Sometimes you go into a book thinking you will connect with it immediately and for some reason that just doesn’t happen.
This was the case, when I recently read Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight, as my fifth book for the year and for the Goodreads Challenge.
Goodreads Review ~
In Reconstructing Amelia, the stunning debut novel from Kimberly McCreight, Kate’s in the middle of the biggest meeting of her career when she gets the telephone call from Grace Hall, her daughter’s exclusive private school in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Amelia has been suspended, effective immediately, and Kate must come get her daughter–now. But Kate’s stress over leaving work quickly turns to panic when she arrives at the school and finds it surrounded by police officers, fire trucks, and an ambulance. By then it’s already too late for Amelia. And for Kate.
An academic overachiever despondent over getting caught cheating has jumped to her death. At least that’s the story Grace Hall tells Kate. And clouded as she is by her guilt and grief, it is the one she forces herself to believe. Until she gets an anonymous text: She didn’t jump.
Reconstructing Amelia is about secret first loves, old friendships, and an all-girls club steeped in tradition. But, most of all, it’s the story of how far a mother will go to vindicate the memory of a daughter whose life she couldn’t save.
Now that you read quick summary of Reconstructing Amelia, I will say the fact that this story took place in NYC, which is literally in my own backyard, was a big motivator to read this one for me. Also the plot twists with trying to solve the mystery behind Amelia’s death, as well as her parentage sounded like I would be kept on the edge of my seat.
But I had also just read The Promise of Stardust, which I absolutely adored and at this point is so far my favorite read of the year.
So this one had a hard nut to crack so to speak for me and big shoes to fill after I had indeed concluded that book previously to Reconstructing Amelia.
I couldn’t put down The Promise of Stardust and was captivated by the story from start to finish. This one, I did read in only a few short days, too (snowy and freezing been reading a ton so far to pass the time) and did want to see how it turned out, but something just was missing and lacking for me.
I am not saying I didn’t enjoy it, but it wasn’t as good as I had hoped for to be quite honest.
That said, I still would recommend Reconstructing Amelia, but just know going in that I, for one, finished it feeling like I was let down in some ways.
I don’t want to give the ending away by any means for those who are reading or thinking of reading this one, but let’s just say that I was hoping for something a bit more then I got with this read.
Did you read Reconstructing Amelia? What did you think?
As for me, what did I read next?
This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Trooper
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massholemommy says
I don't even know how you find the time to read with the kids, your blog/J9 and running your house. You're awesome because I haven't picked up a book in years.
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Janine Huldie says
Robin, i sneak these moments when I can and trust me I have slacked a bit on the reading. I was reading a book a week during the heart of the winter, but now that the weather is beginning to change it is a book like every two weeks for me and this and one other book review I had waiting to post up and had other things push back my write-ups. So, believe me not as good as I appear at times and you aren't alone π
tamaralikecamera says
Definitely intrigued, but I have been reading so many dark books. I am nearly at the point of reading all of my kids' books instead!
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Janine Huldie says
Trust me I was reading a lot of dark books here too and trying to finish up one that I have been reading off and on for a few weeks. Then I downloaded a comedian’s recent book, because I need to laugh not cry here, too π
Karen says
OMG…I WILL NOT be reading that book, I was crying as I read the summary…though I may change my mind. I started reading Me Before You…WOW…what a book and I sort of know what is going happen…pretty obvious but know I will cry like a mad women. I have to start listing my books too woman…you give me such inspiration!Q
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Janine Huldie says
I love you Karen and I did see in Goodreads you were reading Me Before You. And as said in earlier comment, I am really a comedy book next just to lighten it up a bit here, because I have been reading a lot of heavy hitting books emotionally speaking.
lisang@expandng.com says
I haven't read that book. I'm into YA books now :). But the 2nd one you mentioned sounds interesting.
Janine Huldie says
The second on was so good Lisa and had me literally laughing out loud throughout and will be sharing more on that soon here π
anothercleanslate says
Hmmm I loved The Promise of Stardust too but definitrely still going to read Reconstructing Amelia. And your next read is on my shelf too!
