Customer Reviews

Going Home

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I kept passing this book because of the reviews about it being too long. But after reading "A Hopeless Romantic" by the same auther (and equally long), I had to give it a shot. While "Hopeless Romantic" captured my attention because of its fairy-tale romance and sideline stories, I was very disappointed reading Going Home because Lizzy was shallow and the fact that she had men so devoted to her was perplexing...you just didn't care. While it was still an easy enough read and it followed a similar pattern as her next book, it didn't entertain and was easy to put down. Nonetheless, I would say this was a solid first book effort and given her second book was so much better, I look forward to seeing more from Harriet Evans.

When London becomes to overbearing or her troubles overwhelming, sensitive Lizzy Walters enjoys the respite of her rustic home Keeper House where her family has always been welcoming. Lizzy needs the warmth and hugs of her kin after she has lost her "big love" so she plans to go back as soon as she can escape from the hustle and bustle of London.

However, this time Keeper House seems more foreboding than hospitable as family secrets begin to surface that shake Lizzy. Even more shocking and making Lizzy feel dizzy, he who abandoned her has arrived at her haven. She is not sure she wants to deal with him as his arrival and her family's behavior since her return make GOING HOME seem a mistake.

This is an interesting English character study starring a fascinating female who decides a bit of family love is just the cure for her broken heart, but instead receives a horde of woes tossed like grenades from those she expected comfort from. The absorbing story line is somewhat amusing as the Walters seem harmlessly eccentric, but throughout readers will wonder why there is the lack of communication from anyone with Lizzy; neither her family members nor her "big love" who dumped her appear able to simply talk to Lizzy though this reviewer is not sure whey. Still she is an intriguing protagonist struggling with the down side of love.

Harriet Klausner

A friend loaned me this book because she thoroughly enjoyed it. I did too! It is a wonderful story, and Harriet Evans's style of writing is engrossing. Her attention to detail and ability to capture and hold the reader's attention is phenominal. Some parts were laugh out loud funny, while other parts were simply fine storytelling mixed with light drama. If you love British "chick lit" I would highly recommend this book, which operates on a slightly higher plane of intelligence than most "chick lit", yet is still entertaining and down to earth.

The book begins with an accounting of a universal experience: returning home to spend Christmas with your extended family. It offers great description of the holiday frenzy (both good and bad) from the rat race of buying gifts to the roller coaster of emotions felt by reuniting with friends and family. After Christmas, romance is gradually unveiled and through careful explanation, the novel offers genuine character development as the plot unfolds. I've read a lot of this genre and this one had a couple of real surprises that engaged me and kept me hungry for more. I related to the characters and was sorry when it came to a close. If you're a fan of British chick lit, this is your kind of book. I'll definitely buy more of Harriet's great prose.

I love chick lit, I have a really high tolerance for badly drawn characters, unlikely plot twists, obvious denuements, bad editing - I just like to know that I am heading to a happy ending. So I was thrilled to get this book and the premise seemed good. But boy, was that joy short-lived. It seems Harriet Evans has done a quick check of elements currently in vogue - independent woman in small but wonderful flat in gritty part London, sprawling country home of some sort, a bit of family history, New York/ American angle (always good if you want a film deal!), a quirky outsider, an 'obvious' love interest but a close running second. Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for all that stuff. But this book is just a loose mish-mash of those elements and she shamelessly plays on the reader's indulgence to fill in gaps and ignore the glaring problems. She has tried to make the 'house' a character - but fails in picking the right things to describe. I read one scene three times trying to work out where the heroine was, where the people she was eaves-dropping on were, how they got there from the garden.... As the house is so central she owed it to her readers to try harder to describe it. As for the family - she hints at dysfunction but fails (and this is my main beef) to actually say what the financial problem is that drives most of the plot (ie the loss of the house). As for the love interest - one brother over another - the reason the first relationship broke up was because of a misunderstanding which anyone would have seen through and sorted out (IF they'd been that in love). Apparently though, one misunderstanding was enough to finish them, so why we care when they get back together is anyone's business. I finished this book feeling totally ripped off. I've read at least one other by Harriet Evans and liked it, but this one seemed to suggest that either she or her publishers are taking her readers for granted, and rushing the writing process to serve up rehashed, ill-structured fare. Such a shame that the book doesn't live up to the potential of the premise - a waste for the reader and the author.

While I have read hundreds of reviews on this site for books I've read, I have never submitted a review. But I feel readers need a warning about this one.
This book was incredibly boring and plot-less. In over 400 pages of the book, NOTHING HAPPENS! Lizzy is immature to say the least, and her character never gets developed. At the end of the book, I felt like I didn't know any of the characters any better than I did on page 1.

The subplots are very predictable (but that's to be expected with chick-lit). The storyline with the house was juvenile. I kept thinking to myself "Oh, come on! Grow up!".
You would think Lizzy is 13 if you didn't know any better.

This book could have been summed up in 60 pages. It lacks plot. Simple as that.

Harriet Evans has managed to capture many different characters and give them distinct personalities in almost all of her novels that I've read. Going Home is no exception. This book was enjoyable and extremely well-written.

Lizzy Walter is the main character and the author has given her great depth of character. The story sets off with Lizzy who leaves her tiny flat in London for a holiday back home with her family in the country. Her family is charming and engaging.

Her Uncle returns with a surprise visitor and things slowly start spinning out of control. You can almost feel Lizzy's placid life turning in to a tumultuous train-wreck.

She must learn to let go before she can move on, grow up and love again.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I enjoy Harriet Evans' writing style a great deal, and was not disappointed in this book. I have read everything this author has written, and will be sure to read anything else she writes. Her characters are always fully and subtlely developed, and the plotlines are not predictable nor staid. Recommended.

I never would have bought this book myself, but it turned up on a shelf in my family's summer home when I was in desperate need of something to read, so I plunged in. And I'm quite glad I did. The plot pivot is totally English: beloved family home must be sold to pay debts of ne'er do well uncle who lives in America but actually owns it. Lizzy, the 20-something at the heart of the story, is nursing a broken heart and pours all her energy into trying to find a way to rescue the ancestral home. She's part of large and sometimes wacky family, who present some interesting complications. Nothing very deep here but enjoyable beach reading.

I have to say that this story starts off rather slow but within 3/4 chapters your hooked. The characters are wonderful and engaging and just plain fun!! Lizzy is the eptiome of an emotional mess with regards to her ex-David. Yet, throughout all the turmoil in the book I never would have guessed how it ended. At times, you know there is so much more to the story but neither we nor Lizzy are ever given much information to ever have any idea what lengths someone will go to get someone they want or hurt someone they supposedly love. I read the last few paragraphs knowing that I would love to read another book about all these crazy Walters!! I hope Harriet Evans hears our cries and finally writes a sequel to the rest of this story!!! Happy reading.