Amanda is a successful book editor at a prominent publishing house in New York City. Thea is a stay-at-home mother of three who has never really le...
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Jan 07, 2008
Hollie
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Feb 04, 2009
Periwinkle
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***Spoiler alert! Reading this review may spoil details about the book before you get a chance to read it!***
I chose this book because I stay at home with my three children and wanted something to relate to. For the first few chapters, I enjoyed being able to identify with the joys and woes of motherhood, as portrayed by the two main character's innermost thoughts. But, that's about all this book has to offer. There was no plot, or at least none worth mentioning, and the read was gen More...
I chose this book because I stay at home with my three children and wanted something to relate to. For the first few chapters, I enjoyed being able to identify with the joys and woes of motherhood, as portrayed by the two main character's innermost thoughts. But, that's about all this book has to offer. There was no plot, or at least none worth mentioning, and the read was gen More...
Dec 24, 2008
Mara
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This is the story of two women, two mothers. Thea lives in the house where she grew up and is the stay-at-home mom of 3 kids, including a toddler. Amanda, a children's book editor, moves in next door, pregnant, about to start her maternity leave. When circumstances force the two women uncomfortably close, each must face her own choices to stay home or continue to work.
The best thing about this book is that Gross alternates chapters between Thea and Amanda, allowing the reader to get More...
The best thing about this book is that Gross alternates chapters between Thea and Amanda, allowing the reader to get More...
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Jul 18, 2011
Shannon
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I was really in awe of this book. Not so much because of the story line, but more the accuracy in which she described the emotions of motherhood. Now I realize, in my current state, this has a greater chance of having that effect. However, as being a mother who has both worked and not worked, been judged and judged myself, and ofcourse as someone who has thought the grass must be greener on the other side, this book smacks you back into reality. On our best days I think we all realize that not
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Mar 13, 2010
Scout & Engineer
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I read this book for Her Circle Ezine, and I was very impressed by Gwendolyn Gross's skill. Full review to come through the Ezine later, but for now: the only fault I saw (and it was frequent at the beginning but died down as the book progressed) was the tendency for too many metaphors. They did lose their potency because there were so many for a while. However, her choice of phrases, her use of dialogue, her handling of childhood dialect, the brief/sharp scenes while illuminate her characte
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Feb 09, 2010
Smschade
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Aug 01, 2009
Marvin
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Alternating chapters are narrated by two suburban mothers: a stay-at-home mom of 3 kids (10, 8, & 2) & the woman who movese in next door just before she gives birth to her first baby & goes back to work 3 weeks later. The novel effectively & sympathetically portrays the insecurities of each about their choice(s) & the tensions between them as they mistrust the other's attitude about them. It's a little didactic in places & a couple of scenes are over the top. A shared kiss--& subsequent obsesesi
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Dec 08, 2008
Jen
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I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately the ending was a bit abrupt and I got the feeling toward the final pages that the author was maybe not quite sure how to end it. So four stars out of five, but otherwise wonderfully written with some exquisite insight into the many facets and contradictions of mothering. I was torn throughout the book between the two main characters' viewpoints. The author did a fantastic job of creating two fully-drawn, three-dimensional, flawed women who felt real. I'd
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Sep 22, 2010
Marie
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I'm not sure what I thought of this novel. It had an interesting premise: a newly pregnant career woman moves into a suburban New Jersey house next door to a stay-at-home mom of three. Neither mom is entirely happy with her choices. I found both women very difficult to relate to: perhaps because I have never experienced the outright jealousy and spite felt by some women toward "the other" type of mother. In our circle of friends, one parent often stays at home, but sometimes he or she
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Aug 18, 2008
Mikkee
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If I could give 1/2 star's, I would give this book a 3 and a 1/2. The book is about 2 mothers, a new mother and a mother with 3 children. While the book is based around their experiences in motherhood, the author touches on 2 universal themes, that I, not being a mother, still absorbed and took lessons from.
One was the reminder that lack of communication is at the root of much of frustration in a relationship. You see it build through the book, until each is a villain in the other More...
One was the reminder that lack of communication is at the root of much of frustration in a relationship. You see it build through the book, until each is a villain in the other More...
Dec 20, 2008
Julie
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Thea is the outwardly perfect stay-at-home mother of three; Amanda, a new mother who is torn with guilt for returning to work, moves in next door. Their tentative friendship is strained by a forced proximity, and stretched further when Thea volunteers to work as Amanda’s temporary nanny. Alternating chapters from their two points of view emphasize that each have exterior shells with prickly interiors; although they are much alike and admire each other, they each focus on their differences. Sm
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Nov 12, 2008
Jennifer
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Wow, where to start. There are so many topics covered in this book. Staying at home with kids, going back to work, being a good neighbor, worrying WAY too much of what other people think of you, pregnancy, parenting, lots of womanly things. The author really delves into the female mind & how it works. How 2 wonderful women are so alike yet different.
The main thing I'm taking from the book is to be yourself, don't worry what people think of you. Not everyone is meant to get along & b More...
The main thing I'm taking from the book is to be yourself, don't worry what people think of you. Not everyone is meant to get along & b More...