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Janine Huldie says
I know we do have quite a few in common and will say totally read this one, but I wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I would be, but definitely happy I read it π
Sandy_Ramsey says
All three of these books are on my list to read. I like the honest review and I probably will still read it. It's especially hard when you read a book that you love and expect the next one to be as good, or even better, and it's a let down. I get that. Thanks for more recommendations!
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Janine Huldie says
I was happy to share my honest feelings on this. Like I said I would still read this one, but still was not as good as I thought it was going to be.
MelChi says
I was excited reading that little review at the top, but after reading your thoughts a little further down I think I'll forget about this book. I trust your judgement and think we have similar tastes when it comes to books. I'm almost finished that animal one by James Patterson and I don't know if it's just me (because it's the 2nd book in a row now), but when I get to the end I almost don't want to read anymore. It bores me! Why isn't it as exciting at the end as the beginning. Oh well, maybe I'm just too fussy! It's a long weekend for us here, so don't know if I'll be online tomorrow. If not, have a fabulous weekend! π
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Janine Huldie says
Melanie, not only do we have similar tastes in books, but the last book or two I was totally feeling that way and almost forcing myself. So, I took a week off without reading and now I am feeling a bit better. I think sometimes we over load on reading and might just need to step back to enjoy it again. If that makes sense.
Billybuc says
Thanks for the book review Janine and I hope you have a fabulous day.
Janine Huldie says
Happy to share Bill and you know I like to try to read and then give my thoughts here when I can. Have a fabulous day now, too again!! π
day-with-kt.com says
Oh, I just added those to my Good Reads!! My list is getting long and I still have about 40 waiting on my Nook!!
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Janine Huldie says
I have 22 on my list to read, but trust I am always finding more here, too π
mamarabia says
I've had a few books that I didn't love, but would still read again. I had a hard time getting into Stephanie Meyer's The Host, but in the end I really enjoyed it (and hated the movie). I've recently read a few romance novels by Lynette Bonner that I really enjoyed.
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Janine Huldie says
I know truly sometimes there are just books that make us I guess feel this way, but will have to look into the author you mentioned here now. S. Thank you so much for sharing that with me π
Rosey says
Books that are so good and then leave us feeling left down… yep, I have had it happen. Par for the course and it makes a perfect book that much better. And I know you appreciate the good parts of the book that you read, or you wouldn't have recommended it. π
Glad you're still getting that reading time in!
Janine Huldie says
So true Rosey and the book before us really was the perfect book and hoping to find another like that real soon. And thanks for getting exactly what I meant here π
Claudia Schmidt says
I felt the same way. I read it, thinking it would be deeper, have more depth but it was kind of annoying and I just really finished it because I wanted to know what had happened to that poor girl, Amelia. Good review, it wasn't a fave of mine either.
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Janine Huldie says
Caludia, you said it perfectly and exactly how I felt. I really just wanted to know how it turned out and what happened to Amelia, but still left me a bit bored and definitely was a flat ending for me. Thank you for letting me know that it wasn't just me feeling this way about this book.
Liz Mays says
That's a bummer it let you down a little bit, and now I still want to read it to find out what happened even though you say the ending wasn't ideal.
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Janine Huldie says
Liz, I definitely hope you do read and the ending wasn't terrible by any means just was hoping I guess for a bit more here. But definitely do recommend and again hope you get to read soon π
dishofdailylife says
I think I have it on my iPad ready to read, but I have so many books in front of it. I do want to read it though. Someone else (can't remember who now) recommended it and that is why it is there.
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Janine Huldie says
I know a few people recommended it to read and will say that it was worth reading, but just wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be.
Jeremy Smith says
A great read that you can't put down. Perfectly captures the electric communication that so fills our lives now. Perfectly captures the divide between parent and child when both really want there to be no division. Perfectly captures the difficulty of youth and parenting. Perfect read.
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Janine Huldie says
Thank you so much Jeremy for your take on this book and glad to see you enjoyed it so very much.