My Thoughts
The beginning of Good Half Gone is set on an interesting premise that takes your attention almost in one second. Nonetheless, as you go further into the narrative, you spot the flaws in the way it was carried out.
The pace of the narrative needs to be addressed. The sum of my troubles was the time spent on details that, although intriguing, do not add a lot to the plot or the characters. Such digressions from the primary storyline annoy and alienate the reader from the narrative.
The second area to be improved is the character development, mainly the protagonist – Iris. She is a character that is played on by her past and her insatiable craving for closure. However, her personality could use more layering, with her reasons sometimes needing to be stated clearly. The absence of clarity results in the dissociation of the reader with Iris, which prevents one from being able to fully comprehend her pain and her quest.
The story location, Shoal Island Hospital, is designed to give the plot an element of suspense and mystery. Nevertheless, the mystery is disclosed in an obvious manner and so the suspense is lost, leaving the reader unimpressed.
Although the beginning is quite promising, the novel does not fully live up to what is expected. The plot needs a more interesting twist and revelation of secrets while the character development needs to be improved in the narrative. The novel leaves the reader with an average reading experience which is not fully satisfying as more depth and complexity from the story and its characters is missed.
Thank you to HTP (Harlequin Trade Publishing), Graydon House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
