and thought-provoking in a different way from Such a Fun Age. Good point about readers feeling like we are owed a certain type of novel based on an author's debut. I think people are unfairly comparing the two rather than viewing them as separate novels.
Now I'm very keen to read The House of Broken Bricks! I'm so glad people have differing opinions on Come & Get It. While it felt like reading the back of a very long cereal box for me, the positive reviews are just as intriguing!
I really loved The House of Broken Bricks, great to hear that you loved it too. I didn't realise what was going on until quite late on, which I'm grateful for in hindsight, that must have been frustrating for you. I think this one will stay with me and is definitely one of my favourite reads this year. I bought a signed copy of Mongrel several weeks ago based on Jen's review, and I'm definitely going to read it next after Iv'e finished my current read, Biography of X. I have really loved/ some of my 5 tar reads this year: Cuddy : The New Life: Daemon Copperhead: Enter Ghost : Brotherless Night and In Defense of the Act , Wifedom: Young Queens among many others.
Glad to hear how much you enjoyed it. Yes, it was off putting so I wish I hadn't guessed, haha. Thanks for mentioning your 5 star reads. I really want to read Cuddy and Demon Copperhead.
Really want to read The House of Broken Bricks. I have heard so many good things. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it too and on all the others too. Oooh it’s good to hear a different take on Come and Get It. I loved her first book and had been putting off getting to this one due to the bad reviews. Completely agree that people shouldn’t make assumptions and pigeon hole authors. Great video as always ❤
I enjoyed your review of The House of Broken Bricks and felt exactly the same. I understood what wasn't being explicitly said right from the start too. I read someone saying that they felt it was an intentional slow reveal rather than hitting the reader with a twist and that this matched the emotional tone of the novel. But it seems that isn't how it's being received by many readers. It would be interesting to find out what the author's intention was.
I just read the preview for The House of Broken Books and I think I know what you are talking about. I am intrigued to pick it up, still, so maybe when I can get my hands on a library copy (I am trying to use the library more!) I will give it a go. I hope you enjoy Deep Water! Our bookclub read it together and some people didn't really love it, but others (like me!) thought it rocked. I have since read The Talented Mr. Ripley and really enjoyed that, too, and my library hold for The Price of Salt is coming up soon.
That's what I mean! It's a fairly easy to guess thing even based on the blurb! But I did love it other than that and the slightly annoying dad storyline so would still recommend. Ohhh, that makes me even more intrigued for Deep Water!
Some great recommendations in there, Mongrel, Night Swimmers and The House of Broken Bricks are going onto my TBR. I didn't like Come and Get It, but I'm hoping Kiley Reid writes a third novel which will hit the spot as I loved Such a Fun Age. I hope you are doing well healthwise.
Now I’m really intrigued by the sound of House of Broken Bricks. Our reading tastes tend to overlap , so I’m guessing I will feel the same when I get to it. Can I recommend you some of my 5 star reads I’ve had in the last 4 months? Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Haworth Greta & Valdin Fayne by AnnMarie MacDonald Hello Beautiful Stone Yard Devotional by Charolette Wood Brotherless Night Strong Female Character by Fern Brady Enter Ghost Solider Sailor Ordinary Human Failings The Caretaker ☘️👋🍀🇮🇪📚📕📖☕️💐
I had exactly the same reading experience with The House of Broken Bricks as you. I became increasingly irritated by the mystery surrounding 'it' as more and more hints were made about it, but otherwise I really liked a lot about this book.
I’m glad to hear your thoughts on Come and Get It. I listened to it on audiobook (and thoroughly enjoyed it!) and never found that there were too many characters, that it was too slow, or any of the other criticisms I’ve read/heard. I actually prefer it to Such a Fun Age. There was clearly a lot of thought and care that went into it. As you say, I can’t wait to see what Kiley Reid does next.
I so enjoyed this, you're always so thoughtful with your reviews
Immediately adding Night Swimmers and Come and get it to my TBR! Thank you for the reviews 😊
Good to hear your thoughts on Come and Get it! I liked it too but it did feel a bit quieter than the other one and not as plotty. But also thought it had great character studies and writing.! Siân
I loved Whale Fall, I read it recently and it was a 5 star read for me. I can’t wait to hear what others think about it!
I recently read Deep Water and enjoyed it. Not my fave Highsmith but still a good read. The Talented Mr Ripley is excellent, and I still need to read Carol.
