Customer Reviews

My Own

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The book description does not aptly describe the entire book. It describes the last 20 or pages. While I thought the story would be about what happens after Kate's stepfather died and Ethan's divorce, it was not to be. Almost the entire story, was about events leading up to that. Not very exciting events I might add. The character were poorly developed and while a lack of communication and misunderstandings might leading to an interesting story, this one did not. Until the very end of the book Kate and Ethan were also jumping to the wrong conclusion. Frankly I don't see how they even got together. Skip this book!

This was one of the worst books I have ever read. The synopsis on the back cover didn't even come close to the actual story. There was less than no plot and I spent the entire time waiting for something to happen. The characters were flat and the dialogue was trite. This is the only book by Joan Hohl I have ever read and will never read another.

Oh, where to begin. There are so many things wrong with this book I don't even know where to start. The basic run down of the book is this: Kate and Ethan grow up together next door to each other and of course Kate is in love with Ethan. They date for a little while when they are older only to have it cut short. Ethan breaks up with Kate - over the phone, with no explanation. Only the reader knows that he breaks up with her because he is obligated to marry the woman he impregnated on a one night stand - the reason he even sleeps with this woman in the first place is so dumb, only a guy would do it.

So, anyway, they break up and hardly speak to each other until the end of the book. Now, the despcription on the back of the book is so misleading I almost want to call the publisher and complain. First of all, Ethan has a son not a dautgher. I don't know how anyone could have missed a huge mistake like that. Second of all, it says that Kate is responsible for raising her two half sisters after her stepfather dies and needs Ethan's help. Well that's all fine and dandy except none of that happens until almost the end of the book.

This book was so frusterating to read. Ethan and Kate have almost zero contact until the last few chapters - and I'm sorry but Kate forgave Ethan WAY to easily. The entire book leading up to the rushed ending was nothing but flashbacks and stupid filler dialogue that had nothing do to with the real story. The idea for the storyline had so much potential to be a really good book but the author did a poor job making the story unfold in a satisfactory way. This was the first book by Joan Hohl that I read and based on this one, I am sorry to say, I probably won't be reading any more.

An ok read, but I found it very frustrating because the book was nothing like what was written on the back cover synopsis.

According to the first paragraph on back cover the story is about Kate Quinn, an orphaned girl, who is raised by her wealthy stepfather. The young Kate feels lonely and out of place until she meets the boy next door (Ethan Winston), who becomes her best friend and soul mate. The second paragraph of the synopsis states that Kate, as the legal guardian of her half-sisters, must raise them alone just as Ethan is raising his young DAUGHTER alone (actually he has a son and not a daughter). Kate, who has always loved Ethan, suggests that they join forces and raise their dependents together.

Well needless to say I expected the book to be about Kate and Ethan's marriage and life together... but it was not. I found the book frustrating because I kept waiting for things to happen that would allow the two to get married. It sounds kind of morbid, but I kept waiting for Kate's stepfather to die so Kate would become her half-sisters guardian. I also kept waiting for something to happen to Ethan's wife (how could he marry Kate if he was already married to someone else). Well neither of those things happened until late in the book, and Kate and Ethan don't end up married until almost the very end.

I found myself on edge the entire time I was reading the book. When was this going to happen, when was that going to take place. I think if the synopsis had been worded differently, my impression of the book might have been totally different (but then again maybe not).

I have read and loved Joan Hohl's work since I first discovered her in 1982 when she was writing as Amii Lorin. Like wine, she just gets better and better. "My Own" is everything I expect from Joan Hohl: great romance built on a foundation of contemporary life as we're living it right now. What a delight.