Sep 12, 2008
Jennifer
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A fictionalized account of the Mommy Wars, waged between two women, one a stay-at-home mom who is afraid she's lost herself in her family of five and the other a new mother who returns to her publishing job shortly after her daughter is born. Mildly entertaining and not badly written, but nothing particularly memorable--the author includes some details about each character that do nothing to further our understanding of them and fails to delve deeper into other aspects so that the reader ends up
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Feb 13, 2008
Cheryl
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Ok so the ending on this book is so weak and out there and well... why bring that into it.... (you'll see) but if you are a Mom, in some way you will relate to one of the main characters and provoke some measure or meaning to you. It would be a great book for a book group full of Moms with kids the same age as Thea's kids. (which mine pretty much are)- and Donna's too. The roller coaster ride of self vs others when you have children. It's nice to see some of my own thoughts and feeling written
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Mar 04, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
I couldn't really relate to either of the main characters--frankly I wanted to slap each of them on more than one occasion. But I did like the examination of the battle between moms that work outside of the home and those that don't. I also liked the examination of the way neighbors interact.
Oct 14, 2009
great read for those of us living in a small town neighborhood...enlightening to be reminded that there is always...the "other side" good book...quick read
Sep 01, 2008
Jenna
rated it:
yeah....
Alright. This book, I think, had a great premise. Started out good. I even liked the writing.
I liked the meandering insight on motherhood and womanhood, from both perspectives of the two main characters. However, this book really didn't go anyplace. It stutterd a little bit into a third of the way through... and just, stalled out. It was hardly "suspenseful, dark, and brave as it was shocking". There was really no suspense to be had, and the "battl More...
Alright. This book, I think, had a great premise. Started out good. I even liked the writing.
I liked the meandering insight on motherhood and womanhood, from both perspectives of the two main characters. However, this book really didn't go anyplace. It stutterd a little bit into a third of the way through... and just, stalled out. It was hardly "suspenseful, dark, and brave as it was shocking". There was really no suspense to be had, and the "battl More...
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Apr 02, 2009
Chris
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A politically incorrect novel! Breastfeeding vs. Bottle feeding. Working vs. Stay at home. Explores the people behind the issues.
Apr 18, 2008
Asia
rated it:
A little overly poetic at times.
Also, I have a problem with a description of a novel (or anything, for that matter) that refers to the quote-unquote Mommy Wars as if it's an actual thing instead of something perpetuated by the media as a new form of gender inequality (divide and conquer, right?) . The war is within us, not between us. I don't know of any moms who don't sympathize with all other moms. That these characters squabble because they somehow just can't understand how the o More...
Also, I have a problem with a description of a novel (or anything, for that matter) that refers to the quote-unquote Mommy Wars as if it's an actual thing instead of something perpetuated by the media as a new form of gender inequality (divide and conquer, right?) . The war is within us, not between us. I don't know of any moms who don't sympathize with all other moms. That these characters squabble because they somehow just can't understand how the o More...
Feb 09, 2011
4otch
rated it:
Liked the way the author told both mother's stories without showing favoritism toward either lifestyle.
Aug 13, 2008
Spoza
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Told from the conflicting perspectives of two neighboring mothers that start out friendly, edge into uneasy truce, and then break out in hostilities ending with 9/11 and uneasy truce again, this is a book about mothers. That was why I picked it up. But the one that was staying at home ended up unhappy and the other was unhappy being a working mother. The "perfect" mothers were the despised target. So, a good book, but not what I'm looking for. I know mothering can be hard, but I feel t
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Jun 09, 2010
Denise
rated it:
3.5 stars
This was an interesting book. Quite strange. A small gap between friendship and enmity.
This was an interesting book. Quite strange. A small gap between friendship and enmity.
Dec 26, 2009
Rebecca
rated it:
Annoying, unlikeable characters, dull, plodding plot, and a bizarre and abrupt ending.
Aug 25, 2009
Robyn
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Interesting perspective about stay-at-home moms versus those who work outside the home.
Oct 11, 2008
Beth
rated it:
Hmmmm....I liked the writing style in this book and I liked the premise of looking at two mothers that made different choices about raising their kids, but the story didn't really go anywhere. It was interesting and because I've been both a full-time working mom and a full-time stay at home mom, I could relate to both central characters and their situations. It was an easy read - kept my attention for the most part. This is not on any "favorites" list, but I'd be curious to see what ot
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Jan 23, 2008
Amy
rated it:
The writing was wonderful. The author is definitely a gifted writer but the storyline was boring and unreal for me. Maybe I missed something? I thought the characters were completely drab. I barely made it through the book. I kept hoping I would eventually get it but I never did. I'm a SAHM mother of four and I did not relate to Thea or Amanda whatsoever. And I didn't like either one of them. There was a lot of unnecesary details in the book and the kissing scene was also silly and very unreal
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Aug 02, 2008
Christina
rated it:
This was written by a local author and I really wanted to love it, but I just didn't. It was kind of boring and predictable. At the same time, the author writes some lines about motherhood and marriage that were right on the money. She also visited our book group and I really enjoyed hearing her process in writing the book and getting it published. It made me appreciate the book more. I would recommend this to mothers becuase it's a quick read and some of the lines in it are wonderful, despite
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