Author: Tiffany Reisz
Genre: Romance, Mystery
Publisher: Mira Books
Pub Date: February 13, 2018
Rating: 2 Stars
Our thoughts...
Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of Tiffany Reisz. I love The Original Sinners series, The Bourbon Thief, and The Headmaster. I think she has a very intelligent, sophisticated, yet easy-to-relate-to style of writing full of humor and sass. The Lucky Ones, however, do not meet the standards Reisz has set up her readers to come to expect. It pains me to say that or to talk negatively about anything Reisz writes because I respect her a lot, but this book was disappointing. Prepare for some spoilers ahead because some things I took great issue with that I couldn’t NOT talk about them. You’ve been warned.
I have to be honest and admit that I was willing to throw in the towel on this book early on. The romantic subject matter alone was enough to turn me away but even when I put my cringing aside, the story was slow to develop with certain details seemingly thrown in to shock the sensibilities of the reader. Reisz has written about many taboo topics in her writing career, and they’ve never bothered me, but not only did some of these things get under my skin, they felt forced or unnecessary at times.
*Spoiler ahead*
The relationship between the two couples, especially Allison and Roland, were repeatedly sold as a close sibling relationship from early in childhood. It is emphasized and demonstrated so many times that it is clear they had a tight brother/sister bond from a young age. Great. But then they turn that tight sibling relationship into a raging romance while cracking jokes about being siblings, and everyone is just supposed to be okay with it. Allison was the same age that my daughter currently is when she first met Roland and if someone who I raised as a son and her brother started getting romantic with her, I’d be upset. Big time. It would be one thing if they were older kids when they first met, but these two were young and Roland was almost paternal at times. It is drilled into our head how great their sibling relationship was, to the point of excess, which makes me wonder if it wasn’t more for shock-value than a genuine. That doesn’t fit what I’ve ever experienced from Reisz, so I feel torn. I just know that the sibling sexual relationships were too much for me.
*End Spoiler*
This story dragged so much in the first half that I had to make myself stop cleaning the house to finish the book. It was a struggle; I really did not want to continue this book. The mystery was obvious to me, the taboo relationships felt forced, and the plot was not as complete and full as I have come to expect from Reisz. That is so painful to write but this book did me in.
I have to be honest and admit that I was willing to throw in the towel on this book early on. The romantic subject matter alone was enough to turn me away but even when I put my cringing aside, the story was slow to develop with certain details seemingly thrown in to shock the sensibilities of the reader. Reisz has written about many taboo topics in her writing career, and they’ve never bothered me, but not only did some of these things get under my skin, they felt forced or unnecessary at times.
*Spoiler ahead*
The relationship between the two couples, especially Allison and Roland, were repeatedly sold as a close sibling relationship from early in childhood. It is emphasized and demonstrated so many times that it is clear they had a tight brother/sister bond from a young age. Great. But then they turn that tight sibling relationship into a raging romance while cracking jokes about being siblings, and everyone is just supposed to be okay with it. Allison was the same age that my daughter currently is when she first met Roland and if someone who I raised as a son and her brother started getting romantic with her, I’d be upset. Big time. It would be one thing if they were older kids when they first met, but these two were young and Roland was almost paternal at times. It is drilled into our head how great their sibling relationship was, to the point of excess, which makes me wonder if it wasn’t more for shock-value than a genuine. That doesn’t fit what I’ve ever experienced from Reisz, so I feel torn. I just know that the sibling sexual relationships were too much for me.
*End Spoiler*
This story dragged so much in the first half that I had to make myself stop cleaning the house to finish the book. It was a struggle; I really did not want to continue this book. The mystery was obvious to me, the taboo relationships felt forced, and the plot was not as complete and full as I have come to expect from Reisz. That is so painful to write but this book did me in.
thanks for review Jenny!
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