Come and Get It was a miss for me 😭😭 I dnf 34% through. I remember it being no plot and all outfit descriptions. I also didn’t read Kiley’s debut and I typically enjoy ambling, slice of life books. I agree w you that this was definitely the novel she wanted to write, unfortunately just not the one I wanted to read 😢
Oooh, I'm super interested in both House of Broken Bricks and Night Swimmers. I have totally missed all the discourse about Come and Get It but into a the idea that she's switching things up a bit!
The first one doesn't sound like my sort of book at all. Intrigued by Mongrel The House of Broken Bricks sounds brilliant.
So glad to hear someone else speaking positively about Come and Get It. I loved it and thought it was clever and thought-provoking in a different way from Such a Fun Age. Good point about readers feeling like we are owed a certain type of novel based on an author's debut. I think people are unfairly comparing the two rather than viewing them as separate novels.
Yay, I'm glad to hear you loved it too! I completely agree.
Now I'm very keen to read The House of Broken Bricks! I'm so glad people have differing opinions on Come & Get It. While it felt like reading the back of a very long cereal box for me, the positive reviews are just as intriguing!
I really loved The House of Broken Bricks, great to hear that you loved it too. I didn't realise what was going on until quite late on, which I'm grateful for in hindsight, that must have been frustrating for you. I think this one will stay with me and is definitely one of my favourite reads this year. I bought a signed copy of Mongrel several weeks ago based on Jen's review, and I'm definitely going to read it next after Iv'e finished my current read, Biography of X. I have really loved/ some of my 5 tar reads this year: Cuddy : The New Life: Daemon Copperhead: Enter Ghost : Brotherless Night and In Defense of the Act , Wifedom: Young Queens among many others.
Glad to hear how much you enjoyed it. Yes, it was off putting so I wish I hadn't guessed, haha. Thanks for mentioning your 5 star reads. I really want to read Cuddy and Demon Copperhead.
Really want to read The House of Broken Bricks. I have heard so many good things. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it too and on all the others too.
Oooh it’s good to hear a different take on Come and Get It. I loved her first book and had been putting off getting to this one due to the bad reviews.
Completely agree that people shouldn’t make assumptions and pigeon hole authors.
Great video as always ❤
I'd love to hear your thoughts on either of them if you get to them :) Thank you!
I enjoyed your review of The House of Broken Bricks and felt exactly the same. I understood what wasn't being explicitly said right from the start too. I read someone saying that they felt it was an intentional slow reveal rather than hitting the reader with a twist and that this matched the emotional tone of the novel. But it seems that isn't how it's being received by many readers. It would be interesting to find out what the author's intention was.
I'm so glad it wasn't just me! Yes, I would love to hear the author talk about it.
I just read the preview for The House of Broken Books and I think I know what you are talking about. I am intrigued to pick it up, still, so maybe when I can get my hands on a library copy (I am trying to use the library more!) I will give it a go.
I hope you enjoy Deep Water! Our bookclub read it together and some people didn't really love it, but others (like me!) thought it rocked. I have since read The Talented Mr. Ripley and really enjoyed that, too, and my library hold for The Price of Salt is coming up soon.
That's what I mean! It's a fairly easy to guess thing even based on the blurb! But I did love it other than that and the slightly annoying dad storyline so would still recommend.
Ohhh, that makes me even more intrigued for Deep Water!
Some great recommendations in there, Mongrel, Night Swimmers and The House of Broken Bricks are going onto my TBR. I didn't like Come and Get It, but I'm hoping Kiley Reid writes a third novel which will hit the spot as I loved Such a Fun Age. I hope you are doing well healthwise.
Glad you added some books to your tbr :) Thank you, I've been feeling a bit better lately.
Rural, non-white and good, Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose
Thanks for the recommendation :)
Now I’m really intrigued by the sound of House of Broken Bricks. Our reading tastes tend to overlap , so I’m guessing I will feel the same when I get to it. Can I recommend you some of my 5 star reads I’ve had in the last 4 months?
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Haworth
Greta & Valdin
Fayne by AnnMarie MacDonald
Hello Beautiful
Stone Yard Devotional by Charolette Wood
Brotherless Night
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
Enter Ghost
Solider Sailor
Ordinary Human Failings
The Caretaker
☘️👋🍀🇮🇪📚📕📖☕️💐
I'd love to hear your thoughts on The House of Broken Bricks! Thanks for the recommendations :)
I had exactly the same reading experience with The House of Broken Bricks as you. I became increasingly irritated by the mystery surrounding 'it' as more and more hints were made about it, but otherwise I really liked a lot about this book.
Phew, I was worried it was just me!